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diff --git a/26218.txt b/26218.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e60f0d2 --- /dev/null +++ b/26218.txt @@ -0,0 +1,8686 @@ +Project Gutenberg's The Young Oarsmen of Lakeview, by Ralph Bonehill + +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: The Young Oarsmen of Lakeview + +Author: Ralph Bonehill + +Release Date: August 8, 2008 [EBook #26218] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE YOUNG OARSMEN OF LAKEVIEW *** + + + + +Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + +[Illustration: THE TAR WAS READY FOR USE.] + +------------------------------------------------------------------------- + +THE YOUNG OARSMEN OF LAKEVIEW + +By +CAPT. RALPH BONEHILL. + +Author of +"Rival Bicyclists," "Leo, the Circus Boy," Etc. + +CHICAGO. +M. A. DONOHUE & CO. +407-429 DEARBORN ST. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------- + +CONTENTS + + CHAPTER PAGE + I. Jerry, Harry, and Blumpo. 5 + II. Mrs. Fleming's Runaway Horse. 12 + III. Jerry's Bravery. 18 + IV. Saving The Sloop. 24 + V. Harry Is Rescued. 30 + VI. The Single Shell Race. 37 + VII. Who Won the Shell Race. 42 + VIII. A Prisoner of the Enemy. 47 + IX. Tar And Feathers. 54 + X. What Towser Did. 60 + XI. Off for Hermit Island. 66 + XII. An Attack in the Dark. 72 + XIII. Jerry's Shot. 77 + XIV. The Hermit of the Island. 82 + XV. The Hermit's Secret. 88 + XVI. An Exciting Chase. 93 + XVII. Harry's New Yacht. 98 + XVIII. The Robbery of the Rockpoint Hotel. 107 + XIX. The Red Valise. 112 + XX. The Mishap to the Yacht. 117 + XXI. Words and Blows. 124 + XXII. Another Boat Race. 131 + XXIII. Jerry Starts on a Journey. 139 + XXIV. The Work of a Real Hero. 145 + XXV. A Fruitless Search. 152 + XXVI. Alexander Slocum is Astonished. 159 + XXVII. Jerry's Clever Escape. 164 + XXVIII. Something About a Tramp. 170 + XXIX. Mr. Wakefield Smith Again. 177 + XXX. An Unlooked for Adventure. 181 + XXXI. Nellie Ardell's Troubles. 186 + XXXII. A Crazy Man's Doings. 192 + XXXIII. The Little Nobody. 199 + XXXIV. Alexander Slocum Shows His Hand. 207 + XXXV. A Strange Disappearance 214 + XXXVI. Jerry Hears an Astonishing Statement. 221 + XXXVII. A Joyous Meeting. 228 +XXXVIII. Alexander Slocum is Brought to Book. 236 + XXXIX. Harry to the Rescue. 243 + XL. A Struggle in the Dark. 251 + XLI. A Last Race--Good-Bye to the Rival Oarsmen. 261 + +------------------------------------------------------------------------- + + + + +THE YOUNG OARSMEN OF LAKEVIEW. + +CHAPTER I. + +JERRY, HARRY, AND BLUMPO. + + +"I'll race you." + +"Done! Are you ready?" + +"I am." + +"Then off we go." + +Quicker than it can be related, four oars fell into the water and four +sturdy arms bent to the task of sending two beautiful single-shell craft +skimming over the smooth surface of the lake. + +It was a spirited scene, and attracted not a little attention, for both of +the contestants were well known. + +"Go it, Jerry! You can beat him if you try!" + +"Don't let him get ahead, Harry. Keep closer to the shore!" + +"How far is the race to be?" + +"Up to the big pine tree and back." + +"That's a full mile and more. I'll bet on Jerry Upton." + +"And I'll bet on Harry Parker. He has more skill than Jerry." + +"But Jerry has the muscle." + +"There they go, side by side!" + +And thus the talking and shouting went on along the lake front. Most of +the boys present were members of the Lakeview Boat Club, but there were +others of the town there, too, as enthusiastic as the rest. + +It was a clear, warm day in June. The summer holidays at the various +institutes of learning in the vicinity had just begun, so many of the lads +had nothing to do but to enjoy themselves. + +There were not a few craft out besides the two shells to which we have +drawn attention. But they drew out of the way to give the racers a free +field. + +On and on went Jerry and Harry until the big pine was reached. Then came +the turn, and they started on the home stretch side by side, neither one +foot ahead of the other. + +"It's going to be a tie race." + +"Pull, Harry! Let yourself out!" + +"Show him what you can do, Jerry!" + +Encouraged by the shouts of their friends, both boys increase their speed. +But the increase on both sides was equal, and still the boats kept bow and +bow as they neared the boathouse. + +"It's going to be a tie, sure enough." + +"Spurt a bit, Jerry!" + +"Go it for all you're worth, Harry!" + +Again the two contestants put forth additional muscle, each to out-distant +his opponent, and again the two row-boats leaped forward, still side by +side. + +As old Jack Broxton, the keeper of the boathouse, said afterward: "It +would have taken twelve judges, sitting twelve days, to have told which +had the advantage." + +The finishing point was now less than five hundred feet distant, and in a +few seconds more the race would be over. The crowd began to stop shouting, +almost breathless with pent-up interest. It was surely the prettiest race +that had ever been rowed on Otasco Lake. + +Splash! + +The splash was followed by a splutter, and then a frantic cry for help. A +portion of the high float in front of the boathouse had unexpectedly given +way, and a short, stocky, reddish-black youth had gone floundering over +board. + +"Blumpo Brown has gone under." + +"It serves him right for standing away out on the edge of the float." + +"Help! Help!" cried the youth in the water. "Hold on, Harry! Jerry, don't +run into me!" + +Alarmed by the cries, the two racers turned around, easing up on their +oars as they did so. A single glance showed them that the unfortunate one +was directly in their path. + +"We must stop!" cried Jerry Upton to his friend. + +"All right; call it off," responded Harry Parker. "It was a tie." + +As he finished, both shells drew up, one on either side of Blumpo Brown. +Each of the rowers offered the struggling youth a helping hand. + +Blumpo was soon clinging to Jerry's shell. He was dripping from head to +foot, and not being at all a handsomely-formed or good-looking youth, he +presented a most comical appearance. + +"It's too bad I spoiled the race," mumbled Blumpo. "But that's just +me--always putting my foot into it." + +"I guess you put more than your foot into it this time," was Harry's +good-natured comment, as he ran close up alongside. + +"Where shall I land you, Blumpo?" questioned Jerry Upton. + +"Anywhere but near the boathouse," returned Blumpo, with a shiver that was +not brought on entirely by his involuntary bath. "If you land me there the +fellows won't give me a chance to get out of sight." + +"I'll take you up the lake shore if you wish," said Jerry. "I intended to +go up anyway in a row-boat." + +"All right, Jerry, do that and I'll be much obliged to you," returned +Blumpo Brown. + +"You are going along, aren't you, Harry?" continued Jerry, turning to his +late rival. + +"Yes, I want to stop at Mrs. Fleming's cottage," replied Harry Parker. + +In a moment more Harry had turned his shell over to old Jack Broxton and +had leaped into a row-boat. + +"Ain't you fellows going to try it over again?" asked several on the +shore, anxiously. + +"Not now," returned Jerry. Then he went on to Harry, in a lower tone: "I +didn't expect to make a public exhibition of our little trial at speed, +did you?" + +"No; not at all. It was a tie, and let it remain so." + +Jerry soon left his shell; and then four oars soon took the row-boat far +away from the vicinity of the shore; and while the three boys are on their +way up the lake, let us learn a little more concerning them, especially as +they are to form the all-important characters of this tale of midsummer +adventures. + +Jerry Upton was the only son of a well-to-do farmer, whose farm of one +hundred acres lay just beyond the outskirts of Lakeview, and close to the +lake shore. Jerry was a scholar at the Lakeview Academy, and did but +little on the farm, although among the pupils he was often designated as +Cornfield. + +Harry Parker was the oldest boy in the Parker family, which numbered two +boys and four girls. Harry's father was a shoe manufacturer, whose large +factory was situated in Lakeview, and at which nearly a fourth of the +working population of the town found employment. + +It had been a singular incident which had brought the two boys together +and made them firm friends. Both had been out skating on the lake the +winter before, when Harry had lost his skate and gone down headlong +directly in the track of a large ice-boat, which was coming on with the +speed of a breeze that was almost a hurricane. + +To the onlookers it seemed certain that Harry must be struck and killed by +the sharp prow of the somewhat clumsy craft. But in that time of extreme +peril Jerry had whipped up like a flash on his skates, caught Harry by the +collar, and literally flung himself and the boy, who was then almost a +stranger to him, out of harm's way. + +This gallant deed of courage had been warmly applauded by those who saw +it. It also came to Mr. Parker's ears, and from that time on the rich shoe +manufacturer took an interest in the farmer boy. He persuaded Mr. Upton to +allow Jerry to attend the academy, and promised that the boy should have a +good position in the office of the factory, should he wish it, when his +school days were over. + +Harry was already a pupil at the academy, and it was here that the two +boys became warm friends. It was nothing to Harry that Jerry was a +farmer's boy and that he was sometimes called Cornfield. He knew and +appreciated Jerry for his true worth. + +And now what of Blumpo Brown, you ask? There is little to tell at this +point of our story concerning that semi-colored individual. He was alone +in the world, and had lived in Lakeview some ten years. Previous to that +time his history was a mystery. Where he had come from no one knew, and if +the truth was to be made known, no one but Blumpo himself cared. He was a +very peculiar youth, often given to making the most ridiculous remarks, +and many persons around Lakeview fancied he had considerable Indian blood +in him. He lived in half a dozen places, according to the condition of his +finances, and picked up his precarious existence by working for any one +who would employ him. He might have had a steady situation more than once, +but it was not in Blumpo's composition to stick at one thing for any great +length of time. We will learn much more concerning him as our story +proceeds. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +MRS. FLEMING'S RUNAWAY HORSE. + + +"Well, now that the midsummer holidays have really commenced, what do you +intend to do with yourself, Jerry?" asked Harry, as they took it easy for +a bit after leaving the vicinity of the town. + +"I expect I'll have to help on the farm--at least, I think I ought to +help," was the reply. "You know this is the busy season." + +Harry's face fell a little at this reply. Evidently something was on his +mind, and this answer did not harmonize with it. + +"I'll tell you what I would like mighty well," put in Blumpo. "I would +like to leave town and take to the woods." + +"Why, Blumpo, you must have been reading my thoughts!" cried Harry. "I was +thinking exactly the same thing." + +"Take to the woods?" repeated Jerry. "What do you mean? Clear out from +home entirely?" + +"No, no," laughed Harry. "I mean to go off for a while--say, two or three +weeks or a month. Sail up the lake and camp out, you know." "Oh!" Jerry's +face took on a pleased look. "I would like that myself, especially if we +could go fishing and swimming whenever we wanted to." + +"I've had it in my mind for several days," Harry continued, slowly. "I was +going to speak of it yesterday, but I didn't get the chance." + +"You mean you want me to go with you?" asked Jerry. + +"Yes. Don't you think your folks would let you?" + +"They might. Who else would go along, do you think?" + +"I haven't thought of any one else. We might ask--" and Harry hesitated in +thought. + +"What's the matter with asking me?" put in Blumpo, with a serenity that +took away the lack of politeness in his remark. "I'm just as tired of +Lakeview as anybody." + +Harry burst out laughing. The idea of asking Blumpo had never once entered +his mind. + +"It ain't nothing to laugh at," went on Blumpo, half angrily. + +"Excuse me, Blumpo," said Harry, stopping short. "I--that is--I wasn't +thinking of you when I made the remark." + +"I'm not rich, nor eddicated, as you call it, and all that, but I can hunt +and fish, and so on, as good as the next feller, can't I?" + +"You certainly can," put in Jerry, who had for a long time had a strange +liking for the homeless youth. + +"And I am as willing as the next one to do my full share of camp +work--washing dishes and the like," went on Blumpo. "You ain't cut out for +that," he added, turning to the son of the rich shoe manufacturer. + +"Maybe not, but I reckon I can do my full share of work," laughed Harry. +"I was not brought up with kid gloves on, you know." + +"One thing is certain," mused Jerry. "I wouldn't want to leave until I had +rowed that race with Si Peters from Rockpoint." + +The race to which Jerry referred was one to take place on the following +Saturday. Silas Peters was considered the best single-shell oarsman on the +lower side of the lake, and he had challenged Jerry as a representative +from the Lakeview Academy. + +"You'll win that race, suah," put in Blumpo. "I'll bet my hat on it." + +As Blumpo's hat was of straw and full of holes, this made both Jerry and +his friend burst into a fit of laughter. + +"I don't mean this hat. I mean my Sunday-go-to-meetin' one," said the +homeless youth, hastily. + +"Blumpo, on your honor, did you ever own two hats at once?" asked Harry +gravely. + +"Well, since you buckle me down, no," was the low reply. "What's the use? +Can't wear but one at a time." "That's as true as you live," returned +Jerry. + +The three boys talked over the subject of an outing for some time. All +thought it a glorious idea, and Jerry said he would go if he possibly +could. + +All this time Jerry and Harry were rowing up the lake at a moderate rate +of speed. Jerry loved the water, and spent nearly all of his spare time in +the vicinity of the lake. + +Presently Harry grew tired and Blumpo took his place at the oars. + +"Here comes the Cutwater!" cried Harry, a few minutes later. + +The Cutwater was a large sloop owned by one of the gentlemen living in +Lakeview. As she came past, those in the row-boat noticed several young +ladies on board, who were sailing the boat under directions of a young man +named Clarence Conant. + +Clarence had but little idea how a boat should be managed, and as the +sloop went by Harry's face grew troubled. + +"Jerry, what do you think of that?" + +Jerry stopped rowing for a moment to look at the sloop. + +"A good lot of sail up, especially if it should blow up stronger," he +said. + +"Just what I think." + +"That Clarence Conant don't know nuffin' about sailing," snorted Blumpo +Brown. "The ladies better beware how they go out with him." + +"I agree with you, Blumpo," said Jerry, gravely. + +The sloop now disappeared from sight around a turn in the lake at which +several islands were situated. + +A few minutes later the row-boat drew up to a small dock at the end of a +well-kept garden. + +This was Mrs. Fleming's place, where Harry intended to stop on an errand +for his mother and father. + +He sprang on the dock and hurried toward the house, saying he would not be +gone more than five minutes. + +The two boys waited for him to return, and during the interval Jerry +caught sight of the Cutwater up the lake and watched her progress with +interest. The wind was getting stronger and the sloop carried more sail +than was good for her. Soon she again disappeared, and Jerry turned toward +the house, wondering what kept Harry so long. + +"Must have been invited to lunch," was Blumpo's comment. "Pity he didn't +ask us in, too." + +"No, he wouldn't stay and leave us here," replied Jerry, "Most +likely--hullo!" + +Jerry sprang up in the row-boat in amazement. Down the garden path leading +from the front of the house to the dock came a beautiful black horse on a +gallop. On the animal's back sat a little girl not more than eight years +of age. The horse was running away with her, and she was clingling tightly +to his mane. + +"Oh, John, stop him!" she screamed. + +"Whoa, Banker, whoa!" shouted a man who came running after the animal. + +But the horse, a nervous creature, was frightened over something and would +not stop. + +He clattered on the dock, and the next instant went over into the lake +with a loud splash, carrying the little girl with him. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +JERRY'S BRAVERY. + + +Blumpo was so scared by the accident that he uttered a short yell. + +"Fo' the lan' sake," he moaned, in a shaking voice. + +The horse disappeared from sight for a brief space of time and then came +up and began to churn the water madly in an endeavor to save himself from +drowning. + +The little girl was nowhere to be seen. + +"She'll be drowned," thought Jerry, with rising horror. + +At that moment a lady rushed from the house, followed by Harry. It was +Mrs. Fleming. + +"My child! my child!" she shrieked. "Save my Cora!" + +Jerry waited to hear no more. At that moment the head of the little girl +appeared directly by the horse's side, and he made a clever dive from the +row-boat and came up close to the child. + +The girl was so bewildered that she simply beat the water in a helpless +fashion, and this frightened the horse still more. Swimming up behind the +little one, Jerry caught her under the arms. It was a perilous thing to +do, for Jerry was in great danger of having his brains dashed out by one +of the horse's hoofs. + +"Good for you, Jerry!" shouted Harry. + +"Look out for the hoss!" shouted the man. "He'll kick you if he can!" + +As rapidly as he could, Jerry swam out of the mad animal's reach. It was +difficult with the struggling girl in his arms, but at last he +accomplished it, and willing hands helped him to the dock. + +"My Cora! my Cora! is she dead?" cried Mrs. Fleming. + +"No, she is more frightened than hurt," returned Jerry. "Let us take her +to the house." + +But before he could go a step, Mrs. Fleming clasped her girl in her arms +and led the way. + +Anxious to be of assistance, Jerry followed the lady, while Harry, Blumpo, +and the hired man tried to rescue the horse, who was very valuable despite +his nervousness. + +A noose was made at the end of a rope, and this was thrown over the +animal's neck. Then the horse got one foot through the noose, and in this +fashion they towed him to a spot where it was easy for him to wade out +without assistance. + +The hired man was very much put out, for it was his fault that the horse +had run away. He led the animal around to the barn and gave him a good +rubbing down. + +Harry started for the house and met Jerry coming out. + +"How is Cora?" + +"She's all right. Come on," and Jerry brushed on toward the row-boat. + +"Why, what's your hurry, Jerry?" + +The young oarsman blushed. + +"Oh, I hate to stand around and receive thanks," he said. "Mrs. Fleming +wants to make a first-class hero of me and I----" + +"And that's just what you are," cried Harry. + +"Indeed he is," added Blumpo. + +"Nonsense!" Jerry brushed them to one side. "Come on!" and he made a run +for the row-boat, and the others were compelled to follow. + +"But your clothing is all wet," insisted Harry, when they were seated in +the craft. + +"So is Blumpo's," returned Jerry. + +"I'se most dry, the sun is that warm," remarked the homeless youth. + +"I don't mind the wetting a bit," said Jerry. "Rowing will keep me warm +and the sun will dry me off quick enough." + +"You're a regular water dog, anyway," laughed Harry. He could not help but +admire Jerry's modesty in running away from Mrs. Fleming as soon as it was +ascertained that little Cora was all right. On and on up the lake the boys +went. Inside of half an hour they came to a sheltered nook on one of the +numerous islands. + +"I move we take a swim," said Harry. + +"Second de emotion," said Blumpo, and before Jerry could say a word the +homeless youth was running about as if in the savage wilds. + +It did not take Jerry and Harry long to disrobe. The plunge into the water +was very pleasant, and they remained in bathing until Jerry's clothing, +spread out on the top of a number of bushes, was thoroughly dry. + +In the meanwhile Jerry and Harry raced to another island and back. Jerry +came out first, with Harry four yards behind. + +The swim over, they dressed, and, after picking several handfuls of +berries, which grew on the island in profusion, they once more embarked in +the row-boat. + +"Time to get back, boys," said Jerry. "I promised to be home before +dark." + +"So did I," said Harry, "and we have several miles to go." + +"It don't make no difference to me when I git back," remarked Blumpo, +dolefully. + +"Don't worry, Blumpo. Think of the good time we are going to have when we +go camping," said Jerry. + +"And I must ask father for a regular situation for you when we come back +from our outing," added Harry. + +"Will you?" and the homeless boy's face brightened. + +The wind had been increasing steadily, and now it blew so strongly that +the whitecaps were to be seen in every direction. + +"We're going to have no easy time getting back," said Jerry, with an +anxious look on his manly face. "Maybe we may be caught in a hurricane." + +"It's hot enough," returned Harry. "Such oppressive heat generally means +something." + +A mile was covered, and then the wind began to send the flying spray in +every direction and filled the row-boat's bottom with water. + +"Wet again!" laughed Jerry, grimly. "Never mind." + +"Blumpo, you had better bail out the boat," said Harry. He was as wet as +the rest, but did not grumble. + +While the homeless youth bailed out the water with a dipper they had +brought along, Jerry and Harry pulled at the oars with all their remaining +strength. Another mile was passed. But now it was blowing a regular +hurricane and no mistake. + +"We'll go to the bottom, suah!" groaned Blumpo dismally. + +"Not much!" shouted Jerry. "Keep on bailing." "Look! look!" yelled Harry +at that moment, and pointed over to the centre of the lake. + +There, beating up in the teeth of the wind in the most hap-hazard manner, +was the Cutwater. Evidently Clarence Conant was nearly paralyzed with +fear, for he had almost lost control of the craft. + +"Those ladies on board are worse off than we," went on Harry. + +"That's so," replied Jerry. + +But the words were hardly out of his mouth when there came an extra puff +of wind. It sent the Cutwater almost over on her side, and threw a +monstrous wave into the row-boat. + +The smaller craft could not stand the wind and waves, and with a lurch, +she sank down and went over, dumping all three of the youths into the +angry lake. