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diff --git a/21888.txt b/21888.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..2b1ef98 --- /dev/null +++ b/21888.txt @@ -0,0 +1,8347 @@ +Project Gutenberg's Canoe Boys and Campfires, by William Murray Graydon + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Canoe Boys and Campfires + Adventures on Winding Waters + +Author: William Murray Graydon + +Release Date: June 21, 2007 [EBook #21888] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CANOE BOYS AND CAMPFIRES *** + + + + +Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + +[Illustration: THE JOLLY ROVERS WERE OFF AT LAST _Canoe Boys and Camp +Fires_] + +----------------------------------------------------------------------- + +[Illustration: THE FIVE MILE WALK WAS A TRIFLE TO THE BOYS--Page 110] + +----------------------------------------------------------------------- + +CANOE BOYS AND CAMPFIRES + +Or, +Adventures on Winding Waters + +BY +WILLIAM MURRAY GRAYDON + +Author of "From Lake to Wilderness," "With Puritan and Pequod," +"The Camp in the Snow," etc. + +ILLUSTRATED + +THE WORLD SYNDICATE PUBLISHING CO. +CLEVELAND--NEW YORK + +Made in U. S. A. + +----------------------------------------------------------------------- + +Copyright, 1907, by +Chatterton-Peck Company + +PRESS OF +THE COMMERCIAL BOOKBINDING CO. +CLEVELAND + +----------------------------------------------------------------------- + +CONTENTS + +CHAPTER PAGE + + I. INTRODUCING THE BOYS 9 + + II. PLANNING THE TRIP 17 + + III. THE CRUISE BEGINS 23 + + IV. ADRIFT IN THE DARKNESS 32 + + V. DISAPPEARANCE OF NUGGET 40 + + VI. THE LOST FOUND 48 + + VII. BATTERS AND JOE 57 + + VIII. HOW THE DAY DAWNED 74 + + IX. A SAFE SHELTER 82 + + X. A TRAMP ACROSS COUNTRY 90 + + XI. SEARCHING FOR THE CAMP 99 + + XII. OVER THE CLIFF 107 + + XIII. WHAT CLAY SHOT 116 + + XIV. CAUGHT IN THE WHIRLPOOL 125 + + XV. RANDY'S PROPOSITION 133 + + XVI. A SHATTERED DELUSION 142 + + XVII. THE STORM BREAKS 149 + + XVIII. AT THE MERCY OF THE TEMPEST 156 + + XIX. ADRIFT ON A LOG 163 + + XX. MR. DUDE MOXLEY 170 + + XXI. A MYSTERIOUS WARNING 178 + + XXII. AN INSOLENT DEMAND 185 + + XXIII. A DARING ATTEMPT 192 + + XXIV. AN UNEXPECTED ENCOUNTER 200 + + XXV. THE SIEGE BEGINS 207 + + XXVI. BUG'S PROPOSITION 215 + + XXVII. THE BURNING OF THE MILL 222 + + XXVIII. A GOOD DEED 229 + + XXIX. RANDY GOES SAILING 236 + + XXX. A NIGHT ALARM 243 + + XXXI. STORMY WEATHER 250 + + XXXII. THE BROKEN DAM 257 + + XXXIII. AN UNDERGROUND CRUISE 264 + + XXXIV. DESPAIR 270 + + XXXV. NUGGET DISCOVERS A LIGHT 275 + + XXXVI. HOME AGAIN 280 + +----------------------------------------------------------------------- + + + + +CANOE BOYS AND CAMPFIRES + +CHAPTER I + +INTRODUCING THE BOYS + + +"I say, Ned, this is beginning to grow wearisome," drawled Randy Moore +as he tipped his chair against the wall, and crossed his feet on the low +railing in front of him. "Clay promised to be here half an hour ago," he +went on in an injured tone, "and if he doesn't come in a few minutes I'm +going to have a spin on the river. It's aggravating to sit here and do +nothing. I can count a dozen boats between the railroad bridge and Bushy +Island." + +"I wouldn't mind being out myself," said Ned Chapman, "but we have +important business to transact to-night, Randy, and I think it would be +wiser to let boating go for once. I have everything planned out in ship +shape fashion, and it only wants the seal of approval from you and +Clayton." + +"Oh! you have, have you?" exclaimed Randy with a sudden show of +interest. "That's good news, Ned. If Clay knew the momentous question +was to be settled at last, he would stir himself to get here, wherever +he is. I'll give him ten minutes' grace." + +"You'll give him as many minutes as he needs," rejoined Ned. "There must +be some reason for his delay. It's new for him to be late. He's always +the first to keep an engagement." + +"We'll know when he comes," said Randy wisely. "Stop talking now. I want +to count the boats. I never saw so many on the river before." + +The two boys were sitting on a narrow balcony that projected from the +second floor of a neat but unpretentious boathouse. The rear end of the +edifice was built against the sloping base of the river bank. + +From the park above a flight of steps, with a single hand rail, led down +to the main entrance, which was on the second floor. The other end of +the apartment opened on the balcony and faced the Susquehanna river. + +From the lower floor, which held a number of boats and canoes, a plank +walk sloped to the water's edge, ten or fifteen yards away. + +Randy Moore was the fortunate owner of this snug little piece of +property. The Harrisburg boys envied him his gun, his dog and his pony, +but they would have fairly bowed down before him if by so doing they +could have been put on the list of those favored ones who made free and +daily use of the boathouse. + +A "luck fellow" was the general verdict concerning Randy, and it was a +true one. His father was wealthy and never refused to gratify any +reasonable desire of his only son. In consequence Randy was somewhat +spoiled and self willed, but in other ways he was really a sensible lad. + +The fact of his own superior position in life never occurred to him in +relation to his companions. He gave himself no airs, and expected no +homage or adulation. + +His chief fault was a strong and uncurbed will, and he unfortunately had +a quick temper. He was just sixteen years old, and was strong and hardy. +He had dark eyes and hair, and a pleasing, attractive face. + +Randy's most intimate friend, Ned Chapman, differed from him in every +respect, and made an admirable foil for the other's impetuous +temperament. Ned's father was a merchant in moderate circumstances, and +he had just reason to be proud of his son's bringing up. + +Ned was a steady, sensible lad, with very rigid ideas of right and +wrong. Not that there was anything "priggish" about him. On the +contrary, he was always the foremost in any undertaking that provided a +little sport. + +He was intensely fond of outdoor life, and was an acknowledged authority +on everything relating to fishing, hunting, canoeing, and boating. But +he did not allow recreation to interfere with his studies. + +He and Randy were pupils at the academy, and both stood high in their +classes. + +Ned was a year older than Randy and half a head taller. He had brown +hair, grayish brown eyes, and a deeply bronzed complexion, the result of +living much in the open air and under the burning glow of the summer +sun. + +His face wore an expression of habitual good humor, and he had a rare +command of his temper. + +His grave displeasure was more dreaded than a passionate outburst would +have been. + +And now that two of the characters have been introduced to the reader, +we must resume the thread of the story. + +Randy's stipulated ten minutes had gone by, and five additional ones, +when a shrill whistle was heard in the rear of the boathouse. + +Both doors were open, and when the boys turned in their chairs and +looked through they saw their tardy companion descending the steps that +led from the top of the bank. + +"It's Clay at last," exclaimed Randy. + +"And some one with him," added Ned, as a second figure came into view. + +At that instant the lad in the rear slipped, plunged head foremost down +the remaining half dozen steps, knocking Clay to one side, and sprawled +out in the doorway like a flattened frog. + +Ned and Randy sprang up and hurried through the room. + +"Why, it's Nugget," they exclaimed in great surprise. "Where did you +come from, old fellow? We're awfully glad to see you." + +Nugget, otherwise known as Nugent Blundell, rose painfully to his feet +and glared at the boys. + +"Why don't you ask me if I'm hurt?" he demanded wrathfully. "I believe +you fellows greased those steps on purpose." + +"See here, Nugget, you don't believe anything of the sort," said Ned. +"I'm sorry you fell, and I'm glad you're not hurt. Come, old fellow, +shake hands." + +Nugget's face assumed a mollified expression, and he accepted a hearty +handclasp from Ned and Randy. Then he began to brush the dust from his +neat gray suit and patent leather shoes. + +Meanwhile Clayton Halsey had been fairly choking with stifled mirth in a +dark corner of the room. He now came forward, trying hard to assume an +expression of gravity. + +He was a short, thickset lad, with a beaming countenance, red cheeks, +blue eyes, and light curly hair. He was in the same class at the academy +with Ned and Randy, and their constant companion on all occasions. His +father was a prominent lawyer. + +"What kept you so long?" asked Randy in a slightly aggrieved tone. + +"That," replied Clay, pointing at Nugget. "He arrived in town this +afternoon, and came to the house after supper. I knew you fellows would +be glad to see him, so I brought him along. But what do you think?" +added Clay, winking slyly at Ned and Randy, "Nugget says he's going +canoeing with us." + +This piece of information produced a startling effect. Ned puckered his +lips and gave a low whistle. Randy stared at Clay for an instant and +then burst into a laugh. + +Why this avowal on Nugget's part was received in such a peculiar way +will be more clearly understood if a few words be said about that young +gentleman himself. + +Nugget was a New York boy, greatly addicted to cream colored clothes, +white vests, patent leather shoes, high collars, gorgeous neckties, kid +gloves, and canes. + +He was about seventeen years old, and was tall and slender. + +He had gray eyes, a sandy complexion and straight flaxen hair, which he +wore banged over his forehead. A vacuous stare usually rested on his +face, and he spoke in a slow, aggravating drawl. + +Nugget had made the acquaintance cf the boys during the previous summer, +which he spent with his uncle in Harrisburg. He was a good enough fellow +in some ways, but the several occasions on which he had been induced to +go on fishing and boating excursions, had resulted in disaster and +ridicule at poor Nugget's expense. + +"What Nugget doesn't know about swell parties, and dancing, and operas +isn't worth knowing," Clay Halsey had said at that time; "but when it +comes to matters of sport he doesn't know any more than a two days' old +kitten." + +The truth of this terse remark was readily appreciated by Clay's +companions, and their present amazement and consternation on learning +that Nugget wanted to go canoeing with them, can be easily conceived. + +"Are you in dead earnest, Nugget?" asked Randy after a pause. + +"Of course I am," was the aggressive reply. "I don't see anything funny +about it though. I haven't been very well lately, and father let me stop +school a month ahead of time, and come over here. I know he'll let me go +canoeing if I write and ask him." + +"But canoeing is vastly different from the kind of trips you made with +us last summer," said Ned. "There is a good deal of hardship about it. +You remember what a fuss you used to make over the merest trifles." + +"You'll have to wear rough flannels and old clothes," added Randy. "You +can't take kid gloves and patent leathers with you." + +"And you'll have to sleep on the ground," put in Clay, "and eat coarse +food. No chocolate cake and ice cream about canoeing." + +"Oh, stop your chaffing," drawled Nugget sullenly. "I understand all +that. I'm not as green as you think. If you fellows can stand it I can. +Besides I've been practicing on the Harlem River this spring. I paddled +a canoe from the Malta boathouse clear to High Bridge and back. And I +didn't raise a single blister." + +"I'll bet you wore gloves," said Clay mockingly. + +Nugget flushed with anger and confusion, but said nothing. + +"It's time to stop that now, Clay," said Ned authoratively. "If Nugget +wants to go along I don't see any serious objections. No doubt the trip +will do him lots of good. But that question can be settled later. Give +us some light, Randy, and I'll show you what I've got here." + + + + +CHAPTER II + +PLANNING THE TRIP + + +It was not yet dark outside but Randy lit the handsome brass lamp that +stood on the square oaken table, and the yellow glow shone into every +corner of the room. + +The apartment was furnished in the manner most dear to the hearts of +boys. The polished floor was strewn with soft rugs, and the walls were +hung with pictures and amateur photographs. In the corners and over the +mantels were fencing foils and masks, fishing rods, baseball bats, +creels, and several pairs of crossed canoe paddles which showed traces +of hard usage. + +When the boys had dragged chairs to the table and seated themselves, Ned +drew a little bunch of papers from his pocket, and opened them with a +flourish. + +"When the question of a canoe trip came up a month ago," he began, "I +told you it would be better fun to cruise on some small stream than on +the Susquehanna. I knew what I was talking about, because I paddled the +whole distance last year, from Lake Otsego to the bay. + +"I suggested the Conodoguinet Creek as the best cruising ground we +could find around here, and promised to get all the information about it +I could. I have kept my promise. + +"Here is a map of the Cumberland Valley on a large scale, showing the +entire course of the creek, and all its windings. You can examine that +at your leisure. First I want to tell you what I have learned. + +"Of course you knew that the Conodoguinet was about the most crooked +stream in existence. We have evidence enough of that near home. You +remember the big bend above Oyster's Dam--three miles around, and one +field's length across. Well, there are bigger bends than that further up +the valley. + +"From the mouth of the creek to Carlile is just eighteen miles in a +straight line. By the windings of the creek it is ninety miles. The +distance was accurately measured and surveyed a number of years ago. + +"Oakville is twenty miles beyond Carlile, and from there I propose that +we should start. The upper part of the creek is not quite so crooked, +but we are sure of a cruise of not less than one hundred and fifty +miles. The creek is navigable all the way from Oakville, and there are +not more than twelve or fifteen dams in the whole distance. + +"The water is deep, and the current is swift in some places, sluggish in +others. The channel winds through heavy timber lands and between high, +rocky cliffs. The mountains are not far away. The fishing is splendid, +and woodcock and snipe are plentiful." + +Here Ned laid down the bundle of notes from which he had been reading. + +"It will be a delightful trip," he added eagerly. "The Susquehanna can't +compare with it. Instead of having to paddle our twenty or thirty miles +a day in the broiling sun, and camp on gravel bars or grass flats, we +can drift leisurely in the cool shade of the overhanging trees, stop +when we please and as long as we please, and take our pick of a hundred +beautiful camping places. In fact it will be a camping trip and canoe +trip combined. + +"And what's more we will be the first to navigate the creek. No canoe, +or boat either, has ever made the winding journey from the head waters +to the mouth. It is unexplored territory, except to the farmers and a +few stray fishermen. You can take your choice now. Which is it to be? +The Susquehanna or the Conodoguinet?" + +Ned put the papers in his pocket and sat down. + +"I say the creek, by all means, boys," exclaimed Randy. + +"Same here!" echoed Clay. + +"Aw, yes! that must be a beautiful stream, don't you know," drawled +Nugget, in such a serio-comic tone that his companions burst out +laughing. + +When quiet was restored the map became the center of attraction, and Ned +gladly pointed out places of interest and volunteered all sorts of +information. As the hours went by the boys waxed enthusiastic over the +proposed cruise. The details were mostly planned out, and then a long +discussion ensued over the choice of a name for the club. + +Many titles were suggested and rejected, but finally Ned struck a happy +combination, and the organization was unanimously christened the "Jolly +Rovers." + +At ten o'clock the boat house was locked up, and the boys climbed the +bank, and went down through the city to their respective homes. + +Now that the cruise was a settled fact the Jolly Rovers threw all their +energies into needed preparations. In the evening, and between school +hours they were always to be found at Randy's boat house. + +Ned looked forward to the trip with the keen delight of one who had +already tasted the joys of canoeing. Clay and Randy--who had not been +permitted to accompany Ned down the Susquehanna the previous summer--had +bright anticipations to be realized, while Nugget was just as eager as +his companions. It had required much persuasion and many promises on +Nugget's part to win the desired permission, and when the question was +finally decided the new member of the Jolly Rovers was put on a severe +course of training. + +This embraced rowing, paddling a canoe, and swimming, and before the +month of June was over Nugget was fairly proficient in all three. He +purchased a second hand canoe which Ned picked out for him, and without +the knowledge of his companions he wrote to his father in New York for a +canoeing outfit. + +The box duly arrived and was opened one evening in the boathouse. The +boys feasted their eyes on the array of treasures--fishing rods of +spliced bamboo, a portable set of camp dishes that fitted into each +other, a pair of brass lanterns, rubber blankets, and several other +articles that were of no practical use on a canoe trip. + +In the bottom of the box were four shirts of the softest flannel, two +pairs of long black woolen stockings, and a canoeing suit of stout brown +cloth--knickerbockers, blouse, and a yachting cap. + +It was a fine outfit, and the boys good naturedly envied Nugget his +luck. + +The date of departure was fixed for the first week in July. When the +academy closed on the 25th of June little or nothing remained to be done +in the way of preparation--thanks to Ned's good generalship. + +The four canoes lay in the lower section of the boathouse, radiant in +new coats of paint. In the big closet on the upper floor were packed the +varied assortment of dishware, lanterns, axes, bottles of oil, cement, +cans of white lead, strips of oiled canvas, rolls of blankets, a new A +tent, jointed poles for the same, and a bundle of iron stakes. + +Such provision as could be taken along--oatmeal, rice, sugar, coffee and +flour--had been ordered from a grocer, to be packed in waterproof jars. + +Ned Chapman had been very properly chosen commodore of the club, and a +couple of days before the start Randy's sister Mary presented the Jolly +Rovers with a pennant of crimson and gold satin. The proper place for +it was at the bow of the commodore's canoe, so it was yielded to Ned. + +With the exception of Randy's single barreled shotgun, no firearms were +to be taken along. The boys demurred to this at first, but were finally +won over by Ned's sensible arguments. Canoeists cruising through a +peaceful country seldom need weapons of defense. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +THE CRUISE BEGINS + + +The first day of July fell on Thursday, and that afternoon the boxes +containing the dishes, provisions and other traps, and the four canoes +carefully wrapped in coffee sacking, were shipped to Oakville by +freight. + +On the following morning the Jolly Rovers departed by the seven o'clock +train, and a ride of an hour and a half through the beautiful Cumberland +Valley brought them to their destination. The canoes were found to be in +good condition, and after a brief delay the services of a farmer and his +team were engaged. + +The inhabitants of the little village gazed with wonder and curiosity on +the strange procession as it passed along the straggling street. The +boxes and the gayly painted canoes completely filled the bed of the +wagon. Nugget was perched on the seat beside the farmer, resplendent in +his brown uniform. He held the pennant in his right hand, and waved it +in the breeze from time to time. + +The others marched with military precision behind the wagon. Randy bore +his gun on his shoulder, and Ned and Clay carried paddles. All three +wore knickerbockers and Norfolk jackets, and their faces were protected +from the sun by canvas helmets with large visors. + +For two miles and a half the road wound through a hilly, open country. +Then it dipped into a wooded ravine, turned aside to follow a barely +perceptible path through a heavy forest, and finally ended at a fording +on the edge of the Conodoguinet. + +"Here you are, boys," cried the farmer, as he pulled up his horses +within a few feet of the water. "I reckon you couldn't have a better day +for your start. The creek's in prime condition, too." + +Nugget leaped down from the wagon and joined his companions. For a +moment or two the boys quite forgot the work that had to be done. + +With exclamations of delight they gazed on the narrow blue channel as it +poured swiftly around a bend in the woods above and vanished from sight +beneath the crooked arches of a mossy stone bridge a quarter of a mile +below. The opposite shore was rocky and lined with pine trees, and over +their tops could be seen against the horizon the jagged crest line of +the Kittatinny Mountains. + +"Come on now and get to work," said Ned finally. "My arms are itching to +take hold of a paddle." + +"So are mine," exclaimed Randy. "Let's be off as soon as possible." + +With the farmer's aid the canoes were speedily taken from the wagon and +placed on the grass close to the water's edge. They were built on +somewhat different lines, but all were serviceable and well adapted for +speed. The framework and the canvas were both light, and the average +weight was about eighty pounds, unloaded. The canoes were aptly named. +The Water Sprite belonged to Randy. It was light and graceful, and owing +to its flat bottom drew very little water. + +Clay owned the Neptune, a broad decked craft, built somewhat on the +order of the primitive Rob Roy. The Imp was narrow and rakish, with a +low cockpit and a high bow and stern. Nugget regarded it with the +affection that one feels for a favorite dog. + +The Pioneer, in which Ned had cruised down the Susquehanna, was a heavy +but neatly proportioned craft, and showed traces of wear and tear. They +all contained spacious hatches fore and aft. + +The boxes were unpacked, and under Ned's supervision the contents were +judiciously distributed and stowed away in the different canoes. Then +the seats and back rests were arranged in the cockpits, and the canoes +were gently shoved into the water. + +"Do you fellows expect to reach the river in them flimsy things?" +exclaimed the farmer when he saw the four canoes swinging lightly with +the current. "I reckon you'll repent it afore you get many miles from +here." + +"Not much danger," replied Ned laughingly. "A good canvas canoe will +stand as much as a rowboat any time. There are no obstructions in the +way, are there?" + +"I dunno," replied the farmer. "It's a wild and lonesome bit of country +that this creek runs through, and I've heard tell of bad water an' +whirlpools. The channel winds worse than any serpent. Why, it must be +all of two hundred miles to the Big River." + +"I hope you are right there," said Ned heartily, as he climbed out on +his canoe and fixed the pennant securely on the bow. "Take your seats +now," he added to the boys. "Everything's ready for the start." + +They obeyed with a rush and a scramble, and Nugget very nearly got a +ducking at the outset by thoughtlessly trying to stand up in the +cockpit. + +Good wishes and farewells were exchanged with the friendly farmer. Then +four double paddles dipped the water and rose flashing with silvery +drops, four canoes skimmed gracefully out on the swift blue surface of +the creek. The Jolly Rovers were off at last. + +When they were twenty or thirty yards down stream they turned and waved +their paddles to the farmer, who was still standing in open-mouthed +wonder beside the empty packing cases. Then a cross current, setting +toward the right shore, whisked them out of sight of the spot. + +Randy struck up the chorus of a popular boating song, and the others +joined in with eager voices. Their jubilant spirits had to find a vent +somewhere. + +What a glorious thing it was to be drifting haphazard with the rippling +current, free as the very air, and the birds that were singing sweetly +in the bushes! The narrow vista of the creek brought vividly to mind +the pleasures that lay in wait along the twisted miles of its +channel--the gamy bass lurking in the deep, shady holes, the snipe and +woodcock feeding among the reeds, the tent and campfire with the savory +odor of coffee and crisp bacon. + +That less pleasant things than these were destined to fall to the lot of +the Jolly Rovers ere they should paddle from the mouth of the creek into +the broad Susquehanna, occurred to none, else a shadow had marred their +bright anticipations at the start. + +Side by side the four canoes darted under the middle arch of the old +stone bridge, and then Ned took the lead, for it was not seemly that the +pennant should be anywhere but in front while the club was on a cruise. + +The current soon became sluggish, and the channel wound between thick +woods, where the trees almost met overhead. The boys drifted along +leisurely, stopping now and then to explore some tempting nook. + +At one place, where the water was deep and a great rock jutted from the +shore, they put their fishing rods together, and procured worms by +pulling up great clods of grass. In half an hour they caught a beautiful +string of sunfish and chubs. + +About the middle of the afternoon Ned went up to a farmhouse that was +visible among the hills and came back with a pail of butter, a loaf of +bread and two apple pies. The boys had already lunched on crackers. So +they concluded to keep these supplies for supper. + +They paddled slowly on, crossing from shore to shore as something new +took their attention. A sudden shadow, caused by the sun dipping beneath +the hill top, reminded them that evening was at hand. The banks were +closely scanned for a camping place, and an admirable one was soon +found--a grove of big trees, through which filtered a tiny stream. + +The boys landed and dragged the canoes partly out on the grassy slope. + +"The tent is the first thing," said Ned, as he lifted the big roll of +canvas from the cockpit of the Pioneer, where it had served as an +admirable seat. + +Randy unlashed the poles from the fore deck of his canoe, and joined +them together. + +This was a clever invention of Ned's. Each pole was in two parts, and +could be put together like the joints of a fishing rod. The ferrule of +the ridge pole, which had to endure the most pressure, was longer and +stouter than the others. The poles were very light but strong, and the +entire six pieces made no perceptible burden when lashed on a canoe. + +Five minutes sufficed to raise the tent, and drive the iron stakes at +the four corners. Then what articles would likely be needed were taken +from the canoes and carried inside. + +Ned hunted up two large stones, and placed them a foot apart. He laid +four iron rods across them, and proceeded to build a fire underneath. + +"That's the best cooking arrangement ever invented," he said. "We used +it altogether on the Susquehanna last summer. If I prepare the supper +you fellows must do the rest. Clay, you clean those fish. Bring me the +salt, pepper and lard, Randy, and then peel some potatoes." + +"Can I assist in any way?" drawled Nugget, as he emerged from behind the +tent, where he had been slyly brushing off his clothes and shoes. + +"Why, certainly," replied Clay. "Clean these fish for me, that's a good +fellow." + +Nugget rapidly opened and closed his mouth two or three times. +"I--I--really--I'm afraid--" he stammered. + +"Let him alone, Clay," cried Ned sharply. "Clean the fish yourself. +Suppose you set the table, Nugget," he added kindly. "Arrange the plates +and knives and forks on some grassy level place, I mean." + +While his companions were performing the duties assigned to them, Ned +went down to the stream and filled the coffee pot. + +"This is spring water, as cold as ice," he exclaimed in surprise. "The +source can't be far away." + +The sun was now out of sight, and it grew darker and darker as the +preparations for supper went on. Randy finished his own work, and helped +Nugget arrange the dishes on an outspread square strip of canvas. He lit +one of the lanterns and placed it in the center, and a few moments later +Ned made the welcome announcement that supper was ready. + +The coffee pot and the pans of fried fish and potatoes were gingerly +carried over, and then the boys seated themselves at the four corners, +crossing their legs under them, tailor fashion. + +The ruddy flames mangled with the yellow glow of the lantern, dancing on +the bright tinware, and casting the shadow of the tent far into the +forest. The brook rippled softly through the ravine, and away up the +creek the melancholy cry of a whippoorwill was heard. + +"This is what I call glorious," said Ned, as he opened a can of +condensed milk and passed it around. "Nothing equals a life in the open +air, and no other sport has the same fascination." + +"You're right there," stuttered Randy, with his mouth full, "I'd like to +live this way half the year round." + +"It beats New York," said Nugget decidedly, as he raised a pint cup of +coffee to his lips. The next instant he uttered a howl of anguish, and +made a frantic grab at the pail of cold water. + +"Was it hot?" asked Clay. + +"Try it and see," retorted Nugget indignantly as he buried his nose in +the pail. + +For a little while the silence was broken only by the clatter of knives +and forks. Then Ned said slowly, "It does a fellow lots of good to get +away from the rush and noise of town life. We are safer here to-night +than we would be at home. No peril can come near us. Our only neighbors +are the simple, kind hearted farmers--" he paused abruptly, and turned +his head to one side. + +A strange rustling noise was heard back in the forest It grew more +distinct with every second, and the boys looked at each other with fear +and wonder. Then a gruff angry bark rang out on the night air, and the +elder bushes across the glade swayed violently. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +ADRIFT IN THE DARKNESS + + +Before the frightened boys could realize what was coming, a big yellow +dog shot into view and rushed at them with a ferocious snarl. Under +other circumstances the Jolly Rovers would have courageously faced the +foe, but the attack was so sudden as to preclude the possibility of +defense. + +The supper party broke up in ignominious confusion. Ned bolted for the +nearest tree and went up the trunk like a cat. Randy fled down the slope +to the creek, and Clay sought shelter in the bushes on the far side of +the rivulet. Nugget stared hopelessly about for an instant, and then, +with a shrill cry of fear, he dived through the flaps of the tent. + +The dog rushed across the table, tramping the dishes, and unfortunately +upsetting the coffee pot. The hot liquid scalded the brute's paws, and +snarling with rage and pain, he bolted into the tent after Nugget. + +For a second or two there was a terrible outcry. Nugget's appeals for +help mingled with the dog's angry barking. Then the tent shook violently +and toppled to the ground. + +At this interesting juncture the owner of the dog emerged from the +bushes--a burly farmer with a very stern cast of features. He carried a +lantern in one hand, and a short, thick club in the other. + +The fallen tent first attracted his attention. It was wriggling about as +though endowed with life, and from underneath came strange, muffled +sounds. + +The farmer lifted one end of the canvas, and gave it a vigorous jerk, +thus liberating the dog, who began to prance about his master. A second +pull revealed Nugget's legs thrashing wildly about on the grass. The dog +immediately made a dart at them, but the farmer caught him by the scruff +of the neck and dragged him back. + +The boys had witnessed the whole affair from their hiding places, and +now they dropped from the tree, and came timidly forward. At the same +moment Randy crept out of the shadows and joined them. + +The farmer caught sight of the boys and took a step toward them, still +keeping a tight hold on his dog. "What do you mean by trespassin' here, +you impudent young rascals?" he demanded savagely. "Get out of this as +quick as you can, or I'll give you a taste of this." + +He shook his club menacingly. + +"I'm very sorry if we have offended you," said Ned quietly. "We did not +suppose there would be any objection to our camping here. I don't think +we have done any damage." + +"Damage!" growled the farmer. "No, I reckon not. You hain't had time +for that yet. It was only last night I run two thieving rascals off my +land. They hed a camp a little ways down the creek, an' fur two whole +days they were livin' at my expense, stealing applies, an' eggs, an' +chickens, an' whatever else they could lay their hands on. You people +are all alike. You don't have no regards fur a farmer's rights." + +"I'm very sorry you have such a bad opinion of us," said Ned. "I assure +you we don't deserve it. If you will let us stay here to-night we will +go quietly away in the morning." + +"No," snarled the farmer. "You can't stay. I won't have it. Pack up at +once and git out. And mind you don't stop anywhere within half a mile. I +own the land that fur on both sides of the creek." + +Just then a diversion was created by the dog. He tore loose from his +master and rushed at Nugget, who had meanwhile crawled out from the +fallen canvas, and was standing with open mouth and eyes, listening +eagerly to the conversation. + +"Here, Bowser," shouted the farmer sternly. "Come here, I say." + +The brute reluctantly obeyed, while Nugget sought shelter in a young +tree. + +The angry man turned to the three boys--for Clay had by this time joined +the others. + +"Get out as quick as you can," he resumed. "I can't stand here all +night." + +For an instant no one replied. Ned was bent on making another appeal, +and was thinking how he could best word it. The chances were that a +little persuasion would have induced the farmer to relent, and permit +the boys to remain where they were until morning. + +But Randy's unfortunate temper blazed up just then, and made a breach +that was too wide to be healed. + +"It's a confounded shame to turn us off at this time of night," he +muttered angrily. "I wouldn't treat a dog that way. If this is a sample +of country breeding I'm glad I don't--" + +"Keep quiet, Randy," whispered Ned; "you're only making things worse." + +The warning came too late. + +"You audacious sauce box," cried the farmer. "I'll learn you manners. +Take that--and that." + +He seized Randy by the collar, and cuffed him soundly on the ears three +or four times. Then he dropped him and turned to the others. "Now git +out o' here, or I'll treat you-uns the same way," he snarled. + +Randy was boiling with rage, but he dared not open his mouth again. Ned +and Clay realized that further entreaty was now useless. Without a word +they began to pack up, and were finally assisted by Randy and Nugget. + +The farmer stood at one side, watching the operation keenly. In a brief +space of time the tent and the unwashed dishes were tumbled into the +hatches. Then the boys pushed the canoes into the water, and took their +seats. + +The farmer came down to the shore to see them off. + +"Mind what I told you," he said; "no stoppin' within a good half mile." + +"Don't say a word," whispered Ned. + +His companions wisely obeyed, and in utter silence they paddled out from +the shore and headed down stream. Soon a curve in the channel hid from +view the dying embers of the campfire and the twinkle of the farmer's +lantern. + +"Wouldn't I like to get square with that old curmudgeon!" exclaimed +Randy; "my ears sting yet. For half a cent I'd go back and trample down +his grain or break his fences." + +"I wish you'd poison the dog," drawled Nugget. "The brute gave me a +horrid fright. The falling of the tent was all that saved me from being +chewed up." + +"See here, Randy," said Ned in a grave tone. "If you had kept your +temper down and your mouth shut, things would have turned out all right. +A little reasoning would have pacified that farmer. I thought you had +more sense. You heard what the man said, didn't you? + +"Two men--tramps or fishermen, probably--had been camping on his land, +and doing all the damage they could, and naturally enough he was +inclined to take out his spite on us. I don't blame him much. Such a +thing would rile any farmer. Most people have an idea that when they get +in the country they can do as they please, and for what these ignorant +fools do the innocent ones have to suffer. We are finding that out +ourselves just now." + +"But the old brute might have seen that we didn't belong to that class +of people," growled Randy, "and besides he didn't pay any attention to +what you said." + +"I had no chance to explain who we were," replied Ned. "You spoiled that +for me by your impudence. I have no doubt the man was fair enough at +heart. If we get in any more scrapes of that kind you must keep your +temper down. I'm speaking for your own good, Randy. This isn't the first +time your tongue has got you into trouble." + +"It would be a good idea to keep his mouth tied shut except at meal +times," suggested Clay laughingly. + +"If you say that again I'll hit you with my paddle," threatened Randy. +"I won't stand any nonsense from _you_, Clay Halsey." + +"No quarreling, boys," said Ned. "That's enough now. We'll let the +matter drop." + +Clay subsided, and so did Randy. The latter stood a little in awe of +Ned's rebukes, and whether he felt the justice of this one or not, he +wisely made no more allusions to the farmer. + +Indeed there were other things to think about now. The night was dark +and gloomy, and it was difficult to perceive the outlines of the shores. +The boys were tired and sleepy, but they feared to stop and hunt up a +camping ground, lest the farmer should come down and rout them out +again. A light would betray them, but without it they could do nothing. + +There seemed to be no current at all, and in the dead sluggish water +half a mile meant a wearisome paddle. + +"I'm awfully hungry," said Nugget in a plaintive tone. "I didn't have +ten bites of supper." + +"We're all hungry, for that matter," returned Ned, "and sleepy as well. +We must find a camping place." + +"You had better hurry then," observed Clay. "I believe it's going to +rain. The air feels sultry, and there isn't a star in sight." + +Almost as he spoke a sullen peal of thunder echoed among the hills, and +an instant later a jagged flash of lightning blazed on the surface of +the creek. + +The boys huddled a little closer together and nervously discussed the +situation. A storm was bad enough when they had a snug tent to shelter +them, but in their present plight, adrift on the water in pitch +darkness, there was no telling what disaster might happen. + +"I wish I was home," said Nugget. "I'm awfully afraid of thunder and +lightning." + +No one laughed at this candid confession. The occasion was too serious +for mirth. + +"I hardly know what would be best to do," began Ned. "If there is going +to be much lightning we will be safer on the water than among the trees +on shore. But here comes a gale, if I'm not mistaken. That will make +things lively for us." + +Ned's prediction was correct. The trees on shore suddenly began to +rustle and creak. The water was lashed into short, choppy waves, which +turned to white capped billows as the wind waxed stronger. It was +evident that this part of the creek occupied an exposed position. + +"Keep your canoes trim," shouted Ned. "The wind will drop as soon as the +rain comes." + +It is doubtful if his companions heard the warning. The force of the +tempest had already driven the canoes apart. + +For two or three minutes Ned was tossed about at will, momentarily +expecting his frail craft to upset. He could see no trace of his +companions in the darkness, and when he shouted the roar of the gale +almost drowned his voice. + +Suddenly he felt a severe shock, and then the canoe stood still. As he +partially rose, and peered to right and left, a dim object glided +swiftly by him. A second later it disappeared with startling abruptness, +and a frantic cry for help rang out hoarsely above the fury of the +storm. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +DISAPPEARANCE OF NUGGET + + +Ned knew that the dim object must have been a canoe, but its sudden +effacement, and the loud cry for help, were mysteries too deep for +immediate comprehension. He shouted with all the power of his voice full +half a dozen times, but no answer came back. + +Then a happy thought flashed into his mind. When he had satisfied +himself by shaking it violently that the canoe was firmly lodged on some +object--probably a rock--he leaned forward and took his lantern from the +hatch. By holding it low in the cockpit he had no difficulty in lighting +the wick. + +The lantern was a bullseye, and as soon as Ned turned the flashing glare +on the surrounding darkness the mystery was solved. The Pioneer was +lodged in mid channel on a timber dam. The bow projected a foot or two +over the edge, but could go no further owing to lack of water. None was +running over at all at this point, and the slimy timbers protruded six +or eight inches above the level of the creek. + +While Ned was making these investigations the wind ceased, and he heard +close at hand a steady roaring noise, like the furious patter of rain on +a tin roof. But it was not rain that produced the noise, though big +drops were even then beginning to fall. + +A twist of the lantern to the left sent a luminous bar of light along +the breast of the darn, and revealed a jagged break, fully six feet +wide, through which the freed water poured with the speed of a millrace. +The chasm was barely a dozen feet from where the Pioneer had lodged, and +Ned's first thought was one of gratitude for his own escape. Then he +remembered with a thrill of horror what had happened a moment or two +before. Which of his companions had been carried through the break, and +where was the unfortunate lad now? + +As Ned stood with the lantern turned on the fatal spot, a shout rang out +behind him, and the next instant the Water Sprite grounded on the edge +of the dam beside the Pioneer. + +"I'm glad you lit that lantern, Ned," exclaimed Randy breathlessly. "I +came pretty near paddling back up the creek. But where are the other +fellows?" + +Ned pointed to the broken dam and huskily related what had occurred. + +Randy was horror stricken. + +"I heard that cry for help, too," he said, "but I had no idea what it +meant. Are you sure one of the boys went through?" + +"I saw the canoe plainly," replied Ned. "There was just one cry for +help, and after that I could get no answer when I shouted." + +"We'll hope for the best," said Randy stoutly. "Perhaps he made the +plunge all right, and is half a mile down the creek by this time. Great +Caesar! I hope both the boys didn't go through. No, there's a light now +on the left shore. It's either Nugget or Clay with a lantern." + +"Paddle over and bring him back with you," directed Ned. "If he tries to +come himself he'll go through the break. Be sure to keep away above the +dam though, and when you return don't let my lantern mislead you, +because I intend to wade along the breastwork and have a look at that +hole. If you head for a dozen feet this side of the light you'll likely +land where you are now." + +Randy promised obedience, and departed in haste. Ned watched him +anxiously until he was out of sight. Then he sounded the water with his +paddle, and finding it quite shallow he climbed carefully out of the +canoe. + +Holding the lantern in one hand, and clutching the projecting edge of +the dam with the other, he moved along foot by foot, submerged to his +waist. It was well that he had this support, for his feet were on the +sloping, mud incrusted planks. + +When the broken place was three or four feet away the water began to +deepen. Ned stopped and flashed the light on the lower side of the dam. +He saw little there to comfort him. + +The fall was about six feet, and at the bottom of the long, glassy sheet +of water which plunged through the break at a frightful speed, great +foam crested waves began, and rolled and tumbled in awful confusion as +far as the gleam of the bullseye could reach. That a canoe could go +through such a place without capsizing seemed an utter impossibility. + +There was no sign of one, however, in the quiet eddies on either side of +the raging channel, and with this dismal scrap of comfort Ned retraced +his perilous journey to the canoe. He had hardly gained it, and climbed +in, when Randy and his companion paddled their craft alongside. That +companion was Clay. Nugget, then, was the missing Jolly Rover. + +"Discover anything?" demanded Randy. + +"No. It looks bad for poor Nugget, boys. If the canoe had gone through +all right he would have paddled to shore, and been making a big outcry +by this time." + +"He can't be drowned. I won't believe it," cried Randy. "See here, Ned, +isn't it likely that Nugget caught hold of the canoe when it upset, and +clung to it? The roar of the water would account for your not hearing +his cries." + +"It may be," said Ned reflectively, as he dashed a tear from his eye. +"If that's the case we will soon overtake him--provided he doesn't let +go his hold. Let's have a look at the right hand corner of the dam." + +"Yes, that will be the most likely place," added Clay. "The race is on +the other side. I nearly blundered into it." + +The boys paddled to shore, following the line of the dam, and a brief +search with the lantern revealed an easy path by which the canoes could +be carried around. + +There was no sign of a house, and Clay reported none on the opposite +side, so the mill was probably some distance below. + +Under the excitement of the moment the boys scarcely felt the weight of +the heavily laden canoes. They carried them, one at a time, up a sloping +bank, and then down through the bushes to the water. + +When they embarked, and paddled out through the quiet shallows to the +swift channel in midstream, the wind had nearly subsided and the rain +was falling in a desultory fashion which promised only a brief +continuance. In fact stars were visible here and there through rifts in +the black clouds. The storm seemed to have gone off in another +direction. + +A short distance below the dam the water became very sluggish, and the +boys knew that if Nugget was ahead of them they must speedily overtake +him. So they paddled hard, forgetful of weariness and hunger, and at +frequent intervals shouted loudly and called their companion by name. + +The lanterns were exposed to view so that Nugget could not fail to see +the light if he was anywhere near. + +For half an hour the three heartsick lads paddled on steadily, and in +that time hardly a word was exchanged. They were in no mood for +conversation. + +Finally the track of yellow light which shone ahead from Ned's bullseye +revealed a bit of an island in mid-channel--a strip of gravel and reeds, +with a few stunted bushes growing in the center. + +Ned drove the Pioneer on the upper point and stepped out. His companions +did the same, and Randy asked wearily: "What are you going to do here?" + +"Wait for daylight," said Ned. "It's the only thing we _can_ do. We are +a good mile and a half below the dam, and if the canoe was drifting in +that sluggish water, we passed it long ago. It has probably lodged on +some bar, or along the shore, and will be found in the morning." + +"Then you think that Nugget is--is drowned?" asked Clay huskily. + +Ned stooped and pulled the canoe up on the bar. + +"I don't know," he said in a broken voice. "If Nugget was alive he would +surely have heard our shouts or seen the lights. We won't know anything +positively until morning. It could do no good to paddle up the creek +again in the darkness, so we had better wait here as patiently as we +can." + +No objection was made to this plan, and the boys crawled in among the +bushes and sat down with Clay's lantern between them. The passing storm +had not cooled the sultry atmosphere, and no fire or blankets were +needed. + +All seemed stupefied by the terrible misfortune that had happened, +though as yet they hardly realized its full significance. They purposely +refrained from talking about it, though each knew in his own heart how +wildly improbable was the hope that Nugget was still alive. + +The hours of that dark, dismal night wore slowly on. There was plenty to +eat in the canoes, but no one was hungry now. A lantern was kept burning +at the upper point of the island, and from time to time one of the boys +went down to the shore and shouted till the echo rang far among the +hills. They must have known that it was but a hollow mockery, and yet +there was a scrap of consolation even in pretending that hope was not +entirely gone. + +Ned insisted that his companions should lie down and sleep. This seemed +impossible at first, but after a while drowsiness and fatigue asserted +their sway. Randy went down to the canoes and returned with three +blankets. He and Clay wrapped themselves up, and chose a soft spot among +the bushes. In five minutes they were sleeping soundly. + +Ned remained where he was for a long while, keeping solitary vigil over +his companions. Then he began to pace up and down the island, and +finally he pulled the blanket about his shoulders and sat down on the +upper end of the bar with his back against the side of the canoe. + +It was his intention to remain awake, but unconsciously his eyelids +drooped, and after a feeble struggle or two he sank into a deep slumber. + +He knew nothing more until he woke in the gray dawn of the morning. For +a few seconds his surroundings seemed familiar. Then the bitter truth +flashed into his mind, and he rose with an aching heart. He was stiff +and shivering, and the cool breeze that blew down the creek, scattering +the light, vapory mists over the surface of the water, made him keenly +conscious of the pangs of hunger. + +He went up in the bushes and wakened Clay and Randy. They followed him +stiffly down to the shore, and after dipping their feet in the cool, +rippling water, all sat down on the grass and ate a few crackers. Ned +offered to build a fire and make some hot coffee, but the others +protested that they did not care for it. + +The sun was just peeping above the horizon when the boys pushed their +canoes into the water and embarked on the dreaded journey up the creek. +Both shores were thickly timbered, and to make the search more thorough +Ned kept close to the right bank, while Clay and Randy followed the +left. + +They paddled with leisurely strokes, maintaining a sharp watch on every +patch of reeds and every little inlet. In the first mile there was +nothing to reward the searchers--not the slightest trace of the missing +canoe or its occupant. + +Then the channel made a sharp curve, and when they paddled around it +they saw, nearly half a mile above, a gray, weather worn mill, standing +in a grove of willows on the right hand shore. The dam was visible a +hundred yards or so beyond, and the sunlight was dancing on the foaming +torrent that poured through the break. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +THE LOST FOUND + + +Without lessening their vigilance the boys paddled on against the +increasing current. When the mill was very near Ned signaled the others +to join him. + +They quickly crossed to the right shore, and the three canoes were run +into a quiet little nook close to the swirling mouth of the race. The +mill was twenty yards above, and a little to the right of it a cozy +frame house, overgrown with trailing vines, peeped above the willow +trees. + +"I thought we had better stop here on account of the swift water," said +Ned. "We will go up to the dam on foot, and take a look at the deep +holes under the breastwork." + +Before Clay or Randy could reply a man came briskly through the +trees--the miller beyond a doubt, for his clothes and hat were white +with flour. He greeted the boys with a smile and a cherry nod. + +"I guess you're the chaps I was just starting out to find," he said. +"T'other young chap was getting anxious about you, and not much wonder. +He feared you were all drowned, and I guess you thought the same about +him. It was lucky I run across him this morning. You see I went down to +the creek at daybreak to look for a stray cow, and when--" + +"Did you find a boy called Nugget?" interrupted Ned in great excitement. + +"And a green and white canoe called the Imp?" shouted Randy, as he +tossed his cap into the air. + +"That's about the way of it," responded the miller. "But come up to the +house and see for yourselves. You look as if you were nearly starved." + +The boys needed no second invitation. With eager steps and light hearts +they followed their guide through the trees, and across the little +garden to the rear of the house. + +The miller threw open the door, and they rushed in with cries of +delight. There sat Nugget at the kitchen table, making a fierce +onslaught on ham and fried potatoes. He was rigged out in a suit of +clothes three times too big for him, and his brown uniform was drying +before the fire. + +The boys were so glad to see him that they first laughed and then cried +almost, while the miller and his wife looked on in wonder. + +Nugget took things very coolly. + +"Where did you fellows spend the night?" he asked, after the first +greetings were over. + +"Where did _you_ spend it?" exclaimed Ned. "You gave us a pretty scare, +Nugget. We never expected to see you again." + +"Let him spin his yarn while you're eating breakfast," interrupted the +miller. "Lizzie, set three more plates out." + +A moment later the boys were attacking the food with keen appetites, and +as Nugget was now through, he proceeded to relate his adventures. + +"When the wind came up and separated us," he began, "I got pretty badly +scared. I was afraid it would rain hard, so I took out my canvass apron +and buttoned it over the cockpit, close up to my waist." + +"Good for you!" said Ned. "If I'm not mistaken that was what saved you." + +"Perhaps it was," resumed Nugget. "I paddled on for a little while, +trying to find you fellows. All at once I heard an awful roar, and the +canoe made a jump as though it was going to stand on end. I gave one +yell, and the next thing I knew big waves were jumping all around me." + +He paused to shiver at the recollection. + +"And what then?" asked Randy breathlessly. + +"Then I was more scared than ever," continued Nugget in a reluctant +voice. "So I crawled under the apron and snuggled up in the cockpit. +There was plenty of room, and the cushion made a nice soft pillow, +and--and--I fell asleep." + +"Fell asleep!" ejaculated Ned in amazement. "You don't mean it?" + +"Why, yes," said Nugget. "I was awfully tired, you know, and I couldn't +keep my eyes open. The next thing I remember is that man there helping +me out. It was daylight, and the canoe was in a little channel with +thick bushes all around." + +The boys were not slow to appreciate the ludicrous side of Nugget's +adventure, and they laughed long and heartily. + +Then the miller told how he found the canoe in a stretch of back water +that ran a few yards in from the creek, and how surprised he was when he +pulled the apron off the cockpit and saw Nugget fast asleep. + +"I noticed that inlet," said Ned, "but I didn't see anything of the +canoe." + +"Because I pulled it out in the bushes," replied the miller. "The +current has a natural drift toward the place, and clogs it up with +rubbish sometimes. The lad had a narrow squeeze of it when he went +through that hole in the dam. I intend to fix it as soon as the water +goes down a little." + +"I don't want to go through any more such places," said Nugget. "I +suppose that apron was what kept the water out. I shipped a little bit, +though I didn't know it until this morning, when I found my clothes all +wet. My extra suit is in your canoe, Randy. I had dry shirts, though. +Say, wouldn't I look nice marching down Fifth Avenue in this rig?" + +The boys laughed at the idea, and then drew their chairs away from the +table, and chatted for half an hour with the miller, relating all that +had happened on the previous night, and telling him of their proposed +trip to the Susquehanna. He, in turn, gave them much interesting +information about the creek, where to camp and where to fish. + +Ten o'clock came before any one realized it, and the boys prepared to +depart, in spite of their host's earnest invitation to stay for a day or +two. Nugget changed his clothes, and started for the inlet with the +miller, while the others embarked in their canoes, after thanking the +miller's wife for her hospitality. + +The inlet was half a mile down the creek. The boys reached there first, +and were joined by the others two or three minutes later. + +Fortunately Nugget's paddle was not lost. He had found it stranded along +the shore while on his way to the mill that morning. + +The boys lingered a moment to shake hands with their kind hearted +friend, and thank him for his services. + +"That's all right," said the miller, "only too glad to oblige you. Be +sure and stop when you pass here again. My name is John Kling." + +"We'll spend a week with you next time," returned Ned, as he grasped his +paddle. + +"Please have the dam mended before then," drawled Nugget. + +The miller laughed and waved his hand, and amid a chorus of "good-byes" +the Jolly Rovers paddled away from shore. The shadow of misfortune was +forgotten, and the future was full of bright anticipations, as before. + +The birds sang among the leaves, the fish leaped in the ripples, and +the sunlight danced on the blue water. + +The little island, where the boys had spent such a wretched night, was +soon far behind, and they entered upon a more beautiful stretch of +country than they had yet seen. The water was very sluggish, and on each +side were great hills densely covered with pine and spruce trees. + +The temptations to stop were so frequent that by mid-afternoon the boys +were scarcely five miles from the mill--that is to say by water. It was +probably less than half that distance in a straight line. + +"I'm really hungry again in spite of that big breakfast," said Clay. +"Can't we stop and have lunch?" + +"I second that," cried Randy. + +The others were of the same mind, and as a very pretty spot happened to +come within view about that time, they paddled across to it and landed. + +Closer inspection only added to the charms of the place. + +It lay on the right shore, at the mouth of a deep, dark ravine. A beach +of smooth pebbles sloped back to a grassy bank three or four feet high, +and on the plateau above were a dozen or more massive girthed pine +trees, whose fragrant needles carpeted the ground. A fair sized brook +gurgled through the center over a bed of mossy stones, and emptied into +the creek. + +"We might travel a good many miles and not find such a place as this," +said Ned. "Suppose we stay here for a day or two. Tomorrow is Sunday +and we would have to stop then anyhow." + +This suggestion was adopted without a dissenting word and the boys +became enthusiastic over the prospect. Randy wanted to begin fishing at +once, while Nugget proposed an exploration of the ravine. A few sensible +words from Ned cooled their ardor, and they started in with a will to +arrange the camp. + +The tent was staked in a carefully selected spot, and then the canoes +were unloaded and placed on the beach in a row, bottom up, so what +little water was in them might drain out. + +While Nugget and Clay carried the provisions and other articles up to +the tent, Ned and Randy washed the dirty dishes of the night before. +Then the blankets were put to air on a stout line stretched between two +trees, and a great heap of firewood was collected. + +"That's all for the present," said Ned, as he finished tying the pennant +to the front tent pole. "You can do a little fishing now if you want to. +Don't venture far away from the camp, because I'm going up the ravine to +look for a farmhouse." + +Randy declared that he was tired and would rather stay by the tent, so +Nugget and Clay prepared their rods and went down the creek a short +distance to a jutting point of rock. With a diminutive hook they caught +a couple of minnows, which they used for bait. + +For a long time their patience was unrewarded, but finally Nugget had a +strike, and after a severe struggle he landed a fine bass that could +not have weighed less than a pound. Clay caught a smaller one, and after +that the fish stopped biting. + +At sundown they put up their rods and went back to camp. Ned had just +returned, bringing with him a pair of dressed chickens and a pail of +milk. + +"These will make us a good dinner to-morrow," he said. "I had a hard +time finding the farmhouse. It was more than a mile away, and the path +led through the woods for nearly the whole distance. I suppose you are +pretty hungry by this time. If you all pitch in and help we'll soon have +supper." + +In a short time the fire was blazing merrily. Ned was as good as his +word, and the _menu_ he set before the boys that night was a tempting +one. It included fried bass, ham and eggs, and baked potatoes, with milk +and pie for desert. + +As the night was warm all indulged in a delicious swim after the supper +dishes were cleared up. At nine o'clock they turned in and tied the tent +flaps shut. Even this precaution was felt to be unnecessary, since the +very loneliness of the place was a protection against harm. + +Randy, who occupied the proud position of log keeper to the Jolly +Rovers, sat up for a while to jot down the events of the cruise in a +blank book. He finally extinguished the lantern with a sigh of +satisfaction, and was soon sleeping beside his companions. + +Sunday dawned bright and clear, but the boys did not get up until nine +o'clock. The pine needles made a couch that was hard to leave. The day +was observed in a spirit of proper regard. Its monotony was somewhat +alleviated by the dinner of fried chicken, but all were glad when night +came. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +BATTERS AND JOE + + +Ned was up with the sun on Monday morning. He pulled the tent flaps wide +open, so that the cool air would stream in and awaken his companions. +Then he threw a towel over his shoulder and marched down to the mouth of +the brook to wash his face and hands. + +But this laudable purpose was quite driven from his mind by the +discovery which greeted his eyes when he arrived there. On the spit of +jutting sand which had formed at the junction of the creek and the brook +was the deep imprint of a boat's keel, and close by were half a dozen +large footsteps. + +They looked quite fresh, and had evidently been made by two persons. +Some were long and pointed; others square toed, and shod with nails or +pegs. + +As Ned gazed on these evidences of a nocturnal visit, he felt pretty +much as did Robinson Crusoe when he discovered the print of naked feet +on his island. + +It was impossible to tell where these strangers had been, since the +gravel beach and the grassy soil beyond it left no traces. + +Ned washed his face and hands and returned to the tent with a troubled +mind. The boys were awake by this time, and he told them of his +discovery. + +"Hullo! that explains something," exclaimed Clay. "I got awake last +night, and struck a match to find the pail of water that was standing +outside the tent. I thought I heard a noise down by the creek, but I was +too sleepy to bother about it, and went back to bed." + +"Then you must have scared these fellows off," said Ned. "That accounts +for nothing being stolen. Everything of value was in the tent, however, +and I don't suppose they cared to meddle with the canoes." + +"Do you think these are the same men that the farmer chased off his +land?" asked Randy. + +"Very likely," replied Ned. "I'm sorry now that I didn't inquire more +about them. The best thing we can do is to break camp and put about ten +miles between us and this place." + +"That would be cowardly," exclaimed Randy. "We have no reason to be +afraid of these fellows. They'll get a warm reception if they meddle +around camp again. Let's stay here for one day anyhow. We won't find +many prettier places, and besides, I'm anxious to do some hunting and +fishing." + +Clay seemed disposed to side with Randy, while Nugget favored both sides +of the question. He wanted to go, and he was just as anxious to catch +some more bass down at the point of rocks. + +Ned hesitated for a moment. He knew that it would be the more prudent +plan to break camp at once, but the same time he was not inclined to +insist upon it, and thus incur the ill will of his companions. + +"I see that the majority is against me," he said good naturedly. "But if +we get in any kind of a scrape you fellows will shoulder the blame, +that's all." + +The boys appeared to be satisfied with this arrangement. They trooped +off to the brook to wash, while Ned turned aside to make the fire. + +After breakfast Randy shouldered his gun and started down the creek in +search of snipe or woodcock. Clay and Nugget caught a pailful of minnows +and departed for the point of rocks, for this was the time of day when +the bass would probably bite best. + +Ned did not accompany them. He had the true appreciation of outdoor +life, and was never happier than when doing odd bits of work around the +camp. He occupied himself in this way for an hour or two--arranging the +interior of the tent, hanging the blankets out to air, stacking the wood +neatly by the fireplace, and scrubbing the frying pans and the outside +of the coffee pot with sand and gravel. + +He was scooping out a little fish pond at the mouth of the brook when +Randy returned. + +"What luck?" he asked, looking up from his work. + +"Not a thing," answered Randy in a disappointed tone. "The snipe are all +on the other side of the creek. I'm going after them now in my canoe. I +tramped along the shore for at least a mile, Ned, and I didn't see a +trace of anybody, either on this side or on the other. Our midnight +visitors must have cleared out for good." + +"I hope they have," said Ned. "What luck are the boys having?" + +"Four bass, and one of them is a big fellow. Help me up with my canoe +now, will you?" + +Ned rendered the desired assistance. + +"Don't stay too long," he told Randy. + +"I'll be back inside of an hour," was the reply, as the other paddled +swiftly down the creek. + +Ned finished the fish pond to his satisfaction, and feeling a little +tired, he climbed up the slope and threw himself down in a clump of high +grass behind the tent. He was gazing dreamily up the creek with his head +resting on his outstretched arms, when a boat containing two persons +came suddenly into view around the bend. + +Ned crept a little deeper into the grass, where he could see without +being seen. The boat was now out of sight behind the trees, but when it +reappeared a moment later, directly opposite the camp, a single glance +satisfied Ned that it was not the same craft which had landed at the +mouth of the brook during the previous night. + +This was a rude affair known as a "flat." It was long and narrow, with +square ends and sides, and from its cranky motion evidently had no keel. + +The occupants were young fellows of twenty or thereabouts. They were +roughly dressed, and their general appearance was by no means favorable. +They stopped paddling in amazement when they caught sight of the camp, +and after a brief conversation, which Ned did not catch, they ran their +craft on shore a few yards below the mouth of the brook. + +Ned shifted his position, and watched their movements curiously. The +strangers evidently intended to pitch a camp of their own, for they made +frequent trips up the slope, carrying blankets and tin pails, and +various other articles. Then they chopped down a number of fine shoots, +and constructed, in a brief space of time, a snug lean-to between two +big trees. + +Having placed their things in this--casting suspicious glances all the +while at the tent--they went back to the boat, climbed in, and paddled +swiftly down the creek. + +Ned rose to his feet, and looked after them in amazement. As the boat +vanished around the sharp curve that the creek made immediately below +the camp, he noticed for the first time a bait box trailing on behind. + +"I understand it now," he muttered. "Those fellows are out for a fishing +trip, and they're going down to the rocks to set their lines. I hope +they won't get into a row with Clay and Nugget." + +The possibility of such a thing made Ned uneasy. He stood in perplexity +for a moment or two, and had just made up his mind to go down and look +after the boys, when the sound of loud, angry voices reached his +hearing. + +He hesitated no longer, but leaped down the slope and ran at full speed +along the beach. Bursting through a covert of reeds and tall bushes, he +emerged within a few yards of the rocks. + +On the outermost bowlder, close to the swirling current, were Nugget, +Clay, and the two strangers. The flat was drawn out on shore. + +As Ned put foot on the nearest rock the taller of the strange lads +struck Nugget violently on the arm with a paddle. Clay immediately hit +the cowardly fellow in the breast, and in the struggle that followed the +latter lost his balance and rolled backward into the swift current. His +companion pounced on Clay, and they came down together on the rock, +while Nugget stood by, holding his injured arm and shouting for help. + +Ned took in the situation at a glance. He saw that the lad in the water +was a poor swimmer, and could make no headway against the current. +Without stopping to count the cost he threw off his coat, and ran to the +edge of the bowlder. + +"Bring the boat quick!" he shouted to Clay and his assailant, who had +fallen apart and were glaring wrathfully at each other. + +Then Ned put his arms together and dived head first into the foaming +water. He came to the surface half a dozen yards below, and struck out +vigorously for the struggling lad, who was by this time on the point of +exhaustion. + +Ned was an admirable swimmer, and absolutely fearless in the water. + +"Keep cool, and don't struggle," he shouted, as he reached the fellow +and put on hand on his collar. + +The other had sense enough to obey, and both floated down stream +together. + +It was out of the question for Ned to reach the shore immediately with +his heavy burden, and as Clay and the other lad were slow about +launching the boat, the affair might have ended seriously. But just at +that time Randy came paddling up the creek in his canoe, and spied the +drifting figures. + +He was soon alongside, and as the stern of the Water Sprite swung toward +them, Ned and his companion each threw an arm over it. + +Then Randy paddled for the shore, and landed about sixty feet below the +rocks. + +Clay and the other stranger reached the spot in the boat just as Ned and +the lad he had so nobly rescued, waded out on the beach. The latter +shook the water from his clothes and hesitatingly approached Ned. + +"I dunno' how to thank you for what you did," he said sheepishly. "I'm +mighty sorry I hit that chap. Me and Joe were downright mad because +you'uns were fishing thar in our place. You see we come here from the +mountains every now and then, and ketch a lot of bass, and sell 'em back +at Newville. I reckon it ain't our place anyhow, an' you'uns can fish +thar as much as you please. My name is Jim Batters--Batters they allus +calls me--and that's my brother Joe there." + +"I'm glad to know you, Batters," said Ned, holding out his hand. "You +are welcome to your fishing ground. We are going away to-morrow anyhow. +As for the quarrel--we'll just let that drop. You had better go up to +camp now and dry your clothes." + +Batters was not satisfied, however, until he had apologized all around, +and made Joe do the same. Nugget had arrived by this time, and he +declared that his arm no longer pained him. + +Then the whole party went up the creek, some on water and some on land. +The two mountaineers were tall, lanky youths with expressionless faces, +surrounded by shocks of yellow hair. + +They wore homespun clothes and high boots. They were speedily on +intimate terms with Jolly Rovers, and gladly accepted Ned's invitation +to dinner. They asked many curious questions, and lost themselves in +admiration over the canoes. + +Ned told them about the nocturnal visitors of the previous night, and +inquired if they had seen anything of the men. Both stoutly replied in +the negative, but a swift, covert glance that passed between them did +not escape Ned's attention. + +During the remainder of the day he remembered it more than once. When +dinner was over they all went down to the rocks, and Batters and Joe +proudly displayed their skill at fishing. In two hours they caught +fifteen large bass. For bait they used crabs and lizards, which they had +brought from the mountains. + +In the evening Randy entertained the country lads with a mouth organ +performance, and at ten o'clock the visitors went to their camp on the +other side of the brook. + +It had been a long day, and the Jolly Rovers were glad to get to bed. +They were too drowsy to think about the possibility of another visit +from the mysterious boat, and in a very few minutes all were sound +asleep. + +About midnight--as nearly as he could judge afterward--Ned sat up with a +start, firmly convinced that some danger was at hand. As he listened +with a wildly throbbing heart, soft footsteps cracked on the pine +needles outside, and then the tent flap was torn open, revealing against +the lingering embers of the campfire the semblance of a human form. + +"Hi! you chaps in thar!" whispered a gruff and unfamiliar voice. "Get +awake, quick!" + +The words had a soothing affect on Ned's fears, and satisfied him that +the visitor--whoever he was--had come in the guise of friendship. He +drew a match from his pocket and rubbed it on his trousers. It ignited, +and revealed the pale face of Batters, framed between the tent and flap. + +"Great Caesar! Is it you?" exclaimed Ned. "What's wrong?" + +"Hush! not so loud," whispered Batters. "Put that light out, quick!" + +Ned obeyed in haste. + +"Now rouse the other chaps, and do it quietly, so they don't make no +noise." + +This was a pretty stiff order, and Ned had some fears for the result. +Happily all went well, and in two or three minutes an audience of four +trembling and well nigh panic stricken lads was sitting in the darkness, +listening to Batter's ominous tale. + +"Joe waked me up a little while ago," he began, "an' said there was a +strange boat, an' two men in it, down by the mouth of the run. I tole +Joe ter stay an' watch our stuff. Then I sneaked along the shore an' +seen the fellows sittin' on the beach along side the canoes. + +"I didn't dare go close enough to hear what they was sayin', so I come +right up to the tent. I reckon you uns had better make a move afore the +canoes get carried off. I'll do what I kin fur you. If we all take +paddles and run out yellin' an' screachin' mebbe the fellars will get +scared and make tracks without showin' fight." + +This proposition rather staggered the boys. + +"The thieves probably want more than the canoes," said Ned. "It's very +likely they are right outside the tent now. I hardly know what we ought +to do." + +"Let's give them our money and watches, and anything else they want," +suggested Nugget. "If we don't they'll surely cut our throats." + +"Keep quiet!" whispered Clay savagely. "If you don't I'll throw you out +of the tent." + +At this awful threat Nugget subsided and buried his head in his blanket. + +Meanwhile Randy, whose temper was beginning to rise at the thought of +being robbed, had quietly reached for his gun, and was fumbling with it +under cover of the darkness. + +An unlucky move dashed the stock against his lantern, and the crash of +broken glass followed. At the same moment Batters called in a loud +whisper, "Here they are. I see them movin' among the trees." + +At this startling news a wailing cry broke from Nugget, and an instant +later a gruff voice called distinctly: + +"Come out of that one at a time, young fellars. Move lively, an' you +won't be harmed." + +There was dead silence for a few seconds, and then the command was +repeated in a more peremptory tone. + +"They ain't got no shootin' weapons," whispered Batters; "only short +sticks. I can see 'em by the firelight." + +On hearing this, Randy was seized with a sudden access of courage. Gun +in hand, he dashed by his companions to the front of the tent. + +Batters saw the glint of the weapon and made a futile grab at it. + +"Don't do no shootin'," he whispered hoarsely. + +The warning came too late. Randy stepped out from the flaps and raised +it to his shoulder. + +"Make tracks, you villains," he shouted, "or I'll put daylight through +you." (This was a favorite expression of Randy's purloined from the life +of Kit Carson.) Then, as retreating footsteps were heard, he lowered the +weapon a little and pulled the trigger. + +The thunderous report was followed by a yell of pain, and two voices +hissed out dire threats of vengeance as the baffled men went hastily +down the slope. + +As Randy turned toward his companions Batters sprang at him and wrenched +the weapon from his hands. + +"Didn't I tell you not to shoot?" he cried. "Now you've gone an' hit +Bug. I kinder feared it might be him, but I wasn't certain. That's him +swearin' this very minute. Oh! I'll fix you for this." + +Pushing Randy to one side and dashing the gun on the ground, Batters +vanished in the darkness, yelling at the top of his voice, "Bug! Bug! +it's me!" + +The boys were overcome with terror and amazement. Who in the world was +Bug, and why should Batters be so anxious about him? + +"Why did you do that?" demanded Ned sternly. "If you have shot any one +don't expect us to shield you." + +Randy did not reply. He staggered into the tent and rolled over in +helpless mirth. + +"It--it was--a salt cartridge," he finally was able to gasp. "I +had--three or four of them. I read how to make them--in a book. Didn't I +pepper their legs nicely though. + +"I don't care what it was," exclaimed Ned angrily. "You ought to be +ashamed of yourself. You'll break up this trip yet with your +foolishness." + +Randy sobered down in a moment or two, and when he joined the others +outside the tent he was disposed to take a less humorous view of his +smart performance. A light was visible at the mouth of the brook, and +four figures could be seen around it. + +Joe had evidently joined his brother. The conversation that was carried +on was for the most part inaudible, but now and then a threatening +sentence could be heard, or a few words of entreaty. + +"Serious trouble will come out of this," said Ned. "For half a cent I'd +deliver you over to those fellows, Randy. The worst of it is that they +were going away when you fired." + +"Dodging behind trees, that's all," replied Randy. + +"Not a bit of it," exclaimed Ned angrily. "They were running toward the +creek." + +As Clay stoutly backed up this assertion, Randy lapsed into sullen +silence. He was more frightened than he chose to let appear. + +After what seemed a painfully long interval to the waiting boys, Batters +came softly out of the gloom and stood before them. + +"I reckon there ain't no more danger," he said. "It wasn't Bug what was +hit; the other fellow. He's sittin' down thar on the stones now, a +pickin' lumps of salt out of his legs with a knife blade. He's mad as +blazes too, an' me an Bug had all we could do ter keep him from comin' +back here. + +"I tole Bug how you saved my life, an' when he heard that he put his +foot down an' swore you chaps shouldn't be harmed. Bug ain't bad at +heart, he ain't. As soon as the other fellow gits all the salt out +they're both going away. They hev a camp somewhere's down the creek." + +"But who are these men, Batters, and what do you know about them?" asked +Ned. + +The lad hesitated for a moment. + +"I reckon I might as well make a clean breast of it," he said in a +pitiful tone. "Don't you-uns think bad of me an' Joe though, cause we've +been brung up different, 'deed we have--." + +"Look here, Batters, you needn't tell us if you don't want to," +interrupted Ned sympathetically. + +He had an inkling of the true state of affairs, and wished to spare the +lad what was evidently a painful recital. + +"No, I'd better tell," responded Batters. "It's just this way. Bug is +big brother to me and Joe, only he's about six years older than us. You +see when he was a little chap dad an' mammy lived down near Middlesex, +an' Bug he got in bad company. When dad moved up to the Gap, Bug was +toler'ble bad, an' since then he's been gittin' worse. + +"He was in Carlisle jail twict fer stealin', an' in summer he jest lives +shiftless like along the creek, helpin' hisself to the farmers' stuff. +Now he dassent come home no more, for dad says he won't own him fur a +son. Mammy cries heaps an' says her heart's broke. + +"You see dad an' mammy are honest, if they are poor, an' they made me +an' Joe promise we'd never take nothin' what don't belong to us. Mammy +says she wants us ter grow up the right way, an' not be bad an' +wuthless like--like Bug--." + +Here Batters broke down and began to cry softly. His sad little +tale--alas! only too common in all walks of life!--had deeply moved his +hearers, and more than one of the boys had tears in their eyes. + +Ned walked over and threw his arm around the weeping lad. + +"Don't cry, Batters," he said softly. "Some day Bug will find out his +mistake and begin to do better. We don't think any the less of you and +Joe on his account. Stick to your mother, and do what she says, and +you'll be sure to grow up the right kind of men." + +Batters was consoled by this boyish sympathy. He wiped his eyes and +looked gratefully at Ned. + +"Here, take this," said Nugget, holding out a handsome pocket knife. +"It's got four blades, and a corkscrew, and a file." + +Batters looked doubtfully at the treasure. Randy had just lighted a +lantern, and the rays flashed on the mother of pearl handle. + +"I want you to have it," said Nugget, "my father will send me plenty +more from New York." + +The temptation was too much. Batters took the knife with a smile, and +incoherently tried to thank the donor. + +All at once the creaking of oars was heard, and a moment later Joe +joined the party. + +"They've gone," he announced. "T' other fellow got tired pickin' the +salt out. Bug tole him he ought to be glad cause now he was well +seasoned. Then the fellow jabbed at Bug with a knife. Missed him +though." + +"Well, I'm 'glad the affair is over," said Ned. "We'll be able to get +some sleep now. Batters, suppose you and Joe come in our tent? There is +room enough." + +Batters hesitated and gave an awkward hitch to his trousers. + +"I reckon you'd better not do any more sleepin' here," he said uneasily. +"Bug pulled me aside, and said I should tell you-uns to light out afore +daybreak, 'cause the other fellar will surely come back an' lay fur the +chap what shot him. I dunno where Bug picked him up, or who he is. He +looks like a tramp, with his dirty beard and wicked eyes. H's a mighty +bad man when he gits riled, Bug says. It's a pity that chap shot him, +'cause they were both running away." + +"I know that," replied Ned, "and I'm awfully sorry it happened. It was a +mean, contemptible trick under the circumstances. But what had we better +do now?" + +"Well, I reckon it would be better to pack up and start," advised +Batters. "You see Bug and the other fellar have a camp about two mile +down the creek. You can slide right past it in the darkness, and if you +keep on fur a good ways the fellar what was shot won't find you again. +Bug tole me they didn't intend to go much further down the creek. You +needn't be afraid to travel by night, 'cause there ain't any bad water +near here, an' the first dam is twelve mile away." + +Ned was inclined to act promptly on Batters' suggestions, and It goes +without saying that the others were of the same mind--especially Randy, +who had conceived a mortal fear of Bug's companion. + +It was between one and two o'clock when the boys began the work of +breaking camp, and as Batters and Joe rendered useful assistance, the +heavily laden canoes were in the water half an hour later. The start was +made in darkness and silence. Ned thanked Batters for the important +service he had rendered that night, and added a few words of comfort and +sympathy. + +Hands were shaken all around, and hopes expressed of meeting again. Then +the Jolly Rovers paddled noiselessly away in the gloom, and Batters and +Joe went up the beach to their shelter of pine boughs. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +HOW THE DAY DAWNED + + +It was with no pleasant sensations that the boys found themselves for +the second time adrift in the darkness. Not that they had any fears of +the journey that lay before them; that was a trifling matter compared to +the loss of sleep and the indignity of being routed out of their snug +beds through no fault of their own. + +There was no open complaint, however, and for ten or fifteen minutes the +silence of the night was disturbed only by the low swish of the paddles, +as the four canoes moved abreast down midstream. + +"This thing is getting monotonous, and I hope it won't happen again," +remarked Ned finally, in a very grave voice. "If you fellows had +listened to me this morning we would be sound asleep this minute in some +place down the creek, instead of floating here in the dark with a forced +paddle of ten miles ahead of us." + +"It's hard luck, that's a fact," muttered Clay. + +"No luck about it," retorted Ned. "It's pure recklessness, and Randy is +chiefly to blame." + +"No more than the rest of you," growled Randy. "I wasn't the only one +that wanted to stay." + +"I don't mean that," said Ned, "though of course the trouble began +there. I refer to your foolish act a little while ago. If you hadn't +fired that salt cartridge the men would have gone quietly away, and we +could have remained where we were until morning. Now you have made a +bitter enemy, and if he don't give us future annoyance it will only be +through the intercession of Batters' brother--provided he has enough +influence over his companion. + +"I feel glad in one way that we stayed. Batters and Joe are good hearted +fellows, if they _are_ rough on the outside, and it was a pleasure to +become acquainted with them. I hope their brother Bug will turn over a +new leaf some day, and be allowed to go home. + +"But that wasn't what I started in to talk about," resumed Ned after a +brief pause. "The fact is, Randy, that you must be more careful in +future. You have been to blame for every one of our scrapes so far, and +if you intend to keep this up we may as well abandon the cruise and go +home. This is the second warning I've had to give you. The other one +don't seem to have done much good." + +"I think you are getting pretty meddlesome, Ned Chapman," exclaimed +Randy in a sullen tone; "when I want any advice from you I'll ask for +it." + +"Don't give way to your temper, now," returned Ned quietly, "I'm talking +for the common good, and you know it in your heart." + +"Ned's right," exclaimed Clay. "This cruise has been a chapter of +misadventures from the start, and every one of them lies at your door." + +Randy drove his paddle into the water with furious strokes, and was soon +a dozen yards ahead of his companions. + +"I'll give you fellows a chance to get out of the dumps," he called back +angrily. "I hope you'll be in a better humor when we meet again." + +Then he drove the canoe forward so rapidly that the dip of the paddle +was soon faint in the distance. + +"Let him go," said Ned. "He can't come to any harm, and it will give him +a good chance to cool down. That's the main trouble with Randy. Up comes +his temper at the least word of rebuke, and though he knows that he is +wrong, his self will and anger won't let him admit it. I believe he will +take this warning to heart though." + +Clay and Nugget did not reply. The former's conscience was a little bit +uneasy, for he knew that his imprudent utterance had started Randy off +in anger. + +The three boys paddled on silently for a while, and then Nugget managed +to ground the Imp on a concealed ledge of rocks. It required the united +efforts of his companions to dislodge it, and even then it was a labor +of nearly five minutes' duration. A canvas canoe must be handled very +carefully when among the rocks. + +About this time the moon came out from a bank of fleecy clouds, and the +light--feeble though it was--enabled the boys to make better speed, and +to keep a watch ahead for shoals. + +A moment later they wished with all their hearts that the moon was on +the other side of the globe, for a bend in the channel revealed a fire +on the right bank, a short distance below. The flames were partly +screened by a fringe of bushes, but not sufficiently to prevent the +ruddy light from flashing far across the water. + +"That must be Bug Batters's camp," whispered Ned. + +"It will be a ticklish operation to get by if the men are on the watch. +We can manage to, though, if we are prudent and don't lose our heads. +Don't breathe a word or make any noise with your paddles. Just stick +close to me." + +Ned headed for the left bank, which was thickly wooded, and paddled +slowly and noiselessly along the very edge. The others followed his +example, and in a short time the three canoes were directly opposite the +fire. Two dark figures squatting beside it could be plainly seen. The +dancing reflection of the flames revealed the boat pulled partially out +of water, and stretched far beyond mid channel. + +It was a thrilling moment. Discovery at first seemed inevitable, for the +men were facing the creek. But as no alarm came, and the canoes crept +deeper into the friendly gloom, the boys began to breathe more easily. + +They did not relax their caution until the fire was two or three +hundred yards in the rear. Then Ned signified that the danger was over +by paddling boldly and swiftly toward mid-channel. + +"I hope we have seen the last of Bug Batters and his companion," he +said, "and I really believe that they won't give us any more trouble." + +"I'm glad to hear you say so," replied Clay. "That's my opinion, too. If +we put about ten miles between us and them we ought to feel safe." + +"Better make it twenty," remarked Nugget uneasily. "Then we will be +twice as safe." + +"Oh, that won't be necessary," laughed Ned. "I say, fellows, it must +have been a pretty stiff ordeal for Randy to go by that fire, within +sight of the man he peppered with salt." + +"Well, I should say so," returned Clay. "When we catch up with him we'll +ask him how he felt." + +"But that won't be for some time to come," said Ned, "unless we move a +little faster. Try to keep up with me, and don't lag behind." + +He started off with short, quick strokes, and after a brief race the +others settled down abreast of him. + +The moon outlined the limits of the creek very distinctly, shining first +from one side, then from the other, as the channel followed its tortuous +course. The water continued deep and fairly swift, and during the next +hour and a half the boys must have paddled no less than six or seven +miles. + +Nothing was seen of Randy, but this fact was easily explained, since he +had gained considerable on his companions at the start, and had +moreover a light and easily running canoe. + +Presently the sky to the eastward became faintly streaked with gray, and +the close night air was succeeded by a fragrant and delicious breeze. +Dawn came on apace, heralded by the singing of birds, and the splashing +of fish in search of the early insect. The mist began to rise from the +water, and in some distant barnyard hungry cattle lowed. + +"There is some compensation in night travel," said Ned. "It will be a +treat to see the sun come up. Two or three miles more and then we'll +hunt a snug camping place, and have a plunge in the creek, and a good +breakfast on top of it, and sleep until afternoon. I don't feel very +tired just now, but I'm ravenously hungry." + +"So am I," echoed Clay and Nugget in one breath. + +As the daylight advanced the boys paddled on with light hearts. In the +long level stretch that was now ahead of them no sign of Randy was +visible. As the next bend--an unusually sharp one--drew near, a dull, +roaring sound was heard. + +"That must be a bit of swift water," observed Ned; "I hope it's long +enough to give us a good spin." + +"But won't it be dangerous?" asked Nugget uneasily. + +"Of course not," replied Clay. "There couldn't be any danger on a small +stream like this, and besides Batters told us everything was smooth for +twelve miles ahead." + +It is more than probable that when Batters made this statement he had in +mind his own safe and bulky craft, which could have stood any amount of +rough usage without upsetting. But this version of the matter did not +occur to the boys. They confidently paddled on, hoping to find a stretch +of swift water that would give them a lift on their journey. + +Just at the commencement of the curve a spit of rocks and trees jutted +out from the right shore. As the boys were whirled swiftly around this, +the first brief glimpse of what lay beyond proved far from satisfactory. + +The creek narrowed to half its former width, and the greater part of +even this contracted channel was rendered unnavigable by a long bar of +gravel and grass, over which an inch or so of water crawled sluggishly. +The main channel--only half a dozen feet wide--headed abruptly to the +right, and swept at breakneck speed in a perfect half circle under the +outwardly projecting base of a steep and wooded hill. Here and there the +bushes hung down to meet the madly tossing waves, and swayed violently. + +It was already too late to turn back, and it was equally out of the +question to cut across the swift rushing current and gain the shallow +bar. Speedy disaster would have resulted from _that_ step. + +Ned was half a canoe's length in advance, and without a second's delay +he swung the bow of the Pioneer around to meet the curve of the channel. + +"Paddle toward the left!--the left!" he shouted hoarsely to his +companions. "Keep your heads down when you come to the bushes." + +Ned had no chance to say more. His own affairs required his undivided +attention. With a dizzy jerk he swung into the half circle, rising and +falling with the huge waves. A few tremendous paddle strokes deflected +him to the left, and fortunately he cleared the outer fringe of bushes. + +Just when the worst seemed to be over the Pioneer ran broadside on a +submerged rock, tipped instantly, and out went Ned head over heels. + +He was dragged clear to the bottom of the rapids before he could gain a +foothold. Then, waist deep in water, he grabbed the Pioneer as it +drifted by him, and waded with it to a narrow landing place at the base +of the hill. + +Even less fortunate was Nugget. The dizzy whirl of the current and the +jolting motion of the waves so terrified him that he dropped his paddle +and clutched the combing with both hands. Then, as the bushes directly +ahead caught his eye, he threw up his arms and seized them. + +The next instant the canoe was whisked from under him, leaving him +clinging to the frail support, shrieking with terror and bobbing up and +down on the waves. He remained in this position only a few seconds. +Clay's canoe struck him obliquely, and the concussion caused it to swing +broadside and upset. Both lads were rolled over and over to the foot of +the rapids, where Ned helped them and their canoes to shore. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +A SAFE SHELTER + + +For a moment the three wrecked Jolly Rovers could only stare blankly at +their dripping clothes, and at one another. The whole thing had taken +place so quickly that they did not as yet realize the extent of the +misfortune. + +Finally Ned and Clay broke into a hearty laugh, while Nugget sat down on +a rock and wiped the tears from his eyes. + +"Hullo, there!" cried a familiar voice, as Randy appeared from behind a +patch of bushes a few yards down the shore. "Great Caesar! what a mess +you fellows are in!" + +"Thanks to you," replied Ned. "Why didn't you come up the creek and warn +us?" + +"That's just what I was on my way to do, 'pon my honor it was. I +couldn't get here a minute sooner. I upset in that beastly place myself, +and was carried down below those bushes. Look at that!" Randy pointed to +his muddy feet and wet clothes. It was evident that he was speaking the +truth. + +"Well, what's done can't be undone," said Ned. "We must make the best +of it. I'm afraid, the water has spoilt a good deal of our stuff." + +"You can count yourselves lucky if your canoes aren't injured," rejoined +Randy. "The rocks tore the keel nearly off of mine, and it leaks like a +basket." + +"Then we are in for a long delay," exclaimed Ned vexatiously. "It's +unfortunate just at this time, when we ought to be four or five miles +farther down the stream." + +"You won't think so when I show you the place I've found," replied +Randy. "We could camp there for a month, and no one would be any the +wiser. It's over on the left shore where the current first landed me. I +had a look at the spot and then waded to this side with the canoe." + +"The first thing is to get dry clothes on," returned Ned. "The morning +air is too cool for comfort." + +"Down below here is just the place you want then," said Randy. "A big +gravel bar. The sun shines on it beautifully." + +This statement brought a smile even to Nugget's face, and without delay +the boys proceeded down the creek. + +As it was impossible to get any wetter they waded, pushing the canoes +ahead of them. The gravel bar was twenty yards below, in mid-channel, +and sure enough the first rays of the sun fell full upon it. + +The canoes were speedily denuded of everything they held, and the gravel +was soon strewn with water soaked bread, crackers, blankets, fishing +rods, writing paper, and envelopes. The other provisions, being incased +in jars, were uninjured; and so also were the extra clothes, thanks to +the oiled canvas bags in which they were wrapped. + +The boys quickly made the change, and stretched out their wet garments +to dry. The canoes were placed bottom up to drain, and after satisfying +himself that the Water Sprite was damaged beyond immediate repair, Ned +suggested that Randy should point out the place he had discovered. + +The latter was only too willing, and when the boys had followed his +instructions by rolling their trousers above their knees, he led them +through the shallow water toward the left shore. + +As they advanced nothing was visible but the low bank, densely covered +with bushes and young timber. Randy was several yards in advance, and +all at once he stooped and disappeared. The others followed his example, +and when they had waded with bent backs under a heavy screen of bushes, +they were amazed to find themselves in the mouth of a good sized stream. + +The water was knee deep, and flowed gently over a bed of sand and +pebbles. For a distance of sixty or seventy feet inland the stream was +three or four yards wide; then came a deep circular pool fed by a +brawling waterfall that dashed impetuously down a mossy incline of +rocks. On all sides were inviting clumps of bushes, and slender trees +bending over their weight of foliage, while from branch to branch swung +foxgrape vines. + +Near the head of the pool was a grassy open spot shaded by half a dozen +monster shellbark trees--a perfect little Eden. In fact the whole scene +was so entrancing to these lads, who well knew how to appreciate +Nature's most charming moods, that they stood still with the cool water +surging against their knees, to look and listen. + +The sunlight filtered obliquely through the leaves, gleaming here and +there in the dark thickets like stray gold, and shimmering on the eddies +of the pool. The air was fragrant with the scent of wild flowers, and +from every direction came the music of birds and the busy chattering of +squirrels. + +"I knew you fellows would fall in love with the place," said Randy. +"Just think of spending two or three days here--or maybe a week. There's +nothing to prevent it. Under those shellbark trees is a grand place for +a tent, and here is water enough to float fifty canoes. The bushes +completely hide the entrance, and when we are all fixed snug I'll defy +Bug Batters or any one else to find us in a month. What do you say, Ned? +Do you think it's necessary now to go farther down the creek?" + +Ned drew a long breath. + +"I think this is the most beautiful spot I ever saw," he replied. "I'll +stay here a week if the rest are willing." + +The rest _were_ willing--emphatically so. Clay immediately began to +indulge in visions of trout fishing farther up the stream, which must +have its source in the mountains. Nugget declared it was a good place +to rest, while Randy expressed an opinion that game was plentiful in the +vicinity. + +Having waded to the edge of the pool, where the water deepened abruptly, +the boys returned as they had come, and were soon back on the gravel +bar. They were too hungry to go to the trouble of making a fire, so they +breakfasted on damp crackers and dried beef, and found them very +palatable, too. + +Then, as the sun had already dried the things, the canoes were loaded +and pushed up the mouth of the stream. The boys took good care to remove +every trace of their presence from the bar, and to deftly rearrange the +screen of bushes after passing through. + +The tent was soon staked under the shellbark trees, and the canoes were +carried out beside it. The Jolly Rovers now felt as safe as though they +were fifty miles down the creek. Being pretty well exhausted by the +interruption of the previous night and by their long paddle, they made +pillows out of their blankets, and went to sleep on the grassy floor of +the tent. + +But it is not an easy matter to turn day into night, and so the boys +found it. Ned awoke about noon, and threw the flap open so that the sun +could stream into the tent--as much of it at least as came through the +thick foliage. It was sufficient to rouse Randy and Nugget. Clay was +missing, but as his fishing rod had also disappeared, no alarm was felt +over this fact. + +Of course, dinner immediately suggested itself, so Ned started to make +the fire, while Randy inspected the supplies to see what was available. + +"Damp crackers and cold meat are about all we can count on," he +announced dismally. "There are only a half a dozen potatoes here. You +might boil some oatmeal, though." + +"We must get along with what we have," replied Ned. "This afternoon some +of us must make a foraging expedition. We can't be very far from a +farmhouse." + +The fire was soon blazing merrily, and just as Ned placed the coffee pot +on the bars, a cheery whistle rang through the woods, and Clay appeared +at the head of the pool. + +"See what you lazy fellows have missed," he exclaimed, holding up a +string of speckled brook trout. "I caught all those in the last two +hours, and tramped more than a mile up stream to get them." + +The boys were delighted at this unexpected addition to their dinner, and +the spotted beauties were soon ready for the frying pan. Hunger made a +piquant sauce, and the crackers, meat and fish vanished in short order. + +"I intend to let you fellows wash the dishes this time," said Ned, when +the meal was concluded. "I'm going after supplies. We certainly need +them badly enough. Did you see any signs of a farmhouse when you were up +the stream, Clay?" + +"No indeed. The woods are thick in every direction, and I have no doubt +they stretch clear to the mountains. It's awfully wild and lonesome +along the stream." + +"No use in trying that direction then," replied Ned. "I think I'll go +down the creek in my canoe." + +"Let me go with you," said Randy. "You may have a big load to carry back +you know." + +Ned hesitated an instant, and then gave his consent. He really preferred +to be alone, but he saw that Randy was very sorry for his recent ill +conduct, and wanted to make what amends he could. + +Clay loaned Randy his canoe, and promised to repair the Water Sprite +during the latter's absence. Then the foraging expedition paddled out +into the creek, equipped with tin pails and canvas sacks. + +Clay and Nugget were at no loss to find occupation. It required a good +half hour to wash and dry the dishes, and after that a big stack of +firewood was piled up. Then the Water Sprite was placed across two logs, +and Clay proceeded to make the needed repairs. Having screwed the keel +firmly in place, he thrust cotton under its whole length with his knife +blade, and then put on a plentiful coating of white lead. + +"There!" he exclaimed, as he surveyed his own work with satisfaction. +"That canoe won't leak a drop in the morning. I say, Nugget, let's go +fishing a little while. It's only five o'clock, and the boys won't be +back for an hour or two yet." + +Nothing could have pleased Nugget more. He made the proviso, however, +that Randy's gun should be taken along. + +"I don't know what you're afraid of," said Clay; "but I'll humor you +anyhow." + +He shouldered the weapon, first looking to see that it was loaded, and +started up the stream. Nugget trudged behind with the two fishing rods. + +Half a mile from camp the boys stopped by a deep pool that presented a +very tempting aspect. The bushes and trees were dense all around it. + +"This is where I caught my first fish this morning," whispered Clay, as +he put a nice fat worm on the hook and dropped it in the water. + +Almost instantly the line tightened, and the slender rod bent. Clay gave +a quick pull, and something shiny whizzed through the air, landing with +a dull flop some yards behind the boys. + +"That was a big fellow," exclaimed Clay. "It flew clear off the hook. +Get it for me, Nugget, will you? I want to catch another." + +Nugget obligingly dropped the hook he was baiting, and crawled on hands +and knees into the thicket. + +A few seconds later he burst out, yelling wildly for help, while a +crackling of bushes behind him told plainly that something or someone +was in close pursuit. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +A TRAMP ACROSS COUNTRY + + +Nugget dashed by Clay without stopping, and crossed the stream, close to +the lower end of the pool, in two or three frantic leaps. + +Clay was frightened himself, but observing that the rustling noise in +the thicket had ceased, he boldly stood his ground, taking the +precaution, however, to exchange his fishing rod for the gun. + +"What's wrong?" he demanded, turning warily toward Nugget, who was on +the opposite side of the stream with one hand clasping the low boughs of +3 pine tree. + +"There's some wild animal in there," cried Nugget hoarsely. "It looked +at me with its shining eyes, and then growled. Shoot it quick, before it +comes out." + +Just then the rustling in the thicket recommenced, and with wonderful +celerity Nugget disappeared into the heart of the tree. + +But the creature, whatever it might be, was going in the opposite +direction from the pool. This emboldened Clay, and without hesitation he +started in pursuit, paying no attention to Nugget's appealing cries. +Guided by the threshing of bushes he pushed on for ten or twenty yards. + +Then it suddenly occurred to him that the animal might be a wildcat or +even a bear, that had strayed down from the mountains. A close encounter +of this nature was by no means to Clay's liking. He stopped, and was +just about turning back, when he saw a dark object passing through a +break in the thicket about thirty feet away. + +The shadows were too deep to afford a good glimpse of the animal, but +Clay did not hesitate. Drawing the gun to his shoulder he took quick aim +and fired. + +When the smoke cleared the creature had vanished, but from a distance +came a queer grunting noise mingled with the hasty crashing of the +bushes. + +"I believe that was a bear," muttered Clay, "and unless I'm greatly +mistaken I put a few shot into his hind quarters." + +He stood listening until the sounds had died away, and then retraced his +steps toward the pool, satisfied that no more trouble was to be +apprehended from the unwelcome prowler. + +Nugget was still in the tree, and came down very reluctantly, even when +he knew what had happened. Then the boys shouldered their fishing rods +and hurried back to camp, arriving there just as Ned and Randy paddled +up the mouth of the stream. + +Clay's adventure--which he related with conscious pride--caused somewhat +of a sensation. Randy and Nugget wanted to break camp at once, and Clay +was more than inclined to side with them. + +"Nonsense!" exclaimed Ned. "I don't believe it was a wild animal at all, +and even if it was it would hardly come near here again after being shot +at." + +"Then what could it have been?" demanded Clay a little sharply. + +"Some stray domestic creature, as likely as not," answered Ned. + +Clay did not reply. He was far from unwilling to accept this version of +the affair, though he still had his doubts. + +The others were reassured by Ned's words, and when the fruits of the +foraging expedition were taken from the canoes all else was forgotten +but supper. + +"Won't we have a feast?" said Randy. "Just see here, fellows. Fresh, +yellow butter, a pail of milk, three pies, two loaves of bread, a cup of +cheese, a picked duck, and potatoes and apples! We had a time to get +them, though--a mile and a half down the creek, and half a mile over the +fields." + +It was nearly dark when supper was ready, and the meal was eaten with +such slow enjoyment that nine o'clock arrived before the last of the +dishes were washed and put away. Then the tired boys went to bed, after +securing the tent flaps with more than usual care. + +No alarm disturbed their sleep that night. Wednesday dawned clear as a +whistle. Before the sun was fairly up the boys took a plunge in the cool +depths of the pool, and the result was such a crop of voracious +appetites that Randy predicted another foraging expedition before the +day was over. + +After breakfast Ned sat down on a stone, and spreading a lengthy paper +on his knees, began to study it intently. + +"What have you there?" asked Randy. + +"A map of the Cumberland Valley," replied Ned. "Do you know, we almost +forgot about our mail arrangements? It's a good thing I remembered it +this morning. If this stream we are camping on now is Otter Run--and +according to the-map it is--then West Hill is only half a dozen miles +due east of us. + +"That is the first place we were to expect letters, and we won't get any +nearer to it than we are now. I think I'll walk over. You may go with +me, Clay, if you like. The distance is too much for Nugget, and it's +Randy's turn to stay in camp." + +No objection was made to this arrangement, and all hurriedly produced +paper and pencils and sat down on the grass to write letters home. + +"I'm asking for a cake," said Randy. "Where shall I have it sent?" + +"Carlisle," answered Ned. "We will be there next week. Tell them to make +it a big one." + +"And not to forget to put icing on it," added Clay. + +"Oh, that goes without telling," said Randy laughingly. "They know what +I like." + +In half an hour all the letters were sealed and addressed. Then Ned and +Clay brushed off their clothes and put on neckties, greatly to Randy's +amusement. + +"What are you laughing at?" exclaimed Ned. "Don't you know that we may +be invited out to dinner at West Hill? I wish I had a dress suit with +me." + +"What a pity you haven't," said Randy mockingly. "Nugget will lend you +his yachting cap." + +"Of course I will," said Nugget in all seriousness. "Say, Ned," he +whispered, coming up close, "I--I have a white shirt in my bag and a +dotted vest. I thought they might come in handy. You are quite welcome +to them, you know, if--" + +Nugget's indiscreet confession went no further. Ned rolled on the +ground, choking with laughter. He actually couldn't help it. + +Clay and Randy had heard every word, and poor Nugget was finally obliged +to take refuge in the tent. + +"This won't do," said Ned, struggling to keep a sober face. "We must be +off. I hope you won't get in any fresh scrapes while we are away, Randy. +You had better stay about camp. You may look for us back some time this +afternoon--not later than four o'clock." + +"Oh, I won't have time to get in mischief," laughed Randy. "It will take +all day to write my log book up to date. I haven't touched it since +night before last." + +It was about half past nine o'clock when the boys started. They paddled +across the creek and landed at the foot of the hill. Randy accompanied +them in the Water Sprite, so that he could tow the canoe back with him. + +"Just you fellows sing out," he said. "I'll hear you and come across." + +"All right," returned Ned, as he commenced the steep ascent of the hill, +with Clay at his heels. + +Reaching the summit they turned and waved their hands to Randy, who was +slowly paddling toward camp, far below them. + +Of the camp itself not a vestige could be seen, even from this +elevation. + +Then the boys set their faces toward the east, and strode briskly +through the pine forest that covered the level plateau. For a mile or +two the land was very rugged and lonely. Then open fields began to +appear here and there, and an occasional farmhouse nestled amid orchards +in a valley, or standing boldly against the sky from a hill top. + +Such implicit faith did Ned place in his map that he shunned the roads, +and did not think it worth while to stop at any of the farmhouses to ask +information. With a view to reaching the village in the most direct +manner, he cut straight across country, skirting fields of grain and +corn, it is true, but taking everything else as it came--hills, ravines, +orchards, and meadows. + +And all this time the boys were making one of the most foolish blunders +that can well be imagined--taking into consideration, of course, the +peculiar nature of the creek and the constantly shifting scenery +through which they were passing. Later on, when the consequences of +their thoughtlessness stared them in the face, they wondered how they +could have been so blind. + +When the farmhouse bells began to clang from distant points the boys +knew that it was half past eleven o'clock. + +"We have surely covered six miles in two hours," said Ned. "West Hill +can't be far away. No doubt we will see it from that next ridge." + +But when the ridge was gained no village was in sight. Something else +was visible, however--a narrow country road, running at right angles to +the direction from which the boys had come; and nailed to the fence was +a sign post, inscribed in crooked black letters as follows: + + To West Hill + 3 Miles. + +There was nothing for it but to go on, and that they did in a weary, +dispirited manner. + +"The map can't be wrong," said Ned, "the trouble is that we veered a +little too far south in our course. We'll make a nearer cut of it on the +return trip. Walk a little faster, Clay; it will be a tight squeeze to +reach camp by four o'clock." + +It wanted a little less than three hours to that time when the boys +reached the little cluster of six houses which comprised West Hill. The +signboard had probably told only half the truth in regard to +distance--as country signboards usually do. + +The postoffice was, of course, combined with a produce store. At this +time of day its only occupants were the proprietor and a grizzled old +farmer puffing at a corncob pipe. + +The letters were soon mailed, and in response to Ned's inquiry he was +handed a weighty hat box addressed to Randolph Moore, and a batch of +half a dozen letters. + +"I'll bet a dollar that's a cake," said Clay. "It will tickle Randy." + +"It wouldn't tickle him if he had to carry it about nine miles," replied +Ned ruefully, "and the box says 'handle with care,' too." + +However, the cake could not be left behind, and the boys agreed to carry +it by turns. + +"How far is Otter Run from here in a straight line?" inquired Ned of the +storekeeper. + +"'Bout eleven mile," was the reply. "Ain't that kerect, Bowser?" + +"It's mor'n that by road," said the old farmer, taking his pipe from his +lips. "It's a good thirteen mile to Tanner's Dam, an' the run comes in +just below the mill race." + +The boys exchanged glances of dismay. + +"That map fooled me after all," muttered Ned. "The camp can't be +anywhere near Otter Run." + +He then explained the situation to the two men, describing as minutely +as possible the location of the camp. Both wagged their heads dubiously. + +"I can't fix it to a sartainty," said the storekeeper. + +"Nor kin I," observed Mr. Bowser. "There air heaps of jest sich runs, +an' high hills an' bits of bad water--same as you chaps tell about." + +It was evident that no positive information could be obtained, so the +boys said "good day," and left the store. + +"Under the circumstances we won't risk making a bee line for camp," said +Ned. "If we had any landmarks to go by it would be different." + +"Then must we go back the way we came?" asked Clay. + +"Exactly; we have nine weary miles to tramp. I'm sorry, but it can't be +helped. Just think of a good supper and a snug bed, Clay, and you won't +mind the distance so much." + +"It's this confounded box that worries me," muttered Clay. "I believe +I'd sooner carry a feather bed. The crazy thing jerks when I stick it +under one arm, and if I hug it to my breast it hits me on the chin every +few seconds. It's so heavy that the cords cut my hand if I try to carry +it that way. I wish I could balance it on my head." + +Clay did not exaggerate the perverse and obstinate nature of that hat +box. It changed bearers no less than six times before the mendacious +signpost was reached, and then its victims were so exhausted that they +had to lie down on the grass and rest. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +SEARCHING FOR THE CAMP + + +It was already past three o'clock when the boys resumed their tramp, +abandoning the road and heading across country along the same course by +which they had come. + +For the first two or three miles they did not pay any special attention +to the scenery around them; they were kept busy climbing fences and +hills, and taking care of the refractory cake box, which became more and +more of a burden every moment. Finally as they were descending a long +wooded slope, Ned was amazed to discover that the mountains, instead of +being straight ahead, lay off to the right. + +"That's a funny mistake," he said. "I wonder how long we have been +moving parallel with the creek instead of toward it? Some of those snaky +ravines we passed through must have turned us around without our knowing +it." + +"I hope we haven't lost the path," returned Clay. "Nothing about here +looks familiar to me, but then I didn't pay much attention to the +scenery this morning." + +"Neither did I," replied Ned uneasily, "and I'm afraid that's just where +we made a big mistake. If we had only noted some landmarks as we came +along, we would not be in this fix now. It really is a pretty serious +fix, Clay. You see we can't tell how long we have been traveling in this +wrong direction. The only thing we can do now is to head straight for +the mountains, and run the chances of striking the creek in the vicinity +of the camp." + +"That's true," assented Clay. "I hope we'll reach it before dark. Randy +and Nugget will be pretty badly scared if we don't." + +They started off again, headed this time in the proper direction. Of +course the mountains were visible only at rare intervals, and this added +to the perplexity of the situation, since it is very difficult to keep +on a straight line unless some guiding point is constantly in view. + +It was soon evident that the boys were far astray from the path they had +followed that morning. The country was more lonely and rugged--a +continual succession of steep hills and dense bits of forest. Few +farmhouses were visible, and those only at a distance. + +The sun sank lower and lower as they trudged wearily along. The many +miles already covered that day were beginning to tell on them severely. +They were hungry, too, having eaten nothing since breakfast. + +"I wish we had bought some crackers and cheese at the store," said Ned; +"I thought about it when we were nearly a mile away, but it was too late +then to go back." + +"We have Randy's cake," replied Clay. "I'm going to break into it if we +don't soon reach camp. I don't remember when I was so hungry as I am +now." + +"Wait a little while," said Ned. "The creek surely can't be far away. +The chances are that it lies beyond that next hill." + +The hill to which he had reference was a good half mile distant, and the +pine trees on its crest loomed sharply against the blue sky. Ere +reaching it the boys were destined to be deprived of their burden in a +very aggravating manner--and just when they had begun to appreciate its +value as a means of satisfying their hunger. + +As they emerged from a copse of hazel bushes on a narrow country road, a +big black dog bounded from the step of a little cabin a few yards away, +and came at them in a most ferocious manner. The boys darted across the +road and into a clover field through a broken place in the fence. + +The dog followed, paying not the least attention to the loud commands of +a woman who stood in the cabin door. When Ned wheeled around the brute +was within a dozen feet of him, growling savagely, showing his fangs and +teeth, and coming on at a pace which meant business. + +Shouting had no effect whatever, and as not a stick or a stone was +within reach, the boy's situation was far from pleasant. But he had the +cake box in his arms, and on the impulse of the moment he lifted it over +his head with both hands and dashed it with all his might at the +advancing brute. + +It struck him fairly on the nose, breaking open with the force of the +blow, and turning the angry snarls into a shrill yelp of pain. Ned did +not wait to see the result, but dashed across the field to overtake +Clay. + +When they turned and looked back from a safe distance, the dog was +greedily devouring the broken cake. + +"We won't be troubled with that any more," said Ned. "I had to do it, or +the brute would have bitten me. I don't think Randy will blame me much." + +"It means good-by to our supper though," replied Clay, "and from the way +that dog eats, his appetite won't be more than half satisfied when he +finishes the cake. We had better be moving on." + +This was prudent advice, and the boys made quick time across the field, +not feeling thoroughly safe until they were in the shelter of the woods. +The ground now began to ascend, and a few moments later they gained the +top of the hill and saw the silvery thread of the creek shining far +below them. + +It took some time to descend, owing to the steepness of the slope, and +the rocks and bushes that obstructed the way. When they finally reached +the water's edge the duskiness of twilight had come, and they knew that +darkness would follow in a short time. + +"I haven't the faintest idea where we are," said Ned uneasily; "of +course we are above the camp, no doubt of that; but just how far, is the +important question. I feel like kicking myself for making that awful +blunder to-day. It would be a nice thing if we had to tramp all night." + +"You don't think the camp is that far away?" exclaimed Clay in alarm. + +"Oh, no," replied Ned reassuringly. "We'll probably strike it before +long. The only thing we can do is to follow the creek until we reach +it." + +Ned's words were far from expressing what was really in his mind. He +knew that the camp might be very close in a straight line, and yet miles +away by the tortuous windings of the creek. And the latter was the only +possible course to take. If they attempted the former they would almost +certainly become hopelessly lost. + +It was soon evident that the worst might be expected. In the deepening +gloom the boys hurried along the shore as fast as their weary feet would +take them. Then the blackness of the night settled down on the water and +the forests, and they were compelled to move cautiously; for trees and +bushes were thick, and here and there a ravine had to be crossed, or a +brawling stream. + +Ned bravely kept up his spirits, and did his best to cheer Clay. + +"It can't be much farther," he would say now and then; "keep your ears +open for the roar of those rapids. That will tell us when we are near +camp." + +But the night lengthened without bringing the welcome sound, and at last +the boys found their progress abruptly barred by a steep bluff that fell +abruptly into the water. It was not the hill that lay in the vicinity of +camp, else the rapids could surely have been heard. The night was very +still, except for an occasional noise in the forest that made the boys +start. + +They were confronted now by two equally unpleasant alternatives--either +to remain where they were until morning, or to make a detour around the +hill, and try to reach the creek on the lower side. + +They chose the latter, and started up through the woods hand in hand. +They might have foreseen what would happen. The night was very dark, and +after floundering about through the bushes they became hopelessly lost, +and knew not which way to turn in search of the creek. + +Clay was quite in despair, but Ned persuaded him to move on, and after +tramping for ten or fifteen minutes without the least idea which way +they were headed, they reached a fence that separated the woods from an +open field. As they mounted the top bar and perched themselves there for +a short rest, Ned uttered a cry of delight, and pointed out a flickering +yellow gleam far across the field. + +"Hurrah! that must be the camp," exclaimed Clay, springing impetuously +from the fence. "Come on; let's run for it. I don't feel a bit tired +now." + +"Not too fast," cried Ned warningly. "You're jumping at a rash +conclusion now, Clay. That light is in the window of some farmhouse. It +stands to reason that it can't be at our camp." + +Clay stopped and retraced his steps. + +"I was dead sure it was the campfire," he said dismally. "I thought our +troubles were over." + +"Perhaps they are," replied Ned slowly. "We'll go up to that farmhouse +and find out exactly how the land lies. If the camp is not far off, +we'll borrow a lantern and push on--otherwise we'll ask for a place to +sleep until morning." + +This arrangement was thoroughly satisfactory to Clay, and the boys +started briskly across the field. They found an orchard at the farther +end, and after passing through this and rounding the corner of the barn, +they saw the house in front of them. + +It stood in a good sized yard inclosed by a picket fence. The light was +in one of the upper front rooms, where some late retiring member of the +family was no doubt preparing for bed. + +"It won't do to make any racket," said Ned, "because there may be a dog +around. We'll go quietly in and rap on the door." + +The boys softly opened the gate and entered the yard. In spite of the +utmost caution their feet made a crunching noise on the gravel path, and +the consequence was that before they were half way to the house a dog +began to bark furiously. Worse still, the sound came from between them +and the fence, so that escape was cut off. + +"This way," cried Ned, dashing toward the corner of the house. "We may +find shelter in the outbuildings." + +He had taken but a dozen steps when his feet clattered on some loose +boards. These gave way with a crash, and after a brief drop through +empty space, he plunged into ice cold water, going clear under the +surface. + +The noise of the splitting wood that followed warned Clay of his danger. +He stood stock still, trembling in every limb. + +The dog did not appear to be coming any nearer, and his shrill barking +was now mingled with the clank of chains. All at once Clay comprehended +the situation. The brute was fastened to his kennel somewhere near the +gate, and was therefore powerless to do harm. + +Clay's presence of mind quickly returned. He drew a match from his +pocket and struck it on his shoe just as a feeble cry for help came +apparently from the bowels of the earth. + +As the blaze flared up Clay saw the partially covered mouth of a well +just in front of him. The gap between the planking showed where Ned had +fallen through. + +Clay was terribly alarmed, but he had sufficient presence of mind to +kneel beside the orifice and hold the match down. + +"Are you hurt, Ned?" he cried huskily. "Can you hold out for a moment or +two?" + +"I'm all right so far," came the reply in a feeble, chattering voice. "I +can't stand it long, though. The water is over my head, and I'm holding +on to the cracks in the wall. Waken the family, quick!" + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +OVER THE CLIFF + + +Ned's last injunction was quite unnecessary. The loud outcry of the dog +had already roused the family. + +Heads were poked from two or three windows, and a shrill feminine voice +was shouting: "Get the gun, pap, get the gun!" + +Meanwhile Clay continued to call for help at the top of his voice, +finally drowning out the ferocious barking of the dog, and after what +seemed an interminable length of time the door of the house opened and +the farmer appeared on the threshold, attired in shirt and trousers. + +He had a gun in one hand and a candle in the other. Behind him were two +good sized lads armed with clubs, while the flutter of a petticoat was +visible on the stairway. + +"Hurry! hurry!" cried Clay. "There's some one down the well." + +The farmer crossed the yard with provoking calmness, holding his gun +ready for use. + +"Why, it's only a boy!" he exclaimed, on catching sight of Clay. "What +are you doing here, you young rascal?" + +"Don't stop to ask questions now," implored Clay. "Get my friend out of +the well, or he will be drowned." + +The farmer uttered an exclamation, and peeped through the broken boards. +Then he seized the bucket that was suspended by a windlass over the well +and quickly lowered it. + +"Catch hold down there," he shouted gruffly. + +"All right, go ahead," came the sepulchral response, a moment later. + +The farmer and his two sons threw their weight on the handle of the +windlass, and after considerable creaking and groaning Ned was brought +to the surface and helped out on the ground. His face and hands were +blue and his teeth chattered violently. + +"Bring the poor fellow right in," called the farmer's wife from the +porch, where she had witnessed the whole affair. "I'll go light the +fire." + +"The rascal don't deserve it," muttered the farmer, but nevertheless he +led the boys into the house, and thence to a large room containing a +stove, a table, a huge settee and half a dozen chairs. A lamp was +burning on the mantel, and a pleasant faced old lady was bustling about +the stove. + +Ned's wet clothes were quickly stripped off, and he was rolled in +blankets and made to lie down on the settee. Presently the old lady +brought him a bowl of steaming camomile tea, and after he had swallowed +most of the nauseous mixture he began to feel quite himself again. Then, +seeing that the farmer was suspicious and anxious for an explanation, +he insisted on talking, and related the whole story in such a clear and +concise manner that his hearers were thoroughly convinced. + +The farmer thawed out, and showed himself in his true colors--a genial, +kind-hearted old man. He told the boys his name was Adam Plunkett, and +laughingly apologized for mistaking them for thieves. + +When Mrs. Plunkett heard that they had eaten nothing since breakfast she +immediately began to set the table--in spite of the fact that it was +then half past ten o'clock. Ned refused to be treated as an invalid any +longer, so Mr. Plunkett gave him a suit of clothes to wear while his own +were drying. + +The food was soon ready, and the famished boys did it full justice. + +"I reckon you'll want to go to bed now," said Mr. Plunkett; "you must be +worn out after all that tramp. In the morning I'll tell you how to find +your camp. I recognize the place from your description. It's about five +miles and a half from here by road, and a good bit further by the +creek." + +The boys gasped with amazement. It was hard to realize that they had +strayed so far out of their way. + +"I'm afraid our companions will be greatly worried," said Ned. "That's +all I'm thinking about." + +"A little worry won't hurt 'em," asserted Mr. Plunkett cheerfully. +"It'll do 'em good, and make them more glad to see you in the morning." + +This bit of philosophy had its effect on the boys, and the last trace +of anxiety vanished when their host conducted them to the room they were +to occupy. It was the typical country "spare bed-chamber." Home spun +carpet covered the floor, and on the walls were cardboard mottoes in +walnut frames, a sampler yellow with age, and portraits of George and +Martha Washington. The bed was a huge four poster, and stood so high +that the boys had to give a spring in order to climb in. + +They fell asleep almost instantly, and found it difficult to get up in +the morning when the farmer banged on the door with his heavy fist. + +Mrs. Plunkett had a delicious breakfast ready when the boys came down +stairs, and after they had eaten their fill the farmer carefully +instructed them how to reach their camp--or rather how to reach a +certain point on the creek which was less than a quarter of a mile above +the rapids. + +The boys had read the character of their hosts sufficiently well to know +that it would be regarded as an insult if they should offer them money. +So they thanked them profusely for their generous treatment, and said +"good-by," promising to stop if they ever chanced to be in that vicinity +again. + +After a good sleep and a good breakfast the five mile walk was a trifle +to the boys. They had no difficulty in following the directions, and +about half past ten o'clock they turned aside from the road and entered +a piece of woods. + +Ten minutes later they stood on the bank of the creek, listening to the +familiar sound of the rapids below them. The steep hill began at this +point, making it impossible to follow the shore, so they began the +ascent and reached the crest after a pretty stiff climb. The camp was +now directly opposite, though entirely concealed by the huge shellbark +trees. + +"Let's give them the yell," said Ned. He placed his hand to his mouth +and uttered a regular Indian war whoop that woke the echoes for a long +distance. Clay did the same, and they both stopped to listen. + +A minute went by in silence, and then another. No glad shout of welcome +rang out from the trees. No graceful canoe parted the fringe of bushes +that concealed the mouth of the run. + +What was the matter? Were the boys sleeping so soundly that the signal +could not rouse them? This seemed the only possible explanation, so Clay +and Ned shouted more vigorously than ever, and kept it up until they +were hoarse. + +Not a sound came back. The silence of the morning was absolutely +unbroken. + +The boys looked at each other with pale and frightened faces. They dared +not even whisper the terrible thoughts that were in their minds. Then, +by tacit consent, they scrambled down the ragged face of the hill, and +at great peril to life and limb gained the bottom in three or four +minutes. + +They partly undressed to wade to the gravel bar, for the water was more +than waist deep. Here they stopped a moment to put on their clothes, and +then, with trousers rolled high up, they waded to the mouth of the +stream, and pushed eagerly through the screen of bushes. + +The scene that met their gaze filled them with dread and amazement. _The +glade was deserted. Every vestige of the camp had disappeared._ + +For a moment the boys could scarcely believe the evidence of their own +eyes. They hurried forward and inspected every foot of the ground. + +Absolutely nothing had been left behind. The downtrodden grass, where +the tent had stood, was the only evidence to show that a camp had +recently been here. + +"This is a bigger mystery than I can see through," said Ned as he bent +over the blackened stones of the fireplace. "The boys must have left +here some time yesterday, for these ashes are cold. It looks as though +they had to leave in a hurry, too, for if they had any time to spare +they would surely have placed a message where we could see it. I have +examined all the trees and bushes, and there is no sign of any." + +"It's a bad business," replied Clay. "The boys would not have broken +camp without some cause. I only hope that Bug Batters and his companions +had nothing to do with it." + +The same fear was in Ned's mind just then, and it was very natural that +it should be. How else could the disappearance of the boys be accounted +for? + +"We can't tell anything about it," he answered evasively, "and it would +be very foolish to jump at the worst conclusions. It will be our best +plan to start down the creek at once, and I have no doubt we'll find the +camp before very long. It's not at all likely the boys have moved far +away." + +"But they may have concealed themselves somewhere," said Clay, "and +besides we don't know which bank they are on." + +"We'll keep a sharp lookout on both sides," replied Ned. "If we shout +every now and then I don't think we can miss them. We had better start +right away. I'm getting tired of wandering about the country in this +fashion. It will feel awfully good to climb in a canoe again." + +Clay warmly assented to this, and after a last lingering glance at the +shady thickets and the eddying surface of the pool, the boys plodded off +through the woods. + +For a time they experienced no difficulty in following the edge of the +creek, and thus scrutinizing the opposite shore as well as the one they +were on. Occasionally they shouted; first at rare intervals, then more +frequently as they advanced farther along the creek. + +At the expiration of an hour and a half they had traveled three or four +miles, and rounded a couple of large bends without getting any response +to their calls, or finding the least trace of the missing boys. + +Then a precipitous hill blocked the way, extending a considerable +distance along the creek, and leading sheer to the water from a +variable height of forty to sixty feet. + +"No use in going around it, Ned. We'll follow the crest so we can watch +the opposite shore." + +They easily gained the summit, and found a sort of open path between the +edge of the thick pine forest and the verge of the cliff. It was half a +dozen feet wide and had quite a downward slope. There was quite an +element of danger connected with the ascent, since it was slippery with +a coating of pine needles. The boys did not think of this, however. Of +course they kept close to the trees, but as their gaze was fixed on the +opposite shore, which was in plain view far below them, they could not +pick out their footing as carefully as they should have done. + +Pine needles are treacherous things, even on level ground, and when Clay +happened to step on a particularly thick bunch his foot slipped and he +was thrown quickly on his side. Before he could realize his danger he +slid to the verge of the precipice--where there was nothing to stop +him--and vanished from sight. + +Ned was horror stricken, and had to clutch the nearest tree for support. +Half a dozen seconds passed, but the splash that he dreaded to hear did +not come. Then he made his way cautiously to a rock that jutted from the +cliff half a dozen-feet from where Clay had fallen. Ned threw himself +flat on his breast and peered down. + +Clay was twenty feet below him clinging to a bunch of stout bushes that +grew in a crevice of the cliff. His feet rested on a tiny ledge no more +than six inches wide, and below him was a clear drop of thirty feet to +the dark surface of the creek. + +Ned realized his utter inability to render aid, and his agony found vent +in a sharp cry. + +Clay turned a white, pitiful face upward. + +"You can't help me," he gasped hoarsely. "The bushes are tearing loose. +If the water is deep I stand a chance. Try to get--" + +His feeble voice was smothered by a sharp ripping noise, and the next +instant he plunged downward, attended by a shower of dirt and stones. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +WHAT CLAY SHOT + + +We must now take the reader back to the previous morning, and see what +befell Randy and Nugget after their companions had started for West +Hill. Nugget amused himself until dinner time by fishing at the mouth of +the run, and caught a number of sunfish and chubs. + +When he returned Randy had just finished entering the events of the +cruise in the log book. Then they started in to get dinner, and Randy +proved himself no novice in culinary affairs by frying a delicious +panful of fish and boiling some excellent coffee. + +The distasteful work of washing the dishes was duly performed, and then +they began to consider what they should do next. Randy wanted to go away +up the stream for trout, but Nugget was unwilling to trust himself in +the woods after his experience of the previous evening, and was equally +determined not to remain alone in camp. + +This obstinate conduct roused Randy's temper, and indications pointed a +lively quarrel. + +"I never saw such a coward," he exclaimed angrily. "You're a nice fellow +to go on a canoe trip, I must say." + +"I'm not a coward," returned Nugget hotly. "I'm not afraid of you, +anyhow, and if you call me any more names I'll show you something." + +Randy laughed scornfully, and was about to make a bitter reply when a +trampling noise was heard in the woods behind the tent, followed by a +violent agitation of the bushes. A few seconds later a big brindle cow +appeared on the scene, followed by a small boy shouting "Hi! hi!" at the +top of his voice. + +The cow was evidently in no mood to listen to argument; she pranced at +the tent with lowered horns, knocked it flat, and trampled with dirty +hoofs over the clean canvas. + +Then she rushed at Nugget with a vicious bellow, and after pursuing him +a few yards in the direction of the creek, she suddenly changed her +mind, and charged on Randy and the small boy, who were standing by the +edge of the pool. The latter escaped by dodging nimbly to one side, but +Randy was not agile enough, and as the cow brushed by him her revolving +tail lashed him smartly over the face, and tumbled him into the pool. + +He emerged dripping wet, and mad as a hornet, just in time to see the +cow retreating in the direction she had come, with the small boy in +pursuit. + +"Look here," cried Randy, "what do you mean by letting a vicious animal +like that run loose? Look at that tent, and look at the condition I'm +in. For half a cent I'd get my gun and shoot the brute." + +The boy stopped at the edge of the bushes and looked back. He was quite +a little fellow, with sunburned legs and face. + +"That cow has more right here than you-uns," he said sullenly. "My uncle +Dan owns this land. He knows you-uns are here, and he's comin' down +pretty soon, too. He says you-uns will be sorry you shot that calf afore +he gits done with you." + +Randy stared at the lad in amazement, and then a sudden light broke on +his mind. + +"That explains the bear story," he muttered, and then added to Nugget, +who had just ventured to come forward: "You fellows have got us in a +pretty mess. It was a calf that Clay shot last night. I'm glad it's not +my fault this time." + +"A calf!" exclaimed Nugget. "I don't see how it can be possible. It had +shiny eyes." + +"The calf was shot, anyhow," said the boy. "It got astray yesterday +afternoon, and our hired man found it this morning. It ain't hurt very +bad, an Uncle Dan thinks it'll get well. That's the reason the cow is so +cross, 'cause she can't have the calf with her. She broke the fence down +this morning an' got into the woods. I'll have a hard time gittin' her +home again." + +"You say your uncle is cross about the calf?" asked Randy. + +"He's hoppin' mad," said the boy. "He's going to give you all a +lickin', an' then hev you locked up for trespassin'." + +"But suppose we explain to him that it was all a mistake, and offer to +pay the damages," continued Randy, "wouldn't that satisfy him?" + +The boy shook his head. + +"Uncle Dan ain't that kind. When he gets mad nobody kin stop him, I +reckon he'll lick you chaps pretty hard." + +"I reckon he won't," said Randy, decisively. "Not if we know ourselves. +Pitch in and help, Nugget; we must light out of this as quick as +possible." + +Nugget was only too willing to lend his aid, and the tent was speedily +rolled up, and deposited in the cockpit of the Pioneer, where it +belonged. + +"Uncle Dan may be here any minute," said the boy. "You-uns had better +wait." + +"Say, you'd like to see us licked, wouldn't you?" inquired Randy. "I'm +sorry we can't oblige you by staying. Here is a dollar for your uncle to +square up the damage to the calf. Just say to him that it was a mistake, +and that he needn't come after us, because we are going straight through +to Harrisburg." + +The lad pocketed the money, and after looking on for a little while in +silence he went away to hunt the refractory cow. + +The boys worked with feverish energy--not forgetting to keep a sharp eye +on the woods--and in scarcely more time than it takes to tell everything +was in the canoes. + +"It goes hard to leave here," said Randy, "but it can't be helped. It +would be a nice ending to the canoe trip if we got locked up for +trespassing. I hope the dollar will satisfy that man." + +"What are we going to do about Ned and Clay?" asked Nugget. + +"I'll attend to that," replied Randy, as he stepped into the Water +Sprite and tied its stern to the bow of the Pioneer. + +The other two canoes were arranged in the same way, and then the boys +paddled quickly out of the stream. + +They first crossed to the other side of the creek, where Randy wrote a +short explanatory note for Ned and Clay, instructing them to follow the +creek down about three or four miles. + +"It won't be safe for us to stop short of that distance," he remarked as +he pinned the big white document to a tree at the base of the hill. + +"The boys can't miss this when they come down to the water. They ought +to be here in about two hours." + +Having arranged their means of communication, Randy climbed back into +the canoe, and led the way down stream. Progress was necessarily +tedious, since the current was sluggish, and each had an additional +canoe in tow. They felt more at ease when they had passed round the +first bend, and after paddling for two or three miles--as nearly as +could be judged--they began to search for a good camping place. + +They did not find one that suited their requirements for some time, but +finally, while drifting along the base of a precipitous cliff, they came +to a good sized cleft or hollow. It was half a dozen yards wide. It +sloped gradually upward, narrowing as it went, until it terminated in a +ravine which seemed to continue on to the top of the hill. + +The beach was hard and stony ground, with a few stunted bushes, but +there was ample room for a tent, and moreover on each side was a sheer +wall of rock towering forty feet in the air. + +The boys landed, and with much difficulty dragged the canoes out of the +water. + +"This place just suits us," said Randy. "There is no danger of the +farmer finding us here, if we _are_ on his side of the creek. And we +need not be afraid to keep a fire going, because these rocks will shut +out the light." + +It was now half past four o'clock, and when the tent had been pitched--a +difficult piece of work for two persons--and the canoes unloaded, the +boys began to prepare a good supper in readiness for Ned and Clay. + +Six o'clock came, and then seven, but the anxiously expected ones did +not appear on the other side of the creek. + +Randy and Nugget were too hungry to wait any longer, so they ate their +supper by twilight. When it grew a little darker they built a roaring +fire at the edge of the water. There was an abundance of driftwood +farther up the slope, which had been left there at various times by the +high water. + +When nine o'clock came the boys were seriously alarmed, and all sorts of +dreadful possibilities occurred to them. They found it impossible to +sleep, and all through the long hours of that night they sat about the +fire, constantly piling on wood, and keeping a huge blaze going to guide +the missing ones to the camp. + +The first glimmer of dawn found them worn out by sleeplessness and +despair. It was impossible to maintain their vigil any longer, so they +stuck the pennant in the sand close to the edge of the water, and +crawling into the tent, went to sleep side by side. + +A cannon shot could hardly have wakened them then. The sun rose higher +and higher until its direct rays beat fiercely down upon the tent from a +cloudless sky above, but still they slumbered on. + +The heat finally became intolerable, and Randy turned drowsily over and +opened his eyes. As he sat up with an effort, struggling to clear his +mind, he heard a tremendous splash, and then a loud, shrill cry. + +He was thoroughly awake now, and jerking Nugget to an upright position, +he turned and ran out of the tent. He gained the shore and looked up +stream. + +A thick mass of bushes was drifting leisurely along the base of the +cliff a dozen feet above, and something behind it--as yet invisible--was +making a great commotion in the water. + +Then a head appeared, and a pair of struggling arms, and to his joy and +amazement Randy recognized Clay. The lad's strength barely sufficed to +reach the shore, and Randy helped him out on land just as Nugget came +running from the tent. + +Clay staggered up the slope and dropped down in the bushes. + +"I fell off the cliff," he stammered with chattering teeth. "Ned is up +there; call to him." + +Randy and Nugget shouted with all their might, and a reply was heard +instantly. Then Ned appeared far up on the cliff and waved his hand. He +vanished at once, and a moment later came impetuously down the ravine, +leaping rocks and bushes in his haste. + +His face was paler than the boys had ever seen it, and tears stood in +his eyes. He hurriedly clasped hands with Randy and Nugget, and +approached Clay. + +"Are you hurt, old fellow?" he asked huskily. "That was a wonderful +escape. I thought it was all up with you." + +Clay smiled faintly. + +"I'll be all right in a little while. I'm suffering from the shock, +that's all. I don't think there is a bruise on me." + +A fire was quickly made, while Ned explained to his companions the +catastrophe that had happened on the cliff. Then Clay was stripped and +rubbed down with a coarse towel, and after his dry clothes were on he +declared he felt as well as ever. + +A good dinner was prepared, and when all were seated around the flat +rock that served for a table, Ned produced the packet of letters and +gave a minute account of the wanderings and adventures which it had cost +to obtain them. The story of Randy's cake provoked much laughter, and +Randy assured Ned that he had done the proper thing under the +circumstances. + +Then the other side of the story was told, and listened to with even +greater interest. Clay was chaffed unmercifully about the calf, and +Nugget also came in for a goodly share of ridicule. + +The failure of the boys to find Randy's letter was a mystery at first, +but Ned finally suggested that it had been blown into the water, which +was no doubt the case. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +CAUGHT IN THE WHIRLPOOL + + +About three o'clock the boys broke camp. They were now thoroughly +rested, and eager to be on the water again. Moreover the cleft among the +rocks--though admirably adapted for a hiding place--had none of the +qualifications which a good camping site should possess. + +A paddle of two miles brought the party to Tanner's Dam, and when they +had carried the canoes around and embarked on the lower side they passed +the mouth of the real Otter Run. This enabled Ned to fix their bearings +definitely on the map, and he resolved to keep close track of the +topography of the creek in the future. + +About six o'clock a beautiful place to camp was found on the left shore +of the creek; shade was abundant, and the soil was level and grassy. A +few yards up the beach a spring bubbled and spurted from a nest of +rocks. + +As the boys landed a flock of wild ducks flew up with a great splashing, +and winged their way down the creek. Along the opposite shore, which was +flat and marshy, yellow-legged snipe were running to and fro, a couple +of gray herons standing contentedly on one leg, were gobbling minnows +from the shallow pools. + +This was now Thursday evening. It would be a week on the morrow since +the Jolly Rovers had started on their cruise. They were so pleased with +the location of the camp, and the opportunities it seemed to offer that +they concluded to remain for a while, and here they spent Friday, +Saturday, Sunday and Monday. + +The keen and peaceful enjoyments of those four days were in vivid +contrast to the turbulent, adventurous life the boys had led during the +past week. They looked back upon it afterward as the brightest period of +their cruise. + +Sunday was spent quietly in camp, but the remainder of the time was +filled up with all sorts of occupations. Randy shot numerous snipe and +woodcock. Clay and Nugget gave their attention to fishing, and caught +altogether some thirty or forty large bass--not counting the trout which +they snared in a neighboring brook. + +Ned found his keenest enjoyment in wandering over the country from +farmhouse to farmhouse and bringing back tempting supplies. He was a +born forager, and well understood the art of making bargains with the +farmers. + +The boys lived on the fat of the land, and at very slight cost. The diet +of fish and game was constantly varied by green corn, new potatoes, +sometimes peaches or melons, and occasionally a plump duck or chicken. +Only on one day did it rain, and this merely served to make the fish +bite better. + +But each and every one of the Jolly Rovers had the true instinct of the +canoeist, and when Monday's sun dropped redly behind the hills they were +eager to start afresh on their wanderings. Their arms tingled to grasp +the paddle and drive the graceful canoe over the blue water; they longed +to explore the great unknown territory that lay in front of them, to +seek new camping grounds and new adventures. + +At eight o'clock on Tuesday morning the crimson and gold pennant stood +stiffly against the breeze as it led the little fleet from the spot +where so many happy hours had been spent. + +It was a glorious day--a day when all living things should have been +happy. So it seemed to the boys as they paddled lazily down mid-channel +with the slanting sunbeams on their bronzed and radiant faces. + +But the business of life went on just the same around them. The hungry +bass with his piratical black fin just cutting the surface, scattered +the shoals of minnows, and sadly lessened their numbers. The kingfisher +scooped occasionally from his perch to return with a shining morsel, and +the gray heron stalked among the pools like a duck on stilts, searching +the muddy bottom for tender young frogs. + +Back in the forest the crows and the blue jays were waging a bitter +squallish conflict, and here and there weary toilers among the yellow +grain dropped their scythes to watch the canoes drifting by. + +But the problem of life cast no shadow on the Jolly Rovers, and they +paddled on contentedly, finding something new to admire every few +minutes. + +Nugget was more than usually happy that morning. The past few days had +taught him the bright side of canoeing, and he fondly hoped to find the +future just as smooth and free from snags. + +He was dipping his paddle from side to side in a leisurely way when his +eyes chanced to rest on the bottom of the cockpit. Right between his +knees was a flat little head with two bead-like eyes and a red tongue +that darted quickly in and out. Attached to the head was a long +gracefully coiled body, mottled like the skin of a brook trout. + +The yell that burst from Nugget's lips would have done credit to a Sioux +warrior. It scared the snake half out of its wits, and the reptile +wriggled under the bottom board. + +"Help! Murder! Snakes!" roared Nugget, partly rising and clutching the +combing with both hands. "Help me, help me! I'll be bitten. I'll die." + +"Where is it?" cried Ned, paddling alongside. + +"Stamp on it," shouted Randy. "Throw it out and I'll shoot it." + +Nugget only yelled the more and shook the canoe so violently by his +antics that it threatened to tip over. + +"Be careful," Ned warned him. "You will upset. Paddle to shore and we'll +take the snake out for you." + +"I can't, I can't," shrieked Nugget. "My paddle fell overboard. There it +goes." + +Ned and Clay started simultaneously for the drifting paddle, but they +had hardly taken a dozen strokes when the snake thrust his head out of a +crevice in the bottom boards. + +This proved too much for Nugget. Uttering yell after yell he sprang to +his feet and tried to climb out on the foredeck of the canoe. The Imp +refused to stand such treatment, and tipped over instantly, throwing +Nugget head first into the water. + +Fortunately the creek was shallow at this point, and after going under a +couple of times, and swallowing a quantity of water--owing to his +persistent yelling--Nugget gained a foothold without the aid of his +friends, and waded shoulder deep for the nearest shore. + +Amid all the confusion the snake escaped in some manner from the +overturned canoe, and swam rapidly down stream. Ned and Clay went in +pursuit, but the reptile was too swift for them, and safely gained a +patch of reeds. + +The Imp was quickly righted and towed to shore. The contents were little +damaged, and Nugget made haste to change his clothes. + +"I'd like to know how that snake got in my canoe," he said angrily. "It +was a beastly mean trick." + +"I don't believe it was a trick at all," exclaimed Ned laughingly. "The +snake must have crawled in when the canoe was lying on shore, bottom up. +It no doubt thought it had found a nice snug place to live." + +"That's the way it happened, of course," said Randy. "No one would have +been mean enough to put it in on purpose." + +Clay said nothing, but turned abruptly aside and began to busy himself +with his canoe. + +The delay was of brief duration, and the Jolly Rovers were soon afloat +again. Nugget had stretched his wet clothes across the fore and rear +deck of his canoe, so that the sun would quickly dry them. + +About noon, while the boys were paddling through a deep and narrow part +of the creek, Ned called attention to a bunch of ducks that were feeding +in the reeds some distance down the right shore. All eyes were turned in +that direction, and consequently no one happened to glance toward the +opposite bank. + +Clay had fallen a little behind his companions, and was three or four +yards to the left of them. He was drifting along with his gaze fixed on +the ducks, when all at once his canoe began to twist and oscillate in a +most alarming manner. + +He turned quickly to see what was the matter, and the first glance sent +a chill of fear to his heart. He was on the edge of a violently agitated +patch of water that kept moving round and round in constantly narrowing +circles until it ended in a funnel shaped aperture that went beneath the +surface, and was itself whirling in dizzy revolutions. + +Even as he looked his canoe drifted into the second circle, and mounted +toward a great rock fifty or sixty feet high that rose straight from the +water on the left shore. + +Clay realized his situation instantly. He was caught in the whirlpool +which some of the farmers had spoken about in a vague manner, as though +they doubted its existence. There was no doubt about it now. The +whirlpool was a stern reality, and he was fast in its embrace. + +Without calling his companions, Clay tried to paddle away from the +circling current. But to his horror and consternation the canoe was +unmanageable. The violent paddle strokes simply made it swing around on +its keel. + +Then Clay became terribly frightened, and shouted for help. It was +indeed high time. He had already drifted to the base of the rock where +the whirlpool terminated, and was now swinging back toward the center of +the creek. + +The appeal for help--though its meaning was not comprehended at +first--brought the other boys to Clay's assistance. That is to say they +paddled toward the dangerous spot and were within an ace of getting in +the same fix, when Clay frantically warned them back. + +"Keep away! keep!" he shouted. "You must find some other way to help +me." + +Ned was the first to grasp the situation. During the last few days he +had heard more than one tale about this dreaded whirlpool with its +merciless undertow, and now it made him sick and faint to see Clay's +peril, and yet be unable to devise a way of helping him. + +For so it seemed then. It would be simple folly and madness for the +others to trust themselves near the rapacious current; yet how else +could help reach the imperiled lad? + +The whirlpool was thirty feet in diameter, and while Randy and Nugget +were looking on with white, scared faces, and Ned was vainly trying to +plan a means of rescue, Clay was slowly drifting around the circle, +coming nearer each time to the gurgling funnel in the center--and this +in spite of the most strenuous paddling. Each stroke, in fact, only +deflected the canoe sideways, as though it had no keel, and increased +the risk of upsetting. + +None realized the danger more than Clay himself and the horror of those +few short minutes--they seemed more like hours--he never forgot. + +It was not likely of course that the heavy canoe could be dragged clear +under water; the whirlpool was no such gigantic thing as that. But it +was absolutely certain that when the canoe reached the funnel shaped +aperture in the center it would instantly be overturned, and just as +surely Clay would be sucked into the black depths below, and whirled off +by the fierce undercurrent with no possible chance of reaching the +surface. + +This was the awful fate that stared him in the face; and all that while +he drifted nearer and nearer the end, crying vainly for help, and +beating the frothy water with his paddle. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +RANDY'S PROPOSITION + + +At the moment when Clay's situation seemed most hopeless--and while his +horrified companions were looking on with the silence of despair--Nugget +leaned forward in his canoe, opened the hatch, and drew out a big ball +of cord. + +"Ned! Ned!" he shouted eagerly, "can you do anything with this outline? +I forgot I had it." + +Ned's face flushed with joy, and paddling alongside of Nugget he +snatched the cord. + +"Follow me to the shore," he cried, "and you too, Randy." + +An instant later the three lads were standing on the gravel beach, +separated from the whirlpool by no less than sixty or seventy feet. + +Ned waved his hand to Clay, and shouted hoarsely: "Fight hard, old +fellow! We'll save you in a minute." + +Then turning quickly to his companions he demanded: "How long is this +line?" + +"One hundred and forty feet," answered Nugget. "The man I bought it from, +said so." + +Ned tied the end of it to a ring in the stern of the Pioneer, and ran +down the beach, unrolling the ball as he went. Sixty feet away he +stopped and cut the cord, then he hurried back with the remainder in his +hand. He tied a short stick to the end of the ball, and throwing both +into his canoe scrambled after them. + +"Now you fellows keep tight hold of that," he directed, pointing to the +cord that lay outstretched on the beach. "Pay it out as I go, and when I +give the word pull with all your might." + +Randy and Nugget began to understand now, and they allowed the line to +trail through their fingers as Ned paddled furiously away, heading for a +point a little above the whirlpool. + +It was a critical and intensely exciting moment. Clay had divined what +Ned intended to do, and with this gleam of hope to animate him, he was +fighting desperately to keep away from the gurgling hollow which was +slowly sucking him into its embrace. + +There was scant time to spare when Ned ceased paddling a few feet above +and to the right of the whirlpool, and allowed the canoe to drift down +stream broadside. But he was wonderfully cool headed and self-possessed, +as, with deft fingers he unwrapped the ball of cord and coiled it +between his knees. Then he twisted one end about his left hand, and with +the right seized the short, heavy stick. + +He was now directly opposite Clay, and measuring the distance with a +quick eye, he flung the stick straight out. It rose in the air, dragging +the cord gracefully after it, and fell across the combing of Clay's +canoe. + +Ned uttered a sigh of relief, and Randy and Nugget cheered wildly from +the shore. + +But the danger was not over yet, though Clay had instantly seized the +line. The canoe would upset at once if an attempt were made to drag it +broadside out of the whirlpool. + +Clay comprehended this, and he was quick witted enough to solve the +problem. Though his canoe was now verging on the trough of the +whirlpool, he calmly tied the line around one blade of his paddle and +pressed this with all his might against the big screw eye that was set +in the bow of the canoe. + +"All right," he shouted hoarsely. + +Ned turned and waved his hand to Randy and Nugget. They understood the +signal, and instantly began to haul on the line. + +The Pioneer moved slowly toward shore, and the next instant the strain +reached Clay. It was concentrated in the right place, too, and after a +couple of refractory tugs, as though the whirlpool was loath to +surrender its victim, the Neptune headed about and slowly followed the +Pioneer. + +This was, if possible, a more exciting moment than any that had preceded +it. So much depended on the two lines. If either broke disaster would +follow. + +But the cords did their duty nobly, and soon Clay was beyond the +swirling circles. A few seconds later the Pioneer touched shore, and +then three willing pairs of hands dragged the Neptune in so forcibly +that a great wave rolled before the bow. + +The boys had to help Clay out and prop him against a tree; and for +nearly five minutes he sat there so white and helpless that they feared +he would faint. A drink of water seemed to revive him some, and finally +the color came back to his cheeks. + +"I'm all right now," he said, as he got up and walked a few steps. "For +a little while I felt like keeling over, and no wonder, after what I +went through out there." + +"It was a close call," asserted Ned. "Nugget didn't remember about that +line a minute too soon. The credit of your rescue belongs to him." + +"No it doesn't," said Nugget bashfully. "You did the work." + +Clay looked from one to the other, and then held out his hand to Nugget. + +"It was your outline and your suggestion," he said in a low voice. "You +saved my life. Will you forgive me, old fellow? I put that snake in your +canoe this morning, and am awfully sorry I did it." + +Nugget hesitated an instant. Then he blushingly accepted the proffered +hand and said: + +"We'll let the matter drop, Clay. I know you won't do anything like that +again." + +"No, I won't," replied Clay earnestly. "I'm done with practical jokes. +It was only a garter snake, though I caught it with a forked stick." + +Ned and Randy had been at first inclined to pitch into Clay, but seeing +that he was sincerely repentant they wisely concluded to ignore his +fault, hoping that the lesson would really prove beneficial, and cure +him of the fondness for playing tricks. + +After a light lunch the Jolly Rovers started off again. They were +anxious to get as far as possible from the whirlpool. During the early +part of the afternoon they paddled and drifted by turns, for Clay was +still a little weak from his experience. + +Between three and four o'clock a bend of the creek brought into view an +old wooden bridge. The piers were mossy and crumbling to ruins, and the +roof and sides had been guiltless of paint for many a long year. + +Just below the bridge the Creek widened to a kind of pool. At the foot +of a ledge of rocks on the left shore sat three men holding long fishing +poles. Their attention seemed to be given to a fourth man, who was +sitting in a boat near by, talking earnestly, and pointing from time to +time out on the creek. + +A spring was visible a little above the fishermen, and as the boys +happened to be thirsty they paddled over to it. + +The canoes immediately became objects of interest, and a friendly +conversation was started. + +The man in the boat stepped out, and picked up Randy's gun. + +"That's a purty nice weapon," he observed in a mournful voice. "It ain't +unlike the one I lost, only mine was longer, and a leetle bit lighter. +It was a muzzle loader, though, and this is one of them new fangled +kind." + +"How did you lose yours?" inquired Randy. + +"It sunk out there," replied the man, pointing toward mid-channel. "I +was driftin' along when I seen a muskrat in the reeds on t'other shore. +I stood up to reach the gun, an' just as I got holt of it my foot +slipped on a wet board, an' down I come. The weapon went overboard, an' +that was the end of it. It riles me bad, 'cause that gun belonged to my +old daddy." + +"When did this happen?" asked Randy. + +"'Bout half an hour ago; anyway not much mor'n that." + +"But the gun surely isn't lost for good. Why don't you dive after it?" + +The man thrust his hands into his pockets and stared blankly at Randy. +The three fishermen smiled and nudged each other. + +"Why don't you dive after it?" repeated Randy. "If you can tell me the +exact location I'll get it for you." + +"You will, will you?" exclaimed the man impressively. "Waal, I reckon +you'd have a stiff contract. Did you fellows never hear of Rudy's Hole? +Thar it lies right in front of you, and there ain't no bottom to it." + +"Hold on, Mose Hocker," exclaimed one of the fishermen. "There must be +bottom somewheres, of course, but it's mighty far down." + +The boys looked at one another incredulously and smiled. The idea of a +bottomless hole in the Conodoguinet was ridiculous. + +At that moment an old man with bent back and white hair hobbled down +the path from the road above, leaning heavily on his cane, which was his +constant companion. + +"Good afternoon, Daddy Perkiss," exclaimed Mose Hocker. "I'm glad you +come along. I lost my gun out in the Hole a while ago, and this chap +here offers to dive arter it. You've lived around these parts nigh onto +eighty years. Tell him how fur down he'll have to go to reach that +weapon." + +"Ho! Ho!" cackled Daddy Perkiss, as he tremblingly sat down on a drift +log, "the lad wants to dive in Rudy's Hole, does he? Well, let him try, +let him try." + +The old man was silent for a moment, and his bleary eyes had a far away +expression as though they were looking into the dim past. + +"It be sixty years since Jonas Rudy were drowned out here," he mumbled +in a shrill voice, "an they ain't found the body to this day. I were +away at the time, drivin' a teamster's wagon to Pittsburg, but I mind +hearin' the story when I come home. Many a time I've heard tell how they +tried to find bottom the next spring after Jonas was drowned. + +"Mike Berry, the blacksmith over at Four Corners, brought his anvil, an' +the men made the women folks give up their clotheslines. Then they went +out on the hole in the old ferryboat, and let down the anvil. There was +two hundred feet of line in all, an' when half of it were out the men +lost their grip. The rest went like greased lightnin', an' the end got +coiled around Mike Berry's yaller dog, an' took it along. The poor +beast never came up again." + +Daddy Perkiss paused for sheer want of breath, and looked around to note +the effect of his story. + +"That yarn was started years ago," whispered Mose Hocker, coming close +up to the boys, "an' Daddy has told it so many times that he believes +every word. I reckon the most of it's true though. It would take more'n +one clothesline to reach bottom out here." + +"But has the place never been sounded?" asked Ned. "Have you never tried +it yourself?" + +Mose Hocker shook his head vigorously. "What would be the use?" he +replied. "Nobody doubts it. Why, Rudy's Hole is known an' dreaded for +miles around." + +Evidently regarding this argument as a clincher he turned aside, and +began to talk to Daddy Perkiss. + +About this time Randy was doing a good deal of thinking. He had listened +with incredulous interest to the old man's narrative, and knowing how +prone country folk are to accept any fanciful story--especially a long +standing tradition--without ever attempting to verify it, the conviction +had forced itself upon his mind that Rudy's Hole was a myth--in other +words that its depth was nothing extraordinary. + +Randy was a good swimmer, but a far better diver. He was long winded, +and his staying qualities under water had always been a source of +admiration and envy to his companions. + +It now occurred to him, with irresistible fascination, what a fine +thing it would be to recover Mose Hooker's gun, and show these people +what a delusion they had been laboring under all their lives. + +It took Randy but a short time to make up his mind, and walking over to +Mose Hocker, he asked abruptly: "Could you tell me just where your gun +fell in?" + +"I reckon I could if there was any need of it," was the drawling reply. +"I happened to notice my bearings at the time. I was straight down from +that rock out there, and straight out from the big button wood tree on +yonder shore--right over the deepest part of the Hole." + +"All right!" said Randy quietly. "Now if you will lend me your boat for +about ten minutes I think I can restore you your gun." + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +A SHATTERED DELUSION + + +The burst of derisive laughter that greeted his proposition in no way +disconcerted Randy. He waited quietly until it was over, and then +repeated his request. + +"Ho! ho!" cackled Daddy Perkiss; "is the lad tired of livin', or kin he +breathe under water like a fish?" + +"He's a stout hearted chap," cried Mose Hocker, "and sense his mind's +bent on takin' a good long dive I reckon he kin have the boat. There +ain't no undercurrent out there as I know of, so he ain't likely to come +to harm, and besides I'm mighty anxious to git my gun back." + +Here Mr. Hocker winked slyly at Daddy Perkiss and the fishermen. + +The old man failed to appreciate the joke. + +"It's temptin' Providence," he cried shrilly, pounding his cane on the +beach. "If you ever sees that weapon agin, Mose Hocker, I'll give you +ten pounds of the best plug terbacker that Bill Smith has in his store." + +"That's a bargain," exclaimed Mose. "You fellows can testify to what he +said." + +Then turning to Randy he added with a laugh, "Don't fail me now, lad. +Ten pounds of terbacker ain't picked up every day." + +"Just give me a fair show and I'll astonish you all before long," +replied Randy, moving toward the boat. "Ned, will you go with me?" he +added. + +Ned willingly agreed, much to the amazement of Clay and Nugget, who +expected him to oppose Randy's project with all his might. The truth of +the matter was that Ned, being a sensible fellow, shared Randy's view, +and was rather anxious to see the tables turned on the credulous +rustics. + +He was satisfied from the smooth and sluggish appearance of the water +that a dive would not be attended with danger. + +In some unaccountable manner the news seemed to have spread through the +neighborhood, and when Ned and Randy embarked, the crowd had been +augmented by three men and two bare-footed urchins. A wagon containing +two farmers had stopped at the entrance of the bridge, and the occupants +were tying the horse preparatory to coming down. + +Mose Hocker's boat was a large, heavy craft, built on the order of a +bateau, and was admirably adapted to Randy's purpose. The boys paddled +up stream a little until they were directly below the rock Hocker had +designated. Then, while the boat drifted down with a barely perceptible +motion, Randy hastily undressed. + +"It's a pity we didn't bring a fishing line along," observed Ned. "I +could ascertain the depth for you in a minute." + +"We don't need it," replied Randy. "I was never in better wind than I am +now. If there's a bottom at all I'll find it." + +The boat was now one hundred feet below the rock, and a stroke or two of +Ned's paddle put it in line with the big buttonwood tree on the right +shore. + +"This is just about the exact spot," said Randy, surveying with a +critical eye the rock and then the tree. "Hold the boat steady, Ned. +I'll be ready in a second or two." + +This was not a difficult task, for the water was as smooth as a mill +pond and almost as motionless. + +Clay and Nugget had by this time paddled out in their canoes to witness +operations, and the little group on the shore were waiting in breathless +silence. + +Randy was prepared now, and suddenly he mounted the broad stern seat, +and stood on the outer edge. + +An audible murmur came from the shore, and Daddy Perkiss mumbled +shrilly: "They're right over the middle of the Hole." + +"Paddle down a little," said Randy in a quiet tone to Clay and Nugget. +"You obstruct the view. Still in the right location, are we?" he +inquired of Ned. + +"Yes, as near as possible," was the reply. "Be careful, old fellow!" + +Randy smiled and glanced at the expectant crowd on the shore. Then he +drew a long breath, pressed his hands together and dived gracefully into +the cloudy blue water. It was done so quickly and cleverly that no loud +splash followed, nor was the boat violently shaken. + +As the seconds passed on not the least sound broke the stillness; every +eye was fixed on the spot where the lad had disappeared, and every heart +was beating tumultuously. + +The seconds grew almost to a minute, and still the smooth surface +remained unbroken. Ned's hand trembled as he kept the boat in position, +and Clay and Nugget exchanged frightened glances. + +"I knew it," cried Daddy Perkiss in a cracked voice. "That lad will +never be seen again. He's gone down to meet Jonas Rudy." + +This ill boding prophecy had scarcely left the old man's lips, when +Randy shot into view a few feet to the left of where he had disappeared. +Half a dozen strokes brought him to the boat, and with Ned's assistance +he scrambled over the side. + +His hands were empty. + +A burst of laughter came from shore, and Daddy Perkiss cried +triumphantly: "Where's the gun, lad? Did you find bottom?" + +Randy only waved his hand in reply. He was panting a little for breath, +but his face wore a very peculiar smile--a smile that quite baffled the +three eager boys. + +"What luck?" queried Ned excitedly. "How far down were you? Did you find +anything?" + +"You will know before long," replied Randy with aggravating calmness. +"Keep the boat in the same place, Ned. One more stroke. There, that's +it Here goes for another." + +He quickly mounted the seat again, and drew in his breath. + +"Hold on, young fellar," cried Mose Hocker in a loud voice, "Don't risk +your life a second time. I kin stand the loss of that terbacker." + +Randy laughed, waved his hand, and went under head foremost. + +The suspense was now greater than on the previous occasion. Ned began to +count, and when the half minute expired his face grew pale. + +Thirty-five--forty--three-quarters of a minute! No sign of the reckless +diver. Had some undercurrent dragged him far down in those blue depths? + +When the forty-ninth second had expired a loud murmur rose from the +people on shore, and just a second later it changed to a deafening burst +of applause as Randy shot above the surface holding in his right +hand--_Mose Hacker's gun_. + +His face was fairly purple for want of breath, and he had scarcely +enough strength to gain the side of the boat. He threw the gun over +first and then, with Ned's aid, rolled into the bottom, where he lay for +a moment, panting for breath. + +Cheer after cheer came from shore, and the boys joined in heartily. +Randy was all right in a moment, and as Ned paddled across the creek, he +hurriedly pulled on his clothes. + +When the boat landed by the rocks such a scene ensued as no pen can +describe. The men crowded about Randy with eager congratulations, and +fairly pumped his arms off. + +Mose Hocker snatched the gun and waved it triumphantly before Daddy +Perkiss. + +"What do you think of that?" he cried. "The lad brought it clean up from +the bottom of Rudy's hole. I'll take that ten pounds of terbacker, +Daddy, as soon as you please." + +"Shoo, now! thar's some trick about the thing," mumbled the old man +petulantly. "You can't make me believe that Rudy's Hole ain't two or +three hundred feet deep." + +"But here's the gun to prove it," said Mose, "an' we all saw the lad +bring it up. Let him speak for himself, and say whether he touched +bottom or not." + +"Of course I touched bottom," returned Randy with a slight shiver at the +recollection. "It was the biggest dive I ever made. The water must be +fifteen or twenty feet deep. It's not any more than that, though. I +thought I'd never come to the top the second time. I was just ready to +burst when I found the gun, and the weight of it kept me from coming up +rapidly." + +Daddy heard the lad through, and then, with a contemptuous sniff, he +rose and hobbled up the path. + +"Don't forgit the terbacker," Mose Hocker shouted after him. + +The old man made no reply, and was soon out of sight. + +"It's a hard blow for Daddy," said one of the fishermen, "an' the same +in fact fur all of us, I reckon. I've been brung up from a lad in the +full belief that Rudy's Hole were well nigh bottomless." + +"And I," "and I," cried half a dozen voices. + +"It will be most amazin' news to the whole community," said Mose Hocker, +"an' mebbe it'll teach folks to investigate things. I'm kinder sorry for +Daddy Perkiss. It was his chief delight to tell that story to every +stranger what come along, an' now he won't dare to open his lips about +Rudy's Hole. When I get the terbacker I'll give you fellows a plug +apiece." + +Three or four of the men laughed at this, as though they had their +doubts on the subject. + +"Oh, I'll keep Daddy to his word," resumed Mose. "He kin easily afford +it." Then turning to the boys he said abruptly, "I want you boys to come +down the creek and spend the night at my place. I'll try to treat you +well. The recovery of that gun means a good deal to me, and I want to do +what I kin in return." + +Several other invitations of a similiar nature were extended to the +Jolly Rovers, but they accepted Mose Mocker's without hesitation. A few +moments later they paddled down the creek, cheered loudly by the +admiring spectators. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +THE STORM BREAKS + + +The Jolly Rovers were agreeably surprised when they reached Mose +Hocker's "place." Instead of the farmhouse, which they had confidently +expected, it proved to be a snug little cabin standing in a dense bit of +woods along the creek, and distant from Rudy's Hole about one mile. + +Mose was a tall, wiry, middle aged man, with a smooth shaven face. + +"I've always been fond of hunting and fishing," he explained to the +boys, "an' about two year ago I built this place, an' moved in. It +stands on my own land. I have a farm back yonder, but after my wife died +I put a tenant on my property. The life didn't agree with me, somehow or +other." + +"I reckon I've got a streak of my daddy's wild blood. He was a great +hunter in his day, and that's why I prize this gun so much. It was made +in London by John Armstrong in 1874--so that silver plate on the breech +says--and if it is old fashioned it kin shoot. You chaps ought to be +here in the fall when the ducks and geese are moving--I'd show you some +sport." + +Mr. Hocker proved himself a delightful host. His cabin was crammed full +of curious contrivances for catching fish and trapping game, the various +uses of which he took delight in explaining to the boys. He was an adept +at cooking--as the bountiful evening meal proved--and he possessed a +fund of adventurous stories that made the hours pass quickly until +bedtime. + +He spread blankets and pillows on the floor for his guests, and after +the wearisome events of the day they slept soundly until dawn. + +A plunge in the creek was first in order, and then came a warm +breakfast. An hour later, with many sincere expressions of regret at +parting, the Jolly Rovers resumed their cruise. Mr. Hocker pressed them +to stay a couple of days, but they deemed it best to push on, since they +were yet many miles from home. + +Little did they think as they paddled away from the cabin, that they and +their friendly host would meet again under far different circumstances +in the near future. + +All that day--which was Wednesday--the boys paddled steadily. They +camped in the evening at the water works dam, one mile out from +Carlisle, and while Clay and Randy prepared supper, Ned and Nugget went +to town for mail. Fortunately they visited the express office as well, +and found a cake there addressed to Randy. They brought it triumphantly +back to camp--a straight road precluded the possibility of losing the +way on this occasion--and had a glorious feast before going to bed. + +Thursday was a repetition of the previous day. Nothing occurred worthy +of special mention. The boys covered ten or fifteen miles in spite of +the dams that frequently blocked the way. + +About four o'clock in the afternoon, while passing through a lonely and +beautiful strip of country, they came upon five tiny islands grouped +together in mid channel. The largest was not more than a dozen yards +long. All were grassy and shaded by trees, and they made a pretty +picture with the water rippling softly through the narrow winding +channels that separated them. + +As the bushes and timber on both banks of the creek were very dense, the +boys chose one of the islands for a camping place--the left hand one of +two that lay a little farther down stream than the others. It was two or +three feet above the surface of the creek, level and grassy on top, and +contained seven or eight good sized trees. + +The largest of these--a massive buttonwood--stood at the extreme lower +end, and its whitened, far stretching roots had been laid bare by the +current that came sweeping down each side, formed a shallow swirling +eddy. + +Here the boys landed, and seeing that the steepness of the bank would +make it a difficult task to carry the canoes up--if indeed there was +room to spare above--they tied them in a bunch to the roots of the +tree. Then stripping off their shoes and stockings, they waded about in +the shallow water unloading what articles they wanted, and carrying them +up on the bank. + +The tent was staked in the center of the island, and the boys did not +discover, until too late, that the entrance faced up stream. + +"Let it go," said Ned. "It's a little unhandy for the canoes, that's +all. We must be careful not to trip over the ropes, though." + +There was another reason why the tent should have faced the opposite +way. It was exposed, in its present position, to any storm that might +come up from the west. + +But this did not occur to the boys, and very naturally, since the sky +was cloudless and the air but moderately warm. It had not been such a +day as usually brews July thunderstorms. + +After considerable searching, two stones suitable for the fireplace were +found in the eddy. There was an utter lack of fuel on the island, so Ned +and Randy paddled to shore and loaded their canoes with driftwood. + +Two weeks of camp life had now familiarized each lad with the duties +that were assigned to him, and by working in unison supper was soon +prepared. + +The boys lingered over the meal a good while, and it was quite dark when +the dishes were washed and put away. + +At nine o'clock all were sleeping soundly behind the tightly drawn tent +flaps, and the fire was mingling its red flashes with the moonlight glow +on the rippling surface of the creek. + +Ten o'clock came--eleven--twelve. Not a breath of air was stirring; a +dead, oppressive calm, like the sultriness of noonday, had settled down +on land and water. Half an hour later the west was inky black with +massed storm clouds and fleecy forerunners of the coming tempest were +straying one after another across the moon. + +All unconscious of impending danger the boys slept peacefully, nor did +they awake until the storm was upon them in all its fury. Dazed and +terrified they crouched close together, watching the jagged purple +flashes that turned night into noonday, listening to the furious patter +of the rain and the crashing of thunder, and shivering where the oozing +drops fell in their faces from the saturated canvas. + +Streams of water were trickling across the ground, and the tent was +tugging, like a thing of life, to free itself from the iron stakes. + +Ned groped about until he found the lantern, and with great difficulty +he lit it. Nugget was trembling like a leaf, but the others were, so +far, more disgusted than frightened. A possible ducking, and the loss of +a night's sleep, was the most they dreaded. + +But soon the presence of a real and actual danger made itself known. The +wind rose to such a point of violence that it was little short of a +hurricane. Trees began to go down here and there, and the passage of +the gale through the forest on each shore was like the whirring flight +of myriads of quail. + +The tent was slightly protected by the timber on the upper point of the +island; otherwise it must have yielded to the first onslaught of the +storm. + +"This is terrible," whispered Ned. "If it grows any worse I'm afraid we +will fare badly. The tent is strained to its utmost now." + +"Even the iron stakes won't hold it if the wind gets through the flaps," +said Randy in a dismal tone. + +They were silent for a moment, listening to the increasing fury of the +gale. + +"Oh! this is awful," wailed Nugget. "The water is running down my neck, +and I'm sitting in a big puddle. It's coming in all around me." + +"You ought to be thankful you're not sitting in the open air," muttered +Clay. "That may be the next thing." + +At Ned's suggestion--which, strange to say, had not occurred to any one +before--the boys overhauled their clothing bags and put on their rubber +coats. Each was provided with one of those useful articles. + +As they sat about the flickering flame of the lantern a more furious +gust than any that had preceded came shrieking down the creek. In the +midst of its passage a great crash was heard, so loud and so near that +the very ground seems to tremble. + +The boys could not repress a cry of terror. A tree had fallen close by, +and they dreaded lest another would crush the tent. + +"Gracious! what if that was the big buttonwood!" cried Randy. "Our +canoes--" + +His agitated face finished the sentence more plainly than words could +have done. + +Ned rose, pulling his coat close about him, and seized the lantern. + +"I must see about that," he said hoarsely. "Stay right here. I will be +back in a moment." + +Before the others could utter a word of protest, he lifted the rear end +of the canvas half a foot, and, with lantern in hand, squirmed through +like a snake, leaving the tent in utter darkness. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +AT THE MERCY OF THE TEMPEST + + +The wind was so violent that Ned dared not stand erect. He crossed on +hands and knees the brief stretch that separated the tent from the lower +end of the island. + +The buttonwood was still standing--much to his relief--and the canoes +were so far uninjured, though the gale was knocking them together pretty +forcibly. + +Bracing himself against the buttonwood, Ned turned the lantern in all +directions, and soon discovered the tree which had caused such alarm by +its fall. It lay prostrate on the other island, but as a channel barely +half a dozen yards wide separated the two, it was not surprising that +the crash should have sounded very near. + +The storm still raged with unabated fury. The lightning played +incessantly over the heavens, and the thunder was continuous. + +Ned took advantage of a lull in the wind to start on his return, but he +had scarcely left the tree when the lantern slipped from his hand, and +was extinguished by the fall. He found it after a short search, and as +he could see plainly enough without a light, he pushed on toward the +tent, bending his body forward to escape the cutting rain. + +A sudden fierce blast of wind compelled him to crouch close to the +ground, and just as he rose a jagged flash of lightning turned the +blackness into a purple glare. Ned's eyes happened to be resting on the +channel between the two islands, and in that brief instant of light he +saw a boat gliding swiftly down the current, cutting gracefully through +the great waves that rose to meet it. + +On the rear seat, paddle in hand, sat a man. A dark slouch hat, pulled +far down, concealed his features. He seemed perfectly at home, and in no +wise discomfited by the storm that was raging around him. + +As the vivid light faded away Ned ran back to the buttonwood tree, and +watched the blurred shape of the boat as it came down the channel. He +breathed a sigh of relief when it passed out from the islands and +continued on through the gloom, for his first thought had been that some +danger menaced the camp. + +Why a man should voluntarily expose himself to such a pitiless storm, +and at such an hour of the night, was a mystery too deep for Ned's +comprehension. It was certain, at all events, that the stranger was +abroad for no good purpose. + +Either his errand was in no wise connected with the Jolly Rovers, or +else he had passed close by the tent without seeing it--even when the +flash of lightning made the night as bright as noonday. + +Ned waited beside the buttonwood tree until another flash gave him a +brief glimpse of the boat far below the island. Then he hurried back to +the tent and crawled under the rear end. The boys immediately besieged +him with questions, and their anxiety was quickly allayed. + +"The canoes are safe," said Ned, as he relighted the lantern. "The tree +that fell was on the other island. I don't think the storm can last much +longer, I believe the wind is subsiding a little now." + +He was about to tell them of the strange boat and its occupant that had +passed down the channel, when a terrific blast checked the words on his +lips. The tent swayed to and fro, and just at this critical moment one +of the front flaps tore free of the strings that held it to the pole. + +The gale instantly swept under the canvas, lifted the tent bodily, and +whirled it through the air, leaving the amazed boys exposed to the +driving rain. + +Ned snatched the lantern and ran down the island. The others followed +him, and when they reached the buttonwood tree they saw the tent +floating limply on the waves twenty feet beyond the canoes. + +"We must recover it at all hazards," cried Ned hoarsely. "Our cruise is +ruined if we don't. Who will go with me?" + +"I will," replied Randy. + +"And I," added Clay. + +"One is enough," said Ned. "I'll take Randy. If the wind prevents us +from getting back don't you fellows be alarmed. Keep out of the rain as +much as possible, and if your clothes get wet put on dry ones." + +There was no time to lose, for the tent had drifted into the fierce +current below the island, and was already out of sight. There was great +danger of its sinking as soon as the canvas became thoroughly soaked. + +Hastily untying their canoes from the roots of the tree, Ned and Randy +paddled away in the darkness, leaving Clay and Nugget to make the best +of their desertion. + +It was a bad night to be on the water. The storm was still raging, and +the surface of the creek was lashed with great foamy billows. The boys +did not find the tent immediately. + +In fact the wind and the current together drove them a quarter of a mile +down stream before they could control their canoes sufficiently to head +them around. And even when they accomplished this they found it out of +the question to return. Not one inch could they gain in the teeth of the +blast, though they paddled hard and fast. + +Fortunately the canoes were empty, and this rendered them safe and +buoyant, so that they rose lightly on the crest of every wave. They +would surely have swamped had the usual loads been in the hatches. + +"We stand a poor show of getting back to the island this night," cried +Randy in a loud enough tone for his companion to hear. "I'll be +satisfied if we find the tent. Do you think it is still afloat?" + +With a half a dozen desperate strokes Ned then brought the Pioneer +alongside the Water Sprite. + +"I don't know," he replied. "If the tent is still on the surface it must +have drifted pretty near by this time. We've been trying to force our +way up stream for nearly ten minutes. Keep a sharp lookout on your side, +Randy, and I'll do the same on mine." + +This was by no means an easy matter. It was difficult to see with any +clearness at a distance of ten yards, and though Ned still had the +lighted lantern in his cockpit, it was impossible to make use of it and +to paddle at the same time. + +For a few moments longer the boys continued the futile struggle with the +wind and current. The rain was still falling in torrents, but their +rubber coats kept them fairly dry, and the canvas aprons buttoned +tightly over the cockpits, prevented the canoes from filling. + +At last, when both lads were quite in despair, a flash of lightning +revealed the tent a few yards to the left, rising and falling with the +waves. + +When the difficult operation of turning the canoes down stream was +safely performed, the tent was some yards away. It was still dimly +visible and the boys soon caught up with it. + +It threatened at first to be a sort of white elephant on their hands, +for the three poles were still in position, and the canvas was +hopelessly tangled about them. + +Had the boys been in a boat their task would have been comparatively +easy. As it was they had to be very cautious for fear of upsetting. + +Finally, by getting the unwieldy mass between them and employing their +paddles instead of hands they succeeded in dragging a portion of it upon +the fore deck of each canoe. The center still sagged in the water, but +it was impossible to make any better arrangement. + +"Paddle very carefully now," was Ned's caution. "We will run into shore +at the first opportunity, and if the storm abates one of us can go up +for Clay and Nugget. The island can't be more than half a mile away." + +This project, simple as it sounded, was quite impracticable at the +present time. The wind had fallen some, but the waves were still so +violent that the only safety for the heavily encumbered canoes lay in +keeping parallel with the current. A flank movement toward shore would +have brought speedy disaster. + +The boys realized this and stuck to mid-channel. The continued speed of +the current mystified them considerably, and they were quite at a lost +to account for it until Ned raised the lantern, and turned it on the +surface of the creek. + +"Good gracious!" he cried. "The water is yellow with mud. The creek is +rising. No wonder it runs like a mill race. This same storm must have +deluged the upper end of the valley before it reached here." + +Proof of Ned's assertion was not wanting, for that instant the canoes +rustled through the protruding grass of a submerged island. + +The water Sprite stuck fast on what was probably the crest, and the +Pioneer instantly swung around with the current, shaking off the folds +of the tent. + +Randy turned sideways to see how his companion was faring, and his face +suddenly blanched. + +"Look! look! Ned," he cried in a hoarse, frightened voice. "What is +that?" + +Randy's alarming cry was called forth by the discovery of a long dusky +object that was bearing rapidly down upon the canoes. + +The same chilling fear entered the hearts of both lads they watched its +noiseless approach. They believed it to be an upturned canoe--a message +fraught with tidings of disaster. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +ADRIFT ON A LOG + + +An instant later the shadowy object assumed the unmistakable form of a +huge drift log, and before Ned could realize his peril or deal a single +paddle stroke, the current whirled the heavy mass upon him, and the +blunt end pounded broadside into the Pioneer. The canoe was bowled over +like a tenpin, and Ned went head first into the yellow flood. He came to +the surface a dozen feet below, and when he found he was out of his +depth he made a valiant effort to swim up to Randy, who was fighting +hard to drive the Water Sprite off the island, so that he might hasten +to his friend's rescue. + +Half a dozen strokes convinced Ned of the utter futility of breasting +such a current. As he ceased struggling, and allowed himself to drift at +will, he saw the log bearing down upon him. It had swung clear around +after capsizing the canoe, and was shooting along at a rapid pace, as +though to make up for lost time. + +With scarcely an instant's deliberation Ned decided what to do. His +canoe was floating toward him from above, but being still broadside to +the current, its movements were painfully slow. + +Moreover, it offered doubtful security in its inverted position, and was +likely to sink if any weight was put upon it. + +A few vigorous strokes brought Ned alongside the drifting log as it +swung past him. He straddled it a little beyond the middle, holding on +with both hands. + +It sank a little with his weight, causing the front end to tip upwards, +but his head and shoulders were clear out of water. Turning cautiously +around, he saw to his dismay that Randy was still aground on the island. + +"Push off as soon as you can," he shouted. "Overtake my canoe and paddle +for the left bank. I'm safe for the present, and will try to reach +land." + +"All right!" came the reply an instant later. "I'll do my best." + +The words had a vague, far away sound, for already the distance had +widened considerably. The log went swiftly on its course, heading +straight through mid-channel, and leaping and plunging in the turbid +water. + +Ned clung to it with might and main. He was not a little worried by his +strange and perilous position. The yellow flood stretching on all sides +of him was a terrifying sight. + +The thunder and lightning had almost entirely ceased, and the wind had +fallen, leaving the creek as smooth as a millpond; but the rain still +poured with a steady persistency that threatened a long continuance. + +Ned did not mind this much. The air and the water were both warm, and he +felt fairly comfortable. + +He was more concerned for his companions than for himself. It would be a +difficult matter, he reflected, for Randy to manage the two canoes and +the tent. + +He wondered how Clay and Nugget were faring--whether they still remained +on the island, or had ventured to embark in search of their companions, +now that the violence of the storm was past. + +Meanwhile Ned was not oblivious to his own danger. While these things +were passing through his mind, he was striving to guide the log toward +shore by paddling with his left hand and leg. At first he seemed to make +no progress. + +The current was running swift, and the log remained obstinately in +mid-channel. The flood was rising, too. Plain proof of it was seen in +the _debris_ that floated on all sides--patches of grass and bushes, +broken limbs, and here and there a fence rail. + +The sky was still overcast with dark clouds, and the gloom behind him +showed Ned no trace of Randy or the canoes. He worked harder and harder +to gain the shore, and finally he discovered to his great delight that +he was getting the log under control. + +It steadily pursued a diagonal course, veering constantly nearer to the +left shore. Occasionally a swirl of the current pitched it toward +midstream, but a little perseverance put it right again. + +The scene of Ned's capsize was now a good mile in the rear, and he was +satisfied that he would reach the bank in a short time--unless some +unforseen event occurred. + +This was exactly what destiny had in store for the lad. A moment later a +sharp bend--unseen until too late--cast the log in the very center of +the creek, and while the sting of this misfortune was still fresh, Ned +heard a dull booming noise--the certain herald of either rapids or a +dam. The sound, though not loud, came from no great distance. + +Its subdued tone showed that if rapids were ahead, they were not very +bad ones; if a dam, that it could not be high, else the falling water +would make a greater noise. + +But Ned had no desire to tempt his fate in either. With what strength +was left in his numbed limbs he tried hard to drive the log shoreward. + +Had a little more time been granted him he might have succeeded, but the +ruthless current swept him on with unceasing speed, and when the log was +still fifty feet from the left bank he saw the smooth stretch of water +before him merge into a seething line of turbulent waves and tawny foam. + +The rude outline of a mill suddenly appeared on the left, proving +conclusively the existence of a dam. + +All hope of reaching the shore was gone now. It was some slight +consolation to know that the dam was not a high one, and Ned boldly +faced the ordeal by swinging the log around until it pointed straight to +the line of foam. Then he hugged it closely to him and waited. + +The suspense was brief. One swift rush to the brink, a quick slide down +a glistening slant of water--and then a headlong plunge into the +seething waves. + +The log rushed on nobly, now under the billows, now high on their crest +until it struck a rock endwise, and turned broadside in the twinkling of +an eye. Ned parted company with it then and there--he couldn't help +it--and struggled on alone. He was in comparatively shallow water now, +and though the force of the current and the waves was terrific, he +finally gained a foothold on the slippery rocks, and waded waist deep +toward shore. + +The water soon shallowed, and with a grateful heart he staggered out on +a stony beach. + +He sat down for a moment to recover from his exertions, and then went up +the slope to the building, which was only a few yards away. It proved to +be a saw mill, and even in the somber gloom Ned could see that it was +very ancient and rickety, and had probably not been in use for many +years. + +The locality was a wild and lonely one. Steep wooded hills lay on both +sides of the creek. + +Further investigation showed Ned that the saw mill abutted on the corner +of the dam, and that a narrow sluiceway conducted the water to the +machinery. He could hear the splash and gurgle of the torrent as it +swept under the rotting timbers of the mill and rushed on to freedom +through the wasteway beyond. + +As the depth of the latter was uncertain Ned crossed the sluice by a +shaky plank that spanned the sides, and found himself among thick +bushes at the foot of a steep hill. He was tempted to go back and seek +shelter in the mill, for his limbs ached with weariness, and his wet +clothes chilled him at every step. + +But first it was important that Randy should be found, so he pushed +along the edge of the creek in the rain until he obtained an open view +of the channel for some distance ahead. + +The first glimpse rewarded him for his pains. He spied a bulky dark +object about fifty yards up stream. It was approaching at a rapid pace +and hugging the shore closely. + +Ned put two fingers in his mouth and emitted a shrill, piercing whistle. +It was answered in a similar manner, and a moment later the dark mass +resolved itself into Randy, the tent, and the two canoes. + +"By jove, I'm glad to see you," exclaimed Randy in husky tones, as Ned +helped him to land. "I thought you were a goner this time, old fellow." + +Ned hastily related his experience. + +"It was a close shave," he concluded; "too close to be pleasant. But how +did you manage to get here with this heavy load?" + +Randy laughed. "I had a time of it, I can tell you. I jumped out in the +water--it was only knee deep on that island--and dragged the whole tent +on the foredeck of my canoe. Then I paddled after the Pioneer, and +caught up with it near another submerged bar, where both the canoes +stuck again. + +"This gave me a chance to right the Pioneer and throw most of the water +out of it. Then I slung the tent across both of them, tied the cockpits +together, and started off. Of course I could only paddle on the right +side, but I got along fairly well. The best of it is that I found your +paddle on the way down. The lantern is gone, but I have a candle here, +if we need it. It was in the pocket of my rubber coat." + +"That's exactly what we _do_ need," replied Ned. "It will help us to +find some dry wood in the mill. But first of all we must drag the canoes +and the tent on shore." + +This proved a difficult task, but it was finally accomplished. The +canoes were turned bottom up, and the tent was stretched over a clump of +bushes. Then Ned led the way down stream to the saw mill. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +MR. DUDE MOXLEY + + +When the boys reached the corner of the dam Ned produced his waterproof +match box and lighted the candle. This enabled them to cross the +sluiceway in safety, and after noting with some alarm that the creek was +still coming up rapidly, they entered the saw mill at the upper end, +where the floor was level with the breast work of the dam--or rather a +few feet above it. + +The lower end was twelve or fifteen feet higher than the wasteway, and +was supported by an open network of huge beams. + +With the greatest caution the boys scrutinized their surroundings. The +first floor contained nothing but _debris_--heaps of sawdust, strips of +bark, and a few partially sawed logs. The machinery had all been +removed. + +There was great danger of falling through into the swirling torrent +beneath, for in several places the flooring lacked entire planks, and +those that remained were loose and rotten. + +The light of the candle revealed a rickety flight of steps in the upper +right hand corner, and without hesitation the boys mounted to the +second floor. This apartment was in remarkably good condition. Not a +drop of rain had penetrated through the roof or sides. + +The floor was strewn with sawdust and shavings. A carpenter's bench +stood on each side, and in the center was a huge old-fashioned sheet +iron stove, with a pipe running straight to the roof. The room was +lighted by three windows--one at each end, and one on the side facing +the creek. + +"This is what I call luck," exclaimed Ned. "A stove ready and waiting +for us, and fuel lying about in plenty! We won't have to endure our wet +clothes long." + +"The owner may object to our taking possession, though," said Randy. "We +don't want to get in any more scrapes." + +"No one but a crusty old brute would refuse to let us dry ourselves," +replied Ned. "And besides, I don't believe the owner lives anywhere +within a mile. He probably uses this work room in winter--when there is +hardly any farm work to do--and doesn't come near it in summer. The +reason I think so is because the tools have all been taken away." + +Ned's supposition was probably correct. At all events the boys did not +scruple to make a blazing fire in the stove, and very pleasant the +warmth felt after their long tussle with the storm. + +Ned was soaked through and through in spite of his rubber coat, but +Randy was only wet to the middle. They stood as near as possible to the +stove, and so powerful was the heat of the wood fire, that in half an +hour their clothes were entirely dry. + +It was rather a risky undertaking, but both lads were hardy and vigorous +and had no fear of taking cold. + +As the fire burnt itself out the pale light of day shone through the +windows. Friday morning had dawned. + +"Still raining a little," said Ned, "and the sky is cloudy. We must +start up the creek without delay now. My mind will feel a good deal +easier when I know that Clay and Nugget are safe. They must be feeling +pretty wretched if they stayed on the island all night in the rain." + +"I don't think they would venture to leave after the directions you gave +them," returned Randy. "Unless the island became flooded. I never +thought of that before." + +Ned walked quickly to the side window and looked out. + +"The water is still on the rise," he said gloomily. "It is backing into +the wasteway and crawling up the slope toward the mill. You can hardly +see anything of the dam. To tell the truth, Randy, I believe the creek +is quite high enough to cover that island." + +Randy turned pale. + +"What has become of the boys then?" he asked. "Could they have passed +down the creek while we were drying ourselves?" + +"Hardly," said Ned. "You forget the dam. But pull on your coat and +we'll be off. It's not raining enough to hurt us." + +Randy hastily obeyed, and after satisfying themselves that the lingering +embers of the fire could do no damage, the boys went down the shaking +flight of steps to the lower floor. With great care they crossed the +rotten planks, and were half way to the door when a burly figure +darkened the threshold--a roughly dressed man with a gun on his shoulder +and a partially filled grain sack in his hand. + +The boys stood still, half frightened, half astonished, but the stranger +came quickly forward, lowering his gun as he did so. + +"Good morning, my lads," he said in a gruff, mocking voice, "so the +storm has driven you to my humble retreat. You are welcome--quite +welcome. Make yourselves at home. This is an unexpected honor. I am +sorry I was absent when you called." + +The boys exchanged startled glances. There was an unpleasant ring to the +stranger's voice that boded no good intentions. + +"If you own this mill we are much obliged to you for the use of it," +said Ned. "We got wet in the storm and came here to dry ourselves. We +took the liberty of making a fire in the stove up stairs." + +As he spoke he moved toward the door with Randy at his heels. + +"Not so fast," muttered the man, pushing the boys forcibly back. "You +can stay a while and keep me company. I've taken a fancy to you chaps, +and want to get better acquainted with you. Over there is the portion +of this domicile that I occupy at present. It ain't very palatial, but I +reckon I can give you a log to sit on." + +There was no choice but to obey, and the boys reluctantly crossed the +rickety floor to the lower corner of the mill. Here was a great heap of +sawdust, and two or three logs. The man sat down on the former--between +the boys and the door--and motioned his companions to one of the logs. + +It was now fully daylight, and the stranger's position, facing one of +the broad windows on the creek side of the mill, gave the boys an +opportunity to examine him closely. + +He wore a dirty, greasy suit of tweed, patched here and there with +different colored cloth. His shoes gaped at the toes, and his coat +collar was buttoned tightly about his throat--no doubt in default of a +shirt. + +His face might have been handsome at one time, but it was now marred and +brutalized by a life of dissipation. His nose and cheeks were purple, +his eyes bloodshot, and a matted growth of brown hair strayed from +beneath a ragged slouch hat. + +Little wonder that Ned and Randy cowered fearfully before the gaze of +this evil looking ruffian. They knew now that he was a tramp, and never +before had they seen a worse specimen. + +It suddenly occurred to Ned that this was the same man who had passed +the camp in a boat on the previous night, and the knowledge by no means +added to his peace of mind. + +Immediately on sitting down the stranger had taken a short black pipe +from his pocket, and filled and lighted it. But during the performance +of this operation he was not oblivious to the keen scrutiny of his +companions. + +"I hope you chaps will know me again," he said in a sarcastic tone. "Or +were you just admiring my beauty? Dude Moxley is what my friends all +call me, because I dress with such taste, and take such good care of my +complexion." + +Suddenly changing his voice he demanded gruffly, "Where are the other +two chaps?" + +"Why--why--how did you know there were two more?" exclaimed Ned, thrown +off his guard by the question. + +Mr. Moxley smiled complacently. "I seen the canoes and the tent up +yonder along the shore. As the canoes happened to be empty I judged the +rest of the party were on behind somewhere. I just guessed at their +bein' two more of you, but it seems I hit it." + +This was a very lame explanation, but the boys were too greatly worried +to notice its defects. + +"I may as well tell him all," thought Ned. "Perhaps he will relent and +let us go." + +Acting on this impulse he related the occurrences of the previous night, +and described the perilous situation of Clay and Nugget on the island. + +"Won't you let us go and look for our companions now?" he asked. "If +the island is flooded they are in great danger." + +Ned had risen in his eagerness, and now he made a step toward the door. + +"Sit down!" thundered Mr. Moxley. "If you lads try to escape I'll put a +hole through you." + +He lifted the gun and patted it significantly, and that instant Ned +recognized the weapon. It was Mose Hocker's property--the identical +muzzleloader which Randy had brought up from the depths of Rudy's Hole. +Ned could see the silver plate set in the breech, and could partially +read the inscription: "John Armstrong, Maker." + +Randy was equally quick to recognize the gun. He gave a little gasp of +astonishment and looked at Ned. + +The agitation of the boys was not observed by the ruffian. + +"Just sit still now," he growled. "If you don't you'll be the worse off. +You needn't be alarmed about your friends. I reckon they'll be along +this way purty soon." + +While speaking Mr. Moxley happened to glance toward the upper end of the +mill, and through a gaping crevice between the boards he saw something +that caused a sudden wave of excitement to spread over his face. + +Rising quickly to his feet, he seized both boys in an iron grasp and +dragged them several yards across the floor to a big closet that +occupied the corner of the mill. He unbolted the door and shoved his +captives roughly inside. + +"Don't you dare to whimper," he hissed savagely. "Mind that, my lads. +Dude Moxley ain't to be trifled with." + +The ruffian slammed the door and bolted it, and the next instant his +heavy retreating footsteps shook the rotten floor. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +A MYSTERIOUS WARNING + + +It is quite unnecessary to give a minute account of how Clay and Nugget +spent the night on the island. As the absence of their companions was +more and more prolonged they became worried and anxious, and gave but +little thought to their own miserable plight. + +The rubber coats shielded them from the rain, and by crouching under the +trees they avoided the fury of the wind. Nugget faced the situation with +remarkable fortitude, and uttered but few complaints. + +After the gale subsided, and the thunder and lightning became less +frequent, the boys made occasional trips to the buttonwood tree to see +how the canoes were faring, and in this way they soon discovered that +the creek was rising. So rapidly did the flood advance that on the fifth +visit they found the roots of the buttonwood submerged, and the yellow +tide within a few inches of the trunk. + +At Clay's suggestion the canoes were dragged out on the island, and all +the baggage was stowed in the hatches. When the task was completed the +canoes were so heavy that the boys could scarcely lift them; and little +wonder, since they held just double their usual load. + +The water soon began to trickle over the island, and when it was three +or four inches deep, the boys tied the canoes side by side to a large +tree, and climbed into their seats. Here they sat, protected by rubber +coats and canvas aprons until morning dawned. + +The broad yellow expanse of the creek, as it whirled swiftly by the +island with its burden of _debris_ and driftwood, satisfied Clay that +the absent ones had found it impossible to paddle back. + +"There is no use in waiting here any longer," he said to Nugget. "The +boys may have been carried far down the creek, and are probably looking +for us at this minute." + +"You think they are safe then?" asked Nugget. + +"I hope so," replied Clay dubiously. "We'll know to a certainty before +long. Hand me your knife till I cut the ropes. I tied them in a knot." + +"Here you are." + +An instant later the canoes drifted off the island, and plunged into the +swirling flood. Their heavy loads caused them to sink almost to the +gunwales, and this the boys noted with serious alarm. + +"We must keep along shore," said Clay. "If we upset then the danger +won't be so great." + +With extreme caution the boys paddled diagonally to the left bank, where +they found the current considerably less rapid. They were drifting along +side by side when a man suddenly appeared from behind a tree a few +yards ahead, and beckoned them anxiously with his finger. + +"Come in here a minute, you fellows," he whispered hoarsely, when the +canoes were close to him. + +The boys ceased paddling, but hesitated to obey. + +"I don't mean any harm," added the man. "It's for your own good." + +"I wonder what he wants," said Clay. "Perhaps it's something about the +boys. Let's talk to him, Nugget." + +They ran the canoes into a shallow inlet where dry land had been but a +few hours before, and the stranger came quickly toward them. His +appearance was not calculated to cause the boys any alarm. + +He looked to be about six and twenty. He was poorly dressed, and his +rather boyish face was covered with a stubbly growth of light hair. +Something in his features seemed to wake a chord of recognition in +Clay's heart, and he struggled with his memory to account for it. + +The man came close to the canoes, and after casting a furtive glance up +and down the shore, said in a low voice: + +"You needn't get out. I won't keep you long. Where are the other two +chaps that belong to your party?" + +This unexpected question amazed the boys, and they regarded the stranger +with sudden suspicion. + +"I don't mean any harm to you, indeed I don't," he added. "It's just the +other way." + +There was unmistakable sincerity in his words and manner, and after a +brief deliberation Clay told him how the other boys had started after +the tent, and had not come back. + +"I thought you wanted to tell us something about them," he concluded. +"Did you just come up the creek?" + +"Yes," replied the man. "I was as far down as the next dam, but I didn't +see a sign of your friends. I reckon they're below that somewheres, so +you'd better push on and find them. I want to give you chaps a warning. +Keep your eyes open for a big man with a purple face. If you run across +him get out of the way as quick as you kin. He's somewhere about this +neighborhood, too, for I seen his--" + +The man stopped abruptly, and after another cautious survey of the +woods, resumed in a whisper: + +"If you fellows do chance to get in trouble through this party, why +mebbe I'll be near at hand to help. It ain't certain, mind, because he +may easily give me the slip again. If I kin find him afore he gets away +this time, it ain't likely he will give you any trouble." + +"I don't quite understand," said Clay in a perplexed tone. "Who are you, +and who is this man that you are warning us about? Why should we be +afraid of him?" + +The stranger shook his head. + +"It ain't quite the thing for me to tell," he said slowly. "You see +nothin' may come of it after all. Just you fellows mind what I say, and +keep your eyes open. When you find your friends paddle on down the +creek for a good way before you camp. Good-by, I'm off." + +He turned abruptly away, and hurried through the woods toward the base +of the hill. + +Clay called him two or three times, but in vain. He was already out of +sight. + +The boys looked at each other for a moment with unspeakable amazement. + +"It's the queerest thing I ever heard of," exclaimed Clay. "I don't +pretend to understand it. The man was serious in all he said, too." + +"There was something familiar about his face," observed Nugget. "At +least I thought so when I first saw him." + +"Why, that's just what struck me," replied Clay eagerly. "I never saw +_him_ before, but I have seen some one that looks like him." + +"That's about the way of it," assented Nugget. "We'll keep a sharp +lookout for that purple faced man, anyhow." + +"We certainly will," replied Clay. "Now then, let's be off. The fellow +won't return again." + +They backed out of the inlet and paddled on down the creek. Hardly a +word was spoken. The mysterious stranger's warning had taken a deep hold +upon both lads, and they were so deeply engrossed in puzzling over it +that they failed to see the dam until it was close to them. The falling +water made but little noise since the breastwork was almost submerged. + +It was a weird and lonely scene that the boys gazed upon now--the broad +yellow flood under a leaden sky, the gray crumbling mill looming through +a pall of drizzling rain, and beyond, where the mists deepened, the +foaming thread of the creek, visible for a brief stretch before it was +lost among the steep, pine clad hills. + +"What a desolate place!" exclaimed Clay. "I don't believe there is a +human being within a mile. The boys must be farther down, and ten to one +they shot the dam in the dark. It doesn't look very dangerous, but I +hardly think we'll risk it, Nugget. That corner by the mill seems a +likely place to carry around." + +"So it does," assented Nugget. "Come ahead, we'll try it." + +With cautious strokes they paddled on until a sudden glimpse of the +sluiceway leading under the mill caused them to pull up short. They +headed straight for shore, and as they scrambled out at the foot of the +hill, and pushed through the bushes, intending to see what the chances +were for a portage, they blundered into the two missing canoes and the +tent. + +"Here's luck!" cried Clay. "Ned and Randy must be--" + +The sentence was never finished, for that, instant the bushes rustled, +parted, and a big burly man with a purplish red face stepped out. + +The blank amazement and fear on the faces of the two lads was a study +for an artist. Before them was the living verification of the +mysterious warning. There was no mistaking that ruddy countenance. + +The stranger spoke first. + +"You're just the lads I'm looking for. Your friends are lying in yonder +mill. They went over the dam in their canoes this morning at daybreak. + +"I happened to see them and saved their lives. They were pretty near +drowned, but I managed to bring them around all right. They ain't able +to walk yet, so they asked me to go up the creek and hunt you fellows. +Come right along and I'll take you to them." + +Was Mr. Dude Moxley's brain muddled that he should have inserted such a +gross error in his otherwise plausible little story? Perhaps he did not +have time to plan it thoroughly in his hasty advance from the mill, or +had calculated on finding his new victims at any other place than this. + +Frightened as the boys were they noted the discrepancy, and it opened +their eyes to the seriousness of the situation. "If our friends went +over the dam this morning," asked Clay with a touch of scorn, pointing +to the canoes and the tent, "how do these come to be here?" + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +AN INSOLENT DEMAND + + +A dangerous glitter in the man's eyes showed that Clay's question was +not at all to his liking. + +"How them canoes got here is none of your business," he answered +emphatically, "and I don't want no argument about it. Step lively now in +the direction of that mill." + +The mask was off, and the boys realized that they were prisoners. Their +captor's sullen features and the gun that he bore on his shoulder +forbade any attempt at escape. + +With sinking hearts they trudged along the shore a few feet in advance +of the ruffian. They had no doubt that their companions were confined in +the mill, and it was some consolation to know they were going to join +them. Why they had been captured at all, and what object was to be +gained by it was a mystery too deep for comprehension. + +From time to time the tramp uttered a brief order, and in this way he +drove the boys before him, across the sluiceway, and then over the +rickety floor of the mill to the lower corner. He unbolted the closet +door and shoved them roughly in. + +It was not by any means a joyful reunion for the Jolly Rovers, but they +were very glad to be together again nevertheless. A crevice in the door +admitted some light to the closet, and at the same time afforded a view +of Mr. Moxley, who was then sitting on the sawdust heap, examining the +contents of his grain bag. + +He drew out two dead chickens, half a dozen ears of corn, and a quantity +of apples and pears--a sure proof that he had secretly been plundering +some farmer. He began to munch one of the apples, and the boys took +advantage of the opportunity to narrate their adventures in low, +whispered tones. + +When all had been told the mystery was no nearer solution than +before--in fact it was even more complex. + +"I can't imagine why this fellow has gone to such trouble and risk to +capture us all," said Ned. "I hardly think he will do any harm. We must +wait patiently and see what happens." + +"I can't understand that warning Nugget and I received," added Clay. "I +hope the man will keep his word and help us out of this scrape." + +"I wouldn't count on that," replied Ned; "and yet there may be more in +it than we suppose." + +"Hush!" whispered Randy with his eyes to the crevice. "Here comes the +tramp." + +Moxley rose and approached the closet. He partially opened the door, and +then walked back a few paces behind one of the logs. + +"Now step out, you chaps," he commanded sternly. "I have a little +business to attend to, and I want it done quietly." + +The boys tremblingly obeyed, and when they were grouped before the door +the ruffian added, "Now go through your pockets and lay everything you +have on this log. See that you don't keep anything back." + +It was hard to submit to this audacious robbery, but there was no +alternative. Moxley had the gun in his hands. + +The boys deposited all they had about them on the log--watches, money, +keys, fishing tackle, and handkerchiefs. The fellow made them turn every +pocket inside out, and when he was satisfied that all were empty he +appropriated the money, watches, and keys. The other articles he +contemptuously rejected, and allowed the boys to take them back. + +Then he drove his prisoners into the closet and bolted the door--much to +their surprise and consternation, for they had confidently expected to +be turned loose. + +"No racket now," he growled. "I ain't going so far away but what I kin +hear you. It won't do to yell or kick, for the door is too strong to +break, and there ain't another living creature within a mile." + +He tramped heavily across the floor and left the mill. + +The loss of their valuables had made the boys so angry and indignant +that they were little inclined to regard the warning. They soon came to +the conclusion, however, that escape was really impossible. + +The door was stoutly built, and rendered still stronger by heavy cross +bars. The hinges and the bolts were massive. The combined efforts of all +four failed to make any impression, and they soon abandoned the attempt. + +"Great Caesar! I see it all now," exclaimed Ned suddenly. "That +scoundrel is going to carry off our canoes, and leave us to get out the +best way we can!" + +No one doubted that Ned was right. The boys stared at each other in +speechless consternation. + +It was bad enough to lose their watches and money, but now they were +about to be deprived of everything--clothes, canoes, and tent. It meant +the sudden termination of the cruise, and an ignominious return home. + +"Let's pound and kick with all our might," suggested Clay. "The door +can't hold out forever." + +Before any one could reply a heavy tread was heard, and looking through +the crevice Ned made the startling announcement that the ruffian had +returned. + +The boys hardly knew whether to be glad or sorry at this piece of news. +They feared a greater misfortune than the loss of all their property. + +Crowding close to the crevice--which extended upward the length of the +door--they peered eagerly into the room. Moxley had not returned empty +handed. He had employed his brief absence in rifling the canoes, and was +laden with their entire contents, excepting the dishes and the fishing +rods. + +He deposited his burden on the sawdust and sat down beside it. Very +slowly and attentively he ransacked the bags of clothes, the packets of +provisions, and the little japanned tin boxes in which the boys kept +paper and envelopes, stamps, fishing tackle, and various other articles. + +Then he took the empty grain sack and stuffed it with the clothes, and a +large portion of the provisions. He appropriated all the stamps he could +find, and pushed the tin boxes aside. + +Having completed his arrangements he walked over to the closet and +opened the door. Then he sat down on a log facing the boys with his gun +across his knee. + +"I think I have you chaps pretty tight," he said, wrinkling his face +into an ugly smile. "I have a very particular engagement about twenty +miles from here, and it was my first intention to start away this +morning. But seein' as the rain is still coming down I have changed my +mind and will give you the pleasure of my company fur a few hours +longer. + +"The fact is I've taken quite a fancy to you chaps--quite a decided +fancy. There's one young gentleman in your party I'm 'specially anxious +to see. I've had a cherished memento of him fur the last ten days, and +it's quite a load on my mind because I haven't given him anything in +return. It keeps me from sleepin' sound at nights." + +Here Mr. Moxley threw out his right leg, and turned the trousers up a +few inches, revealing half a dozen red scars on his ankle. + +"That's the memento I speak of," he said. "It's a purty one, isn't it?" + +There was a breathless pause. The boys turned pale before the ferocious +glance of the scoundrel. The mystery was clear as daylight now. + +Their captor was none other than Bug Batters's desperate companion. From +sheer love of revenge he must have been tracking the Jolly Rovers ever +since that momentous night nearly two weeks previous. + +Moxley gloated over the consternation and the dread that were depicted +on the faces of his prisoners. He did not speak for a moment, but gazed +at the boys with a cruel smile that was more terrible than a +manifestation of anger. + +"Well," he said finally, "I reckon you know who I am by this time. I'll +give you just five minutes to point out the lad who peppered me with +salt. If you're sensible chaps you'll do it without hesitation. If you +try to make a fool out of me I'll serve you all the same way I intend to +serve him. I'm a fair minded man, and don't want to punish the innocent +with the guilty if I kin help it." + +The boys looked at one another without speaking. If Randy was a shade +paler than the others it escaped the notice of Mr. Moxley, although he +was scanning all the faces intently, with a view to picking out the +guilty one by his own powers of perception. + +"The allotted time is slipping away," he said grimly. "The right party +had better speak up quick. Oh! you needn't look out of the windows. No +one comes near this place in the summer, and there ain't a house within +three quarters of a mile. I've got you right in my power, and there +ain't no hope of escape." + +"I hardly think you will get the information you want," said Ned in a +firm but husky voice. "I for one shan't tell you, and I advise my +friends to do the same. It's not likely we would put one of our +companions in your power after the threats you have made. If you wish to +avoid trouble in the future you will be satisfied with robbing us, and +will let us go without any worse treatment. As for the shooting--no one +was to blame but yourself. You had no business to attack our camp that +night." + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +A DARING ATTEMPT + + +Moxley's face turned a deeper shade of purple, and he made a threatening +step toward Ned. + +"You're a bold lad," he said with a harsh laugh. "There are not many +would dare to speak to me in that way. But it wasn't you who fired the +gun that night. I can tell by your actions that you're anxious to screen +one of your companions." + +He paused a moment and then went on: "You'll find out before long that +Dude Moxley ain't to be trifled with. I'll get what I want out of you +obstinate pig headed chaps if it takes a week. I know how to bring you +to terms. Back you go in that closet now, and there you stay until you +can listen to reason. When you hand over the lad I want the rest of you +can go free, and so can the other one for that matter--when I'm through +with him. + +"Perhaps when he finds his companions are suffering for what he did, his +conscience will make him confess. But mark you now, if this affair ain't +settled by to-morrow's dawn I'll chop up your canoes and burn the tent. +I'll do more than that, too. I'll bind and gag you, and leave you here +alone. And not a bite do you get to eat, either." + +With this ultimatum Mr. Moxley rose, and bolted the door. Then he sat +down on the sawdust, and sorting out some crackers and jerked beef from +the provisions began to eat greedily. + +He was evidently quite satisfied to spend another night at the mill, for +the rain was coming down faster than ever. What he had told the boys +about the loneliness and security of the place was no idle boast, else +he would have made haste to leave the locality with his plunder. + +Meanwhile a very excited discussion was being carried on in whispers +behind the closet door. + +Randy, stricken with remorse for the troubles in which he had involved +his companions, was resolved to admit the shooting. + +"I'd sooner stand the punishment than see you fellows starving here," he +said. "It will save the canoes and the tent, too. I don't believe the +man will dare to harm me. He is only trying to scare us." + +"Not a bit of it," replied Ned stoutly. "He's a thoroughbred villain, +and will certainly take some revenge on you. Your resolve does you lots +of credit, Randy, but it won't do. You might repent it all the days of +your life." + +Clay and Nugget were of the same mind, and earnestly urged Randy to +abandon his rash intention. + +"Help may be nearer than we think," said Clay. "The man who stopped us +up the creek this morning was certainly Bug Batters, and it looks very +much to me as though he has been following this Moxley on purpose to +keep him from doing us any injury. He may feel grateful to us, you know, +because we saved his brother--or rather you did, Ned." + +"And Bug Batters knew that Moxley was in the vicinity," whispered +Nugget. "That's who he was looking for when we met him." + +"I have no doubt that the stranger was Bug Batters," said Ned, "and I +think he is trying to prevent his old companion from carrying out his +revenge, as Clay suggests. But what has become of Bug Batters now? That +is the important question. I am afraid he has strayed off in some other +direction. If he came near the mill he could not help finding the +canoes." + +"He told us he had been down the creek just before we met him," remarked +Clay, "but he could not have been all the way to the mill, for the two +canoes and the tent were there then, and he did not say anything about +them." + +"And when he left us he struck back toward the base of the hill," added +Nugget. + +"It looks very much as though he had lost the trail entirely," said Ned. +"He may be three or four miles away. It would be very foolish to count +on getting help from him, anyhow." + +"Then we don't stand a ghost of a chance," muttered Randy. "You had +better let me have my own way. I'll throw myself on that fellow's +mercy." + +"You won't do anything of the kind," said Ned firmly. "We won't let +you. If anything serious happened we would have to shoulder the blame. +If you are really sorry for being the cause of this scrape, prove it by +dropping your foolish project." + +"You take things coolly enough," grumbled Randy. "Do you want us to stay +cooped up here for a week, and lose everything we have? Go ahead, then. +I won't say any more." + +In truth Randy was glad enough to give up his resolve. Remorse had +prompted him to make the offer, and he had secretly hoped that his +companions would refuse to accept the sacrifice. + +"I don't intend that we shall stay here a week, or even a night, if I +can help it," said Ned, after a pause. "I have a little plan in my head, +but it won't work until evening. If that fails we still have a slim +chance left. + +"The farmer from whom those chickens were stolen may stray down here in +search of the thief, and it is not impossible that Mose Hocker is +somewhere about here. This man certainly stole that gun from Hocker's +cabin, and if he took the boat at the same time--which I believe he +did--Hocker will surely try to recover his property, and will naturally +look for it along the creek." + +Ned's reasoning--and especially his intimation of a plan to escape--put +the boys in a more cheerful mood. They were all thoroughly exhausted for +want of sleep, but that was of little consequence compared with the +pangs of hunger and thirst they were enduring. They had eaten nothing +since the previous evening, nor had a drop of water touched their lips. +And it was now past noon. + +It was aggravating, nay, maddening, to know that their store of +provisions was so close. Well they realized the futility of appealing to +their merciless captor. + +He had said they should have no food, and they knew he meant it. No +doubt he would deny them water also, and they did not venture to ask it. + +They could see the fellow plainly. He was sprawled in a lazy attitude on +the sawdust, pulling at his foul black pipe. Occasionally he took a +flat, greenish bottle from his pocket and tasted the contents with a +satisfactory smack of the lips. The fumes of bad tobacco and whisky +began to permeate the closet. + +So the long afternoon wore on. Moxley seemed quite unconcerned about his +prisoners. He was well content to lie on the soft sawdust with his +bottle and his pipe, secure from the pelting rain that was falling +outside. + +Ned kept a close watch upon him, noting with satisfaction that he had +frequent recourse to the bottle. His potations would likely induce +sleep. + +It seemed to the impatient boys that night would never come, but at last +the gray light faded from the crevice, and the dusk of evening deepened +the shadows in the old mill. + +Before it was fairly dark Moxley lighted one of the lanterns that he +had brought from the canoes and put it on a log. It was a bullseye, and +he so trained it that the yellow glare shone on the sawdust heap. + +Perhaps he fancied it an excellent substitute for sunlight, which all +tramps love so dearly. At all events he basked in it while he smoked a +couple of pipes, and then, after several ineffectual efforts to sit +straight, he rolled over on his back. + +A moment later heavy snores came from his parted lips. He was +undoubtedly asleep. + +It may be imagined with what anxiety Ned had been watching this little +scene through the crevice. + +"The time has come," he whispered to his companions. "Moxley won't wake +in a hurry now. But to make sure, suppose you mount guard there, Randy." + +"What are you going to do?" asked Randy, as he crouched down on the +floor. "Break the door open?" + +"Not much. I'll show you in a moment." + +The closet in which the boys were confined was built right against the +rear end of the mill. Its dimensions were ample--eight feet long and +about four wide. Underneath was the wasteway, but its usual roar was now +subdued by an influx of water from the flooded creek. + +Ned had been quietly examining the situation during the day, and had +noted the shaky condition of the floor planks. He now directed Clay and +Nugget to stand close to the door. Then kneeling down he inserted both +hands in a crevice between two of the planks and pulled with all his +might. + +A ripping noise, a sharp crack--and the worm eaten plank came free of +the beams, leaving a gaping orifice in the very center of the floor, +four feet long by a foot and a half wide. + +Ned trembled like a leaf. + +"Is it all right?" he whispered eagerly. + +"Yes," replied Randy. "The rascal is sound asleep. He didn't budge." + +"I'm glad of that." + +The boys looked timidly down the hole, and crouched closer to the wall. +Far below, through the network of crossed beams, they could see the +eddying flood. It looked immeasurably distant. + +"You don't expect us to go down there, I hope," queried Clay. + +"No, but I intend you to lower _me_ through," answered Ned. "If I can +reach one of those rafters I will be all right. It won't be a difficult +matter to get out on land. Then I will hurry around to the door, +liberate you fellows, while Moxley is sleeping, seize his gun--and then +away for freedom." + +Ned drew a long breath at the prospect. + +"Now this is what I want you to do," he resumed in a calmer tone. "If +the rafters are too far below me you must let me down to them by one of +your coats. Brace yourselves now so you can stand the strain." + +The boys obeyed and Randy stripped off his coat in case it should be +needed. + +Then Ned lowered himself at one end of the hole, and swung clear down. + +He pulled himself up, and clung by his elbows. "No good," he whispered +hoarsely. "The nearest rafter is a foot below. Let me have the coat. It +will be safer than trusting to your hands. I might drag you down with +me." + +The three boys braced themselves around the hole, and took a firm grasp +of the upper part of the coat. + +"All right," whispered Randy. + +By a dexterous movement Ned transferred his hold from the planking to +the more precarious support and slipped downward, hand over hand. An +instant later his feet touched a broad, solid beam. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +AN UNEXPECTED ENCOUNTER + + +The instant the tension relaxed the boys drew the coat up. + +"All right!" came Ned's voice from the darkness. "Put the plank back in +place now and keep very quiet. Wait a moment," he added quickly. +"Something just occurred to me. I may be right and I may be wrong, but +at all events don't you fellows be scared if you hear a big splash." + +"We won't," whispered Randy. + +Then the plank was dropped noiselessly over the hole. + +Ned straddled the rafter--it was too dark to risk an upright +position--and made his way to the nearest end, which terminated in one +of the walls of masonry that formed the sides of the sluiceway, and on +which the mill partially rested. Then he turned around and crept to the +other end, where he found the same state of affairs. + +His fears were now confirmed. The mill rose fairly from the two stone +walls, and there was no way of escaping overhead, even had the other +rafters been within reach. His only chance lay in the flooded waterway +underneath. + +Ned had more than half expected this, and was therefore prepared for the +emergency. Without hesitation he swung from the rafter and dropped +through eight feet of space into the turbid flood. + +He went clear under, but came to the surface quickly, and swam with +vigorous strokes down the wasteway. Both the air and the water were +warm, and he felt little discomfort. + +Between the reflex current from the creek on top, and the undertow from +the sluiceway beneath, he was buffeted about considerably before he +succeeded in emerging on the spit of land between the mill and the +creek. He squeezed the water from his clothes as well as he could, and +started up the slope through the stones and bushes. A misty drizzle of +rain was still falling. + +He redoubled his caution as he neared the upper end of the mill. +Creeping on hands and knees to the door, he peeped cautiously over the +threshold. He was hardly prepared for what met his gaze. + +He had confidently expected to find Moxley sound asleep, and instead of +that the fellow was sitting upright with his gun across his knees, and +his bottle in one hand. Perhaps the splash made by Ned's drop into the +wasteway had wakened him without arousing his supicions. He had no +present intention of going to sleep, for he moved a little closer to the +light of the lantern, and filled his pipe. + +For a moment Ned felt the disappointment keenly. He knew what a severe +blow it must be to his companions. It was out of the question to rescue +them now, for Moxley was directly between the door and the closet. + +Ned had been so sure of effecting his plan without hindrance, that it +had not occurred to him what step to take in case of failure. But a +brief consideration of matters raised his spirits, and he resolved to +seek the nearest farmhouse and obtain help. + +"That is a far better plan anyhow," he reflected with satisfaction. +"Moxley will be captured, and we will recover our watches and money. And +we won't have to start down this flooded creek in the dark, either, I +must be quick, though, for Moxley might happen to open the closet and +discover my absence. I wish there was some way of letting the boys know +what I am going to do." + +This was manifestly impossible, so Ned crawled away from the door and +crossed the sluice to the foot of the hill. He could not withstand the +temptation to go up the creek and have a look at the canoes. + +He found them all safely out of reach of the flood, for Moxley was too +shrewd a man to let them go adrift, and perhaps cause an investigation +that would frustrate his plans. + +As Ned was turning away his eye caught a sudden gleam from the cockpit +of Clay's canoe, and on making an investigation he was surprised to find +Randy's gun. Moxley must have overlooked it. + +The weapon was useless, for the ammunition had been carried off, but Ned +shouldered it and started briskly down the creek. At the sluiceway he +found a well trodden footpath, and followed it along the rear side of +the mill, and thence by the base of the hill to a wagon road which began +abruptly at the edge of the wasteway, where there was no doubt a fording +to the opposite neck of land. + +Ned concluded that the road led to the home of the man who owned the +mill, and he was about starting off in haste when his eyes fell on a +boat that protruded from a clump of bushes a few yards down the shore. + +On going close he recognized it instantly by the peculiar arrangement of +the seats. It was Mose Hocker's boat. Moxley had carried it off when he +stole the gun. + +"I say, young fellow, don't be quick with that shootin' iron; I want to +talk to you." + +The voice came from a thicket a few feet up the bank, and as Ned stood +still with fear and amazement, a man slipped out and stood before him. + +Ned instantly guessed the identity of the newcomer. + +"You are Bug Batters?" he asked quickly. + +"Yes, I'm Bug Batters, and I reckon you are one of them canoein' chaps. +I took you fur some one else at first--fur the man what put this boat +here." + +"You mean Dude Moxley," said Ned. "Well, I can tell you where he is. In +spite of your warning we all fell into his hands, and I'm the only one +that's free so far." + +He went on with his story and quickly made the situation clear. + +Bug was amazed to learn how close his old companion was. + +"It's a purty bad fix," he said slowly, "but I reckon we can't get your +friends out of it. It's a pity you have no loading fur that gun. You +see, Moxley is a bad man and won't listen to argument. We'll have to +think over the matter a little bit, and meanwhile I'll tell you how I +come to be here." + +Both sat down on the boat, and Bug began his narrative. + +"I'm a purty rough customer, but I've got a heart like other men, and +I'm grateful to you because one of you saved my brother from drowning. +Moxley was awful mad when you gave him the slip, but he didn't think of +going after you at first. Two or three days later he heard accidentally +that you fellows was camping some place along the creek--I furget the +name of it now--and knowin' from this that you weren't in any hurry he +got into his head to go after you. + +"I tried to talk him out of it, but it weren't any use, so then I let on +I was agreed to it, meanin' all the time to stand by you fellows. Well, +we traveled down the creek fur a couple of days until a rock knocked the +bottom out of our boat and sunk it." + +Bug hesitated briefly, and then resumed in a faltering voice: "We +picked up another boat that night, and started off again, but I reckon +Moxley must have suddenly got suspicious of me, for when morning came he +gave me the slip and that was the last I seen of him. Knowin' that he +meant mischief, and knowin' that you chaps couldn't be far away, I +follered the creek on down. + +"Before daylight this morning I found the boat here. I went up the creek +then lookin' fur Moxley, and that's when I met two of your party and +warned them." + +"But where have you been all day?" interrupted Ned. "We thought you had +gone off in some other direction." + +"I'll tell you where I've been," muttered Bug angrily. "I had a streak +of hard luck this morning. After I left your fellows I struck over the +hill to the nearest farmhouse, thinkin' Moxley might be prowlin' around +for something to eat. I reckon he'd been there before me, because the +first thing I knew a big ugly farmer and his hired man had me fast. They +swore I'd been stealin' chickens an' corn, and wouldn't let me say a +word. They penned me up in an outbuilding, intending to lug me to +Carlisle jail in the morning. But I broke out about an hour ago, and +came straight down here, and when I seen the boat I knew Moxley must be +somewhere around yet." + +"That _was_ hard luck," said Ned, smiling at the recollection. "Moxley +had a whole bag of chickens, and corn, and fruit in the mill. The farmer +thought you were the man that stole it. It was awfully kind of you to +go to all this trouble and risk on our account. There are not many men +who would have done it." + +"You saved my brother's life," replied Bug doggedly. "It takes a good +deal to square a debt of that kind. There's one thing I'd like to say +though. It goes agin the grain to serve an old pal an ill turn--no +matter how bad a man he is. I'm willing to get your friends free, an' +save your money, and watches, an' everything else, but I ain't goin' to +be the means of puttin' Moxley in jail--if I can help it. I'm afraid, +for one thing, because he'd hunt me down as soon as he got out." + +"Well, I'll leave the whole affair in your hands then," replied Ned. "I +was just on my way to the farmhouse when you stopped me. What do you +think we had better do? Wait for Moxley to go to sleep again, or try to +capture him with this empty gun?" + +Before Bug could open his lips to reply a slight noise was heard in the +bushes, and three men suddenly appeared on the other side of the boat. + +"We have you at last, you scoundrel," cried a harsh voice. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +THE SIEGE BEGINS + + +The unexpected appearance of the three strangers stupefied Ned, but Bug +turned like a flash and started to run. Two of the men instantly +overhauled him and threw him roughly to the ground, while a third +hastily opened the slide of a dark lantern that was strapped to his +waist and cast a flood of light upon the scene. + +Ned uttered a gasp of amazement. The man with the lantern was Mose +Hocker. + +The recognition was mutual. + +"You here!" cried Hocker in a pained voice. "I didn't expect this. Is it +possible that you lads came down to my cabin and stole the gun and the +boat? I wouldn't have believed it of you without the evidence of my own +eyes." + +"And this here's the same feller I had locked up in the smoke house," +exclaimed one of Bug's captors. "I'll bet he don't steal any more +chickens for a while." + +Ned stood pale and agitated before his accuser--quite at a loss for +words to explain. + +"I'm sorry for you," resumed Hocker, "but I must do my duty an' hand +you over to constable Jeffries. Where are the rest of your party?" + +The words came with a rush now as Ned eagerly denied his guilt and +explained away the incriminating circumstances. + +Then, while the others clustered about him, he commenced the story at +the beginning, and went through with it thread by thread. + +His excitement caused him to speak a little inarticulately; and he +missed a few details, but by adroit cross questioning his hearers +obtained a clear understanding of the whole situation--starting with the +rescue of Bug's brother and ending with the events that had recently +transpired at the mill. + +Ned was so anxious to procure Bug's release that he quite forgot his +suspicions of a few moments before--namely, that Bug was equally guilty +with Moxley of the theft of the boat and the gun. + +"Won't you let him go?" he pleaded. "It's all a mistake. He had nothing +to do with stealing those things from the farmer. He was doing all he +could to help us." + +But Hocker had formed his own opinion after hearing Ned's story, and so +had constable Jeffries and Mr. Zinn, the farmer. + +"I'm mighty glad to know you lads ain't guilty," said Hocker, "and I ax +your pardon for my wrong suspicion. As for this fellow, I ain't so sure +about him. I don't doubt that he's really been trying to get you chaps +out of a scrape though, and I promise you he'll get full credit for it. +Meanwhile we'd better make sure of him--just as a matter of form, you +know." + +He nodded to Jeffries and the latter slipped a pair of bracelets on +Bug's wrists. + +Ned was surprised and indignant. He saw no reason for such a step. + +"Don't be worried, lad," remarked Hocker soothingly. "He may be turned +loose later on. You see I can't afford to let the guilty parties escape +after the hard chase they've given me. Why, Jeffries and I have been +scourin' all along the creek in a buggy. We happened to strike Zinn's +farm this evening, and stopped fur information. Zinn told us he had a +man locked up in the smoke house, but when we went to look the fellow +was gone. + +"I suspected it was the party I wanted, an' knowin' that in that case +the boat couldn't be far away, we hurried down to the creek. And it's +well we did for your sake as well as mine. The next thing is to rescue +the lads and capture the rascal. We had better be quick or he will take +alarm and leave the mill." + +"Moxley is the fellow's name, is it?" said the farmer. "It has a kind of +familiar ring to my ears." + +"I know the man," spoke up Jeffries. "Dude Moxley he goes by, but that +ain't his real name. He comes from a good family up the valley, and was +well educated when a lad. Drink ruined him, and now he's one of the +greatest scamps unhung. I know this other chap, too," added the +constable. "His folks are sober, respectable people over at the Gap, +but he ain't much better than Moxley. We've met more than once before. +How is it, my man?" + +Bug hung his head but said nothing. + +The scene was inexpressibly painful to Ned, and he was greatly relieved +when the conversation turned on the rescue of his companions. He little +dreamed that the most exciting incidents of this already eventful night +were yet to come. + +"We had better cross to the neck of land in your boat, Hocker," +suggested Zinn. "The plank over that sluiceway makes a lot of racket, +and the scoundrel may hear us and slip away." + +This happy idea was carried out. The entire party embarked, and landed a +moment later about ten yards below the mill. The rain had ceased some +time before, and the moon was now peeping through a rift in the scudding +clouds. + +As the men crept up the stony slope they saw through the gaping crevices +of the mill the yellow gleam from Moxley's lantern. Suddenly it +vanished, and a creaking noise was hear. + +"The rascal is escaping. We must run for it," whispered Hocker. He +bounded forward with Jeffries at his heels. Zinn fell behind, leaving +Bug in charge. + +The men swiftly turned the upper corner of the mill just as the door was +slammed and bolted in their faces. Hocker began to kick savagely and +wrench the handle. + +"That won't do any good," exclaimed Zinn, as he reached the spot. "I +made a strong job of that door, and it will take more than a little to +break it down. There are plenty of other places that can be forced in." + +A brief pause followed, and then a sullen voice issued from behind the +door. + +"I'll put a hole through the first man that tries to enter this mill. I +mean what I say. Dude Moxley ain't to be trifled with." + +The men hastily withdrew, first taking the precaution to remove the +plank that covered the sluiceway. + +"The rascal must have seen us coming up the slope in the moonlight," +muttered Hocker. "I suppose he thought we had the place surrounded and +every avenue of escape cut off. He's a desperate fellow, and may stand a +long siege." + +In truth Moxley seemed to be preparing for that very thing. He boldly +drew in the shutters of the two windows that the faced the creek, and a +moment later he began to roll logs about, evidently fortifying the weak +places in the wall. + +"That may be only a ruse," said Jeffries. "Is there any way of escape +from the other side?" + +"Of course there is," exclaimed the farmer. "He can easily drop from the +second story window to the foot of the hill. Lend me that empty gun," he +added, turning to Ned. "I'll cross the wasteway in the boat and get +behind the trees a few yards up the hill. If the rascal attempts to +crawl out the window I'll scare him back." + +Ned handed over the gun, and the farmer departed in haste. Hocker and +Jeffries moved aside and carried on a whispered conversation. + +Bug was left to his own devices. He could not escape, for the removal of +the plank from the sluiceway made the place literally an island. He sat +down on a big stone, with his manacled hands resting on his knees. Ned +was restless and heartsick, and the prolonged suspense grew more +intolerable every moment. He was afraid that Moxley would vent his anger +on the boys, and perhaps do them an injury. + +Hocker divined the lad's thoughts. + +"Don't be downhearted," he said. "Your friends are safe enough. The +scoundrel won't dare to hurt them. By and by, if the siege threatens to +last, we'll find a way to get them out of the mill." + +"I hope you will succeed," said Ned. "It's hard to tell what that +ruffian will do. And none of us have had anything to eat since last +evening at supper time." + +Hocker was thunderstruck on hearing this, and hastily produced a double +handful of crackers from the capacious pocket of his coat. + +"That will take the edge off your hunger," he said. "I bought them at a +country store as we drove by this morning. When Zinn's hired man comes +down to see where his master is--as he surely will before long--I'll +send him back for food. If we can't get your friends out of the mill we +can at least send them something to eat through that loose board. By +means of the boat one of us can climb into the rafters." + +This plan seemed feasible, and Ned felt no compunctions about eating the +crackers. Nothing had ever tasted so good to him before. + +Meanwhile Hocker and Jeffries had been quietly holding another +consultation, and now the latter advanced to the side of the mill. + +"Moxley," he called in a loud voice, "if you know what's best for you, +you will quietly hand out that gun, and deliver yourself up. The more +trouble you give us, the harder it will be for you in the end. You can't +possibly escape, and your capture is only a question of time. We are +well armed, and won't stand any fooling. Come out now and we'll make it +as easy for you as possible." + +There was a brief pause, and then creaking footsteps were heart as +Moxley approached the wall. + +"You can talk all night," he shouted hoarsely, "but it won't do any +good. Don't you come too close, Bill Jeffries, or I might draw a bead on +you. We have more than one old score to settle. As for getting me out of +here, you and ten like you can't do it. I have plenty of ammunition and +plenty to eat, and this place will hold me as long as I want to stay. +You can't take me inside of a week. I have four prisoners in here, and +not a mouthful of food will they get, not a sup of water, as long as you +fellows are prowling around. I mean what I say, Jeffries, and you know +it. For your own good I warn you to get out of this. I'll shoot the +first man that enters the mill." + +To enforce this hostile declaration Moxley thrust the muzzle of his gun +through a crevice, and Jeffries hastily retreated. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + +BUG'S PROPOSITION + + +There was dead silence for a while. It was only too evident that Moxley +meant what he said, and though Jeffries and Hocker were brave men, they +were reluctant to engage in a struggle with all the odds against them. + +Accompanied by Ned and Bug they moved down to the edge of the water--a +distance of less than thirty feet in the present condition of the +creek--and ensconced themselves in some thick bushes. There was no +slight risk that Moxley would shoot through the crevices if the +moonlight afforded him a tempting chance. + +"If we can wait in patience the game will fall into our hands," said +Jeffries. "The rascal has been drinking, and the fiery stuff has given +him false courage. After a while he will either fall asleep or become +helpless from intoxication." + +"I wonder if the boys know that help is outside," remarked Ned, "I wish +I could get a few words with them." + +"Of course they know it," replied Hocker. "They heard every word that +was said, and they have too much sense to make any outcry. We'll get +them out of the scrape before long, never fear." + +Just then the farmer's shrill voice rang out distinctly from the +hillside behind the mill: + +"Keep back, you rascal. If you crawl out that window I'll drop you quick +as a wink." + +"Moxley is trying to escape from the second floor," muttered Hocker. +"Wait a moment. I'll be back right away." + +He crept down the shore of the creek, and crossed the slope to the +wasteway. + +"Is it all right, Zinn?" he called out. + +"Yes," came the reply. "The rascal stuck his ugly head out of the winder +a moment ago, but I scared him back. He can't escape on this side." + +Hocker was about to rejoin his companions when a dark figure came down +the road and passed through a strip of moonlight which served to reveal +his identity. It was Abner Peck, the farm hand. + +In response to a whispered command from Hocker the man jumped into the +boat and pulled hastily across the wasteway. Hocker briefly explained +the situation, and after a little further conversation Abner recrossed +to the main land, while Hocker hurried back to his companions and +related what had occurred. + +"I sent him up to the house for provisions and a rope," he concluded, +"and when he returns we'll try to get the lads out of the closet." + +This piece of news cheered Ned considerably, and helped him to endure +the suspense with fortitude. Nearly an hour passed by without a sound +from the mill or the alert watcher on the hillside. + +The creek was still rising by slow degrees, but the sky was rapidly +clearing and gave every promise of continued fair weather. + +Finally a low whistle was heard, and Hocker noiselessly disappeared. He +returned in less than five minutes, and announced that Abner was waiting +with the provisions and the rope. + +"Now I have an idea for working this little scheme," he added. +"Jeffries, you go to the other end of the mill and open a conversation +with Moxley--let on you want to reason with him some more. Keep him +talking as long as you can, and meanwhile me and this lad will slip up +the wasteway in the boat and try to get the lads free. If anything goes +wrong, whistle." + +Jeffries was quite satisfied to take the part assigned to him. He moved +off in one direction, while Hocker and Ned took the other. Bug was left +alone in the bushes. + +Jeffries was already in conversation with Moxley when his companions +reached the wasteway. They could hear the voices of the two men +indistinctly. + +Hocker motioned Ned to the rear seat beside Abner; then seizing the oars +he pulled the boat swiftly into the deep shadows under the mill. The +next step was a more difficult one. + +Bidding Abner take the oars, and keep the boat in the same position if +possible, he tossed the rope over the very beam to which Ned had +descended, and catching the end, tied it to the main part of the rope in +such a way as to form a sort of swinging loop, which could not slip. By +standing on the seat he managed to get one foot in this loop; then +clutching both parts of the rope he drew himself quickly up, and after +swaying to and fro for an instant, threw one arm over the rafter. An +instant later he was straddling it, and pulling the rope after him he +untied the loop. + +"Now, lad," he whispered, "call your companions. They won't know my +voice." + +But this was rendered unnecessary by a sudden rasping noise above, as +the loose plank was carefully lifted from its place. + +"Randy! Randy!" whispered Ned. "It's all right. We're going to rescue +you." + +A glad murmur of voices was heard, and Randy incautiously replied: +"Hurry up then. Now's your time, for Moxley is at the other end of the +mill talking." + +"Not so loud, lad," whispered Hocker. "Hold steady now and look out for +the rope end." + +But before Hocker could throw it footsteps came hastily over the floor +above, and then a loud shrill whistle was heard--Jeffries's signal. + +An instant of breathless suspense was followed by the sudden thrusting +of a shiny object through a hole in the floor a little to one side of +the closet. + +"No you don't," cried Moxley in a savage voice. "You can't play that +game on me. Get out of that at once, or I'll riddle you with buckshot. +In ten seconds I shoot." + +It was not a time to hesitate or parley. The plank dropped into place, +and by a reckless swing and drop Hocker landed fairly in the center of +the boat, very nearly capsizing it. Abner dropped the oars, and the +current whirled the craft swiftly down the wasteway. + +It was a bitter disappointment, especially to Ned. Jeffries hastened to +the spot as the party landed. + +"I'm awful sorry," he said, "but it couldn't be helped. The rascal must +have heard some noise you made." + +"It's hard luck, that's a fact," muttered Hocker. "I'll square accounts +with that scoundrel afore I'm many hours older. The idea of his +threatenin' to shoot me with my own gun; that's what riles me most. It's +a pity we didn't get the food up. The boys'll have to starve a little +longer, I reckon." + +"It will be only a little, too," replied Jeffries grimly. "I don't +intend to stand any more nonsense. We'll think over the matter and +decide on some kind of a move. Moxley has got to come out of that mill. +That settles it." + +The party went slowly back to the bushes, and Ned satisfied his hunger +with the bread and cold meat Abner had brought, while Jeffries and +Hocker carried on a low, earnest discussion. + +Presently the quiet was interrupted in an unexpected manner. Being +restless and unhappy Bug wandered up toward the mill, and unwittingly +strayed into a patch of silvery moonlight. + +Moxley must have been on the watch, and the sight of his old chum put +him into a fury. He was ignorant of Ned's escape, and naturally +attributed his misfortunes to Bug. + +"You black hearted dog," he cried savagely. "I'll get square with you. +If I go to jail you'll go with me. It was all your fault anyhow. You +persuaded me to go after these boys, and it was you who broke into the +cabin and stole the gun and boat. I tried to keep you from it, but you +wouldn't listen. + +"Oh, you'll pay up for your treachery. I'll swear to all these +things--and a good many more--in court. That is if I get there--which +ain't at all likely. And if I _do_ get out of this hole I'll hunt you +down, if it takes a year." + +Moxley's rage was so violent that Bug prudently retreated to the bushes. + +The ruffian kept up his abuse and called Bug all manner of vile names +until he was compelled to stop for sheer want of breath. + +Bug came down to Hocker and Jeffries and stood before them. + +"Look here," he said hoarsely, "what that rascal says ain't true--at +least the most of it ain't. What part I had in stealin' the boat I've +made amends fur already, and now I'm willing to do a good deal more. A +little while ago I felt kinder sorry for Moxley because me an' him has +been together a good part of the summer. But when a man goes back on an +old friend, an' calls him bad names, an' tries to get him into trouble +by lyin', then I'm done with that man fur good. + +"I'd sooner see him in jail now than runnin' loose, an' if you give me a +fair show an' take these irons off, I'll find a way to get into that +mill and capture the mean rascal. He's more'n half drunk now, and I'm a +good deal stronger than I look. When the chance comes I'll know how to +use it. I'm talkin' on my honor now, an' mean what I say. You needn't be +afraid to turn me loose. I can't escape if I'd want to. You know that." + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII + +THE BURNING OF THE MILL + + +There was no mistaking the sincerity of Bug's proposal, and coming, as +it did, at a time when Hocker and Jeffries were unable to decide on any +feasible plan of action, they were disposed to give a favorable answer. + +"It ain't a bad idea," said Jeffries. "But how do you expect to get in +without being seen?" + +"I'll find a way," returned Bug. "There air plenty of holes an' loose +boards." + +"An' Moxley is watchin' them all, too," remarked Hocker. "Your plan +ain't very definite so far." + +Bug hesitated, and before he could reply something occurred that totally +changed the situation. + +"I see you again, you rascal," came the farmer's voice from the +hillside. "You can't fool me. Get away from that winder now." + +Hocker and Jeffries exchanged glances of mutual understanding. The +latter quickly unlocked the bracelets and freed Bug's wrists. + +"Now's your chance," he whispered. "Moxley is on the second floor. Slip +in before he comes down. There's a loose board just below that middle +window. There ain't time for more than one to get in or we'd follow +you. When you need us sing out. Here, take this." + +He pressed a pistol into Bug's hand, and the latter bounded noiselessly +up the slope. He reached the mill, drew the lower end of a loose plank a +foot from its place, and vanished through the orifice. + +Let us follow Bug on his perilous quest. Not until he was fairly inside, +and crawling on hands and knees over the rickety floor, did he realize +the great danger that lay in what he had undertaken to do. For an +instant he trembled with fear, and then the memory of his wrongs steeled +his heart and nerves. + +A sudden noise overheard caused him to crouch midway on the floor. A +moment later the stairway creaked, and Moxley began to descend. His +progress could be noted as he passed the crevices in the wall. + +Bug lay motionless, wondering what he should do next. The possibility of +being discovered made him tremble violently. He quite forgot that he had +a pistol. + +Moxley had now reached the floor, and with cautious steps he moved along +the wall toward the lower corner. + +Suddenly there was a sound of a heavy fall, followed by a volley of +profanity, and the next instant something flew against the wall, and was +shivered to fragments that fell with a tinkling noise. + +"He's tipped over a bottle," thought Bug, "and now he's smashed it +because he's mad. That's like Moxley." + +This haphazard guess was absolutely correct. All was silent for a second +or two after the glass had fallen; then Moxley grumbled in an audible +tone: "Confound the luck! I hope that wasn't my whisky bottle. It ain't +in my pocket." + +Of such dire import did the question seem to the ruffian that he +ventured to strike a match--little dreaming what the impulse would cost +him. + +Bug's heart beat wildly when he heard the crack and saw the light flash +through the darkness. He jammed the pistol into his pocket and rose on +his hands and knees. + +Moxley was standing before the sawdust heap with his face to the wall. +As the match flared up he dropped the gun and seized a greenish bottle +that was lying at his feet. + +"Here's luck!" he muttered contentedly. "It was the oil bottle I brought +from the canoes that got in my way." + +He lifted the fiery poison to his lips, still holding the burning match +between the fingers of his other hand, and remained in this attitude for +a brief moment. + +Bug stood erect and moved across the floor with the caution of a +creeping tigress. Nearer and nearer he came, and when less than four +feet separated him from his intended victim, Moxley heard some slight +noise and wheeled around. + +Bug was on him with one spring, and down they fell with a great crash, +and rolled in furious strife over the shaking floor--Bug crying for help +at the top of his voice, Moxley uttering hoarse threats and +imprecations. + +Blinded with rage they did not observe that the burning end of the match +had fallen on the very spot where the widely scattered kerosene oil was +most plentiful. Even when the hissing blue flames spurted up and licked +the rubbish on all sides with greedy tongues, they fought on +desperately, now one uppermost, now the other, as they verged toward the +center of the floor. + +When Hocker and Jeffries burst into the mill, followed by Ned and Abner, +the conflagration was beyond control. The flames were devouring the +planking of the wall with a great roaring and crackling, spreading on +each side and to the floor above. + +The scene was one long to be remembered. The cries of the struggling men +on the floor mingled with the furious kicking and shouting that came +from the imprisoned boys in the closet, and amid all the din and +confusion the farmer rushed down from the hillside and battered his way +into the mill with the butt end of his gun. + +Fright gave Moxley the strength of a madman, and by a determined effort +he tore loose from his plucky assailant, and springing to his feet +started to run. He struck Hocker, who jumped in front of him, a furious +blow that sent him reeling backward, but before he could make use of +his advantage, he tripped on a log, and came down heavily. + +As he partially rose Bug leaped upon him, and both men rolled over to +the edge of a gaping hole in the floor. They struggled an instant on the +brink, and then fell through, landing with a terrific splash in the +flooded wasteway far below. + +Hocker and Jeffries rushed precipitately from the mill to head them off, +while the farmer insanely attempted to check the conflagration by +tramping through the _debris_ that was burning here and there on the +floor. + +The whole affair had taken place in a very few seconds, and Ned was at +first so dazed by the confusion and the flames that he was quite +incapable of doing anything. The terrified cries of his companions +roused him from his stupor, and he dashed through the intense heat to +the closet door. + +A quick jerk threw the bolt open, and the frightened boys poured out. +The lurid glare of the flames and the spark laden volumes of smoke were +more than they could stand. One and all bolted for the nearest aperture +in the creek side of the mill, and fortunately reached it without +falling through the gaps in the floor. + +Ned would gladly have followed their example, but he suddenly bethought +him of the plunder Moxley had packed up to carry away. Such a loss would +be irreparable, and without hesitation he dashed toward the burning +wall. + +The heat was intense, but he managed to get near enough to snatch the +bag. One end was badly scorched. He suddenly spied Hocker's gun, and +knowing how the owner valued it, he made another rush and carried it off +in triumph. + +Thus laden down he tottered across the floor in imminent fear of +dropping through to the wasteway, and overwhelmed at times by the +suffocating smoke and fiery sparks. When his courage and endurance were +all but spent he reached a broken place in the wall and staggered into +the refreshing outer air. How good it seemed! + +Abner had long since preceded him, and the farmer made his appearance a +moment later, still grasping Randy's blackened gun. The boys had been +waiting on Ned in terrible suspense, afraid to venture back into the +mill, and when he appeared with his burden their joy knew no bounds. + +They were ignorant of the disaster that had befallen Bug and Moxley, and +when Ned told them, the whole party started off on a run. + +They searched the wasteway just as Jeffries and Hocker landed from the +boat, pushing Moxley before them, and followed by Bug. The ruffian's +hands were already manacled. With the exception of dripping clothes +neither of the men seemed the worse for their struggle and subsequent +fall. + +"They were still locked together when we pulled them from the water," +said Jeffries. "That little fellow is a plucky one. He deserves great +credit for raising the siege. We've got our man at last, and bitterly +he'll rue this night's work." + +"It's a bad job fur me, too," observed the farmer. "The old mill will +soon be a heap of ashes. It's insured fur about what the lumber's worth, +but that ain't much consolation. I hate to see it go after standin' here +fur nigh onto seventy years." + +"It's hard," muttered Hocker, "that's a fact." + +Then all were silent, watching the flames as they rose higher and +higher, and licked every corner of the doomed building. It was a grand +sight while it lasted, but in twenty minutes nothing was left save a few +blackened beams and smoldering heaps of ashes. + +"That ends the fireworks," said Jeffries. "We may as well be moving +along. It's past two o'clock in the morning." + +He drew a second pair of handcuffs from his pocket, and to Ned's wrath +and indignation, clapped them suddenly on Bug's wrists. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII + +A GOOD DEED + + +Ned was the only one who showed any surprise at the constable's action, +and quite naturally, since he alone was acquainted with all the facts in +the case. Hocker had already taken Moxley to the boat and seated him; +the ruffian had lost his defiant manner, and was cowed and sullen. +Jeffries now started to follow with Bug, but was stopped by a detaining +touch on the arm. + +"I beg your pardon, Mr. Jeffries," said Ned, trying hard to control his +feelings, "but you surely don't intend to carry off Bug to jail after +all he has done to-night? We owe everything to him." + +Jeffries looked at the lad half sternly. + +"Law is law," he replied in a pompous tone. "I am an officer of justice, +and must do my duty. This fellow was clearly concerned in the theft of +Mocker's gun and boat, and what he did before or after that don't wipe +out the crime. Why, if I'd turn him loose now I'd be compoundin' a +felony. Of course I'll speak a good word for him when he comes up for +trial--I'll promise you that--and it may lessen his sentence." + +"Jeffries is right," said the farmer. "If a man will commit crimes he +must suffer for them. Both fellows air guilty, no doubt." + +Bug threw a grateful glance at Ned, and then turned appealingly to +Hocker. + +"I don't deny that I was with Moxley when he broke into your cabin," he +said huskily, "but I was only with him because I wanted to help these +boys. I couldn't leave him without spoilin' my plans, and I couldn't +persuade him to let the cabin alone, though I tried hard enough. He gave +me the slip next morning, as it was, an' I had to tramp it down the +creek the rest of the way. It's purty hard fer a feller to get into a +scrape like this under them circumstances." + +Hocker's face wore a perplexed expression as he replied slowly: + +"I'm sure I don't know what to say. Jeffries has the law at his finger +ends, and it ain't fur me to contradict him. I reckon things will have +to take their course." + +Bug's hopeless looks and attitude went straight to Ned's heart, and he +resolved to make a final appeal in his behalf. He was satisfied that +Hocker would help him if he could be made to see the matter in its +proper light, so he drew him aside and told all he knew about Bug in a +simple, earnest way--dwelling especially on the fact that Bug's desire +to keep the boys out of a scrape was the sole cause of his own +misfortune. + +The appeal carried conviction with it, and Hocker's sympathies were +aroused. + +"I reckon I can fix this matter," he said after a little consideration. +"I owe you lads something anyhow, and this is a good time to pay the +debt." + +Hocker was as good as his word. He walked over to the boat and surprised +Jeffries by saying in a grave tone, "Look here, old man; I've sorter +veered round on this thing. Now that I've got Moxley safe and sound I +don't intend to prosecute the other chap. I reckon what he says is true, +an' you know yourself what he did fur us to-night--more than you or me +would have done. He deserves to go free." + +"Well, if you're determined not to make a charge, why that settles it," +replied Jeffries a little stiffly. "I have nothing agin him personally, +and I hope he'll take warning by this affair and keep out of bad +company." + +He turned around and quickly removed Bug's handcuffs. + +"You're a free man now," he said. "See that you stay free and justify +the clemency of the law by leadin' a respectable life in future." + +Bug was dazed at first by the unexpected transition from despair to +hope. He stammered out a few inarticulate words of gratitude to Hocker +and Jeffries and then approached Ned. + +"This is your doin'," he said brokenly. "You saved me from goin' to +jail. I shan't forget it--" He choked and broke off short. + +Ned drew him down the wasteway to a little clump of bushes, out of +earshot of the others. + +"Bug," he said earnestly, "if you are really grateful to me for saving +you from a term in prison, I'll tell you how you can prove it. Your +brother told me the whole story of your life, and what a shadow it has +cast on your home. You are breaking your mother's heart, and even your +father feels the disgrace keenly, and would welcome you back if you came +prepared to lead a different life. Go home, Bug, and make them all +happy. You will never regret it if you do. You are not bad at heart, I +know, and evil company has been the cause of all your trouble. Let +Moxley's fate be a warning to you. Turn over a new leaf from to-night. +Will you do it, Bug? Will you go straight home and lead an honest, +respectable life?" + +Tears were standing in Bug's eyes, and he brushed them away with his +coat sleeve. + +"I'll do it," he said in a firm, but husky voice. "I've been wantin' to +go home fur a long time, but I didn't dare to. I'm sick enough of livin' +in this way, an' what you've done an' said to-night will make a +different man of me. I mean it all, and I'll stick to it. I'll do no +more lyin' or stealin', and I'll keep away from bad company. I'll stay +at home and work. Here's my fist on it." + +Ned warmly shook the proffered hand, and then both went slowly back to +the boat. + +Bug's appearance was the signal for a most outrageous burst of +profanity and threats from Moxley, and when Jeffries had finally subdued +the ruffian by strong measures, the whole party crossed the wasteway, +and moved up to the farmhouse, which was half a mile distant. + +Mrs. Zinn spread a huge table with all sorts of tempting food, and the +starved boys attacked it with a vigor that made her open her eyes in +amazement. The others were almost as hungry after all they had gone +through that night, and did ample justice to the viands. Moxley's +bracelets were taken off and he was allowed to eat his fill with the +rest. + +It was four o'clock on Saturday morning before the tired crowd got to +sleep. The four boys were given a room containing two large beds, and +the adjoining apartment was occupied by Hocker and Jeffries, and their +prisoner. Bug was accommodated with a cushioned settee in the kitchen. + +The boys woke up, refreshed in mind and body, about three o'clock in the +afternoon. They came down stairs just in time to see Hocker and Jeffries +drive away in a buggy with the sullen faced prisoner between them. +Hocker had made arrangements with the farmer to take the boat back to +the cabin in a wagon. + +Moxley had been compelled to disgorge his plunder, and the boys were +highly gratified when Jeffries handed over the watches and money the +tramp had so coolly taken from them. + +Half an hour after the trio had departed for Carlisle jail Bug took an +earnest farewell of the boys, and struck across the country in a bee +line for his home at the Gap. His last word to Ned was a renewal of the +promise to stay at home and lead an honest life, and Ned sincerely +believed that he meant it. + +"That load of salt I put into Moxley's legs turned out for the best +after all," said Randy in a roguish tone. "If I hadn't pulled trigger +that night Bug Batters would still be treading the path of wickedness, +with no hope of a reformation." + +"Your foolishness had one good result, I'll admit," replied Ned. "But +don't try the experiment again. It's too costly." + +The boys tacitly agreed with Ned. Even Bug's conversion was rather a +high price to pay for the fright and indignities they had endured at the +hands of Mr. Dude Moxley. They remembered also that the burning of the +mill was indirectly due to Randy's foolish shot. + +The certain prospect of the insurance money effectively silenced any +resentment that Mr. Zinn might otherwise have felt toward the boys. He +warmly invited them to stay over Sunday, and the invitation was promptly +accepted. They went down after supper to examine the canoes, and allowed +them to remain where they were on the farmer's assurance that nothing +could happen to them. The grain bag containing the greater part of the +baggage had been taken up the house the night before. The tin boxes had +perished in the flames, but this was a trifling loss, and did not +trouble the boys much in the light of what might have been. + +Sunday was a day of peaceful enjoyment after the turbulent events of the +past week. + +"Three square meals were not to be sneezed at," as Randy irreverently +expressed it; and not the least pleasing incident of the day was the +five mile drive to a country church with the farmer's family, on which +occasion Nugget braved the ridicule of his companions, and proudly wore +his linen shirt and pique vest. + +Monday morning dawned clear as a whistle, and after a hearty breakfast +the boys trudged down to the creek laden with all manner of country +produce, for which the good natured farmer would accept only a beggarly +recompense. + +Half an hour later the gold and crimson pennant fluttered proudly in the +breeze as it led the Jolly Rovers down the swift and turbid channel--for +the creek was still a few feet above low water mark. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX + +RANDY GOES SAILING + + +Monday and Tuesday of that week were rather uneventful days. The boys +paddled steadily, and with the aid of the rapid current covered a good +many miles. + +On both evenings they found suitable camping places, and had some +excellent sport fishing for catfish and eels by night. + +The creek was almost at its normal level now, but Wednesday morning +dawned amid conditions that promised a speedy repetition of the high +water. The sky was hidden by murky gray clouds that hung far down toward +the earth. So thick were they that no mist that blurred the hills and +the windings of the faintest glimmer of the sun could peep through. A +creek was in the air, and the east wind had a keen, biting touch that +was more in harmony with November than July. + +Some discussion ensued at first on the question of breaking camp under +such circumstances, but it was finally decided in the affirmative. + +"This place won't shelter us very well if a heavy rain comes on," said +Ned. "The chances are that it won't rain before afternoon or night, so +we had better make the most of what time we have by choosing a better +spot." + +The value of Ned's advice had been tested on many previous occasions, so +preparations to start were hastily commenced. This was about eight +o'clock in the morning, after breakfast had been eaten and the dishes +cleared away. + +Randy was the first one up that morning, and much to the mystification +of his companions he had been working since daybreak in a thicket of +young timber not far behind the camp. Just as the tent was being rolled +up he made his appearance with a lurking smile on his face, and under +his arm a bundle that resembled a red flannel seine wrapped tightly on +its sticks. + +"Hullo, Randy, what have you there?" queried Nugget. + +"What is it?" exclaimed Clay, in a tone that implied some doubt as to +whether he referred to Randy or the object under his arm. + +But Randy was not disposed to be communicative just then. + +"You'll know what it is in good time," he replied, and then turning to +Ned he asked: "Can I have one of the tent poles?" + +"What do you want with it?" demanded Ned. "Has it anything to do with +that piece of tomfoolery?" + +"Yes, it has," replied Randy aggressively. "That piece of tomfoolery, +as you call it, is a sail. I'll make you fellows open your eyes after a +while." + +"I don't doubt it," exclaimed Ned laughingly, "There will be lots of +sport in watching you try to sail on a stream like this. And what a +sail, too! Why, it's made out of a red blanket! What put the notion into +your head, Randy?" + +"Oh, you can make all the fun of it, you please," replied Randy; "you'll +all wish you had one like it after a while. Just look at that breeze +blowing straight down the creek. In an hour from now it will be twice as +strong, and then I'll leave you fellows so far behind that you can't +overtake me in a week." + +"It doesn't occur to him that the creek changes its course about every +half mile," reflected Ned as he resumed his work. "If he tries the thing +on he'll come to grief." + +Randy was troubled by no such misgivings. He appropriated one of the +jointed tent poles and lashed it on the fore deck of his canoe beside +the queer looking sail. The Water Sprite, it may be said, had been built +with a view to sailing, and it contained a mast hole and block just +forward of the cockpit. + +Not until the Jolly Rovers had been afloat an hour or two did Randy's +opportunity come, for during that time the channel was one succession of +short, jerky curves that encountered the wind every which way. But his +patience was finally rewarded by a clear half mile stretch of water, +licked into tiny undulations by a crisp down breeze. + +Randy discreetly grounded the canoe on a little grass bar in mid-channel, +and proceeded to rig up. His sail was merely a light weight blanket with +each of its narrow ends sewed to a trimmed sapling--just like a banner, +in fact. He attached this to his improvised mast, fastened each end +securely, and drove the latter into the mast hole. + +The Water Sprite was quite transformed by the addition. It presented a +quaint, foreign appearance, for the high square sail was exactly like +that of a Chinese junk, while its flaming red color was irresistibly +suggestive of the craft that ply in Venetian lagoons. + +So Randy thought, anyhow, and he was more than pleased with his +handiwork. He applied the finishing touches by tying a cord to each +lower corner of the sail, and by this device he proudly hoped to control +the movements of the canoe. + +Randy was considerably overestimating his skill as a sailing master, but +no one could have made him believe it at the time. He proudly seated +himself, and with a shove of the paddle freed the canoe from the bar. + +The breeze quickly bulged out the thirty square feet of sail, and away +went the Water Sprite like a Chinese pirate in chase of booty. It gained +speed with every instant, and swept by the sluggish little fleet of +canoes under full pressure. + +Randy turned around to laugh and wave his hand. He had to admit to +himself that he was very glad the boys were now in the rear, for the +sail hung so low that he could see no further than the prow of his +canoe. Still more disconcerting was the fact that the cords were +useless, since the least jerk to right or left threatened to capsize the +canoe instantly. + +"I must keep a sharp eye on the shores if I want to stay in mid-channel," +thought Randy. "I'm good for half a mile of this, anyhow, before the +wind changes." + +But his calculation did not embrace any possible obstructions that might +lie in the way, and Randy was considerably surprised to find himself +grounded on a ledge of rocks before five minutes had passed. It was hard +work to get the canoe free, and just as he succeeded the boys caught up +with him. + +"Better take the sail down now," suggested Ned. "You'll surely run into +something if you don't." + +"No danger," laughed Randy. "I'll stop before I get to the curve. This +is great sport. You fellows just ought to try it." + +He sent the Water Sprite off again by a touch of his paddle and skimmed +swiftly away from his half envious companions, leaving a trail of foam +behind him. + +It was aggravating to be thus outstrippped and the boys started to +paddle with all their might. For a little while they actually seemed to +gain on Randy, but a lively puff of wind came down the creek, and the +Water Sprite took a spurt that made the chase hopeless. + +The wind had veered a slight degree, and without knowing it Randy was +now paddling straight for a bushy point of land that jutted out from the +left shore exactly where the channel made its abrupt bend. Just below +this little promontory, and in midstream, was anchored a long, squarely +built flatboat. + +It had three occupants. On a low stool in the very center sat a +tremendously stout man in a blue flannel shirt and wide brimmed straw +hat. Beside him was a lean, scrawny man sitting on an upturned bucket. +The other end of the boat was occupied by a yellow dog, whose eyes were +fixed with intent longing on a lunch basket a few feet distant. + +The big fat man held in one hand a light, slender fishing rod, while the +little lean man supported on his knees a twenty foot pole that looked +like a young tree denuded of its branches. Both were waiting patiently +for a bite--as was also the dog--and under the circumstances it did not +occur to them to look around. + +Meanwhile the Water Sprite swept onward to the jutting point of land, +and missed it by little more than a hair's breadth, just as Randy turned +pale with the sudden discovery of his danger. He breathed easier as the +canoe passed swiftly on toward mid-channel. He could see nothing ahead, +and was therefore blissfully ignorant of the obstruction that now lay in +his path. + +Just at this moment the three boys, coming on behind, caught a glimpse +of the anchored boat and were quick to grasp the situation. + +"Look out, Randy!" cried Ned at the top of his voice. "Danger ahead! +Paddle to the right, quick!" + +Randy turned around and looked stupidly at his companions for an +instant. Then he seized the paddle and tried hard to follow Ned's +advice. Too late! The Water Sprite was forging ahead now under full +pressure, and was not to be diverted from its course. + +The two occupants of the boat had heard Ned's warning cry without +catching the words, but they did not turn around because each happened +to have a bite at that moment. + +Then the little man jerked out a plump catfish, and as he reached for +the line, which had swung behind him, he saw the flaming red sail +looming almost overhead. He had barely time to spring to his feet and +utter a terrific yell, when the collision came. + +The shock tossed the fat man off the stool and threw him across the edge +of the boat. As the little man was knocked down at the same instant, the +one sided pressure naturally caused the boat to tip, and over it went, +throwing fishermen, dog, and all into the water. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX + +A NIGHT ALARM + + +By that strange destiny which oftentimes frowns on the good and lends a +helping hand to the evil, Randy experienced no very disastrous results +from the collision. The canoe rebounded a few feet, and the sail fell +from the mastpole into the water. + +He was terribly shaken up, it is true, but far greater was the shock +when he realized what he had done. At first nothing was visible but the +upturned boat and a yellow dog paddling on all fours for the nearest +bank. + +It was manifestly impossible that the dog could have been the only +occupant of the boat, and besides Randy had heard a shrill cry just +before the collision. He was much relieved therefore when a head shot +above the water a few feet below the boat. + +This belonged to the little man, and an instant later his fat companion +came to the surface. The latter had lost his hat, and the top of his +head was as white and shiny as a billiard ball. + +The little man sounded for bottom, and not finding it, swam vigorously +for shore. The fat man tried the same experiment, and being a good head +and a half taller than his companion, obtained footing at a depth which +brought the water almost to his chin. Having thus strengthened his +position, he spat the water from his mouth and turned his head around to +see what occult power was responsible for his misfortune. + +When he saw Randy quietly sitting in the canoe a few yards above his +face purpled with rage. + +"You'll pay for this outrage," he stuttered hoarsely. "I'll beat you +black and blue when I get hold of you. I'll give you six months in the +county jail at hard labor, you brainless young ruffian--you audacious +wooden headed idiot, you--" + +Just then the angry gentleman's string of epithets was cut short in a +summary manner, for the wet folds of the blanket sail, which had somehow +managed to drift around the corner of the boat, slapped him on the +mouth, and the unexpected shock caused him to lose his balance and slip +under water. + +Such an opportunity was not to be neglected, and with quick, furious +strokes Randy paddled around the upturned boat and headed down stream, +bent on escaping the promised chastisement. + +The fat man came up directly beneath the sail, and consequently had to +go under for a second attempt. This time he was all right, and the +moment his head was out of water and his feet planted on the bottom he +caught sight of Randy, who was just gliding by at a distance of half a +dozen feet. + +"Stop, you rascal, stop!" he yelled hoarsely. + +Randy did not obey; he only paddled the faster. + +The irascible old fellow glared at him in helpless rage for a second, +and then his face lit up with an awful smile as he saw the big fishing +pole floating on the water within reach. The line was fastened in some +way to the boat. + +It was the work of an instant to snatch the pole and tear it free. Then +lifting it overhead the man made a furious stroke at the rapidly +receding canoe. + +Whisk! whisk! came the elastic end with stinging force against Randy's +back and shoulders. Maddened by the pain he partially rose and leaned +forward. At the second blow he reeled to one side, stumbled against the +combing, and went out of the canoe backward without upsetting it. + +His enemy was by no means satisfied with what punishment he had already +inflicted. He dropped the pole, and made haste to join the little man +and yellow dog on the bank. + +"Ebenezer," he cried angrily, "pursue that young rascal. Chase him down +the creek. If you catch him I'll give you a five dollar bill." + +More from fear of disobeying than from any hope of earning the reward, +the little man started off on a run with the yellow dog at his heels. + +Just at this moment Ned and his companions reached the scene of the +disaster. The fat man stopped wringing the water from his trousers to +shake his fist at them. + +"You're all alike," he growled, "all alike! I never saw a boy that +wasn't a born reprobate. I wish I had you out on shore; I'd teach you a +lesson." + +Ned tried to explain that the upsetting of the boat was a pure accident, +but the angry man refused to hear him. + +"Don't tell me," he muttered, "I know better." + +Realizing that further argument would be futile, the boys made what +amends they could by chasing the two fishing rods and the hat, and then +lifting the anchors of the boat and pushing it to shore. + +The fat man acknowledged these favors with a surly nod of his head, and +so threatening was his manner that the boys hastily retreated from the +bank, and paddled down stream, stopping on the way to recover the sail. + +Meanwhile Randy had quietly swum down the creek some distance, pushing +the canoe ahead of him, and landed on the left shore. The boys could see +him plainly as he stood on a rock wringing the water from his clothes. + +Having no inclination to swim the creek, Ebenezer had given up the chase +and was now returning along the right bank. When he came opposite the +boys Ned called out: + +"Say, tell me who that stout gentleman is, will you?" + +The little man hesitated before replying. "That's Judge Gibson, of +Carlisle," he said finally in a very impressive tone. "You fellers may +be glad you ain't sittin' afore him in the dock this minute--especially +that chap down yonder. O, my! wouldn't you get salty sentences though!" + +A loud summons from the judge started the little man off in a hurry, and +the conversation came to an abrupt ending. + +The boys soon joined Randy, and finding him in a decidedly bad temper, +they made as little allusion as possible to what had occurred. It was +evident from the way he shrugged his shoulders that the blows of the +fishing pole had left a good deal of a sting. + +Not knowing what might be expected of Judge Gibson, the boys concluded +to be on the safe side, and as soon as Randy had changed his clothes +they paddled away from the vicinity. + +About one o'clock a halt was made for lunch, and as the air was +disagreeably damp and cutting, Ned boiled a pot of coffee. + +The cruise was resumed an hour later, and during the afternoon a close +watch was kept for suitable camping places. The indications all presaged +bad weather, and there was no doubt that rain would set in by +morning--if not sooner. + +About four o'clock a camping ground was discovered that met with general +approval--a sheltered spot amid great pine trees on the right bank. In +the rear was a steep hill, and a limestone spring was conveniently +close. + +The boys spent just one solid hour in arranging things to their +satisfaction, for their stay was likely to be a protracted one, and +they wanted everything snug and comfortable before the rain came. + +The tent was staked with more than ordinary care, and then a ditch was +dug around all four sides and the dirt thrown on the edges of the +canvas. A stone fireplace was built between two trees and within easy +reach of the tent door. + +A layer of fragrant pine boughs was spread on the floor of the tent, and +both front corners were piled with firewood. The arrangements were +completed by dragging the canoes to the top of the bank and removing all +that they contained. + +"That is what I call snug," said Randy complacently. "I won't mind +staying here two or three days. How are we fixed for provisions?" + +"Bread will run short to-morrow, but we have plenty of everything else," +replied Ned. "No doubt there are farm houses near." + +This satisfactory report encouraged the boys to prepare a more than +usually sumptuous supper. They washed the dishes by firelight, and just +as the last one was dried the rain began to fall--at first in pattering +drops, then in a steady, persistent sheet. + +A great log was thrown on the fire, and after a short chat in its warm +glow the boys drew the tent flaps, and were soon sleeping soundly on the +soft pine boughs. + +Some time in the night Ned awoke, and feeling thirsty sat up and reached +for the pail of water and tin cup which were always kept just outside +the tent door. + +He took a drink and was in the act of putting the cup down when he heard +distinct footsteps outside. They passed the tent and went on toward the +creek. Whoever the nocturnal stroller might be he was taking no pains to +conceal his presence. + +"Say Ned, is that you?" came in a startled whisper from the rear of the +tent. + +Ned recognized Randy's voice. + +"Are _you_ awake?" he exclaimed in surprise. "Don't make any noise. Some +one is walking about outside." + +"I know it," replied Randy. "That's what wakened me. My gun is missing. +I had it right beside me, and now it's gone." + +"By Jove! this looks serious," muttered Ned. "Wait a moment," he added. +"I'll take a peep outside. It's pitch dark and I can't be seen." + +He quickly lifted one flap of the tent and crawled under. A few seconds +passed--full of terrible suspense to Randy--and then came a clattering +noise followed by a brief red flash and a stunning report. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI + +STORMY WEATHER + + +It was Ned's intention, when he crawled out of the tent, to dodge behind +the nearest tree, where he could see without being seen. But as he rose +to his feet a dark figure suddenly obscured the faint embers of the +fire, and a second later came the fall and the report which struck such +a terror to Randy's heart as he waited in the darkness of the tent. + +Ned understood the situation instantly. The unknown prowler had stumbled +over the fireplace in his retreat, and the stolen gun had been exploded +by striking the stones. + +For two or three seconds there was nothing to indicate that the thief +had been hit by the charge. Then a shrill yell rang through the woods +and another and another in rapid succession. + +"Randy! Randy! Come out here!" shouted Ned in a terrified voice. "Light +the lantern and waken the boys." + +The next instant Randy burst through the flaps. + +"Here is the lantern," he gasped. "I have no matches. Good gracious! but +you scared me. I thought you were shot." + +"_I'm_ not, but I fear some one else is," replied Ned as he hastily +struck a match and applied it to the wick of the lantern. + +That instant Clay hurried out of the tent, and the three boys advanced +timidly to the fireplace. The supposed robber had ceased his outcry, and +was propped in an upright position against a heap of stones. Ned turned +the lantern on his face and staggered back with a cry of amazement. + +"_Why, it's Nugget!