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +SAVING THE SLOOP. + + +It was no pleasant position to be in. The three lads had been cast so +suddenly into the angry waters that for the moment they could not +comprehend the situation. + +Then Blumpo let out a yell of terror. + +"Save me! De boat has gone down!" + +He was wrong, however, for a second later the row-boat bobbed up, less +than four yards off. + +"This way!" shouted Harry to his companions, but the wind fairly drowned +his voice. He swam toward the upturned craft, and Blumpo and Jerry were +not slow in following it. + +Hardly had they reached it when a new peril confronted them. The Cutwater +was bearing directly down upon them. With every sail set, she was in the +very act of cutting them to pieces! + +"Look! look!" yelled Harry. "We are doomed!" + +"My gracious!" moaned Blumpo. + +On and on came the sloop, with gigantic bounds over the whitecaps. +Clarence Conant seemed utterly powerless to stay her course, or steer her +to the right or left. + +The young ladies on board with him huddled in a heap near the tiny cabin, +their faces white with terror. + +It was truly a thrilling moment. + +Of the entire crowd Jerry was the only one to keep perfectly cool. + +He was astride the row-boat, directly in the centre of the bottom, and it +seemed as if the prow of the Cutwater must strike him in a second more. + +"Every one dive under!" he called out, and went overboard like a flash. + +For a wonder Harry and Blumpo promptly followed suit. + +Crash! + +The row-boat was struck and stove in completely. + +The Cutwater was quite a good sized craft, and though the force of the +collision did not damage her to any extent, it checked her progress +considerably. + +Jerry went down and down. He made a long dive, and when he came up it was +within a yard of the sloop's rudder. + +Before another boy would have had time to think, the boy who so loved the +water made up his mind what to do. He made a mighty leap and caught hold +of the rudder end ere the Cutwater could get beyond his reach. It was hard +work to hang on, as the sloop bobbed up and down with every wave, and the +rudder, being beyond control, swayed from side to side. + +But Jerry was both plucky and full of grit. He clung fast, and, watching +his chance, climbed up to the stern and leaped on the deck. + +A brief glance showed him the cause of the present trouble. Clarence +Conant was actually too much frightened to lower the sails. He had started +to act and got a rope twisted, and then, overcome with fear, had allowed +the matter to go while he clung to the bow in despair. + +"You confounded coward!" cried the young oarsman. "You ought to have known +better than to go out on anything bigger than a duck pond." + +He sprang to the halyards, and soon the main-sail came down with a bang. +The jib followed. There was no time to attend to the sails more than +this. + +Jerry looked around anxiously for Harry and Blumpo, but for a long while +could see nothing of them. + +"Look here," demanded Clarence Conant, recovering his composure, now the +greatest of the danger was over. "What--ah--do you mean by talking to me +in this fashion?" + +"I mean just what I say," retorted Jerry. "You had no right to take these +young ladies out and expose them to such peril." "The--ah--hurricane took +me by surprise," was the dude's lame excuse. + +"I am very thankful to you, Jerry Upton," cried Dora Vincent, the oldest +and prettiest of the girls on board. + +"And so am I." + +"And I." + +"Thank you," replied the boy, blushing. "But now is no time to talk. Which +of you will take the tiller, if I tell you exactly what to do?" + +"I can--ah--take the tiller," interposed Conant, haughtily. + +"You won't touch it!" cried the young oarsman, sternly. + +"Why, boy, what do you mean? Do you--ah--" + +"Sit down! If you dare to stir I'll pitch you overboard!" + +Overcome with a new terror, the dude collapsed. He was hatless, the curl +was out of his mustache and hair, and altogether he looked very much +"washed out." + +He sank down near the bow, and it was well that he did so, for just then +came an extra heavy blast of the gale. + +"Hold hard, every one!" yelled Jerry. "Perhaps you ladies had better go +into the cabin," he added. + +"I am to take the tiller, you know," said Dora Vincent. "Well, then, let +the others go. We can work along better with a clear deck." + +So while Dora went aft, the others crawled into the cabin, or cuddy. Under +pretense of seeing after their comfort, Conant crawled after them. + +"Now I will tell you just how to move the tiller," said Jerry to Dora +Vincent. + +"All right, I am ready," responded the brave girl. + +Now that she had Jerry with her, and knowing he was well acquainted with +boats, she felt that she was safe, no matter how bad the storm might prove +itself. + +After giving the girl some instructions Jerry hoisted the main-sail a few +feet only. The sloop then swung around and moved in a beating way against +the storm. + +Jerry wished to learn what had become of his companions. He was fearful +that they had been drowned. + +It took quite some time to reach the vicinity where the accident had +occurred, and even then but little was to be seen through the driving +rain. + +"Hullo, Harry! Blumpo!" he called out. + +No answer came back and he repeated the cry a dozen times. Then he fancied +he heard a response directly ahead. The sloop was moved cautiously in the +direction, and presently they saw Blumpo clinging to part of the shattered +row-boat. "Sabe me! sabe me!" yelled the youth. "Don't let me drown, +Jerry." + +"Catch the rope, Blumpo!" cried Jerry in return, and threw forward the end +of a coil. + +Blumpo clutched the rope eagerly, and then it was comparatively easy to +haul him on board. + +"Praise de Lawd!" he muttered fervently as he came on deck. "I t'ought I +was a goner, suah!" + +"Where is Harry?" + +"I can't tell you, Jerry." + +"You haven't seen him since we jumped from the row-boat?" + +"No." + +The young oarsman's face grew sober. What if their chum had really gone to +the bottom of Lake Otasco? It would be awful to tell Harry's parents that +their son was no more. + +"We must find him, dead or alive, Blumpo. Take the tiller from Miss +Vincent, and we'll cruise around, with our eyes and ears wide open," said +Jerry, with determination. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +HARRY IS RESCUED. + + +"I can stay on deck, can't I?" asked Dora, as she turned the tiller over +to the homeless youth. + +"If you wish. But be very careful when the sloop swings around," replied +Jerry. "You did very well," he added. + +Dora smiled at this. Then she went forward and settled down, in spite of +the rain, to help look for Harry Parker, whose folks she knew fairly +well. + +The Cutwater was put on a different track, and they began to move across +the lake, it being Jerry's idea to cross and recross at a distance of +every six or seven hundred feet. + +Twice did they come close to each shore without seeing anything of Harry. + +"Gone down, suah's you're born!" said Blumpo, and the tears started out of +his big, honest eyes. + +"I am afraid so," returned Jerry, "and yet--hark!" + +He put up his hand and all were instantly on the alert. The wind had gone +down somewhat, and from a distance came a low cry. "It's Harry's!" said +Jerry. "Hullo, Harry!" he yelled, with all the power of his lungs. + +He waited, and an answering cry came back from toward the center of the +lake. It was very weak, showing that Harry was almost exhausted. + +The course of the sloop was instantly changed, and they strove to reach +the spot before the boy should go down. + +Jerry was the first to see the form floating about amid the whitecaps. + +"Keep up, Harry!" he called encouragingly. "We will soon have you on +board." + +"I can't keep up any longer," gasped his chum. "I am played out." And +throwing up his arms, Harry disappeared. + +Tying the end of a long rope about his waist, Jerry leaped overboard. He +struck the spot where Harry had gone down and felt in every direction for +his chum. + +His hand touched an arm, and then he held Harry fast and brought him to +the surface. The poor boy was too weak to make the first movement. + +"Haul in on the rope, Blumpo!" called Jerry. + +Turning the tiller over to Dora Vincent, the homeless youth did as +directed. + +Jerry, with his burden, was soon brought alongside. + +It was no easy matter to hoist Harry on deck in the storm, but at last it +was accomplished, and Jerry followed his charge. + +Harry was unconscious, and he was taken to the cabin, where Dora and the +other girls did all in their power for him; and then the Cutwater was +headed for Lakeview, two miles distant. + +The hurricane, or whatever it might be called, had by this time spent +itself. The rain ceased and before the lake town came into view the sun +shone once more as brightly as ever. + +Clarence Conant came on deck looking very much annoyed. He felt that he +had played the part of a coward, and knew he would have no easy time of it +to right himself in the eyes of the young ladies. + +"The--ah--truth is, I was very sick," he explained to Jerry. "I got +a--ah--spasm of the--ah--heart." + +"Sure it wasn't a spasm in your great toe?" said Jerry, with a grin. + +But Clarence never smiled. It would not have been good form, you know. + +As soon as the dock was reached, Jerry left Blumpo to tie up and went to +Harry. He found his chum able to sit up. He was very weak, but that was +all. + +"It was a close call for me, Jerry," said Harry, with a shudder. "I owe +you my life." + +"It was a close call all around," replied our hero. "We can be thankful +that we are here safe and sound." Harry felt too weak to walk, so a +carriage was called to take him home. Jerry went with him, while Blumpo +went over to the grocery store to tell of all that had happened. + +Clarence Conant was utterly left. He tried to excuse himself to Dora +Vincent and the other young ladies, but they would have nothing to do with +him. + +"The next time I go out it will be with somebody who can manage a boat, +and who is brave enough to do it, even in a storm," said Dora, and walked +away with her lady friends. + +"Beastly bad job, beastly!" muttered Clarence to himself. "And my best +sailor suit utterly ruined, too! Oh, why did that storm have to come up on +us?" + +But this was not the end of the matter for the dude. + +The row-boat that had been smashed was a valuable one belonging to the +Lakeview Boat Club. They did not care to lose the cost of it, and so +called on Conant to pay for the same. + +At first he refused, but when they threatened arrest he weakened. It took +nearly three weeks of his salary to square accounts, and then the young +man was utterly crushed. He never went sailing again. + +It did not take Harry long to recover from the effects of his outing on +the lake. Inside of a week he was as well as ever. Blumpo took good care +to tell every one of all that had happened, and on every side Jerry was +praised for his daring work in saving the Cutwater and his chum. + +We have spoken of the match to take place between Jerry and Si Peters of +Rockport. This was postponed for two weeks on Si's account. + +Si Peters was a tall overgrown youth of eighteen, and was generally +considered to be the best oarsman on the lake. + +Consequently, when a match was arranged by the clubs to which they +belonged between the pair it was thought, even by many Lakeview people, +that Si Peters would win. + +Si had one great advantage over Jerry. His father was rich, while Jerry's +father was poor. Consequently, while Jerry had to help on the farm during +idle hours Si Peters could go out and practice, and, thus get himself in +perfect condition. + +It was this fact that made Si think he was going to have an easy time +defeating Jerry. + +But, unknown to him, Jerry got more time than he thought. Harry was +anxious to have his chum win, and spoke to his father about it. + +Now, Mr. Parker and Si Peters' father were not on good terms, and the +former readily agreed to a plan Harry proposed. + +"Mr. Upton," he said one evening, when he met Jerry's father down in the +town, "I would like to hire Jerry to work for me every afternoon for a +couple of weeks." + +"All right, Mr. Parker," said Jerry's father, promptly. "When do you want +him to come?" + +"To-morrow, if he can. I'll pay you five dollars a week." + +"Very well. You can pay Jerry." + +So it was settled, and every afternoon the young oarsman went over to the +Parker place, which bordered on the lake. + +Here Jerry would practice in secret in a little cove seldom visited by any +boats. + +As the time grew close for the race between Jerry and Si Peters the boat +clubs began to bet on their favorites. + +So sure were the Rockpointers that they would win, that they gave the +Lakeview people heavy odds. + +Together the two clubs put up as a trophy a silver cup, which later on +would be engraved with the name of the winner. + +Of course, Jerry's father soon found out what his son was doing. + +But he would not break his bargain with Mr. Parker, and so let Jerry +practice every afternoon, feeling sure that Jerry would not take the money +the rich manufacturer had offered. + +"You will win," said Harry, confidently. "I shall try my best," returned +Jerry. + +Si Peters and his friends smiled broadly whenever they came over to +Lakeview. + +"Jerry Upton won't be in it after the first quarter," said they. + +The race was to be a mile, half a mile each way, the turning point being a +well-known rocky island scarcely fifty feet in diameter. + +Jerry kept at his practice steadily until the great day for the race +arrived. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +THE SINGLE SHELL RACE. + + +The race had been spoken of so much that Lakeview presented a holiday +appearance. + +All those who could, crossed over from Rockpoint, and many came from other +places. + +The lake was crowded with craft of all sorts, and even standing room along +the shore was at a premium. + +Even Farmer Upton grew interested. + +"You must win that race, son," he said. "Not only for your own sake, but +for the sake of the whole Lakeview district." + +And this made Jerry more determined to win than ever. + +The race was not to come off until three o'clock in the afternoon. In the +meanwhile there were half a dozen other contests, in which, however, the +masses took but small interest. + +While one of these contests was going on, and Jerry was in the dressing +room of the boathouse putting on his rowing rig, Harry came in excitedly. +"Jerry, you want to be on your guard," he said in a low tone, so that +those standing about might not hear. + +"On guard? How?" + +"Against Si Peters." + +"I don't understand." + +"From what I have overheard, I imagine there is a plot on foot to make you +lose the race." + +"What sort of a plot?" + +"I can't say." + +The young oarsman gazed at his chum in perplexity. + +"What have you heard? I don't know what to make of this." + +"You know Wash Crosby?" + +"Yes. He is Si Peters' toady." + +"Well, I heard him tell Browling that it was a dead sure thing Si would +win." + +"That might have been mere blowing." + +"No. Browling thought so, too, but then Crosby whispered in his ear. At +once Browling's face took on a look of cunning. + +"'Can you do it?' he asked, and Crosby said he could. + +"Then Browling said he would put out his money on Si, if he could find +anyone to bet. You know the whole crowd is rich." + +"Yes, and I know another thing!" exclaimed Jerry suddenly. "I fancy I can +see through their plan." "What?" + +"Crosby owns a steam launch, you know." + +"I do." + +"What is to prevent him from running the launch so that I shall get all +the swash? It would make me lose a quarter minute or more, and perhaps +upset me." + +"Jiminey crickets! I believe you are right!" whispered Harry. + +"Did they mention the steam launch?" + +"They did. Browling said he would go and take a look at her." + +"Then that is what the plot is, you may be sure of it. You ought to be +able to stop them, Harry. You are going to be on your uncle's naptha +launch." + +"I will! If they get too close to you I'll boathook them and pull them +off!" cried Harry. + +"Good for you." + +"But beware, Jerry, the plot may not be that after all." + +"I'll keep my eyes open," replied the young oarsman. + +A minute after this Harry went off. + +Then Jerry, having donned his rowing outfit, was surrounded by the other +members of the club. His shell was inspected and found in perfect +condition. It had been guarded carefully, and now the club members did not +dare to let their eyes off of it. + +"Bring me my blades, please," said Jerry, and they were at once brought +from the locker. + +He began to examine them from end to end. Suddenly he uttered a cry. + +"Boys, look here!" + +"What's up, Jerry?" + +"This one has been strained and cracked. An extra hard pull on it, and it +would give out." + +A murmur arose. + +"Who did this?" + +"Some enemy wants Jerry to lose, sure!" + +How the blade had got into that condition was a mystery. + +But now was no time to speculate on the affair. A new set of blades must +be procured at once. + +Luckily there was a pair belonging to a private party to be had. They were +just the same size and weight. + +"I would rather have my own, but I'll make these do, and beat them in +spite of all," said Jerry. + +At a given signal six of the boat club boys marched down the float +carrying Jerry's shell, which had been polished and oiled until it shone +like a mirror. + +With a faint splash the shell dropped into the water. Then Jerry ran down +and stepped in. His feet were "locked," and the oars were handed over. + +[Illustration: THE SINGLE SHELL RACE.] + +"Hurrah for Jerry Upton!" + +"He's the boy to win!" + +"Hurrah for Si Peters!" + +"Jerry won't be in it with Si!" + +"He will!" + +"Never!" + +And so the talking and the shouting ran on. + +Meanwhile Si Peters had emerged from the landing at a private boathouse +some distance up the lake shore. + +He received a hearty shout as he moved slowly over to the starting point. + +Si Peters won the choice of positions, and, of course, took the inside. + +The race should have been a mile straightway, but the original challenge +which led to the race had been for a half mile going and the same coming. + +Soon the two boys were in position. + +"Ready?" + +There was a dead silence. + +Bang! + +They were off! Both boys caught the water at the same instant. Each pulled +a long but quick stroke. Ten yards were covered, and they remained side by +side. + +"Pull, Si!" + +"Go it, Jerry!" + +Like two clocks, so far as regularity went, the two contestants bent their +backs and pulled with might and main. + +One thing was certain, unless something happened, it would be a close +race. + +But now the Lakeview boys were getting wild. + +"See Jerry! He is gaining." + +"Jerry is five feet and more in the lead!" + +It was true. Slowly but surely our hero was forging ahead. Should he be +able to keep this up he would cross Si Peters' course at the turning +point. + +But now Wash Crosby showed his hand. Without so much as a toot of the +whistle, his steam launch kept drawing closer and closer to Jerry's side. + +Then it gradually went ahead, until Jerry was caught in the swash of the +tiny waves it produced. + +Under ordinary circumstances these waves would not have been noticed, but +in a shell, and especially during a race, even such apparent trifles count +heavily. + +"Keep off!" shouted the young oarsman. + +"Mind your