_" he exclaimed. "What under the sun does this mean?" + +It was indeed Nugget, and he looked the very picture of fright as he +rolled his eyes wildly from one to the other of his friends. It was +several seconds before he could speak. + +"Where am I?" he gasped. "Who put me out here in the rain? I thought I +heard a gun go off." + +He was evidently not injured--the position of the gun proved that--and +the boys began to appreciate the ludicrous side of the situation. + +"You've been walking in your sleep," exclaimed Ned, as a sudden light +broke on his mind. "I'll bet a dollar that's just it. Did you ever do +such a thing before, Nugget?" + +Nugget hesitated and passed his hand over his forehead. + +"Yes," he said reflectively; "I used to walk in my sleep sometimes, but +that was long ago. I thought the habit was broken." + +"Don't you remember anything about this affair?" resumed Ned. "You must +have taken Randy's gun and left the tent without waking us." + +"Yes; I have a sort of recollection of it," answered Nugget sheepishly. +"I guess I must have been dreaming. I thought I was in Central Park at +home, and the animals broke out of the menagerie. I had a gun in my +hand, and when a big lion ran after me I ran away. Then I fell over a +bench and the gun went off--and--and I don't think I remember any more. +It was an awful dream. I thought the lion would eat me up." + +This story was more than the boys could stand. They laughed so long and +heartily that Nugget recovered from his scare and got angry instead. + +"You fellows would laugh the other way if that gun had been pointed +toward the tent when it went off," he said sullenly; "and besides there +is no fun in having such a dream." + +"Nugget is right," exclaimed Ned. "The affair is too serious for +ridicule. It's almost a miracle he was not shot. And by the way, Randy, +I've told you often not to keep that gun loaded. Think what might have +happened to-night in consequence of your folly." + +Randy looked penitent, and for a wonder accepted the rebuke quietly. + +"I forgot, Ned, indeed I did," he said earnestly. "I put a shell in for +snipe this afternoon, and never thought about it again. After this I'll +examine the gun every night." + +"If it was accidental that alters the case," replied Ned. "And now +suppose we turn in. There is no use in standing here in the rain any +longer." + +The boys went back to the tent, and to prevent a second attempt at +sleep-walking they made Nugget take the middle place. Five minutes later +all were sleeping as soundly as before the alarm. + +The next morning it was raining hard, and in fact it continued to rain +at intervals all of that day and the next. The boys found the time hang +a little heavy, although they sallied out in rubber coats, and had some +excellent sport fishing for catfish. + +Cooking was not interfered with, since the fireplace was in a sheltered +position, and the tent was at all times snug and waterproof, in spite of +some of the heaviest showers that the boys had ever known. + +Rain was still falling at daybreak on Saturday, but about ten o'clock +the sky cleared, and the sun came out--greatly to the delight of the +Jolly Rovers. + +As the next day was Sunday, and the camp was in such a good location, +they decided to remain until Monday morning. This turned out to be a +wise decision, for shortly after dinner a thunder storm swept down the +valley, and for several hours the rain fell in torrents. By evening not +a cloud was in sight, and indications pointed to a spell of clear +weather. + +Of course the creek was by this time very high and muddy, and was still +on the rise. The water had crept three feet up the slope on top of which +the tent was pitched, but as three feet more remained to be covered the +boys felt no uneasiness. + +There was still higher ground behind them on which they could take +refuge if the necessity came. + +After supper Ned got out his map, and began to study it with great care. + +"Has it occurred to any of you fellows that we are drawing near home?" +he asked finally. "We passed Honck's dam on Wednesday afternoon, and our +present camp is very near Sporting Green. There are only four more dams +between us and the Susquehanna, and the distance can't be much over +thirty miles." + +The others were rather surprised to hear this, and could not make up +their minds at first whether to be glad or sorry. + +"I can hardly realize it," said Randy. "The time has certainly slipped +by very quickly, and yet it was three weeks yesterday since we started." + +"I hate to think that the cruise is nearly over," remarked Clay, "but +all the same it will be nice to get home again." + +Ned laughed as he folded up the map and put it in his pocket. + +"I know just how you feel," he said. "It will be very nice to sleep in a +soft bed, and eat off a table again, and sit out on the boathouse porch +in the evenings; but about a week after you get home you'll wish with +all your heart you were back on the creek with the grass for a bed and a +rock for a table. Canoeing is like ice cream--when you once taste it +you are always wanting more. It reminds me of what I read about a famous +African explorer. He was always glad to get back to civilization for a +little while, and then he was more anxious than ever to return to his +wild life. It seemed as though he couldn't breathe right anywhere but in +Africa." + +"I hope canoeing _is_ like that," said Randy. "Then we will make lots +more trips together. I feel just as you do about it, Ned. I don't like +to see the cruise end, but it will be very nice in some ways to get +home. Won't the other boys be envious when they see how sunburnt we are, +and hear all about the exciting adventures we have had?" + +"When will we reach the end of the creek?" asked Nugget with a rapturous +expression. "Monday?" + +"Hardly," replied Ned. "It will take longer than that. But why are you +so anxious to get home, Nugget?" + +"He wants to put on a suit of cream colored clothes," exclaimed Clay +with mock gravity, "and a boiled shirt and high collar. He is longing to +encase his lily white hands in kid gloves, and his dainty feet in patent +leathers." + +As Nugget blushed an angry red, and made no reply, it is to be presumed +that Clay's remark contained more truth than fiction. + +"You fellows are all counting your chickens too soon," said Ned. "A good +many miles separate us from home, and as likely as not there are more +rough times in store for us." + +Lightly spoken and lightly meant were these words, but Ned recalled them +under thrilling circumstances a day or two later. + +All day Sunday the creek continued to rise slowly until it was just a +foot from the top of the bank. It was stationary at nine o'clock in the +evening, and when it began to fall two hours later the boys turned in, +satisfied that the danger was over. + +The water receded a foot and a half during the night, but when Monday +morning dawned with a clear sky the flood was still a sight to behold as +it rolled swiftly by the camp, its smooth yellow surface dotted with +tangled grasses and driftwood. + +As far as the boys could see was high and hilly land, but there was no +doubt that the lowlands were inundated far on each side of the creek. +The rains had been unusually heavy. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII + +THE BROKEN DAM + + +By nine o'clock the Jolly Rovers were afloat--adrift would be a better +word, since the swift current made the paddles unnecessary, except for a +guiding touch now and then. It did not occur to the boys to delay their +departure on account of the flood. They were tired of the camping place, +and moreover the high water would likely be a help rather than a +hindrance. + +They found it keenly exhilarating to lean lazily back in their canoes +and be carried at a whirling pace around bend after bend. There was just +enough danger from submerged islands and reefs, and floating _debris_, +to add spice to the enjoyment. + +Here and there, where the creek passed through low country, the fields +were inundated, and only the tops of the fences could be seen above the +water. + +A mile or two below camp a sudden sweep of the channel brought into view +a red wooden bridge. The creek, being wide at this point, the bridge was +supported in the center by a narrow, squarely built pier. + +As the boys came closer they saw that the pier had been shattered by +some terrific power. The whole face of it was torn away, and the frail +portion that remained seemed in danger of being carried off by the +yellow flood that was surging against it. Two men had climbed down from +an opening in the bridge, and were busy among the loose stones, +evidently trying to fit them into place again. From the left shore a +little knot of people was watching the operation. + +Naturally the boys were curious to know what it meant, and when they +drew near they slackened the speed of the canoes by backing water +vigorously with their paddles. + +"Did the flood do all that damage?" asked Ned. + +"No," answered one of the men, stopping work to look up, "the ice did it +last winter, and the commissioners neglected to have it repaired. A +pretty bill they're likely to have to pay for their carelessness. It's +too late to do anything now." + +"That's so," assented the other man; "we may as well stop work and get +out of this." + +"But what danger are you afraid of now?" resumed Ned. "The pier has +stood the worst of the flood and the water is going down." + +The first speaker jerked his finger up the creek. "They say that Honck's +dam is liable to break at any minute," he answered slowly. "It's a +mighty old dam, and has been threatenin' to give 'way fur the last ten +years. It's a big high one, too, and has a heap of timber in it. Just as +surely as that mass of stuff comes down the creek with a volume of +water behind it, this pier will go to pieces and down will come the +bridge." + +"Do you really think the dam will break?" asked Ned. + +"It's ten to one," was the reply. "They say the edges are giving way +now. You fellows had better get off the creek afore it's too late. Them +cockleshell boats won't stand much." + +With this warning the speaker climbed up the pier, followed by his +companion, and both disappeared in the bridge. The boys lifted their +paddles from the water and went swiftly on with the current for the time +being. + +"These rustics have exaggerated the danger, I'll bet anything," said +Randy. "If Honck's dam was going to break it would not have waited until +the flood was half way down." + +"I don't know about that," replied Ned. "The danger may be very real." + +He had given the dam some attention while the canoes were being carried +around it on the previous Wednesday, and he now remembered with secret +uneasiness that it was very high and rotten, and held in check a vast +volume of water. Terrible would be the consequences if this were +suddenly to be freed. + +"What are we going to do?" asked Nugget uneasily. + +"That man warned us to leave the creek, and he knew what he was talking +about." + +"We can't very well take his advice now," replied Ned, "for there is no +landing place in sight." + +"There is no use in stopping at all," exclaimed Randy, "if the object is +to wait for the dam to break. We might be detained for a week, and then +find that the dam was as strong as ever. And besides we could hear the +noise in time to get out of the way. All we need to do is keep our ears +open and look behind from time to time." + +"Even if the dam should break the chances are that with such a current +as this we could keep ahead of the flood," suggested Clay. "Don't you +think so, Ned?" + +"I'm afraid that's doubtful," replied. Ned. "At all events I don't think +I should care to run a race with the flood even on a start of half a +dozen miles. For the present we had better follow Randy's advice and +keep our eyes and ears open. If we find a suitable place I am in favor +of stopping for an hour or two. We are too near home to risk disaster." + +This arrangement was satisfactory to all except Nugget, and he made no +outward remonstrance. + +For the next two hours all went well, and mile after mile was swiftly +traversed. The boys kept in mid-channel so as to reap the fullest +advantage from the current. + +They looked back from time to time, but neither saw nor heard anything +alarming. The smooth yellow flood glided between the wooded banks with +scarcely a murmur. + +About midday the creek turned a sharp angle, and headed due north in a +straight course of fully half a mile. Beyond the steep hills that +terminated this stretch the boys could see the distant blue line of the +mountains. + +The fears of the morning had vanished, and all were in buoyant spirits. +The home-coming loomed brightly before them now, for with such a current +the Susquehanna would soon be reached. + +On the left hand side of the creek stretched a sloping hill, wooded for +a distance of two or three hundred yards as it receded from the water, +and then merging into open fields. On the right was a rugged cliff full +of limestone rocks and scrawly pine trees. + +The boys did not pay much attention to their surroundings, but when they +were nearly half way to the bend, Randy happened to glance toward the +left, and on the very crest of the hill, a good quarter of a mile from +the water, he saw a little white farmhouse. + +There was nothing in this to attract his attention, but as his gaze +lingered he saw a man come out on the porch and glance up the creek, +shading his eyes with his hand. Then he turned toward the house, and an +instant later two women and another man appeared and looked in the same +direction. + +This was growing interesting, and Randy called the attention of his +companions to the farmhouse. What happened next was stranger still. The +little group on the porch suddenly caught sight of the canoes far below +them, and one of the men darted quickly into the house. He reappeared a +second or two later with a shiny object in his hand, and placing it to +his mouth he blew a shrill discordant blast that echoed far over the +hills. + +He repeated this twice, and then all of the group began to shout and +wave their hands. + +The boys glanced at one another in amazement. What was the meaning of +such an idiotic performance? + +Suddenly Ned turned pale. + +"Great Scott!" he exclaimed. "The dam must have broken, and those people +can see the flood somewhere up the creek. They are warning us to get out +of the way." + +The boys instinctively turned to look behind, but the first glance +revealed no cause for alarm. + +"All right so far," cried Randy. "The current seems to be getting +swifter though, and I actually believe the water is rising." + +He had hardly spoken when Ned uttered a startled cry. "Look! look! there +it comes!" + +Around the sharp curve above swept a sloping volume of water, yellow +with mud and foam, black with timber and uprooted trees. It came on with +a rush and a swelling roar, and as the frightened boys watched it with +terrible fascination, a section of a wooden bridge painted red hove in +sight. + +The imminence of the danger drove the Jolly Rovers into a helpless +panic. Even Ned was frightened out of his self possession. + +The right shore was the nearest, and the boys paddled for it with +furious strokes, not remembering for an instant that it offered the +least chance of safety. The swift current whirled the canoes down stream +for nearly a hundred yards before it would suffer them to glide into the +calmer waters along the bank. + +Randy and Clay, being on the outer side, had more to overcome, and were +swept beyond their companions. Ned and Nugget drifted against a +precipitous wall of rock that rose twenty feet before its surface was +broken by the tree or brush. + +They looked hopelessly around them, vainly seeking a chance of escape, +while louder and louder in their ears sounded the hissing roar of the +oncoming flood. At the base of the cliff the water was already boiling +and tossing. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII + +AN UNDERGROUND CRUISE + + +"Paddle on, quick!" cried Ned in an agony of fear. "We may reach a break +in the cliff." + +Nugget, who was half a canoe's length in advance had sufficiently +presence of mind to obey. He paddled off with desperate strokes, and Ned +crowded him closely. + +A few yards down stream the wall of rock jutted out slightly and then +receded. As the canoes rounded this a great heaving wave--the vanguard +of the flood--tossed them high on its crest and cast them, like a stone +from a catapult, straight toward a black, semi-circular hole in the base +of the cliff. A furious current swept in the same direction, and even +had the boys realized the nature of this new peril they could have done +nothing to help themselves. + +Nugget dropped his paddle with a cry of terror and clutched the combing. +The next instant he shot into the gaping hole, scraping his cap from his +head by contact with the top, and disappeared from view. + +Ned was dazed by what he had just witnessed, and his turn came before he +realized it. He had hardly time to twist his paddle around longwise and +duck his head when the current sucked him under the cliff. He heard a +quick, grating noise, and then the dim gleam of light faded, leaving him +in utter darkness. + +The canoe pitched and tossed dizzily, and by the cold air that surged on +his face, and the spray that spattered him, Ned knew that he was moving +at rapid speed. Suddenly a cry rang in his ears with the sharpness of a +pistol shot and reverberated through the cavern. An instant later he +felt a violent concussion on the right, and reaching out his hand he +touched the combing of Nugget's canoe. + +He clung to it with all his might and managed to keep the two canoes +side by side as the current whirled them on through the darkness. + +Nugget was not aware of this at first, for he uttered another piercing +cry for help. It was impossible to carry on any conversation owing to +the confused booming noise made by the water, but Ned leaned to one side +and shouted at the top of his voice: "Cheer up, Nugget. I'm here beside +you. We'll find a way out of this." + +Nugget must have heard and understood, for he was silent after that. + +It was characteristic of Ned to cheer his companion. He was thoroughly +unselfish, and was always more concerned about others than himself. In +this case his consoling words meant nothing. He was still dazed by the +overwhelming calamity that had befallen him, and had not begun to +realize its extent. + +He remembered the lantern that was in the forward hatch and the match +safe in his pocket, but the former was out of reach and the latter was +on his right side. He could not get it with his left hand, and he was +afraid to trust the holding of the canoes to Nugget. So a light was out +of the question at the present time. + +The painful suspense of the next few minutes made them seem like hours. +The canoes whirled on and on with a dizzy swaying motion, but not the +faintest ray of light broke the intensity of the darkness. + +Ned cautiously thrust his paddle out to the left, and it struck +something hard with a ringing noise. He did not repeat the experiment +for fear of upsetting. + +All at once the roar of the water seemed to deepen, and the canoes +settled into a swift, steady rush that made the air fairly sing about +Ned's ears. What followed was never very clear to him afterward. He +remembered a dash of icy spray in his face, and then a terrible +collision that landed him somewhere on his hands and knees. + +He was stunned and dizzy for a little while, and when finally he +staggered to his feet his first thought was of Nugget. He called him by +name, and a hollow groan was the only reply. Even that was better than +silence, and with a trembling hand Ned drew out his match box and struck +a light. + +Both canoes lay upset at his feet, and between them was Nugget leaning +on his elbows with a very dazed expression on his face. + +Three more matches enabled Ned to right the Pioneer, procure his +lantern, and light it. Then, seeing that Nugget was uninjured, he +scrutinized his surroundings more closely. + +He understood at once what had happened. The underground stream made a +sharp curve at this point, and the force of the current had thrown the +canoes far out on a sandy beach. From above, the yellow flood came +roaring and tossing through a passage some twenty feet wide, and nearly +the same in height. Below the angle it plunged on under the same +conditions. + +The beach was about ten yards long, and sloped back half that distance +to a slimy wall of rock. On the opposite side of the stream the wall +fell sheer into the water, and overhead was a jagged roof that glittered +and sparkled in the rays of the lantern. + +Ned formed his own conclusions as to the nature of the place, and they +were not entirely unfavorable, for the speed and impetuosity of the +muddy stream had given him a good deal to think about. He dismissed his +reflections until a more favorable time, and placing the lantern on the +sand turned to Nugget, who was in a pitiable state of fright. + +"Are you hurt any, old fellow?" asked Ned, "or only a little stunned?" + +"Oh, I don't know, I don't know," moaned Nugget. "What awful place are +we in, Ned? It seems like a dream. I hardly remember what happened. And +where are Clay and Randy?" + +"I hope they are safe," replied Ned evasively. "In fact, I really think +they are, Nugget. They landed some distance below us, and no doubt found +a place to climb out before the flood caught them." + +"And what happened to us, Ned? Didn't the current drag us into a hole in +the cliff?" + +"Yes," said Ned, "that's it exactly, and we are now in an underground +cavern. Don't be alarmed," he added quickly, noting the sudden pallor on +his companion's face, "our situation is not so terrible after all. +Caverns of this sort are always found among limestone hills, and they +usually have two outlets. This one is no exception to the rule, and I'll +tell you why I think so. In the first place you must remember that the +creek was nearly four feet high before that dam broke. The extra volume +of water is what makes this terrific current through the cavern and the +very fact that the water goes on through without damming up proves to me +that it has an outlet. + +"When the creek is at its normal level I don't believe any water flows +into the cavern at all, and even with a four foot raise I don't think +much goes through. It was the first rush of the flood that carried us +into the hole. And now do you see what I am driving at? As soon as the +back water from Honck's dam has spent itself--and it can't take very +long--the stream in front of us will become shallow, and then all we +need to do is to follow it down to the outlet. It probably cuts across +some bend and re-enters the creek. And we have penetrated such a +distance from the mouth that the outlet can't be far away. I can't swear +to all this, Nugget, but I am pretty well convinced that I am right. A +very short time will settle the question one way or another." + +"I hope what you say will come true," replied Nugget dolefully. "This is +a horrible place to be in. It gives me the shivers to think of it. But +if all the water runs out, won't we have to leave our canoes behind?" he +added quickly. + +"We won't wait that long," said Ned. "Don't be downhearted. There is +surely a way out of this cavern, and we'll find it. Our situation might +be far worse than it is. We have matches and a lantern, and there are +crackers in my canoe." + +"Are there?" exclaimed Nugget eagerly. "I think I'll eat a few. You're +an awfully good fellow, Ned. I don't feel half as bad now." + +"It's a good sign to be hungry," replied Ned laughingly. He brought some +of the crackers, and both ate them as they sat side by side on the +sand. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV + +DESPAIR + + +In the course of an hour Ned's prediction began to be verified. The roar +of the flood ceased entirely, and the water receded from the beach until +the stream looked as shallow and quiet as a meadow brook. Ned waded +clear across to the opposite wall without going over his knees. + +"The flood from the dam has spent itself. I'm afraid we'll have to wade +through and pull the canoes after us. I can see shoals and ledges not +far below. I'll lead the way with the lantern." + +This proposition was far from pleasing to Nugget, but he uttered no +remonstrance. He had implicit faith in Ned by this time. + +The canoes were pulled into the water, and without delay the boys +started down the gloomy channel. They pushed the canoes ahead of them, +and in this way supported themselves and lessened the danger of +slipping. + +For a while they made fair progress and encountered but few shoals. The +stream was nowhere more than knee deep. + +Under these favorable circumstances Ned relaxed his caution, and the +consequence was that his feet slipped on the smooth stone, and down he +went into a pretty deep hole. The lantern fell from his hand was +extinguished, and the canoe shot ahead of him. + +Nugget's cry of alarm was the first thing that Ned heard when he +recovered his footing, and he found himself almost breast deep in water. +He was shivering with cold--and with something else as well, for he +realized the full meaning of the disaster, and for a moment he was sick +and faint. + +"I'm all right, Nugget," he shouted. "Stay where you are. Don't move a +foot." + +Then he waded cautiously forward until the channel was knee deep again, +and shaking the water from his hands as well as he could, he drew out +the precious match and struck a light. + +His canoe had lodged on a reef a few feet down stream, but the lantern +was gone beyond recovery. The situation was serious. Nugget's lantern +was in Randy's canoe, and worse than all, only four matches remained in +the box. + +"It's a bad fix," thought Ned; "but we must make the best of it. +Nugget," he added aloud, "push your canoe along the right side. I think +the water is shallow there." + +Nugget obeyed, and joined his companion without difficulty. + +"Have you any matches?" asked Ned. + +"Not a single one." Nugget went through his pockets to make sure, and +turned a shade whiter when he saw Ned's scanty stock, two of which were +already exhausted. + +"This is terrible," he exclaimed huskily. "What can we do now?" + +"Not very much," replied Ned. "Keep your spirits up, though; that's the +important thing. Here, take these, and burn one at a time." + +He handed the match box to Nugget, and quickly drew the canoes side by +side. He took a stout fishing line from his pocket and tied them +together at bow and stern. + +Then he rummaged the hatches in a vain search for something that would +burn. Even the paper that was around some of the bundles was damp from +spray and leakage. + +"Well, Nugget, we must make the best of it," he said. "All we can do is +to push on in the dark. Is that the last match?" + +"One left," answered Nugget dolefully, and heaved a long sigh. + +"Don't use it, then. It may come in handy later on. The situation is not +as bad as it looks. We can stick close together and push the canoes +ahead of us. In that way we won't run any risk of striking the wall. Of +course we can't move very rapidly, but our getting out of the cavern is +only a question of time." + +"I hope it won't take long," said Nugget. "A day or two of this would +drive me mad." + +Just then the match he was holding burnt to the end and fell in the +water. He restored the box to Ned, and taking hold of the canoes at the +stern ends, they moved slowly through the darkness. + +No words can adequately describe the suffering and thoughts of the two +lads during the next hour. Nugget could not repress an occasional +complaint, and even the stout hearted Ned felt at times as though he +must cry out. + +The fate of Clay and Randy weighed almost as heavily upon him as his own +misfortunes. He knew their chance of escape had been very slight, and he +feared they had not been able to take advantage of it. Little wonder +then that he looked forward with almost equal dread and joy to reaching +the end of the cavern. + +That ordeal, however, promised to be long delayed. It was a painfully +laborious task to accomplish even a snail-like progress through the dark +passage. + +What lay before them the boys could only imagine, and they constantly +feared some calamity. It was impossible to keep the canoes straight. +They veered to right and left, striking the rocky sides of the channel, +which actually seemed to be growing narrower. + +Every few moments they stuck fast on a shoal or submerged reef, and then +Ned had to feel his way to the front with his paddle, and dislodge them +by main force. The water was of variable depth, and half a dozen times +the boys suddenly plunged breast deep into a hole, but fortunately did +not let go of the canoes. + +At the end of an hour the situation was unchanged. As yet not a ray of +light was visible ahead. Ned cheered his companion with hopeful words, +and both struggled on and on, straining their eyes through the gloom to +catch the first glimpse of light. + +They felt that their powers of endurance would soon be spent. They were +intensely weary, and chilled to the bone by their dripping clothes. +Contact with the rocks had bruised their hands and feet, and every step +was a torture. + +At last the canoes grounded on some yielding surface and refused to +budge. Ned staggered forward and found their prows imbedded in what he +judged to be a bar of sand and gravel stretching across the channel. He +walked on a few steps to ascertain its width, and was amazed and +frightened by coming in contact with a solid wall of rock. + +"Come here, quick, Nugget!" he called hoarsely. + +Nugget waded alongside the canoes, and was soon on the bar. + +"What is it?" he cried. "Anything wrong?" + +For answer Ned took the last match from the little metal box, and +lighted it. + +As the little blaze flared up the boys looked curiously about them. One +brief glimpse revealed the awful truth. The sandy bar was in reality the +end of the passage. Beyond it rose a smooth, slimy wall, and overhead +was a low jagged roof dripping with moisture. The canoes lay in a quiet +pool of water that was as dead and void of current as a mill pond. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXV + +NUGGET DISCOVERS A LIGHT + + +The half-burned match fell from Ned's trembling fingers, and went out on +the sand. Then there was silence for nearly a minute--a terrible, +oppressive silence. + +It was broken by a sharp cry from Nugget that echoed far through the +cavern. He seized Ned by one arm and clung to him, trembling from head +to foot. + +"Is there no hope?" he wailed pitifully. "Must we stay in this awful +place until we die? I can't stand it, Ned, indeed I can't. Oh! do +something quick, won't you?" + +Ned was at a loss to reply. His own heart was full of misery and +despair. What word of comfort could he give his companion? Would it be +wise to give him any--to excite hopes that might never be realized? + +He put his arm about Nugget, and this seemed to comfort the lad a +little. + +"We will surely find a way to escape, Ned?" he asked in a calmer tone. +"Don't you think so?" + +"It shan't be our fault if we don't," returned Ned. "You must be brave, +Nugget--brave and patient. We are worn out and exhausted now, and must +have rest before we can do anything more." + +"I was awfully tired a minute ago," said Nugget, "but I feel now as +though I could push on all day if I was sure of finding the way out of +this cavern. Do you think we will have to go all the way back--to the +place we entered by, I mean?" + +"I hope that won't be necessary," replied Ned. "The simple truth is that +we have blundered into a side passage, that has no outlet. It can't be +very long since we got off the right track, for I remember the current +against my legs. We will go back after a while and find the turning." + +"In this pitch darkness?" exclaimed Nugget. + +"We will feel our way along the wall," said Ned, "and if the canoes are +in the road we'll abandon them. We won't start now though. Sit down and +take a good rest. You will need it." + +Nugget obediently climbed into his canoe, and Ned did the same. For a +long while they sat thus, side by side, without speaking. Ned's courage +was almost at the breaking point. In spite of his sanguine words he felt +that the chance were terribly adverse. Without a ray of light to guide +them it would be a difficult matter to find the main channel of the +stream again, and follow it to the outlet which must certainly exist. +There was danger of falling into deep holes, of striking sharp rocks, or +blundering into other side passages with which the cavern was doubtless +honeycombed. + +Oppressed with such sad reflections Ned let the time go by unheeded, +and at length, through very fatigue, he fell into a kind of doze. How +long he remained thus he did not know, but he was suddenly roused to +consciousness by a shrill cry from Nugget: + +"Look, Ned, a light! a light!" + +Ned first believed that his companion was either dreaming or in +delirium, but when he glanced along the passage he saw a yellow +flickering glare, and outlined against it a tall black figure. + +"It's a man with a torch," cried Ned hoarsely. + +"And he's going away from us," exclaimed Nugget, "call him, quick!" + +The boys made the cavern ring with loud shouts, and when a quick +response came they were almost frantic with joy. + +The torch was motionless for an instant. Then it came nearer and nearer, +casting a ruddy light on the slimy walls of the passage, until the boys +could see plainly the tall bearded man who carried it. + +"Found at last!" exclaimed the stranger in a cheery voice as he waded +out on the beach. "This will be good news for them other chaps." + +"Are our friends safe?" cried Ned eagerly. "Did they escape the flood?" + +"Yes," replied the man. "Didn't even get wet or lose their canoes. Come +right along now, an' I'll take you to them. I wouldn't let them enter +the cavern for fear of accidents. This ain't the time to explain things. +All that will come later. My name is Jonas Packer, an' I'm the man what +blowed that horn this morning when I seen you chaps down on the creek." + +In view of Mr. Packer's evident anxiety to get out of the cavern as soon +as possible the boys repressed their desire to ask more questions. Pain +and fatigue were forgotten as they entered the water and pushed the +canoes back along the passage. While their guide preceded them, holding +the blazing torch over his head. + +Five minutes later they reached the main channel, and turning a sharp +angle found themselves in swiftly running water once more. + +"This is where you boys got astray, I reckon," said Mr. Packer. "It's +good you sung out when you did, because I was going right on to the +front end of the cavern. I didn't think about this side pocket at the +time." + +"Are we near the rear end?" inquired Ned. + +"Purty close," was the reassuring reply. "You'll know when you come to +it." + +For half an hour longer the boys pushed on through the narrow winding +passage, finding the stream as rugged and full of difficulties as it had +been earlier in the day. With Mr. Packer's aid, however, they readily +skirted the deep pools and pulled the canoes over the obstructing ledges +and shallows. + +Then, somewhat to their consternation, they saw a jagged wall of rock +towering before them. This was undoubtedly the termination of the +cavern, but where was the outlet? + +"Hold this over your head and stay right here," said Mr. Packer, +handing Ned the torch. "I'll be with you in a minute." + +He waded toward the wall, pulling the canoes after him, until the water +was above his waist. Then, one at a time, he shot the canoes into a +long, low crevice at the base of the cliff, and they vanished with a +grating noise. + +He waded back to the boys and led them to a narrow strip of sand on the +right of the passage. Without a word he climbed nimbly up the rocks and +entered a circular hole where the space was so contracted that Ned and +Nugget had to bend almost double and hold their arms in front of them. + +They made several sharp turns, slipped down a slide of moist, sticky +clay--and emerged suddenly into the warm, sultry air of the outer world. + +A glad cry fell from the boys' lips. A few yards distant lay the surface +of the creek, and in the angle formed by the shore and a rocky hillside +that fell sheer to the water, was a snowy tent, and a campfire behind +it, and two slim figures standing in the flame light. The next instant +the Jolly Rovers were united, and with joy too deep for words they +clasped hands. + +Mr. Packer slipped quietly away, and jumping into a boat paddled after +the two canoes which had emerged from under the cliff a moment before, +and were now sliding swiftly down stream. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI + +HOME AGAIN + + +It was some time before the boys could talk coherently. A dry change of +clothes and the good supper their companions had prepared in readiness, +made Ned and Nugget feel pretty much like themselves again, and sitting +about the camp fire they told the thrilling story of their adventure. + +Then Clay and Randy related their escape from the flood, telling how +they had reached a break in the cliff--a steep, bushy slope--up which +they dragged their canoes in time to avoid the sudden deluge. + +The missing links were supplied by Jonas Packer. + +"I seen you two fellows shoot into the cavern," he said, "and as soon as +the flood went down a little, I took my boat and went across to the +other chaps, who were pretty badly scared about that time. Knowin' all +about the cavern, I relieved their minds a little and persuaded them to +paddle around the bend with me to the place where the cavern came out. +Then we all went inside and waited and waited for two or three hours, I +reckon. You see I kinder expected you boys to come straight through +without upsetting. + +"I was afraid then to wade up the channel for fear of more high water. +But when evening come, an' no signs of you yet, the thing began to look +serious. So I told those lads to h'ist the tent an' get supper +ready--more to cheer them than anything else--an' then I lit the pine +torch I'd brought along, and struck into the cavern, bent on going clear +through if I could, and the rest of my story you fellows know. It was a +narrow escape, I tell you." + +"It was the worst adventure I ever had," said Ned. "The time we were in +there seemed like days instead of hours. Is the cavern very long?" + +"Not more'n half a mile. It took you a good while to come through +though. It was about eight o'clock in the evening when I found you. You +see the cavern cuts straight under the hill, and enters the creek again +below the bend. To go around by land it's a good mile and a half. + +"In low water both ends of the cavern are high and dry, and you can go +all the way through on foot. Indian Cave is what they call it because +the Indians used to hide there more'n a hundred years ago." + +Mr. Packer related several interesting reminiscences of the cavern, +until he saw that the boys were getting sleepy. Then he left for home +promising to rig up a paddle in place of the one Nugget had lost, and +also to bring him an old hat. + +A few moments later the Jolly Rovers were sleeping soundly in the tent, +and the dying camp fire was gleaming on the muddy surface of the creek. +Tuesday was a clear, sunny day, but the boys decided to defer their +departure until the next morning. Ned and Nugget felt the need of a +little rest. + +After breakfast Jonas Packer returned, bringing quite a respectable +paddle on which he had been working since daybreak, and a broad brimmed +straw hat, which Nugget regarded as a very poor substitute for his trim +yachting cap. + +Harvest work required the good natured farmer's immediate return. The +boys parted from him with genuine regret, and only with the greatest +difficulty could they induce him to accept pay for the paddle--the very +least of the services he had rendered them. + +The greater part of the day was spent in furbishing up clothes and camp +equipments and scrubbing the collected dirt and scum of three weeks from +the decks and sides of the canoes. The boys realized that the cruise was +about ended, and they hoped by the aid of the high water and an early +start to reach home on the morrow. + +There was no longer any temptation to linger by the way, since the lower +reaches of the creek with which they had been familiar for some years +past, were only a few miles distant. The chief charm of canoeing is to +explore strange waters. + +The Jolly Rovers were up bright and early on Wednesday morning, and in +default of bread or crackers they made some cakes out of flour and +water, and relished them, too. It was a strange coincidence that the +provisions should have lasted just until this time. With the exception +of a little oatmeal the jars were quite empty. + +About half past seven the Pioneer led the way down stream, proudly +shaking the faded pennant to the breeze, and soon the mouth of Indian +Cave was far behind. The creek was now barely a foot above its normal +level, but this was quite sufficient to make a swift current, and the +mile after mile, bend after bend fell behind the flashing paddles of the +Jolly Rovers. + +At ten o'clock they reached the first familiar landmark--Roop's Dam--and +the home coming began to seem a reality indeed. The Susquehanna was six +miles distant as the crow flies, but almost thrice six by the snaky +curvatures of the channel down which they were making their way. + +Midway on the breast of the dam was lodged a section of the red bridge, +and it recalled vividly to the boys the circumstances under which they +had last seen it. + +They found an easy portage for the canoes, and were off again without +delay. While the sunny afternoon slowly lengthened they paddled on +through a now familiar country, passing Sporting Hill--a famous place +for bass--about four o'clock, and reaching Oyster's Dam--endeared by +many boyish memories--just an hour later. + +Another portage, and then away at full speed between wooded banks and +green islands, to the nail works dam, where the air rang to the clatter +of big hammers and pitchy black smoke was vomited skyward from huge +stacks. + +A brief dash through foaming shallows and rapids, with the hamlet of +Fairview on one side and the wooded bluffs of Bunker Hill on the other, +a swift glide into the shadows of the old Red Bridge--and then the +Jolly Rovers were on the broad bosom of the Susquehanna. They shouted +and laughed and waved their caps in the air for very joy. + +A mile across the tide were the upper suburbs of the city, and +diagonally down stream, three miles away, was the great yellow dome of +the capitol, and beyond it, faint in the golden haze of sunset, the +piers and spans of five mighty bridges, capped by clustered spires and +roofs. + +Soon the Jolly Rovers rounded the upper point of Independence Island and +paddled on by the city shores until the porch of Randy's boat house hove +in view. + +Ned was first to reach the float, and stepping out of his canoe he +seized the pennant and waved it aloft. "The cruise of the Jolly Rovers +is ended," he cried. "May we make another like it!" + +"And never a shorter one!" added Randy. "It will be four weeks on Friday +morning since we started." + +They give three loud cheers together, and with eager hands carried the +canoes into the boat house. Then they climbed to the top of the bank, +and marched homeward through the city with the proud step and mien of a +conquering army. Far more to be prized than spoils of victory were their +healthy, bronzed faces. + +And so the wonderful cruise came to an end--in one way at least, though +the memories of it will never be forgotten. Apart from its keen +enjoyments, and thrilling adventures, and the freshened vigor of health +that it imparted, the boys learned more than one lesson that will prove +of service in after life. From that time Randy was less self willed, and +better able to curb his temper, for his eyes had been opened to the +serious consequences that may result from these faults. + +Clay had learned to regard practical jokes and mocking words in a more +serious light than they had ever appeared to him before, while Nugget +was more self reliant and less timid after the rugged experiences he had +passed through. + +Even Ned--to whose constant cool headedness and knowledge of out door +craft the success of the cruise was mainly due--had profited by lessons +of patience and endurance. And he was happy--with that happiness which +comes to one who has benefitted his fellow man--in the consciousness +that he had helped Bug Batters to the commencement of a new and a better +life. + +The boys are yet far from the cares and responsibilities of manhood, and +they will probably make more than one cruise in the happy summer +vacations to come, but it is doubtful if brighter memories will ever +dim the cherished wealth of affection they feel for the faded pennant, +the scarred and battered paddles, and the water soaked log book, which +now hangs on the boathouse wall--mute mementoes of the time the Jolly +Rovers paddled down the winding waters of the Conodoguinet. + +THE END + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Canoe Boys and Campfires, by William Murray Graydon + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CANOE BOYS AND CAMPFIRES *** + +***** This file should be named 21888.txt or 21888.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/1/8/8/21888/ + +Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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