business!" shouted Wash Crosby in return, but so lowly that no +one but Jerry could hear him. "This is Si Peters' race!" + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +WHO WON THE SHELL RACE. + + +Jerry saw at once that he had been right in imagining that this was the +plot against him. Wash Crosby intended to keep just close enough to cause +him trouble without actually fouling him. + +Already the swash from the steam launch was telling on Jerry's lead. Si +Peters kept up at his best and soon was once more abreast of our hero. + +"Hurrah!" came from the shore. + +"Si Peters leads!" + +"I said he would win!" + +"That steam launch is too close to Jerry Upton." + +"Nonsense! Don't croak because you are going to lose the race," shouted +Browling. + +The Lakeview boys began to look glum. + +But now something happened that Wash Crosby had not calculated upon. + +Straight from across the lake came the naptha launch belonging to Harry +Parker's uncle. In the bow stood Harry, boathook in hand. + +When the launch was within three yards of the Crosby craft she came to a +halt. Wash Crosby was so interested in watching the race that he did not +notice what was going on. + +Harry threw the boathook and it caught fast in the steam launch's stern. +Then the naptha launch was moved back, and away she went, carrying the +steam launch with her. + +She could do this because Crosby did not have on a full head of steam. + +Astonished at the turn of affairs, Wash Crosby looked around to see what +was the matter. + +"Hi! what are you doing?" he bellowed to Harry. + +"Hauling you off," returned Jerry's chum. "I know your plot, Wash Crosby; +but it is not going to work." + +"Let go there!" + +"Not much! You'll keep your distance from Jerry Upton's shell." + +"I would like to know who made you my master!" stormed Crosby, in a +perfect rage. + +"If you don't come away I'll report you and get the town to lynch you," +retorted Harry, valiantly. "Don't you dare to touch that boathook." + +However, Wash Crosby did dare. But as long as the line attached was taut +he could not loosen it. Then he tried new tactics. He put on a full head +of steam. + +It was a tug of war between the steam and the naptha launches, and for the +moment it was hard to tell which would come off victorious. + +But Harry's craft was more powerful than Crosby's, and soon the steam +launch was carried far away from the racing shells. + +Wash Crosby was furious and would have eaten Harry up could he have gotten +at the lad. + +"I'll fix you for this!" he cried and threw a heavy chunk of coal at +Harry's head, which the boy dodged. + +"Don't try that again, Wash Crosby, or I'll retaliate in a way you least +expect." + +"You had no right to haul me off." + +"You had no right to interfere with Jerry Upton." + +Wash Crosby grumbled but could do nothing. Harry calmly proceeded to hold +him back until the race was almost over. + +In the meanwhile, how was Jerry faring? + +With long, quick strokes, he swept on, side by side with Si Peters. + +It was going to be a close contest, and the spectators along the lake +front went wild with enthusiasm. + +"Don't let up, Si!" + +"Show the Rockpointers what you can do, Jerry!" + +"A dollar that Si wins by a length!" + +"A dollar that Jerry wins by two lengths!" At last the two reached Rocky +Island, which formed the turning point. + +They were still side by side, but Si had the inner turn all to himself, +while Jerry had to move about in a much larger area. + +This brought Jerry a good length behind Si Peters when the return was +begun. + +Si Peters saw this and grinned to himself. + +"You ain't in it a little bit, Jerry Upton!" he called out, but Jerry did +not reply. He was not foolish enough to waste breath just then in +talking. + +Over the smooth water swept the two long shells, each boy working with +quick and long strokes. + +Now the finishing stake was in view. Si Peters still kept his lead. + +"It's Si's race, no doubt of it!" + +"Didn't I say Jerry Upton wouldn't be in it?" + +"What does Cornfield know about rowing, anyhow?" + +But scarcely had the last remark been made when Jerry began to increase +his stroke. + +Slowly but surely his shell began to overlap that of Si Peters. Now he was +half-way up, now three-quarters, now they were even! + +"See him gaining!" + +"Look! look! Jerry is ahead!" + +"He can't keep that stroke! It's enough to kill him!" + +"Can't he? Look, he is actually walking away from Si." + +Jerry was now "letting himself out." + +Like a flash he swept past Si Peters and reached the finish two and a half +lengths ahead. + +A rousing cheer from the Lakeview boys greeted him, while the Rockpointers +were as mum as oysters. + +Si Peters looked decidedly crestfallen. For several minutes he had nothing +to say. Then some of his friends whispered into his ear. + +"You must do it, Si," said one of the number. + +"All right, I will," replied Peters doggedly, and hurried to the judges' +boat. + +"I claim a foul!" he cried out loudly. + +Every one was astonished, and none more so than Jerry. + +"Where were you fouled?" asked one of the judges. + +"Up at the turning point." + +"That is a falsehood!" cried Jerry indignantly. "I never came anywhere +near you." + +"I'm telling the truth," said Si Peters. "If he hadn't fouled me I would +have beaten with ease." + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +A PRISONER OF THE ENEMY. + + +At once a loud murmur arose. Some sided with Jerry, while others took Si +Peters' part. + +From hot words the boys of the rival towns almost came to blows. + +In the midst of the quarrel a row-boat came down the lake carrying two +elderly and well-known gentlemen, both residents of Rockpoint. Curious to +know the cause of the trouble, the gentlemen came up to the judges' craft, +now moored along shore. + +"Peters claims a foul up at the turning point," said some one of the +gentlemen. + +"You mean up at the island?" + +"Yes." + +"There was no foul there. Was there, Greenley?" + +"None at all," replied the second gentleman. + +These assertions attracted attention. On inquiry it was learned that the +two gentlemen had been up at the island fishing. They had watched the race +in the meanwhile, and they were willing to make affidavit that Jerry had +not interfered in the slightest degree with Si Peters. + +"He took the outside, and he really gave Peters more room than was +necessary." + +The two gentlemen were too well known to be doubted in what they said, and +at once the judges refused to accept Si Peters' plea. + +"The race goes to Jerry Upton, who won it fairly." + +Then how Jerry's friends did yell with delight! The lad was pounced upon +and raised up on his friends' shoulders, and away went the boat club boys +around the town, Blumpo in advance of them blowing a big fish-horn. + +"You is de boy!" said the homeless youth. "You is de best oarsman on de +lake!" + +Harry was in the crowd, and when he told how he had outwitted Wash Crosby +every one roared. + +The race, however, made lots of ill-feeling. The Rockpoint boys could not +stand defeat, and that evening half a dozen rows started in as many +different places. + +Sticks and stones were freely used, and many boys went home with their +arms and heads tied up. + +Jerry became involved in one of the worst of the fights in rather a +peculiar manner. He was on his way home rather late, thinking all was over +and that the Rockpointers had departed, when he heard a hoarse cry for +help from down a side street. + +He recognized the voice as that of Blumpo Brown, and at once hurried to +the spot, there to find the youth at the mercy of four of the Rockpoint +boys, including Wash Crosby, Si Peters, and two others named Banner and +Graves. The quartet had poor Blumpo down on his back and were kicking him +as hard as they could. + +"You cowards!" shouted Jerry as he rushed up, "to kick a fellow when he's +down!" + +"This is none of your affair," shouted Si Peters. "He insulted us, and we +won't take an insult from anybody, much less an Indian coon." + +"Da jess pitched inter me!" howled Blumpo. "Sabe me!" + +"Let up, I say!" went on Jerry, and, clutching Si Peters by the shoulder, +he flung the big Rockpointer flat on his back several feet away. Then +Jerry pitched into the others of the crowd. + +This gave Blumpo a chance to rise. He scrambled up and let out a long and +loud yell for help. Luckily, some other boys were not far away. They heard +the cry and arrived on a run. + +"We must skip now!" cried Wash Crosby to Si Peters. "We'll have the whole +town on us in another minute." + +"Hang the luck!" howled Peters. "But just wait, Jerry Upton, I'll get +square with you yet." + +He turned away with his friends, and the quartet scooted for the lake, +with Jerry, Blumpo, and half a dozen others at their heels. + +Wash Crosby's launch was tied up at a dock, and into this they tumbled. +The line was cut, and off they steamed, amid a perfect shower of stones, +lumps of dirt, old bottles, and anything that came handy to the Lakeview +boys' reach. + +"There, I fancy that's the end of them," said Jerry. "I thought they had +gone long ago." + +"Da laid for me!" groaned Blumpo. "Wish I dun had a hoss pistol, I would +shoot 'em all full of holes!" + +Soon the steam launch faded away in the darkness, and a little later found +Jerry again on his way home. Of course his folks were proud to think he +had won the race. + +"My boy, Jerry!" was all Mrs. Upton said, but the way she said it meant a +good deal. + +It was a week later that the boat club gave a reception, at which Jerry +was the lion. He was presented with the silver trophy, and made a neat +little speech. There were refreshments and music, and altogether the +affair was the most brilliant Lakeview had seen for some time. + +Matters moved along slowly for a week after the racing and the reception +were over. Jerry worked on the farm, and never was there a more +industrious youth. + +In the meanwhile Harry Parker made several arrangements for the outing up +the lake, in which Jerry and Blumpo were to accompany him. + +One day Mr. Upton received a letter from Rockpoint. It was from a friend, +and asked if the farmer could send him over at once a load of hay. + +"I can't go very well," said Mr. Upton. "Supposing you take it over to Mr. +Dike, Jerry?" + +"I will, sir," replied Jerry, promptly. + +The young oarsman had not been over to Rockpoint since the races, but he +thought he could go over and come back without encountering trouble. + +The hay was soon loaded on the rick, and then Jerry started off for the +other shore. He was compelled to drive nearly to the lower end of the lake +to cross on the bridge, consequently it was well on toward the middle of +the afternoon when Rockpoint was reached. + +He and Mr. Dike put the load in the barn, and after being paid, and +partaking of a glass of cold milk and a piece of home-made pie, Jerry, at +just six o'clock, started on the return. + +It had been a gloomy day, and, consequently, it was already growing dark, +although it was midsummer. + +But Jerry knew the way well, so he did not mind the darkness. He let the +team go their own gait, and took it easy in the rick on a couple of horse +blankets. + +He was in a sort of day dream, when suddenly, his team was stopped by a +couple of boys, who sprang from behind a clump of trees. + +The boys wore masks over their faces, and when they spoke, they did their +best to disguise their voices. + +Jerry sprang up in alarm. At the same time four more boys, also masked, +surrounded the hay-rick. + +"What's the meaning of this?" demanded Jerry. "Let go of those horses." + +Instead of replying, the two boys continued to hold the team. The other +four leaped into the hay-rick and fell on Jerry. Taken so suddenly, he was +at a disadvantage. Hardly could he make a move before one of the boys +struck him on the head with a club, dazing him. + +Then a rope was brought forth, and Jerry's hands were tied behind him and +he was thrown on the ground. + +The boys sent the team on their way, trusting to luck that the horses +would find their way home. + +"What are you going to do with me?" asked Jerry, when he found himself +bound and helpless. + +"You'll soon see, Jerry Upton," came from the leader, in such a muffled +voice that our hero tried in vain to recognize the speaker. + +"Make him march!" said another. + +"All right, march!" + +Into the woods the masked gang hurried Jerry. When he attempted to turn +back, they hit him with their sticks and tripped him up. + +Finally, when he would go no further, four of the boys picked him up and +carried him. + +Nearly a quarter of an hour was spent in this manner, and the party +reached a little clearing. On three sides were tall trees, and on the +fourth a wall of rocks. + +"This is the spot," cried the leader. "Now tie him to a tree and get the +stuff out of the cave." + +At once the young oarsman was bound to a tree on the edge of the +clearing. + +Then two of the boys entered a cave between the rocks. + +Soon they came forth with a pot filled with a thick, black liquid and two +big pillows. + +At once Jerry realized what his captors meant to do. They were going to +tar and feather him! + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +TAR AND FEATHERS. + + +The prospect was far from pleasant to our hero. In spite of his bravery, +he shivered as he saw the gang of masked boys start up a fire over which +to heat the tar. + +"So you intend to tar and feather me," he said to the leader. + +"You've struck it, Jerry Upton." + +"All right, Si Peters, do it, and you shall go to prison, mark my words." + +Jerry had only guessed at the identity of the leader, but he had hit upon +the truth. + +"Who told you I was"--began Peters, and broke off short. "You're +mistaken," he went on in his assumed voice. + +"I am not mistaken, Si Peters. I know you, and you had best remember what +I say." + +"Oh, you're too fresh, Upton, and we're going to teach you a lesson," put +in another of the crowd. + +"A good coat of tar and feathers is just what your system needs." + +"We'll paint you up so artistically that even your own mother won't know +you." + +"Not if I can help it," muttered Jerry, under his breath. + +A great mass of wood had been collected, and this gave a roaring fire and +also afforded a good light for the workers. + +On each side of the fire a notched stick was driven into the ground. A +third stick was laid across the top, just beyond the flames. From this +upper stick the pot of tar was suspended by an iron chain. + +The heat soon began to tell on the tar. As it softened it could be smelled +a long distance off. + +"How do you like that smell?" asked Peters of Jerry. + +"Oh, it's a good enough smell," replied our hero, as coolly as he could. + +"Never had a dose of tar before, did you?" + +"I haven't had this dose yet." + +"That's so, but you soon will have." + +"Maybe not." + +"Oh, you can't escape us." + +"Not much, he can't," put in another, and now Jerry felt sure that the +speaker was Wash Crosby. + +"We'll talk about that later, Crosby." + +The masked boy started back and denied his identity. But it was plain to +see he was much put out. + +"I know you, Peters, Crosby, Banner and Graves," went on Jerry. "And I'll +discover who you other two fellows are before I leave here, too." + +"Fiddlesticks!" shouted one of the boys by the fire who was stirring the +tar. + +"Is it getting soft?" asked Crosby. + +"Yes." + +"Where is the brush?" + +"I've got it," spoke up another, and he held up the stump of an old +whitewash brush. + +"That's all right." + +At a signal from Peters the crowd of masked boys withdrew to the side of +the fire. + +Here a long talk followed. It was so low that Jerry could not hear a +word. + +Peters was making the crowd solemnly promise that they would not inform +upon each other, no matter what happened. + +"If we stick together, Upton can prove nothing," he said. "He has no +witnesses." + +"Right you are, Si." + +"We want to get square, and this is the chance of our lives to do it." + +"We can give him the tar and feathers and then leave him tied up in such a +fashion that he can get free, but not before we have had a chance to make +good our escape and get home and to bed." + +"That's the way to fix it." + +"It will teach Lakeporters a good lesson," put in one of the unknowns. +"My! but ain't I down on every one of 'em." + +"And so am I!" + +"And I!" + +"And I!" + +In the meanwhile the young oarsman was trying his best to work himself +free of his bonds. He felt that unless he escaped he would surely be +tarred and feathered. + +He tugged at the ropes around his body, and after a hard struggle he +managed to free his left arm. + +His right arm followed, although this cost him a bad cut on the wrist, +from which the blood flowed freely. + +But he gave the wound no thought, and in haste began to work at the rope +at his waist. + +Now that was loosened, only the one around his knees remained. + +He looked anxiously toward the fire. The masked boys were still in deep +discussion, and not a single eye was directed toward the prisoner. + +Oh, for three minutes more time! + +He worked with feverish haste. + +And now he was practically free! + +Si Peters turned and beheld him as he took a step behind the tree, out of +the glare of the fire. + +"He has got away, fellows!" he shouted. "After him, quick!" + +A yell went up, and the crowd rushed forward. + +"He mustn't escape us!" + +"We worked too hard to capture him!" + +"See, he is limping! The rope is still fastened to one of his legs!" + +Like a pack of wolves after a rabbit they came after Jerry. + +Our hero did his best to outdistance them, and he would have succeeded had +it not been for the rope around one knee, which caught in a tree root and +threw him down flat on his face. In another moment the crowd was on top of +him. + +They showed him no mercy. Si Peters was particularly brutal and kicked +Jerry heavily in the side half a dozen times. + +"I'll teach you to crawl away, you sneak!" he cried. "You can't fool us in +this fashion." + +The kicks stunned Jerry and deprived him of his wind. He fought as best he +could, but he was no match for six strong boys. + +Again he was overpowered. Then the gang dragged him to the side of the +roaring camp fire and threw off their masks. + +"Now we'll strip him," said Wash Crosby. "The tar is all ready and so are +the feathers." + +Jerry's struggles availed him nothing. His coat and vest were literally +ripped from his body, and his shirt followed. + +"Give me the brush. I want to give him the first dose," sang out Si +Peters. + +The old whitewash brush was handed to the leader. Si dipped it deeply into +the pot of hot tar, and approached the young oarsman. + +"Now, Jerry Upton, we'll tar and feather you in spite of your threats," he +said. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +WHAT TOWSER DID. + + +"Well, by creation! what does this mean?" + +The speaker was Mr. Upton, Jerry's father. He was gazing at the hay-rick, +which was coming down the road to the barn at a lively gait. + +As the boys who had captured Jerry had thought, the horses had found their +way home alone. + +Anxiously, Mr. Upton looked around for Jerry, and then he stopped the team +and put them up in the barn. + +Running into the house he told his wife of the state of affairs. Instantly +Mrs. Upton grew alarmed. + +"Perhaps they ran away and threw Jerry out!" she cried. + +"It ain't likely they could get away with Jerry," replied Mr. Upton. "But +I allow it is curious." + +A half hour went by, and the farmer determined to start on a hunt for his +son. He went off on horseback, and took with him Towser, the farm dog. + +Towser was an old and faithful animal, a prime favorite with Jerry, and he +trotted along beside the horse as if he knew something was wrong. + +"We want to find Jerry, Towser," said Mr. Upton. "Jerry, Towser, Jerry!" + +And the dog wagged his tail as if to say that he understood perfectly. + +It was now quite dark. The farmer had brought along a lantern, and this he +lit and swung around first on one side of the road and then on the other. +As he journeyed along he remembered Jerry's troubles with the Rockpoint +boys. + +"Maybe he has had another fight," he thought. "It was foolish to let him +go over there." + +Inside of an hour the other side of the lake was reached, and they struck +the lonely road leading into Rockpoint. + +As the farmer went on he became more and more sober in mind. He seemed to +feel in his mind that something was wrong. + +Towser let out a mournful howl. + +"Jerry, Towser, Jerry!" + +Again the dog howled. Then he came to an unexpected halt and although +Farmer Upton went on, the dog refused to budge. + +"What is it, Towser?" + +For reply the dog started into the bushes, and this at first made the old +farmer angry, for he did not understand the dog. + +"Come, Towser!" he cried. "We are not after game just now!" + +But the dog would not come. He wanted to enter the brush. + +At last Mr. Upton went to catch him by the collar, but just as he did so +the dog gave a short bark and picked up something from among the bushes. + +"Hullo!" + +No wonder the old farmer was surprised. The article Towser had discovered +was a sling-shot Jerry often carried with him. + +"Must have come in here," mused Farmer Upton. + +Then of a sudden he began to examine the ground. It was soft in spots and +plainly showed the footmarks of Jerry and the Si Peters' crowd. + +"He's in trouble!" said the old farmer to himself. "Maybe some tramps have +carried him off and robbed him." + +Urging on the faithful dog, Mr. Upton hurried along the path through the +woods, leaving the horse tied to a tree. + +It was an uneven way, and he stumbled many times. But he did not mind--his +one thought was to reach his son and find out the boy's condition. + +Towser ran ahead, howling dismally at every few yards. But the faithful +dog did not lose the scent. + +Presently, through the bushes, Farmer Upton caught sight of a distant +campfire. + +"Hist!" he called to Towser. "Go slow, now! Down!" + +And the dog obeyed and howled no longer. + +A hundred yards more were passed, when a loud cry rent the air. + +"Help! help!" + +It was Jerry's voice. Si Peters was in the act of applying the first +brushful of tar to his back. Utterly helpless, there was nothing left for +Jerry to do but to use his lungs. + +"Shut up!" cried Si Peters. "Yell again and I'll hit you in the mouth with +the tar." + +"You are an overgrown coward!" retorted Jerry. "Give me a fair show, and +I'll knock you out in short order." + +And again he called for help. + +In a rage, Si Peters started to plaster Jerry's mouth with the hot tar. +But ere the brush could descend, Mr. Upton and Towser burst upon the +scene. + +"Stop, you young scamps!" roared the old farmer. "At 'em, Towser! Chew 'em +up!" + +Startled at the unexpected interruption, the rowdies fell back. Then +Towser leaped forward and caught Si Peters by his trowsers. + +"Save me!" yelled Si, in terror. "The dog is going to chew me up!" + +"Good, Towser!" returned Jerry. "Hold him fast!" + +And Towser did as bidden. + +In the meantime Mr. Upton ran after the boys who had been holding Jerry. +He caught two of them, and before they knew it, knocked their heads +together so forcibly that they saw stars. + +Jerry, delighted at the unexpected turn of affairs, turned upon Wash +Crosby. Si Peters had dropped the tar brush, and this Jerry secured. + +Bang! whack! Crosby received a blow over the head, and one in the ear, +which left a big black streak of tar. + +"Oh, don't! please don't!" he screamed. "Let up, Jerry! It was only a +joke! We weren't really going to tar and feather you!" + +Then the fellow ran for his very life. + +During this time Si Peters was trying his best to get away from Towser, +who held on with a deathlike grip. + +Around and around the campfire the two circled, until Jerry came up. + +The youth called off the dog and went at Si in about the same manner as he +had treated Wash Crosby. + +Si wanted to run for it, and in his hurry rushed through the fire, +knocking over the kettle of tar. + +The sticky mess emptied itself over his clothing. Then the young oarsman +tripped him up, and over he rolled among the loose feathers. + +"Now you can see how you like it!" cried Jerry. + +And growling and panting for breath, Si Peters ran away after the others. + +The Rockpoint rowdies were thoroughly demoralized. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +OFF FOR HERMIT ISLAND. + + +It took Jerry and his father some little time to get back their breath +sufficiently to leave the woods and make their way to the road. + +"You came in the nick of time, father," said the lad. "In another five +minutes I would have been tarred and feathered." + +"Tell me about the whole affair, son," said the old farmer; and Jerry did +so. + +"The good-for-nothing rascals!" cried the old farmer. "If they touch you +again I'll have 'em all up before the squire." + +"That won't help us, father," replied Jerry. "They are rich, you know. +They would get off somehow." + +"Then I'll take it out of their hides." + +Mr. Upton told how Towser had led the way into the woods. Jerry had always +loved the farm dog, but now he thought more of him than ever. + +"Good boy," he said. "You shall go with us when we take our outing--that +is, if father will let you go." + +"Yes, Jerry, take him along. He may help you out of some more trouble," +replied Mr. Upton. + +It was rather late when they arrived home. Mrs. Upton was shocked to learn +of what had occurred, but glad to learn that Jerry had escaped his +enemies. + +The next day the young oarsman told Harry Parker and the other boys of his +adventure. Harry was very indignant. + +"Those Rockpoint boys ought to be driven out of the state." + +"I dun racken I'll carry my hoss pistol after dis," said Blumpo. "Da don't +cotch dis chile for to tar and feather him!" + +A week later Jerry, Harry, and Blumpo started up the lake on a ten days' +outing. + +They were in Harry's largest row-boat, the one that had a sail, and +carried with them a tent and a good stock of ammunition. Jerry and Harry +were armed with guns, and Blumpo carried his "hoss pistol" and a rusty +spear. + +They were bound for Hermit Island, a wild but beautiful patch of land +situated almost at the end of Otasco Lake. The island was so called +because it was said by some that the place was inhabited by an old hermit +who lived in a cave and never showed himself to visitors. + +Some did not believe this story, for try as hard as they could, they had +never been able to locate the strange creature, who was said to have a +white beard to his waist, and white hair equally long. + +The day that the trio started away was a fine one, and the boys were in +excellent spirits. + +"I trust we have no more squalls," remarked Harry, as they glided along, +the sail set and the oars out. + +"No storm to-day," returned Jerry. "We are going to have at least three or +four days of fine weather." + +"Say, I wondah if I could shoot a bar wid dis yere gun," put in Blumpo, as +he held up his pistol. + +"You might if you threw the pistol at the bear when you pulled the +trigger," laughed Jerry. "Sure as you are born, Blumpo, that pistol will +go to pieces if you try to fire it." + +"Den I'll fire it dis way," replied the homeless youth, and swung the +weapon as if to heave it away. + +An hour passed, during which the boys laid their plans for a camp and +talked over what they would do. + +"I hope we have good hunting and fishing," said Jerry. + +"So do I," returned Harry. "And I likewise hope we find the hermit, if +there really is such a creature." + +"Maybe he won't want us on his island," put in Blumpo. "He may be an ugly +feller." + +"We'll risk it, Blumpo." + +"I ain't in fer stirrin' up no hornets' nest," went on the homeless youth. +"I jess like ter lay around an' take it easy under de trees--a-listening +to--" + +"'The tumble bugs tumbling around,' as the song says," laughed Jerry. +"Blumpo, you must get more ambition in you. Come, row up lively. It's a +good long distance to the island, and we must make it before sundown." + +All three braced up, and the big boat went forward at an increased rate of +speed. + +"Hullo!" cried Harry, presently. "Jerry, doesn't that look like Si Peters' +yacht?" + +And Harry pointed over to the west shore of the lake, where a craft had +just emerged from behind a small headland. + +"It is the Peters' yacht, sure enough," replied Jerry, after studying the +craft. + +"If she cums dis way, we'll hab lively times," remarked Blumpo. + +"That's true, Blumpo. Come, maybe we can get away from her." + +The boys kept steadily on their course, and for a long time those on the +yacht seemed to pay no attention to them. + +But after awhile the big boat put on another tack, and fifteen minutes +later it was within hailing distance. Then they saw that Si Peters and +Crosby were in posession. They had with them five other Rockpoint lads, +including Banner and Graves. + +"Hi, you fellows, stop rowing!" yelled Peters at the top of his voice. + +"Mind your own business, Si Peters," retorted Harry. + +"You won't stop?" + +"No. Leave us alone." + +"We want you to give up Jerry Upton." + +"Give him up?" + +"Exactly. Come up alongside and let him jump on board of the yacht." + +"That's as cool as a cake of ice!" cried Jerry. "You want everything, +don't you?" + +"We are going to get square with you, Jerry Upton!" put in Wash Crosby. + +"Let us pull away as fast as we can," whispered Harry. "Those chaps mean +trouble." + +"Dat's de talk," said Blumpo, who was the worst scared of the three. + +They bent to their oars, and soon moved off a hundred feet or more. + +Then Si Peters ran out to the jib of the yacht. + +"Stop!" he commanded. "Pull another yard and you'll be sorry for it." + +"We'll risk it," replied Jerry. + +"We'll run you down!" + +"You won't dare!" yelled Harry, in alarm. + +"Won't we? Just see if we won't!" + +At once Si Peters gave some directions to Wash Crosby, who was at the +wheel. The course of the yacht was slightly changed, and now the craft was +headed directly for the boat containing our friends. + +"Anudder smash-up, shuah as you're born!" groaned Blumpo, and he prepared +to leap into the lake. + +"Stay where you are!" ordered Jerry. "I'll check their little game." + +Reaching into a locker, the young oarsman brought out his gun. Leaping on +one of the seats, he pointed the weapon at Si Peters' head. + +"Sheer off!" he cried. "Sheer off, or I'll fire on you!" + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +AN ATTACK IN THE DARK. + + +Si Peters was nearly dumfounded at the unexpected turn affairs had taken. +The bully at once gave the necessary directions, and the yacht passed to +windward of the other boat. + +"A good idea, Jerry!" exclaimed Harry. "That will make them steer clear of +us for good, I reckon." + +"If they haven't got guns of their own, Harry." + +The boys on the yacht were evidently much crestfallen. They had hoped to +get Jerry in their power, but that plan was defeated. They dropped behind +several hiding places, and again headed for the big row-boat. + +But once more Jerry outwitted them. Calling to Blumpo to steady the +temporary mast, he climbed to the top, his gun slung over his shoulder. + +From this elevated point he was able to sweep the yacht's deck from stem +to stern. + +"Now turn about, or I'll fire on you, as sure as fate!" he ordered. + +"You think you are smart, don't you," sneered Wash Crosby. + +"I'm too smart for your crowd," retorted Jerry. + +"We can fire as well as you," put in Graves. + +"If you had a gun, which you haven't," retorted Jerry. + +The boys on the yacht growled among themselves, but could do nothing. Wash +Crosby tried to throw a piece of iron on the row-boat, but it fell short. +Then Harry retaliated by shooting through the yacht's main-sail. + +Seeing the boys on the big row-boat meant business, Si Peters and his +crowd withdrew from the encounter. + +As soon as they were gone, Jerry came down from his perch, and off they +started once more for the island. + +The yacht sailed so far off they thought they were no longer observed. + +But in this they were mistaken for Si Peters had a field glass with him. + +This glass was now brought into play, and Peters' crowd kept track of +Jerry and the others until the vicinity of Hermit Island was reached. + +"Going to camp there," said Wash Crosby. + +"It ought to give us a fine chance to get square," replied Si Peters, and +the crowd began to plot against our hero and his friends. + +But in the meantime the big row-boat disappeared behind the bushes which +fringed a narrow inlet, and, try their best, those on the yacht could not +locate it again. + +"Never mind, we'll come up some other day," said Si Peters. "It's getting +too late to do anything now." + +And the yacht returned to Rockpoint. + +It was Harry who selected a landing place on Hermit's Island. He found a +smooth, sandy beach, and here the row-boat was drawn up well out of the +water. + +Back of the beach was a little clearing. On one side were tall rocks, and +on the other the woods. + +"As good a place as any to pitch the tent," said Jerry. "Come, Blumpo, +stir yourself." + +The tent was brought out and put up, and a camp fire was lit. While Blumpo +gathered brush to put into the tent to sleep on, Jerry and Harry tried +their hands at fishing. + +Soon Harry had a bite, and brought in a perch weighing a little over a +half a pound. + +"Good for you, Harry, you take first prize!" cried Jerry. + +Hardly had he spoken when he felt a jerk. There was a lively struggle for +fully a minute, and then Jerry landed his catch--a rock bass, all of a +pound in weight. + +"Second, but best," laughed Harry. "I guess that is all we want for +to-night." + +The pan was over the fire getting hot. Blumpo cleaned the fish and put +them on. In the meantime, Jerry made a pot of coffee. + +Never had a meal tasted better to the boys. They lingered over the scraps +for a long while, talking over the events of the day. Blumpo also gave +them a song. It was a happy time. + +"Somebody ought to stand guard all night, I suppose," said Jerry, when it +came time to turn in. + +"Oh, nonsense!" cried Harry. "Who is going to hurt us in this out of the +way spot?" + +"We don't know what may be around." + +"I'se too tired to watch," put in Blumpo. + +"Never knew the time you weren't tired," laughed Jerry. "But let it go, if +you wish." + +Quarter of an hour later all of the boys had turned in. Blumpo picked out +a corner of the tent nearest the rear. Harry slept in the middle, while +Jerry took up a place not far from the front flaps. + +As it was rather warm, they left one of the flaps open to admit the air. +Jerry lay in such a position that he could look out on the smoldering +campfire. + +Jerry was as tired as the rest, and it did not take him long to drop off +into a sound sleep. + +How long he slept he did not know. A low noise outside aroused him. He +opened his eyes with a start, wondering what it was. + +Then came another growl or grunt, he could not tell which. He sat up and +looked outside. + +A sight met his gaze that nearly caused his heart to stop beating. The +camp fire was almost out, but beyond its fitful glare he beheld a pair of +large eyes bent directly upon the tent opening. + +The eyes belonged to some savage beast which was about to attack the +camp. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +JERRY'S SHOT. + + +Jerry realized that he and his friends were in great peril. What the +savage beast outside was he could not tell, but it looked large and +powerful in the gloom beyond the camp fire. + +There was no time to lose if anything was to be done. + +Luckily, before lying down, the young oarsman had loaded his gun and hung +it up on the front pole of the tent, within easy reach. + +Sitting up, he now took the weapon and pulled back the trigger. + +The click reached the ears of the animal outside, and once again it let +out that peculiar sound, neither grunt nor growl. + +Then Jerry put the gun to his shoulder, and, taking aim at one of the +shining eyes, fired. + +Bang! + +The report of the firearm caused Harry and Blumpo to spring up in wild +alarm. + +"What's the matter?" + +"Heaben sabe us!" moaned Blumpo. + +"A wild animal outside," cried Jerry. "Get your gun, quick!" + +Harry leaped for his weapon. + +"What is it?" + +"I can't make out." + +Reloading as rapidly as he could, our hero dashed into the open. A howl of +pain told he had hit his mark. The beast had turned and was crashing +through the brush close to the rocks. + +"Let us find out what it was!" cried Harry. + +"Doan go!" moaned Blumpo. "You will git chewed up!" + +And then he dove back into the tent for his "hoss" pistol and his rusty +spear. + +Catching up a blazing brand, Jerry threw it into the brush. By the light +they saw the creature crouching on a rock. + +Bang! bang! + +The two guns spoke simultaneously. Harry hit the beast in the shoulder. +Jerry's shot was more effective for it struck in the neck, and with a +snarl the creature leaped into the air and fell--dead. + +"You've settled him!" cried Harry. "Come on and inspect him." + +"Wait and load your gun first," cautioned our hero. "He may have some +fight in him still." + +The weapons were put in order, and then, with firebrands to light the way, +they moved forward to inspect their victim. + +It was a large and heavy boar. + +"A wild hog!" shouted Jerry. "My, what a big fellow he is!" + +"I thought it was a bear," said Harry. He was somewhat disappointed. + +"He was savage enough, at all events," replied Jerry. "These wild hogs put +up a terrible fight, father says." + +"Oh, I know that. Wasn't Dick Harben's uncle killed by one? Well, he's +dead enough and we have meat to last a month." + +"Pretty strong eating," smiled Jerry. + +They called Blumpo. The homeless youth was delighted over the dead +animal. + +"'Ham's de best ob meat,'" he sang. "I'll soon fix him up, see if I +don't." + +The boys were glad that it was getting toward morning, for the excitement +had taken all the sleep out of them. They replenished the fire, and sat +around waiting for daybreak. + +As soon as the sun rose, Blumpo prepared breakfast, while Jerry and Harry +took a plunge into the lake. It was great sport, and they remained in the +water until Blumpo called them. + +That day the boys tramped nearly two miles around the island. They took +their guns with them and came back with their game bags full of birds. +Returning, they were thoroughly tired out, but nevertheless resolved to +set a watch. + +"Four hours each," said Harry, and this was agreed to. + +But nothing happened to disturb them, and on the following night the watch +was abandoned. + +The boys put in nearly a week in hunting, fishing, swimming, and lying +around, and they enjoyed every minute of the time. + +Nothing had been seen or heard of the hermit who was supposed to inhabit +the island, and they began to think that no such person existed. + +Neither had they heard anything more of Si Peters and his crowd, and they +fancied they were safe from molestation. + +Sunday passed quietly, and on Monday morning Jerry proposed they take +along a game bag full of provisions and climb to the top of the rocky hill +in the centre of the island. + +"We must go to the very top before we leave," he said. + +The game bag was filled with eatables, and cups, plates, etc., and then +they tied up the tent flaps and drew the boat still higher up out of the +water. + +The first quarter of a mile of the journey was easy enough, but after that +they struck the rocks, and climbing became more and more difficult with +every step. + +"Phew! but dis am work!" puffed Blumpo. "Dis boy's most tucked out!" + +"We'll take a good long rest at noon, Blumpo," said Harry. + +Up and up they went until Jerry, who was in advance, came to a sudden +halt. A deep split in the rocks barred his further progress. + +"Will we have to go back?" asked Harry, anxiously. + +"It looks like it." + +"Can't we leap over?" + +"We might try. I can, if you are willing to follow." + +"I kin jump dat easy enough," put in Blumpo. + +Jerry stepped back, and running a few feet, made the leap in safety. Harry +followed, and then both boys waited for Blumpo Brown to join them. + +The homeless youth measured the distance with his eye and came on like a +steam engine. + +But just before he reached the edge of the split he slipped and went +headlong. Unable to stop himself, he crashed down into the opening head +first. + +In going over the rocks he twisted himself partly around. + +With one hand he caught hold of a frail bush growing among the rocks. + +His left foot caught in a crevice, and there he hung, unable to help +himself, and with death staring him in the face! + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +THE HERMIT OF THE ISLAND. + + +"He'll be killed!" yelled Harry. + +His face was deadly white. + +"Help me!" came faintly from Blumpo. + +Before the others could realize it, Jerry had leaped back to the other +side of the opening. Catching hold of a jutting rock with one hand, he +grasped Blumpo's wrist with the other. + +"Now let go below and I'll haul you up, Blumpo," he said. + +The frightened youth did as requested, and slowly but surely Jerry dragged +him up to a safe spot. + +"Good for you, Jerry!" shouted Harry. + +"By golly! but dat was a close call!" shuddered the homeless youth. + +Then, with tears in his big, honest eyes, he wrung our hero's hand. + +"You dun sabed my life, Jerry!" he declared solemnly. "I won't forgit dat, +neber!" + +The nervous boy was averse to attempting a second jump, and so the party +walked along the opening until a much narrower spot was reached. + +Once over, the upward climb was again begun. By noon they reckoned that +they were within half a mile of the top. But all were exhausted, and glad +enough to rest and take a bite to eat. + +A fine spring was found, and here they washed up and quenched their thirst +before resuming the journey. + +They found a large quantity of huckleberries growing on the hillside, and +these made very acceptable eating. + +"A fellow could put in a month here," remarked Jerry. "But, heigho! the +vacation will soon be ended, and then for school again." + +The rest over, they went up and up again. + +"Beat you to the summit!" cried Jerry, and started up the last stretch on +a rush. Harry followed, and Blumpo was not far behind. + +What a splendid panorama was spread before them! They could see clear to +either end of the lake and off to the hills east and west. + +"I see the church steeple!" cried Jerry. + +"Look! look!" exclaimed Harry, suddenly. + +He pointed down the lake to where a yacht was bowling along before the +breeze. + +"Si Peters' boat!" + +"I wonder if Peters knows we are still on the island?" mused Jerry. + +"I reckon he does." + +"It's a wonder he and his crowd never came up to make more trouble for +us." + +"Perhaps he dun got scared at dis hoss pistol ob mine," put in Blumpo. + +To him that "hoss" pistol was a mighty weapon, greatly to be feared. + +A little back of the summit of rocks was a grassy plateau, and here the +boys decided to camp for the night. + +"What a beautiful place for a picnic!" said Harry. + +"Rather hard to get to, though," returned Jerry. "I wonder if there is a +spring handy?" + +"A spring away up heah!" exclaimed Blumpo. "Yo' expect watah to run up +hill? Ha, ha!" + +"Yes, Blumpo; strange as it may seem, the finest springs are found at the +very tops of mountains. Come on and look for one." + +The homeless youth showed his surprise, but he readily joined in the hunt, +and so did Harry. There was a patch of brush behind the plateau, and this +they skirted. Ere long Jerry found a tiny rivulet flowing in a well-worn +hollow. + +"The head of this rill of water will bring us to the spring," he said. + +They began to follow the watercourse. It led around half a dozen big +rocks. + +"Halt!" + +All three of the boys sprang back in amazement. From whence had that +unexpected command proceeded? + +"Halt, I say!" + +They stopped short. + +"Who are you?" asked Jerry quickly. + +"I am the Lonely Man. Leave me!" + +"The Lonely Man," repeated Jerry. + +"Yes. Depart, my boys, at once." + +"Are you the man they call the hermit of the island?" asked Harry. + +"I presume so. Now leave me. I have not spoken to other men for years." + +"We would like to get a little water first, if you please," said Jerry. +"Surely so good an old man as you will not refuse us that." + +This way of talking evidently struck the hermit's fancy, for there was a +rustle of bushes, and the hermit of the island stepped into view. + +All of the boys stared at him in blank amazement. He was a reddish-black +individual, with snow white hair and long flowing beard. + +Blumpo grew so frightened that he immediately fell on his knees. + +"De voodoo doctor, suah!" he muttered. + +Like many other ignorant people, he was very superstitious and believed in +charms and voodooism. + +"We are sorry to have disturbed you in your lonely retreat," began Harry. +"But we----" + +"Say no more, my boy. Get the water you need and depart." + +"We will." + +Harry and Jerry turned toward the spring and quietly filled up the big tin +can they had brought along. + +The old hermit watched them curiously. + +"You look like good boys," he said. "I want to ask a favor of you." + +"What?" asked both boys in a breath. + +"I wish to end my days here undisturbed. Will you promise not to reveal my +dwelling place to your friends?" + +"I am willing to say nothing," said Jerry, promptly. + +"So am I," returned Harry. + +The old man looked much relieved. + +"And how is it with you?" he went on, turning and walking to where Blumpo +had his head bent low on the ground. + +"Please, sah, don't charm me, sah! don't cast no spell ober me!" howled +Blumpo. "I ain't dun nuffin' 'deed I ain't. I'se de best boy in Lakeview! +Ain't I, Harry? Ain't dat de truf, Jerry?" + +"I will not harm you, so do not be afraid," said the hermit with a faint +smile on his reddish-black face. + +"I won't tell a t'ing! not a word, sah, hope ter die if I do!" went on +Blumpo, still keeping his face down. + +He was afraid that if he looked at the hermit he would be bewitched. + +"Blumpo, get up!" said Harry, sharply. "Don't make a fool of yourself. +This gentleman is not going to hurt you. Stand up and be a man." + +Thus spoken to, the homeless boy arose slowly to his feet. His knees were +still trembling, and he needed but little incentive to take to his heels. + +"I have not seen a colored or an Indian boy in years," went on the old +hermit. "If you are an honest boy let me take your hand." + +He advanced, and with his knees knocking together Blumpo put out his hand +and looked the old man in the face. + +The next instant the hermit gave a leap back in profound astonishment. + +"Abraham! As sure as the sun shines! And I thought he was dead!" + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +THE HERMIT'S SECRET. + + +All three of the boys were much mystified by the old hermit's words. + +"He must be a little off in his head," thought Harry. + +"Who is Abraham?" asked Jerry. + +"This is Abraham!" cried the hermit. "Are you not Abraham?" he went on to +Blumpo. + +"I reckon not, sah. I'se jess plain Blumpo Brown." + +"Blumpo Brown! Ha! how well I remember that name! You are indeed Abraham, +and I am your father!" + +And the hermit caught Blumpo in his arms. It is needless to say the youth +was frightened and bewildered. + +"Come to my cave and I will tell you all," went on the hermit, and he +dragged Blumpo along. + +Jerry and Harry willingly followed. They found that the old man had quite +a comfortable place among the rocks. It was elaborately furnished, showing +that the hermit was well-to-do. + +They all took seats on some skins thrown over rude couches. The hermit +made Blumpo sit close to him. + +"My name is Daniel Brown," he began. "And you, Blumpo, are my only son. +Your full name is Blum-pou-la-hau,--the Indian for +boy-of-the-laughing-face,--for, you know, you have much Indian blood in +your veins." + +"Dat's what folks said I had," said Blumpo. + +"I thought you were dead--that you had been drowned. It was this drove me +to make a hermit of myself." + +Then the old hermit went into many particulars, to which all listened with +great interest. + +Blumpo could scarcely believe his ears. His face began to expand, and a +smile broke out on it, the like of which had never before been seen. He +was a homeless waif no longer. He had found a father. + +Jerry and Harry talked to the old hermit for an hour and more. They found +him peculiar in his ideas, but with a warm heart. + +Before they retired for the night Daniel Brown came to the conclusion to +give up his dwelling on the top of the mountain. + +He said he would build a cabin down by the lakeside and there he and +Blumpo could live like ordinary people. + +"I have several thousand dollars saved up," he said, "so we will not want +for anything. I will buy a boat, and Blumpo can make a living by letting +her out to pleasure parties." + +"Dat will suit me exactly," cried Blumpo. + +"But you must also go to school in the winter," went on Daniel Brown. "And +you must drop that dialect, and not say dat for that." + +"Golly! but won't I be eddicate!" murmured Blumpo. "Say, Pop maybe I kin +hab--I mean have--a new suit, eh?" + +"Two of them, Abraham," said the hermit; and then all hands laughed. + +It was well for the boys that they were housed in the hermit's dwelling, +for that night a terrible thunder storm came up. The wind howled and +shrieked around the mountain top, and continued until dawn. + +"If we had been on the plateau we would have been blown off into the +lake," said Harry, at breakfast. + +By nine o'clock it cleared off and at twelve the mountain was as dry as +ever. They packed up, and, accompanied by the hermit, set off, for the old +camp. + +Daniel Brown knew every inch of the mountain and under his guidance they +reached the bottom much quicker than they would otherwise have done. + +As they were trailing through the woods toward the camp, Harry suddenly +put up his hand. + +"Listen! Don't you hear some persons talking?" he asked. + +"Where can it be?" asked Jerry. + +"Down by the camp," said Blumpo. + +"Si Peters' crowd, I'll bet a new hat!" cried Jerry. "Come on, all of +you!" + +The young oarsman broke into a run, and Harry and Blumpo came after, with +the hermit lagging on behind. A turn in the brush brought them in sight of +the camp. + +There were Si Peters, Wash Crosby, and four others in the act of shoving +Harry's craft into the water. + +"They intended to run off with our boat!" yelled Jerry. "Stop, there, you +thieves!" + +"Stop, or we'll fire on you!" added Harry. + +The Peters crowd were surprised and alarmed. They hesitated for a moment. + +"Go ahead, don't mind them!" howled Si Peters. "Quick, fellows, shove out +to the yacht!" + +Before Jerry and the others could reach the spot the big row-boat was +afloat. The Peters' crowd leaped on board and quickly shipped the oars. + +"Stop, or we'll fire on you!" sang out Harry again. + +"Fire and be blowed!" howled Wash Crosby. + +Bang! went Harry's gun, and the shot rattled all around the row-boat. + +But now a turn of a headland took the craft out of range. + +"Follow me!" said Jerry, as he leaped across the camp to where they could +again catch sight of the craft. + +Over the rock and through the brush they stumbled, a distance of two +hundred feet. Then the shore of the lake was again reached. + +But, alas! before they could do anything the Peters crowd was entirely out +of range. They saw the big row-boat taken over to where the yacht lay at +anchor. Harry's craft was tied fast to the stern and the Rockpointers +clambered aboard their own vessel. + +"Good-bye and good luck to you!" cried Si Peters, mockingly. "Hope you +fellows enjoy playing Robinson Crusoe. We'll come back for you some time +next year." + +And then the yacht sailed away, leaving those on the island to their +fate. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +AN EXCITING CHASE. + + +For the moment the boys did not know what to do. Si Peters and his crowd +had run off with their row-boat, and how to get to the mainland was a +serious question. + +To swim the distance would be a dangerous undertaking, and there was no +telling how long it would be before another craft should come along to +take them off. + +But the hermit solved the problem. + +"If you want to follow those boys you can take my boat," he said. + +"Have you a boat?" asked Jerry, quickly. + +"Certainly, although I use it but sparingly, and then only at night." + +The hermit led the way to the lower end of the island. Here in a +water-cave rested a long, round-bottomed row boat, containing two pairs of +oars. + +"Just the thing!" cried Jerry. "Come on, Harry!" + +He and his chum leaped in. Blumpo looked at his newly found father. + +"I will go along if you wish," said the hermit. + +In five seconds more all four were in the boat, which was then shoved out +into the lake. + +With Jerry and Harry at the oars, they made good progress in the direction +of Si Peters' yacht. + +All were armed, and Blumpo occupied the time in seeing that every weapon +was ready for use. + +"The wind is dying out," said Harry. "That is in our favor." + +"They have not more than half a mile start," rejoined Jerry. "We ought to +catch up in half an hour." + +It was evident that those on the yacht did not anticipate pursuit, for it +was not until the distance between the two craft had been considerably +lessened that they showed signs of alarm. + +"They see us!" cried Blumpo. "Shall I give 'em a shot?" + +"No; wait," replied Jerry. + +The wind had now gone down almost entirely, and the yacht's sails were +flapping idly. + +Si Peters and Wash Crosby were evidently alarmed at the turn affairs had +taken, and they called their chums around them for consultation. + +"We can't do anything while the wind is down," said Crosby. + +"Let's get out and row," suggested Graves, who was one of the number. + +"Can we tow the yacht?" + +"We can try." + +This was decided on, and all of the crowd leaped into Harry's boat. They +brought the craft around to the yacht's bow, and then every one took an +oar. + +"See, they are hauling off the yacht!" cried Harry. "They mean to get away +somehow." + +"We'll race them," replied Jerry. + +They bent to their oars and made the old hermit's boat fairly fly through +the water. Slowly they crept nearer and nearer. It was an exciting chase. + +"Take my place, Blumpo!" cried Jerry, at last, and the boy willingly +obeyed. + +Jerry leaped into the bow, and taking up his gun pointed it at Si Peters' +head. + +"Si Peters!" he called-out, "do you see this gun? Unless you stop rowing +I'll fire at you, no matter what the consequences are." + +Si Peters turned deadly white, for he was in reality a big coward. + +"Do you hear me?" went on Jerry. "One--two--th----" + +"Stop! don't shoot!" yelled the Rockpoint bully, and he held up his oar. + +"Now, Wash Crosby, you stop rowing, too!" went on Jerry. + +"Think you are boss, eh?" sneered Crosby. + +"I am. Up with the oar!" + +Crosby hesitated, and then his oar went up beside Si's. The others became +badly frightened and also stopped rowing. In a moment more the hermit's +craft was beside the big row-boat. + +The Rockpointers gazed at the white-haired man in astonishment. They +wanted to know who he was, but just then had other matters to attend to. + +"You think you own the earth when you have a gun!" howled Si Peters to +Jerry. + +"We're on top, that is certain," responded our hero. "Say, Harry, +supposing we get on the yacht and make them row us back to the island?" + +"Not much!" growled Wash Crosby. + +"Just the thing!" cried Harry. + +Still keeping the Peters' crowd under guard, Jerry and his friends boarded +the yacht. + +Then, much against their will, they made the others turn about and drag +them back to where they had started from, towing the hermit's craft +behind. + +Peters and Crosby were in a perfect rage, but could do nothing, as Jerry +pretended to be very savage and itching to shoot them. + +The island reached, Jerry made the Peters' crowd beach the boat and clean +her. + +"Now take your yacht and begone!" he commanded, and the crowd hurried off +in double-quick order. As the yacht drifted away the hermit laughed +heartily. + +"Cleverly done!" he said. "Jerry Upton, you are a smart lad." + +The boys spent one more day on the island and then left for home. The +hermit went along, and created some surprise when he appeared on the +streets of Lakeview with Blumpo, his son. + +All the boys were glad that the homeless youth had found a father, who +would endeavor to make something out of the good-natured and honest lad. + +There was also a surprise for our hero and Harry. + +Si Peters and his gang had been arrested for burning down a barn belonging +to Harry's father. + +The Rockpoint lads tried to beg off, but the authorities took the matter +in hand, and every one of them was sent to the reformatory. + +This ended the rivalry for the time being between Lakeview and Rockpoint +and, as a consequence, the autumn and winter which followed were +comparatively quiet. But stirring events were on the way, as the chapters +which follow will testify. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +HARRY'S NEW YACHT. + + +"Luff up a bit, Harry!" + +"All right, Jerry. Do you think we will make that point?" + +"If the wind holds out. We are behind the rocks now, and that cuts most of +the breeze off." + +"Blumpo, coil up some of that rope, will you?" + +"To be suah," returned the youth addressed. + +The scene was the deck of a handsome yacht named the Whistler. She was as +clean cut as a craft could be, and carried a spread of snowy white sails +which would have gladdened the heart of any sea-dog to behold. + +Three boys and an old man were sailing this craft. The three boys were +Jerry, Harry and Blumpo. The man was Jack Broxton, the boathouse keeper. + +The yacht was a new one, recently purchased by Harry Parker's father for +the use of his son and Jerry. + +"Do you remember what a row we had up around this island last summer with +Si Peters, Wash Crosby and the rest of the Rockpoint crowd?" mused Jerry, +as the yacht swung around the north point of Hermit Island, that spot +where Blumpo had so strangely found his father. + +"Don't I, though!" cried Harry. "I wonder if they are out of the +reformatory yet for setting fire to the barn?" + +"I heard da was," put in Blumpo, who now attended school regularly. "Si +Peters got out las' month, an' Wash Crosby got out six weeks ago." + +"Well, I hope they turn out better boys now," said Harry, seriously. "I +don't see why they want to get into such trouble. A fellow can have lots +of sport without doing wrong." + +"By the way, Harry, the great yacht race comes off in Long Lake in a few +weeks," said Jerry. "Why can't we take our yacht down through the river +and be on deck to see it?" + +"By golly, dat would be most splendiferous!" yelled Blumpo. "De best t'ing +I've dun heard of dis Summah!" + +"I've thought of it," returned Harry. He turned to the old tar. "Jack, +could we take the Whistler down through Poplar River to Long Lake?" + +"I reckon we could," was the slow answer, as Jack Broxton rolled his quid +from one cheek to the other. "The water is running putty high now." + +"It would be a fine trip in itself," went on Jerry. "I've never sailed +down the Poplar beyond Carlville." + +"Nor I," returned Harry. "But never mind that just now. Here we are at the +landing." + +"An' heah am my father's house," said Blumpo. + +The former hermit, now, however, a hermit no longer, came out to greet his +son. In the meantime all hands lowered sail and tied up. + +It was a beautiful day, and the young oarsman and Harry had come over to +the island to see what they could shoot. They left Jack in charge of the +yacht and Blumpo with his father, and started off with guns and game bags +for the interior. + +"There can't be much game at this season of the year," said Harry. "But we +may have a little sport, and tramping in the woods does a fellow lots of +good." + +"Indeed I know that," was the quick response. "Hullo, here's a nasty bit +of bog to cross." + +"We'll go around by yonder big tree." + +The two boys went on in a semi-circle. When the big tree mentioned was +reached Jerry stepped on what he supposed was one of the twisted roots. + +A second later he let out a yell which was heard down to the landing. + +He sprang back so suddenly that he bumped into Harry, who was close +behind, and both rolled over in the wet grass. + +Ere they could rise they heard an angry hiss, and a snake darted from the +tree and settled directly upon Jerry's body! + +For a moment Jerry was too paralyzed with fear to move or speak. Then as +he recovered he threw off the snake and rolled away, over Harry and close +to the boggy spot. Harry also turned away, but came up against a heavy +mass of brush. + +The snake hissed angrily. The pressure of Jerry's foot on its head had +just been sufficient to arouse its anger. It meant to strike if it could. + +"Hit it with your gun!" shouted Harry. + +"You hit it!" cried our hero. "Oh!" + +The snake was again coming on, its long, green body quivering in the spots +of sunlight which shot under the trees. There was no doubt but what it +intended to fight the intruders. More than likely it had a nest of young +near. + +Bang! + +The shot was a square one, and when the smoke from the gun cleared away it +was found that the reptile's head was completely severed from the body, +which latter continued to twist about until it fell into the water of the +bog hole. Jerry kicked the head in after it, out of sight. + +"Let us get out of here," he said, with a shudder. "Who knows but what we +have dropped into a regular nest of snakes." + +That he was right in his surmise was soon evident, for low hissings could +be heard on several sides. Without delay they sprang across the bog swamp +and took to the higher ground, where they could see every foot of the way +before them. + +"I've had snakes enough to last me the rest of the summer," soliloquized +Jerry. "I hate them worse than anything else in the world. Look!" + +He pointed on ahead, to where there was a tree almost loaded with game +birds. At a sign from Jerry both raised their guns and fired. + +There was a flutter and a whirr, and then came a number of shrill cries +from the birds which were wounded. These the boys at once proceeded to put +out of their misery. + +"Four birds," said Harry, as he counted the lot. "That wasn't bad, eh?" + +"You're right, Harry. We won't get another such shot if we tramp all +day." + +"I move we get back to the yacht. We have come a good distance, and it +will be more than dinner time before we can make it." + +"I am with you. We can go out hunting again this afternoon, or try our +hand at fishing." + +With the birds in their bags, Jerry and Harry set out on the return to the +landing. + +On the way they talked over the great yacht races soon to come off, and +also of the proposed trip through the Poplar River to the large lake +beyond. + +"It will be a dandy trip," said Jerry, and then he added, with much +spirit: "How I would like to sail on one of the yachts and help win." + +"So would I," rejoined Harry. "It would be great sport, not to say +anything of the honor." + +When the chums arrived at the boat-landing they found Blumpo and the +others waiting for them. A camp fire was burning a short distance away +from the log house, and over this the birds were done to a turn by the +youth, while the others prepared some potatoes and coffee brought from the +yacht. + +Blumpo's father considered it a great holiday to have his son with him for +the time being. He asked Blumpo how he was getting along with his studies, +and was pleased to learn that the youth was making fairly good progress. + +After dinner it was decided to sail around to the lower end of the island +and try bass fishing, for which the lake was famous. + +"And then we'll come back here and stay all night," said Jerry to the old +man. + +The lines were soon cast off and the main-sail and jib set, and as soon as +they caught the breeze they swung around and down the lake at a speed of +several knots an hour. + +"Somebody else out besides ourselves," observed Jack Broxton, as he +pointed to half a dozen sail-boats cruising around. "This year everybody +has the yachting craze." + +"It's great sport," returned Harry. "By the way," he went on, pointing to +a large yacht coming up the lake on a long tack. "What boat is that?" + +"She is called the Arrow, I don't know who owns her," was the old +boatkeeper's reply. + +"She is coming over this way. Let us stand out a little and see who is on +board." + +"Just as you say, sir." + +"Yes; I'm curious about that yacht, too," put in Jerry. + +The course of the Whistler was altered several points, and they left the +vicinity of the island shore. As they drew closer to the big yacht Jerry +uttered a cry of astonishment. + +"By Jinks! It can't be possible!" + +"What's up?" asked Harry, coming to his side. + +"There are Si Peters and Wash Crosby on the deck of that yacht. I can see +them as plain as day." + +"Our old enemies!" murmured Harry. + +"Da didn't lose no time in gittin' togedder after da got out of de +'formatory, did da," laughed Blumpo. "Da say de bad ones allers do stick +like glue." + +"Oh, maybe they'll be first-class chaps now," said Jerry, who was willing +to let the past be forgotten. + +"Don't you be too sure on that p'int, lads," put in Jack Broxton. "It's +mighty hard to make anything out of a bad egg, and Si Peters and Wash +Crosby are bad eggs if ever there were any." + +"Dat's so, fo' suah," murmured Blumpo. + +"Well, we won't have any words with them," said Jerry. "We'll let bygones +be bygones." + +"I would like to know where they got that yacht," said Harry. "It can't be +possible Mr. Peters bought it for Si. When Si went to the reformatory he +told father he intended to send his son to a military school and cut off +his allowance." + +"Maybe Si has promised to reform. Hullo! they are coming this way!" + +Jerry sprang up in alarm, for the big yacht had suddenly veered around +several points and was now coming head on toward them. + +"We'll be run down!" shrieked Blumpo, in terror. + +"The young fools!" muttered Jack Broxton. "Don't they know anything about +steering?" + +"The big yacht is evidently one too many for them. See, there is no one +aboard but Si and Wash. Two hands are not enough for such a craft." + +Nearer and nearer the two yachts came to each other. + +Jack Broxton did his best to steer clear of the Arrow, but he was at a +disadvantage. Soon the big yacht took away all the wind of the Whistler +and she lay helpless. + +"Keep off!" yelled Jerry, but the cry was unheeded. + +Bang! Crash! The Arrow struck the Whistler on the bow, the long bowsprit +ripping a hole in the main-sail. + +Then came a smashing of woodwork and the Whistler began to sink. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +THE ROBBERY OF THE ROCKPOINT HOTEL. + + +"We are lost!" + +"Heaben sabe us!" + +"Cling fast for your lives!" + +A dozen other cries rang out, for the force of the collision was +terrible. + +But all clung fast and no one was thrown into the water, to be struck and +perhaps instantly killed. + +"What do you mean, Si Peters?" yelled Jerry. "You ran into us on +purpose!" + +There was no time to reply nor to say more. After the crash the two yachts +drifted apart, and with a somewhat damaged bowsprit the Arrow went on her +way. + +As she slid by, Harry caught a glimpse of Wash Crosby holding fast to a +big red valise, which had come near bounding overboard. He thought no more +of it at the time, but had good reason to remember it later. + +"What shall we do?" asked Jack Broxton. + +"We've got a neat little hole in the side." + +"Can we beach her on the island?" asked Harry. "I don't want the Whistler +to go to the bottom of the lake." + +"I reckon I can manage it. Just hold that bit of canvas over the hole." + +Harry and our hero jumped to do as bidden, while Jack Broxton and Blumpo +undertook to steer the yacht toward shore. The craft was becoming so +water-logged that she acted clumsily, and they had their hands full. + +"We is gwine down, suah!" groaned Blumpo, but as he spoke the keel grated +on the sand, and a moment later she swung around hard and fast, and the +danger of sinking was past. + +While Jack and Blumpo lowered the sails, Harry and Jerry carried several +lines ashore and tied them to the trees in such a fashion that the yacht +could not pound herself, even if the wind came up. + +After the sails were lowered old Jack inspected the damage done. + +"I can patch the main-sail in an hour," he said. "But that hole at the bow +will take three, and I ought to have more tools than I've got aboard." + +"Can't we patch things up sufficiently to take her back into Lakeview?" +asked Harry. + +"Maybe we can. But it would be better on account of the wind to steer for +Rockpoint. She couldn't stand the chop sea on the other course." + +"All right; we'll steer for Rockpoint, and take her over to Dan Mason's +boatyard." + +Blumpo ran down the shore of the island to tell his father of what had +happened. While he was gone the others patched up the break at the bow +with some thin wood and a square of canvas, tacked on, and gave all a +coating of pitch. + +Half an hour later found the Whistler bound for Rockpoint. They had to +sail along with great care, for fear of breaking open the patched place. +Had this occurred they would all have gone to the bottom. + +It was growing dusk when the harbor at Rockpoint was reached. At the dock +they saw that something unusual had happened. A crowd of men were gathered +about talking earnestly, and pointing up the lake. + +"Whoever they were, they took a boat, I'm sure of that," said one man. + +"That's so," said another. + +"But who were they, and where did they go?" asked a third. + +"Ah, that's for the police to find out." + +Wondering what was up, Jack Broxton and the three boys brought the +Whistler around to the boatyard and turned her over to Dan Mason. The old +fellow, who was a first-class man at repairing boats of all kinds, +promised to have the craft in good trim by noon of the next day. + +"Did you hear the news?" he asked, after their business talk was at an +end. + +"What news?" asked Jerry. + +"About the hotel being robbed." + +"Robbed!" + +"Exactly. A couple of thieves got into the safe and took a box of jewelry +and four hundred dollars in cash." + +"By George! dat am a loss!" ejaculated Blumpo. + +"The jewelry is said to be worth nearly one thousand dollars." + +"Have they any idea who the thieves were?" + +"No, they wore handkerchiefs over their faces, with holes cut in 'em for +to see. Some thinks as how they got away in one o' the boats lying up +shore." + +"How did they do the job?" questioned Jerry, with much interest. + +"I didn't hear any of the particklers, boys." + +"Come on up to the hotel and find out," said Harry. "We haven't got to +hurry home this evening." + +Side by side Harry and the young oarsman walked to the Rockpoint Hotel, a +large place, now filled to overflowing with Summer boarders. + +They found every one around the resort talking over the case. Presently +Harry heard somebody say that the stolen money and box of jewels had been +placed by the robbers into a large red valise belonging to the proprietor +of the hotel. At once he called Jerry aside. + +"I know who committed this robbery," he said. + +"Who?" + +"Si Peters and Wash Crosby." + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +THE RED VALISE. + + +Of course Jerry was astonished at his chum's declaration. + +"How do you know this?" + +"They had that red valise. I saw it." + +"Let us make a few more inquiries before we say anything," replied Jerry, +slowly. "It's pretty bad to accuse anybody of such a crime as this." + +They asked a number of people about the robbery, but could gain no +information which would directly implicate Si Peters and his crony. + +"We had better keep mum for the present, Harry." + +"What, and let the robbers escape?" + +"Oh, I don't want that to happen." + +The two talked it over for awhile, and when they returned home they were +much troubled. But that night word came from New York City which mystified +them greatly. + +A detective telegraphed he had captured two tramps who confessed to a +hotel robbery on Lake Otasco. + +"That settles it," said Harry. "We were all wrong, and I am glad we said +nothing." + +On the following day they rowed over to Rockpoint for the Whistler. They +heard no more about the hotel robbery, and the matter almost slipped their +minds. But they were destined ere long to remember the occurrence full +well. + +Jerry and Harry talked matters over with their parents and made plans to +sail down the Poplar River to Long Lake, and go to the yacht races at +once. + +Jack Broxton was to accompany them. Unfortunately for Blumpo, his father +was taken sick and the youth had to remain behind to attend him. + +Bright and early the next day the trip was commenced. + +It lasted two days and three nights, and then they found themselves out on +Long Lake, a large and beautiful sheet of water. + +Harry and Jerry had studied up all the newspaper reports concerning the +race between the Defender, a splendid yacht from the Poplar River, and the +Spray, a craft from up the lake, and they knew exactly where to go in +order to see the race to the best advantage. + +"I know the captain of the Defender well," said Harry. "He and father are +old friends." + +"Maybe he'll let you on his yacht then," said Jerry. "My, but wouldn't +that be jolly!" + +"I won't go without you," said Harry. + +"I would like to be on that yacht myself," said old Jack Broxton, as they +presently came in sight of the Defender, anchored a short distance from +the starting point of the race. + +"We'll run up and I'll hail the captain," said Harry. + +This suited everybody, and it was done. The captain of the Defender was on +deck seeing to it that everything was in order for the race. He greeted +Harry with a pleasant wave of his hand. + +"Can we come on board and take a look around?" asked Harry. + +"Yes, but you won't have time to waste," was the captain's reply. "We've +got to get down to the starting point soon." + +The Whistler was run up alongside, and Harry and Jerry leaped on board of +the Defender. They shook hands with the captain, and also with Frank Lee, +the captain's nephew, a bright boy of their own age. + +They were much interested in the magnificent yacht and all of her +appointments, and laughed greatly when Frank Lee snatched off their caps +and placed caps on them with the name of the Defender above the peaks. + +"Now you fellows belong to the crew!" cried Frank Lee. + +"All right, we'll help you beat the Spray," returned Jerry, quickly. + +The captain overheard the remark and turned to Harry: + +"Would you really like to remain on board during the race?" + +"Indeed we would!" said Harry. "And we'll do duty, too, same as the rest +of the crew, if you'll only keep us. You know both of us understand all +about a regular yacht." + +"Well, you can stay. I am short one man, and two boys ought to more than +make up for him." + +Perhaps Jerry and Harry were not delighted? They sent word to Jack +Broxton, and then made themselves familiar with the great yacht, the pride +of all on board. + +Soon it was time to up anchor and make for the starting point. Jerry and +Harry worked manfully at the ropes, and so did Frank Lee. No one is +allowed to remain idle on a racing yacht. The least one can do is to rush +to this side or that and thus make "ballast." + +"All ready!" came the word, and the signal was given to start, and the +Defender and the Spray were off. + +Presently Jerry came over to the captain, who was at the wheel. + +"Can we pass the Spray?" he asked, anxiously. + +"We can try, Upton," was the reply. "Can you take the wheel for a minute. +I must have a drink of water." + +"Aye, aye, sir," said Jerry. + +How proudly he took hold of the wheel! He was for the time being in +absolute command of the Defender. + +An extra breeze sprang up. They were sailing almost side by side with the +Spray. Suddenly the Defender shot ahead. Our hero stuck to the wheel, +while Harry and Frank Lee did their full share of work with the rest of +the crew. + +The Defender was ahead, but the race was not yet over. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +THE MISHAP TO THE YACHT. + + +The young oarsman was not allowed to remain at the wheel long. Soon the +captain of the Defender came up again and took charge. + +"I see we have passed the Spray," he said. "That's a good one for you, +Upton. Now we must keep ahead." + +After turning the wheel over to the captain, Jerry moved forward to where +Harry and Frank Lee were standing. + +In the meanwhile the gallant yacht was cutting the water like a razor. The +breeze was stiff, and they were running free before it. Soon the Spray was +almost out of sight behind them. + +"This Defender is a great boat," said Harry. + +With the wind on the starboard quarter the Defender and the Spray reached +along for over a mile at a six knots an hour gait. + +Then the wind fell off to almost a calm. + +"This is no good," observed Jerry. + +"Fortunes of racing," laughed Harry. + +"I would like to see another stiff breeze." + +"We may catch more than enough before we have finished," put in Frank +Lee. + +The further on the two yachts went the lighter became the wind, and each +in turn ran into "soft" spots, when balloon top-sails hung up and down +idly. + +But no matter how the wind came the Defender got along, leaving the Spray +steadily behind. + +It was a triangular course, of three miles to each side, and soon the +first side was sailed. + +The yachts wore around the first mark flat, leaving it on the port hand. + +Baby jib top-sails had been sent down before the rounding, and spinnaker +poles were now ready for the balloon sail. + +With booms well off to port, the Defender led the way to the second +stretch. + +Sharp work was done in handling the spinnaker, for just one minute after +rounding this big balloon was set and pulling. + +This was clever work, but the Spray sailors did fully as as well, for they +had their spinnaker on just as fast. + +"Great Caesar!" ejaculated our hero, suddenly, "Look!" + +Ashore the sky grew black and ominous, foreboding a coming squall. + +The weather certainly looked bad, and it turned out worse than it looked. + +Instead of wind, rain came on, and soon all on board the yachts were +soaked. + +"What do you think of that, Jerry?" asked Harry. + +"We're going to catch it and no mistake," replied the young oarsman. + +All hands on board saw the coming squall and looked at the captain for +orders, but none came. + +The yachts, favored by a strengthening breeze, were pushed on to meet that +which was sure to come, and half-way over on the third stretch it came on +hard and struck the Defender. + +Bang! slash! went the sails and the gallant yacht swept well over on her +side. + +Again all looked to the captain, but he shook his head. + +"Reckon he wants to see what she can stand," whispered Jerry. + +He was right. The captain, at the wheel, held the yacht up to it, and held +her true. + +On and on they went, the sky growing blacker and blacker as they +proceeded. + +Suddenly Jerry heard a crack like a pistol shot, and looking forward saw +that the standing part of the bridle to the jib had parted. The seizing +pulled out and away went the sheets. + +The sail snapped and cracked loudly, and in a second more it carried away +the club on the clew of the jib. + +"There she goes!" yelled somebody. + +Hardly had he uttered these words when the big sail split in half and hung +flapping in the wind. + +It was now utterly useless to the racing yacht. + +A new sail must be set at once, but in that high wind who would bring the +old sail in? + +"I'll volunteer!" cried Jerry, as he sprang forward, and Harry and Frank +Lee came close on his heels. + +The crew hung back for a moment, and in that time Jerry reached the flying +sail. + +He caught one end just as an extra heavy puff of wind came on, and in a +twinkle he was dragged half overboard. + +But now Harry and Frank Lee sprang to the rescue, and then the regular +crew came forward. All worked like beavers, and soon the torn sail was +taken off. + +Six minutes later a new sail was in place, and on went the gallant +Defender as speedily as before. + +She carried herself well, and nothing was lost in that blow but the jib. + +In the meanwhile the Spray could not stand the strain and ran on behind +with all sails reefed. + +"A great yacht," said those on the other boats. And the Defender stock +went away up. + +The captain praised Jerry for the quickness with which he had taken hold +of the torn sail and steadied it. + +"A loose sail on board a racing craft is a dangerous thing," he said, "for +there is no telling how much damage it will do." + +The squall was of short duration, not lasting over seven minutes, if as +long. It gathered strength as it worked off shore, and some of the +pleasure boats received the full benefit of it. + +As the Defender got within two miles of the finishing line the breeze fell +off. + +Still the gallant craft held her own. + +"The finish is in sight!" cried Jerry, presently. + +He was right. A mile more and the race would be over. + +Those on board of the Spray did their best to haul up to the Defender. + +The effort did not avail them, for the Defender gained steadily. + +At last the line was crossed. + +The Defender had won the race by a lead of over half a mile, and she +received a rousing reception. + +Steam whistles blew their mightiest, flags waved, and the crowd on the +other boats shouted themselves hoarse. + +It was a great day, and one never to be forgotten. + +"That settles it," said Harry. "The Defender is the champion yacht of the +club." + +It was not long after this that the Whistler ran up and took Jerry and +Harry on board. Old Jack Broxton had seen the race and was greatly +pleased. + +The boys resolved to anchor the Whistler off the upper shore of Long Lake +that night. + +"We'll leave Jack in charge and take a trip down to Harmony Beach," +suggested Harry. + +This suited Jerry, and by half past six the two boys were on board the +open cars on their way to the great Summer resort. They enjoyed the ride +very much, especially Jerry who had never been to the beach before. They +visited the hotels and had supper, and then listened to a band concert. + +It was after eleven o'clock before they were ready to return to the +Whistler. + +As they were making their way back to the cars Jerry caught Harry by the +arm. + +"Look! Look!" + +Harry looked, and in a crowd of people saw Wash Crosby. Not far away stood +Si Peters. + +Both were swaggering around as if they had plenty of money and wanted +everybody to know it. + +"What shall we do?" asked Harry. + +"I hardly know," replied Jerry. "I feel certain in my mind that they +robbed the Rockpoint Hotel in spite of what the detectives think." + +"So do I. But we can't prove it." + +The two boys resolved to watch Peters and Crosby and try to overhear any +private talk they might have. + +Peters and Crosby entered a large music hall and sat down at one of the +tables. + +Motioning to Harry, our hero led the way to the side of the building. + +A board was off, and by standing near the opening they could hear +everything Si Peters and Wash Crosby said. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +WORDS AND BLOWS. + + +The very first words spoken by Si Peters confirmed the young oarsman's +suspicious. + +"What did you do with the valise, Wash?" he asked. + +"Left it on the yacht at the cove," replied Wash Crosby. + +"That's where you made a big mistake." + +"How so?" growled the toady. + +"They might take it into their heads to search the yacht." + +"Oh, I guess not." + +"We don't want to run any chances of being found out." + +"We're all right; don't worry." + +"Perhaps we are and perhaps we are not." + +"Oh, keep still, and let us enjoy the music," growled Crosby, for an +orchestra was now playing. + +A waiter came up and Si Peters gave an order. Jerry was quite sure he had +ordered something stronger than what he was in the habit of drinking at +home. It was evident that the bully of Rockpoint had turned out even worse +than before. + +"What shall we do?" whispered Harry. + +"We ought to inform the police." + +"Just my idea of it." + +"I don't know if there are any officers around here." + +"Oh, there must be." + +They looked around, but in the darkness no policeman could be seen. + +"You stay here and I'll go hunt up somebody," said Jerry. + +Scarcely had he spoken, however, when their attention was attracted to a +row that was taking place in the concert hall. Two men were fighting, and +presently a chair flew through the air. + +At once those sitting around tried to retire. + +Peters and Crosby rushed out in the crowd, and not to lose sight of the +pair Jerry and Harry went after them. + +Fifty feet from the concert hall the four came face to face. Si Peters +started back, and Wash Crosby wanted to run for it. + +"Who--what?" stammered Peters. + +"We have caught you," said Jerry, boldly. "You may as well give in." + +"What do you mean?" + +"We know that that you robbed the Rockpoint Hotel," said Harry. + +"It's not so," cried Crosby. + +"Shut up!" hissed Si Peters. + +Without warning he hit Jerry a sharp blow in the face. Then he rushed at +Harry and tripped him up. + +"Come on!" he yelled to Crosby "We must get away!" + +Like a deer he ran off, behind a large roller coaster where all was dark. + +Jerry stopped Peters, but only for a moment. Heavy blows were exchanged +and then Peters followed his chum. + +"They are gone, sure enough!" cried Harry, in dismay. + +And gone they were, swallowed up in the crowd which surged on all sides of +them. + +Jerry and Harry searched in vain for the two evil-doers and then hunted up +the police and told their story. + +A watch was set, but Si Peters and Wash Crosby managed to escape from the +beach resort without being detected. + +Jerry and Harry returned to Lakeview with the Whistler, and the report +spread that Si Peters and Wash Crosby had robbed the hotel. + +At first Mr. Peters refused to believe it. He came over to Jerry's home, +and threatened Mr. Upton with a lawsuit. + +But the farmer quickly silenced him. + +"Don't say a word to me, Mr. Peters," he said. "A boy that will try to tar +and feather another boy, and then set fire to a barn and burn up cattle, +isn't none too good to rob a hotel." + +"My son is as good as yours!" growled Mr. Peters, and went off in a +perfect rage. But he bothered the Uptons no more, nor did he go near the +Parkers. + +The lake was searched, and the yacht found up at the cove Si Peters had +mentioned. On board was found the valise taken from the hotel. + +After this detectives were sent out to find the two young rascals. But Si +Peters and Wash Crosby kept out of sight. + +Yet the day of reckoning was not far off, as we shall soon see. + +About a week after this Harry invited Jerry to a drive along the west +shore of Lake Otasco. + +As they bowled along they talked over all sorts of matters, and presently +Harry mentioned Si Peters and Wash Crosby. + +"I wonder if they are still hanging around Harmony Beach?" he said. + +"Oh, I don't think they would dare," replied Jerry. "They must know by the +newspapers that the detectives are on their track." + +"I wish we could bring them to justice. It would be a feather in our +cap." + +"So it would, Harry. But I would rather have the law do the work. I never +want to have anymore to do with either of them." + +It did not take the two boys long to drive to the lower end of the lake. +Here the team was put up at a livery stable, and the chums hired bathing +suits and houses, and spread themselves for a fine dip in the lake. + +The water was just right, and they enjoyed every second of the half hour +they allowed themselves. + +It was eight o'clock in the evening before they went to get their team +again. + +The moon was just coming up over the rim of the lake and this promised +them a splendid drive back to Lakeview. + +As Harry and our hero entered the turnout two figures stole up from the +back of the barn. + +The pair were Si Peters and Wash Crosby. + +They ran on ahead, and as the boys waited to settle with the livery stable +keeper they soon disappeared. + +Harry drove, and the young oarsman leaned back and took it easy. + +A mile was covered, and they were just passing a clump of bushes when +whizz! a stone came flying into the carriage. It struck Jerry on the arm, +causing him to cry with pain. + +"Who threw that?" he exclaimed. + +Whizz! came another stone. It struck Harry in the cheek, drawing blood. + +"Whoa!" yelled Jerry, and while the horses were still in motion, he leaped +to the road. + +He had noted the direction from which the missiles came, and bound off, +but behind the bushes all was dark. + +"Look out for yourself!" cried Harry. + +He was busy with the horses, who were shying first to one side and then to +the other. + +At first Jerry could see nothing, but soon he discovered two forms in the +semi-darkness. + +He rushed over and found himself face to face with Si Peters and Wash +Crosby. + +"Peters!" he ejaculated. + +Scarcely had he spoken when a club was raised. Jerry tried to avoid the +descending blow, but was only partly successful. + +The club landed over his shoulder and neck and he was more than half +stunned. + +"Come!" he heard Peters whisper to Crosby, and then all became a confused +whirl and he pitched forward in the grass. + +The two rascals ran out into the road. + +"That for you, Harry Parker!" yelled Si Peters, and struck Harry in the +knee with the club. + +In the meantime Wash Crosby sprang half into the carriage. + +He made a grab at Harry's gold watch chain. + +The chain broke from the buttonhole and along with it came Harry's +beautiful timepiece. + +"I'll keep this to remember you by!" cried Wash Crosby in derision, and +away he sped across the highway and down a side road, with Si Peters at +his heels. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +ANOTHER BOAT RACE. + + +The horses now demanded all of Harry's attention. One of them was bound to +run away, and the youth had all he could do to hold the animal in check. +But the lad knew what he was doing and presently held them under complete +control. + +Then our hero staggered out of the bushes with his hand on his neck, where +a big lump was rising. + +"Where are they?" + +"Gone! Did they rob you, Jerry?" + +"No." + +"Then you are in luck." + +"What do you mean, Harry?" + +"Crosby took my gold watch and chain." + +"Never!" + +"He did. Jerry, those two chaps have turned nothing but common thieves," +went on Harry, bitterly. + +"It certainly looks so, Harry. What shall we do now?" + +"Jump in and we'll go after them." + +Jerry was soon beside Harry, and they turned up the side road taken by the +fugitives. The moon was out full, making the way as light as day, yet +nothing was to be seen of the rascally pair. + +This was not to be wondered at, for after running along the road but a few +hundred feet, Si Peters and Wash Crosby had taken to an open field. +Crossing this, they came out upon a railroad track. A freight train was +coming along slowly, around the bend of the lake, and they had had small +trouble in boarding this. Inside of an hour they were many miles away from +the vicinity. + +Jerry and Harry searched for the pair until midnight, and then gave up the +hunt and returned to Lakeview. Once again the authorities were notified, +and the detectives started on a fresh hunt for the evil-doers. Yet it was +destined to be a long time before Si Peters and Wash Crosby were heard of +again. + +About this time the Lakeview boat club was organizing another series of +rowing races, and both Harry and Jerry were easily persuaded to enter a +contest, which was to take place between a number of local oarsmen. + +A prize of a fine bicycle had been put up, also several other articles of +more or less value, and Jerry and Harry immediately went into training, +with a firm determination to win. + +There were seven entries, all by young fellows of Jerry's age, and as the +youth looked at his opponents he felt that the race would be no easy one. + +Saturday afternoon, the time appointed for the contest, came, bright and +clear, and it found the lake front crowded to its utmost capacity. Many +came over from Rockpoint, but it was noticed that those who had belonged +to Si Peters' crowd were absent. + +The race was to be two miles long, up the lake and back again. The boats +were all drawn up in a line, and everything was made ready for a start. +Jerry was at one end of the line, with Harry at the other, and the +remaining five contestants between them. + +Bang! went the gun on the judges' boat, and away shot the seven rowers +like one man; and the race was begun. + +For over half a mile the seven contestants kept almost side by side. Then +three of them were seen to drop behind. + +"Gravling is ahead!" + +"Harry Parker is second." + +"Phil Raymond is a close third!" + +"Jerry Upton is crawling up!" + +So the shouting went on, as the four leaders swept past. When the turning +point was reached, Harry led, Raymond came second, Gravling third, and +Jerry fourth. The remaining three felt they were out of the race, and +rowed back to the boathouse. + +"Good for you, Harry!" + +"What's the matter, Jerry? You're not doing as good as the day you beat Si +Peters!" + +"Hurry up, Gravling!" + +"Pull for all you know how, Raymond!" + +On and on came the four, their long blades flashing brightly in the +sunshine. They were making fast time, and, no matter who won, the lake +record was likely to be broken. + +Half way down the homestretch, Harry still led, with Gravling but half a +length behind him. A length further back came Raymond and Jerry, side by +side. + +But the terrific speed was now beginning to tell upon Raymond, and slowly +but surely he fell behind, despite the urgings of his friends. Then Jerry +set to work to overtake Gravling. + +"See Jerry Upton crawling up!" + +"Oh, but isn't that a beautiful stroke!" + +"Gravling can't shake him off!" + +"They are a tie!" + +The last cry was true. When still a dozen lengths from the finish Jerry +had overtaken Gravling. But they did not remain tie long. Half a dozen +strokes and Jerry shot ahead and the bow of his craft overlapped Harry's +stern. "Jerry Upton is second!" + +"He's going to shake up Harry Parker for first place!" + +On came the two friends, but now it was noticed that Jerry, although he +still rowed his best, seemed to be losing his interest in the race. + +"It will be no fun to beat Harry," was the thought which ran through his +head; and then, with a yell from three thousand throats, Harry crossed the +line a winner, with our hero not quite half a boat length behind. + +"Hurrah for Harry Parker!" + +"Hurrah for Jerry Upton!" + +Cheer after cheer rent the air, and both lads were immediately surrounded +by their friends. Jerry was one of the first to shake his chum's hand. + +"You won it fairly, Harry," he said. "What kind of time did we make?" + +He was greatly pleased to learn that the lake record for two miles had +been lowered by forty-three seconds, and that he had helped lower it by +forty-two seconds. + +That evening the club held a meeting, and Harry was presented with the +bicycle, something he had been wishing for for some time. Jerry's prize +was a silver watch and chain. + +"This just suits me," he said. "Now, when I'm away from home, I'll be able +to tell what time it is." + +The celebration was at its height, when a message came for Jerry from his +home, stating that his father had been kicked by one of the horses and was +badly injured. + +This news shocked the youth a good deal, and bidding his friends a hasty +good-night, the young oarsman set off for the farm on a run. + +He found his father lying on a couch in the dining-room. A doctor had just +arrived, and he was doing all that he could for the sufferer. + +"Where did the horse kick him, mother?" he questioned, hurriedly. + +"In the side, right under the heart," replied Mrs. Upton. "Oh, I do trust +it is not serious!" + +"So do I. What can I do?" + +"I don't know. We must see what the doctor says." + +The medical man, after a long examination, declared that several ribs had +been fractured, and that Mr. Upton was suffering from shock. Some medicine +was administered, and the patient was carefully carried upstairs and +placed upon a bed. + +No one in the farmhouse slept that night. Mrs. Upton sat by her husband's +side, and Jerry came and went, ready to do anything that might be asked of +him. + +Two days later the doctor pronounced the wounded man out of danger. But +his injuries were severe, and it would be a long while before Mr. Upton +would be able to go around as before. + +His enforced idleness made the farmer fret a good deal. It was true that +the harvest work on the farm was over, but he had wished to do much more. + +"And I reckon that trip to New York is now out of the question," Jerry +heard him say to Mrs. Upton. + +"Why, father, were you going to New York?" asked the boy, in much +curiosity. + +"I had an idea that way, son," returned Mr. Upton, slowly. "I was going on +business," he added, after a pause. + +At this Jerry was more curious than ever. New York was over two hundred +miles from Lakeview, and he had never heard of his parent having business +in the metropolis. + +"You see it's this way, Jerry," said Mr. Upton, noticing his look. "When +your uncle Charley died he left all his property to me. Some time ago I +was cleaning out one of his old trunks and I ran across some deeds to +property in California. From what I can make out the land must be nigh to +the city of Sacramento." + +"And the property belongs to you?" cried Jerry. + +"No, I can't say that exactly. As near as I can figure it, your uncle +Charley owned an interest in it. The property was in the hands of a land +boomer named Alexander Slocum, and there was a letter in the trunk from +this Alexander Slocum which was dated from New York. I think this boomer +holds other papers relating to the land, and I was thinking of making a +trip to New York and hunting him up, if he is still there." + +"Why not let me go to New York in your place," suggested Jerry, quickly. +It had always been the ambition of his life to pay a visit to the great +metropolis. + +"Well, I was kind of thinking of that, son," returned the sick man, +slowly. "I'll see about it in a day or two." + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +JERRY STARTS ON A JOURNEY. + + +Now that the matter had once been talked over, the young oarsman was very +anxious to know all about the property in California, and his mother +brought forth the deeds and other papers found in the old trunk. + +The boy studied the documents with care. He knew but little of the law, +yet he felt that if the land mentioned in the papers was valuable his +father's share, as heir to his uncle, must be considerable. + +"I would like to ask Mr. Parker about this," he said to his folks, but Mr. +Upton shook his head. He was a very retired man and never brought his +affairs to the ears of any outsider. + +"The whole thing might prove worthless," he said, "and then we would be +laughed at by our neighbors." + +"I'd risk it," said Jerry, but his father only shook his head again. + +Nevertheless Mr. Upton appeared to be favorably impressed with the idea of +Jerry's going to New York to hunt up Alexander Slocum. + +"It won't do any harm," he said to his wife. "I have money for the fare in +the house, and it will give Jerry a chance to see a bit of the world." + +Mrs. Upton was doubtful, but when Jerry begged to go she finally +consented. Long talks about the western land and Alexander Slocum +followed, and the youth prevailed upon his folks to let him take the deeds +and papers with him, promising that he would take the best of care of +them. + +"And while I'm in New York I'm going to look around for a situation, and +earn a little money," said Jerry. "Who knows but what I may strike even a +better opening than that Mr. Parker has promised me at his shoe factory." + +"It's not likely a lad off the farm can strike much," smiled his mother, +yet she was pleased at Jerry's earnestness. + +Three days later Jerry was off, valise in hand. He had bid good-bye to +Harry and Blumpo, telling them he was going to New York on some private +business for his father. His mother saw him to the train and kissed him +affectionately. + +"Take good care of yourself, Jerry," she said. "And remember, New York is +an entirely different place from Lakeview or Rockpoint, and you must have +your eyes and ears open to avoid trouble." + +"I'll take care of myself, don't worry mother," and two minutes later the +train came along and he was off. + +Yet it must be confessed that our hero felt just a bit strange as he +settled back in the cushioned seat, with his valise beside him. He was +going over two hundred miles from home and among total strangers. + +"I suppose it will be different from knocking around Lakeview, Rockpoint +or even Long Lake," he mused. "I'll have to brace up and watch myself, or +they'll take me for a regular greeny." + +As the train moved on, Jerry revolved the situation in his mind. He knew +he would arrive in the metropolis late in the afternoon, and determined to +seek a boarding-house first of all, knowing it would be useless to hunt +for any trace of Alexander Slocum after office hours. + +At last the run through green fields and small towns and cities came to an +end, and the train ran into the Grand Central Depot at Forty-second +Street, and Jerry alighted in a crowd and made his way to the street. + +"Cab! coupe! This way for the Central Hotel! Evening paper! Sun or +World!" + +A hundred cries seemed to start up all in an instant, making Jerry's ears +ring. The rattle of the carts and trucks on the pavement was also new, and +for the moment, the Lakeview boy did not know which way to turn. + +"Carry yer baggage?" queried a bare-foot boy, and almost caught his valise +from his hand. But the young oarsman pulled it back and shook his head, +and got out of the crowd as quickly as he could, starting eastward for he +had heard that the cheaper boarding houses lay in that direction. + +It was not long before the boy came to several places which displayed the +sign, Boarding. But the first two were too elegant, and Jerry passed them +without stopping. Then came a third, and ascending the steps Jerry rang +the bell. + +An elderly lady answered the summons, a sharp-faced woman with powdered +hair. + +"You take boarders here?" queried Jerry. + +"We do, young man," she answered, in a voice that made our hero far from +comfortable. + +"I expect to stay in New York a week or two, and I--" + +"We don't take transients," she snapped. "Only regular boarders with +first-class references," and she shut the door in Jerry's face. + +He was glad enough to escape to the pavement, feeling satisfied that he +would not have cared to have boarded there, even had she been willing to +take him in. + +A block further on was another place, a modest brick residence, set back +behind a small plot of green. Thinking this looked inviting, and not +reasoning that the spot of green was as valuable as a brown-stone building +would have been, Jerry entered the garden and made known his wants to the +servant who was dusting the piazza chairs. + +She called the lady of the house, who on hearing what Jerry had to say, +smiled in a motherly way. + +"I hardly think I can take you in, my boy," she said. "Do you know how +much I charge a week?" + +"No, ma'am." + +"Twelve to fifteen dollars for a single room and not less than ten +otherwise." + +Jerry almost gasped for breath. + +"That is twice what I can afford to pay," he returned. "Gracious! I had no +idea rates were so high." + +"That is not high, here in New York. But perhaps I can direct you to a +place that will suit. I have a friend three blocks over. Here is her +card," and she handed it over. + +Thanking her, the young oarsman got out without delay. He was glad she had +directed him, for now he was certain he would at least strike a place that +would fit his pocket-book. + +Jerry went on until he came to an avenue down which the elevated cars were +running. They were a great novelty and he paused on the corner to watch +several of the trains rattle along overhead. + +As Jerry was about to move on, he heard a wild cry of alarm from the +second story window of a house opposite. Looking in the direction, he saw +a girl pointing up the street to where a baby-carriage had rolled from the +pavement to the gutter, overturning itself and spilling a little child +into the street. + +The youth ran in the direction with the idea of picking the child up. As +he did this an ice-wagon came along at a furious speed, the driver on the +seat trying in vain to stop his horse. + +The ice-wagon was heading directly for the child and unless something was +done the little one would be run over and most likely killed. With his +heart in his throat our hero threw down his valise and leaped to the +rescue. In another instant the runaway horse was fairly on top of the +lad. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +THE WORK OF A REAL HERO. + + +Jerry's heart was in his throat when he sprang to the rescue of the little +child in the street. He saw that the horse attached to the ice-wagon could +not be stopped and realized only too well what it meant should he be +struck down. + +Yet the sight of that innocent face nerved him on, and in less time than +it takes to write it he had the child in his arms. Clinging to the little +one, he flung himself backward, and like a flash the horse sprang past, +dragging the ice-wagon so close that the wheels scraped his leg. + +A shout went up from the crowd, but Jerry did not hear what was said. +Staggering up, he ran back to the sidewalk, leaving the baby-carriage a +wreck behind him. + +In another moment the girl who had given the first cry of alarm was at +Jerry's side. + +"Is he hurt? Is little Tommy hurt?" she cried, as she snatched the +youngster from Jerry's arms. + +"Me fell in the dirt," lisped the little one. "Me ain't hurt, but me awful +dirty." + +"Never mind the dirt, dear," cried the girl. "I am thankful you escaped. +Mary, why didn't you take better care of him?" + +The last words were addressed to an Irish girl who had just sauntered up. + +"I went to get a hoky-poky at the corner," replied the girl. "I don't care +to mind yer brother any more anyway," she added, and darted out of sight +into the crowd. + +Seeing the little boy was uninjured, the crowd moved on, and presently the +young oarsman found himself alone with the girl, who appeared to be +several years older than himself. + +"You are a brave boy," she said, warmly. "I would like to reward you, but +I am poor." + +"I don't want any reward," replied Jerry, stoutly. "It was a close shave, +though." + +"You look like a stranger around here." + +"I am--I just arrived in New York and I am looking for a boarding-house. +Can you tell me where this one is?" and Jerry showed her the card the lady +had given him. + +"Oh, yes; it is one block over to your left--a real nice house, too. May I +ask your name?" + +"Jerry Upton." + +"Mine is Nellie Ardell, and this is my brother Tommy. We are alone here." + +"Haven't you any folks?" + +"No. Mother was with us up to last winter, but she had consumption and +died." + +The tears stood in Nellie Ardell's eyes as she spoke. Jerry saw at once +that she had had a hard struggle of it. + +"What do you do for a living?" he ventured to ask. + +"I do sewing and mending for my neighbors--principally mending for the +girls who work in the stores." + +"And can you make much that way?" + +"Not a great deal. But I try to make enough to pay the rent and store +bills. May I ask what you are going to do in New York?" + +"I came to find a real estate dealer named Alexander Slocum. I want to see +him about some property left by my uncle to my father. Have you ever heard +of him?" + +"Heard of him?" she cried in surprise. "He is my landlord." + +Jerry was dumfounded by this unexpected bit of information. + +"You are certain?" + +"Why, of course I am. He was around to see me only day before yesterday +about the rent. I am a bit behind, and I had to put him off." + +"And what kind of a man is he?" + +"I think he is very hard-hearted. But then, that may be because I am +behind in my payment. He threatened to put me out of my rooms if I didn't +pay when he called again." + +"How many rooms have you?" + +"Only two, and I pay six dollars a month for them." + +"And how far behind are you?" + +"I only owe for the month." + +"And he won't trust you even that long? He certainly must be mean," Jerry +rejoined warmly. + +"You said something about property belonging to your father," said Nellie +Ardell. "Has Mr. Slocum an interest in it?" + +"He has and he hasn't," the boy replied, and he told his story in a few +words as they walked along to the entrance of the house in which she +lived. + +"Well, I trust you get your right, Jerry Upton," said the girl. "Come and +see me some time." + +"I will," and after Jerry had procured Alexander Slocum's office address +from her, the pair separated. + +Jerry was very thoughtful as he proceeded on his way. By a turn of fortune +he had gotten on Slocum's track much quicker than expected. The question +was, how should he best approach the man? + +"I'll settle that after I have procured a boarding place," he thought, and +hurried to the address given him. + +Mrs. Price, the landlady, was a very nice old person. She had a top room +in the back she said she would let with board, for five dollars a week, +and Jerry closed with her without delay, paying for one week in advance. + +This finished, our hero found he was hungry, and after a washing-up, ate +supper with a relish. He could not help but notice that the vegetables and +milk served were not as fresh as those at home, but remembered he was now +in the city and not on a farm, and did not complain. + +Mrs. Price had taken in another new boarder that day, a tall, slim man, +possibly thirty years of age. He was introduced as Mr. Wakefield Smith, +and he did all he could to make himself popular. Jerry felt that a good +bit of his pleasantry was forced, but as there was no use in finding +fault, he became quite friendly with the man. + +"Supposing we take a walk out together this evening?" Wakefield Smith +suggested. "No doubt you would like to see the sights." + +"I'll go out for an hour or so," answered the young oarsman, and they +started while it was yet light. + +Mr. Wakefield Smith knew the metropolis from end to end, and as the pair +covered block after block, he pointed out various buildings. He smoked +constantly, and several times invited Jerry to have a cigar, but the youth +declined. + +"Supposing we have a drink, then?" he urged. + +Again Jerry declined, which made the man frown. He insisted Jerry should +at least have some soda water with him, and at last the boy accepted, and +they entered rather a modest looking drug store on a side street. + +"Hullo! what's that crowd on the street?" exclaimed Mr. Wakefield Smith, +as the glasses were set out, and as Jerry looked out of the doorway he +fancied the man shoved up close to where his glass was standing and made a +movement as if to throw something into it. + +Jerry saw nothing unusual in the street, and the man's manner made him +suspicious, so that he hesitated about drinking the soda. He swallowed a +small portion of it and threw the remainder in a corner. + +"What's the matter, don't you like it?" demanded Wakefield Smith, almost +roughly. + +"No, it's bitter." + +"Humph!" He growled something under his breath. "I'll not treat you +again," he went on, as they came out on the street. + +What Jerry had taken of the soda had made his head ache, and this caused +the young oarsman to grow more suspicious than ever. He had read in a +daily paper about folks being drugged by friendly strangers, and resolved +to be on guard. + +The pair passed on the distance of a block, and then Jerry announced his +intention of returning home to the boarding-house. + +"Oh, don't go yet," urged Mr. Wakefield Smith. "Come on across the way. +There are some beautiful pictures in an art store window I want to show +you. One of the pictures is worth ten thousand dollars." + +He caught our hero by the arm and hurried him over the way and into the +crowd. Jerry was jostled to the right and left, and it was fully a minute +before he squeezed himself out to a clear spot. Then he looked around for +Mr. Wakefield Smith, but the man was gone. + +Like a flash Jerry felt something had gone wrong. He put his hand in his +pocket. His money was missing! + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + +A FRUITLESS SEARCH. + + +"Less than half a day in New York and robbed! Oh, what a greeny I have +been!" + +Thus Jerry groaned to himself as he searched first one pocket and then +another. It was all to no purpose, the money was gone and he was left +absolutely penniless. + +The young oarsman was certain that Mr. Wakefield Smith had robbed him. He +had been wary of the man from the start, and now blamed himself greatly +for having given the rascal the chance to take the pocket-book. + +Without loss of time Jerry darted into the crowd again, looking in every +direction for the thief. He was so eager, he ran plump into an old +gentleman, knocking his silk hat to the pavement. + +"Hi! hi! stop, you young rascal!" puffed the man, as Jerry stooped and +restored the tile to him. "What do you mean by running into me in this +fashion?" + +"Excuse me, but I have been robbed! I want to catch the thief." + +"Robbed?" + +"Yes, sir." + +The gentleman nervously felt to see if his money and watch were safe. +Several others heard the words, and they gathered around Jerry. + +"Who robbed you?" + +"How much did you have?" + +"Why didn't you hold the thief?" + +Before Jerry could answer any of the questions a policeman came forward +and touched him on the shoulder. + +"Are you the boy said he was robbed?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"What were you robbed of?" + +"A pocket-book containing nearly thirty dollars." + +"Did you see the thief?" + +"I believe it was a man I was walking with. He called himself Wakefield +Smith." + +The policeman questioned Jerry closely, and then took a good look around +for the individual. Later on, boy and officer walked to Mrs. Price's +boarding-house. + +Here it was learned that Mr. Wakefield Smith had not paid any board money, +giving as an excuse that he had nothing less than a one-hundred-dollar +bill and that he would pay in the morning. It also came to light that he +had walked out with Mrs. Price's silver-handled umbrella, worth eight +dollars. + +"The villain!" she cried. "I hope the police catch him!" + +"You don't wish it more than I do," returned the young oarsman, dolefully. +"He took my last dollar." + +Acting on the policeman's advice, Jerry walked around to the nearest +precinct station and made a complaint, giving the best description of Mr. +Wakefield Smith he could. + +"We will do our best to capture him," said the captain in charge, and with +this promise the youth had to be content. + +My readers can imagine our hero did not spend a restful night. He lay +awake for several hours speculating on the turn affairs had taken. His +board was paid for a week, but that was all. He did not even have money to +pay car fare back to Lakeview. + +"I wonder what mother and father would say if they knew?" he thought. "I +won't let them know until there's nothing else to do." + +Jerry arose early the next day and got breakfast before any of the other +boarders. + +"I must find something to do without delay," he explained to Mrs Price. "A +fellow without a dollar in his pocket can't afford to remain idle." + +"You have a week's board coming to you," she said, with a faint smile. + +"Yes, but I haven't even the price of a car fare in my pocket." + +"Well, Mr. Upton, I like your looks, and if you'll accept it I'll loan you +a couple of dollars. I suppose it was partly my fault that Smith robbed +you. But don't blame me, I've suffered, too." + +"I will accept the loan gladly, Mrs. Price. I don't like to go around +without a cent. I will pay you back as soon as I can." + +"I know you will. I may have been deceived in that Smith, but I am certain +I am not in you," added the landlady. + +With the two dollars tucked away in a safe place, Jerry left the house. He +knew it would be useless to go to Alexander Slocum's office at such an +early hour, and determined to look around in the hope of striking +something whereby he might earn at least enough money to last him while +stopping in New York. + +"I won't write home unless I have to," he muttered to himself. "My time is +my own and I'll make the most of it while I'm here." + +Getting one of the dollar bills changed, Jerry bought a morning paper and +looked over the Help Wanted--Males--column, and noted several addresses. + +"I'll try them and lose no time," he thought, and hurried to the nearest +store where a boy was wanted. + +He was surprised to find a dozen applicants ahead of him. Worse than that, +a boy had already been hired; so all of the others were forced to leave. + +Jerry next tried a florist's establishment. But here a boy was wanted who +understood the city thoroughly, and he was quickly told he would not do. + +Jerry walked from one place to another for three hours without success. +Somewhat disheartened, he strolled into a park close to Broadway and sat +down. + +The situation was certainly a serious one, and the young oarsman was +decidedly sober in mind as he sat there, staring vacantly at the hurrying +throng. + +"Well, young man, how did you make out last night?" + +The question came from a bench just behind Jerry. Looking around, he saw +sitting there the gentleman he had run into while trying to find Wakefield +Smith. + +"I didn't make out at all, sir." + +"Couldn't find him, eh?" + +"No, sir." + +"Those pickpockets are slick chaps, and no mistake," went on the +gentleman. + +"Did you lose much?" + +"All I had--nearly thirty dollars." + +"Phew! that is too bad. Well, I wouldn't sit down to mope about it. You +might as well get to work and earn the amount over again." + +"The trouble is, I can't find any work," answered the boy, earnestly. "I +would work fast enough if I could only find it to do." + +"You are out of a situation?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Since when?" + +"Since I came to New York," answered Jerry. + +"You are about as bad off as I was some forty years ago," said the man, +with a broad smile. "At that time I found myself in this city, with just +twenty-five cents in my pocket. But I struck employment, and rose from one +place to another until now I am my own master, with a bookbinding-shop +where I employ nearly fifty hands." + +As he spoke he gazed at Jerry curiously. + +"You were going to ask me for a job, weren't you?" he went on, and Jerry +nodded. "What can you do?" + +"I'm not used to any such work, sir. But you'll find me willing and +strong--and honest. I would like to earn a little before I went back to my +home." + +"Well, those three qualities you mention are sure to win, my boy. Perhaps +I can find an opening for you. Here comes a friend I have been waiting +for. I am going out of town with him. Call at my shop to-morrow morning, +if you don't strike anything in the meantime." + +And, handing out his card, Mr. Islen walked rapidly away. + +Fifteen minutes later found Jerry on the way to Alexander Slocum's office. +In an inner pocket he carried the papers his father had unearthed from the +trunk in the garret at home. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + +ALEXANDER SLOCUM IS ASTONISHED. + + +Jerry felt that his mission to the real estate man was a delicate one. +What would he have to say when he learned who the youth was and what he +had come for? + +The boy resolved to be on guard. He might be from the country and green, +but no one should catch him napping, as had Mr. Wakefield Smith. + +The distance to the address furnished by Nellie Ardell was nearly a dozen +blocks, but Jerry was used to walking and made the journey on foot. + +The young oarsman found Alexander Slocum's set of offices located on the +top floor of an old-fashioned four-story office building. There was an +elevator, however, and this Jerry used and soon found himself in front of +a ground-glass door, which bore the sign: + + Alexander Slocum, + Real Estate and Fire Insurance. + Loans Negotiated. + +There was a hum of voices from within, but the hum ceased as Jerry +knocked. + +"Come in," was the short invitation, and the boy entered, to find a large +apartment, comfortably furnished with desks, stuffed chairs and other +things which went to show that the man he had come to interview was doing +well. + +Near an open window sat two gentlemen dressed in black. One was much older +than the other, and Jerry rightfully guessed that he was an office +assistant. + +The other man was well preserved, with a waxed mustache and piercing black +eyes. He held a silk hat in his hand, as if he had been on the point of +leaving. + +"Well, young man, what can I do for you?" questioned the office assistant, +as he regarded Jerry indifferently. + +"I came to see Mr. Alexander Slocum," replied our hero. + +"I am Mr. Slocum," put in the other man. "What is it you want?" + +"I came to see you on a bit of private business, sir." + +"Yes. Well, Mr. Casey here knows all about my affairs; so you need have no +hesitation in speaking in front of him," laughed the real estate man +somewhat harshly. + +"I am Jerry Upton, and I came from Lakeview. My uncle, Charles Upton, who +is now dead, was once interested in a colonization land scheme that you +started." + +Jerry watch Mr. Slocum narrowly as he spoke, and saw that the man was +greatly astonished. He started back, and for an instant the assuring look +his face wore faded. + +"Jerry Upton from Lakeview," he murmured slowly. Then he cleared his +throat. "I--I did not expect to see you." + +"I suppose not, sir." + +"What is it you want?" + +"I want to find out how matters stand in regard to the land in California. +My father heard you had gone to Europe." + +"I did go to Europe, but not to escape inquiry," added Slocum, hastily. +"You see, that scheme failed utterly," he went on slowly. "Why, I lost +nearly every dollar I possessed in it. What your uncle lost was nothing in +comparison." + +"It was to him, Mr. Slocum. To whom does the land belong?" + +"Why, it--er--it reverted to its original owners, some mine speculators of +Denver." + +"Where is the land located?" + +"Not far from the city of Sacramento." + +"Can't you give me the precise location?" + +At this Alexander Slocum glared at our hero savagely. + +"It would do you no good to spend money on hunting the matter up," he +answered. "That affair was settled long ago. The money was lost, and that +is all there is to it." + +"Not if I know it, Mr. Slocum. I intend to sift the matter to the bottom. +I am convinced that all was not carried out as it should have been." + +"You appear to be a very foolish boy." + +"That may be your opinion, but it won't alter my intention. I have my +uncle's papers with me, and, unless you will give me some particulars of +how the scheme fell through, I shall place the matter in the hands of a +lawyer." + +Alexander Slocum winced at this, and Jerry fancied he was hard struck. He +made a movement as if to clutch the youth by the arm, then drew back. + +"You have your uncle's papers?" he asked cautiously. + +"Yes. My father is his sole heir." + +"I should like to see them. Perhaps I spoke hastily; but really you are +mistaken in thinking it can be of any use to bring that old deal up again. +The money was lost, and there is no chance of getting it back again." + +"But, either you are responsible for the amount, or else my uncle's +interest in the land still holds good," said Jerry. + +"Let me see the papers." + +Mr. Slocum made a movement as if to take them. But Jerry drew back and +shook his head. + +"I prefer not to let them go out of my possession." + +"Do you mean to say you won't trust me?" + +"You can put it that way, if you wish, Mr. Slocum." + +The real estate man bit his lip. Then he made a movement to his assistant, +who at once slid behind Jerry, towards the door. + +"What are you going to do?" the young oarsman asked, in alarm. + +Without replying, the assistant locked the door and slipped the key into +his pocket. + +"Don't grow excited," said Alexander Slocum, coldly. "I want to see those +papers, that's all. Show them to me at once!" + +Like a flash Jerry realized he was trapped by the enemy. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. + +JERRY'S CLEVER ESCAPE. + + +Jerry saw at once that things were growing warm. From the look on his face +it was plain to see that Alexander Slocum was in deadly earnest when he +said he wanted to see those papers. + +His manner made our hero feel that the papers would not be safe in his +hands. If he gave them up he might never see them again, and without the +documents the claim on the land in California would fall flat. + +"Did you hear what I said, Upton? I want you to let me see those papers," +Slocum went on, after a second of intense silence. + +"What do you mean by locking that door?" Jerry demanded of the elderly +assistant, without paying any attention to the real estate dealer's +words. + +Casey made no response. Instead, he took his stand by his employer's side, +as if awaiting further orders. + +"You act as if you were afraid of me," sneered Slocum. "I won't hurt +you." + +"You won't--not if I can help it," answered Jerry. "But I want you to +unlock that door. I am not to be treated as a prisoner." + +"I only wanted to secure us against interruption. So many agents come up +here, and they are a regular nuisance." + +Slocum advanced and held out his hand, as if expecting Jerry would drop +the precious papers into it. Instead, the boy retreated and took up a +position behind a flat-top desk in the centre of the office. + +At this the real estate dealer grew furious behind his well-waxed +mustache. He had expected to intimidate our hero easily, and now he was +nonplused. + +"Are you going to let me see those papers?" he fumed. + +"No; at least not now." + +"Why not?" + +"I prefer not to answer that question." + +"You think you have a case against me--that you can place me in a tight +hole." + +"Well, if all is straight you have nothing to fear." + +"Don't preach to me, boy. All is straight. I lost my money as well as the +others did." + +"This doesn't look as if you had lost much," ventured Jerry, as he glanced +about the elegant apartment. + +"Oh, I have made money since, in a lucky real estate deal in Brooklyn. I +won't keep your papers." + +"I want that door unlocked." + +Slocum muttered something under his breath, and his face grew suddenly +red. Like a flash he placed his hands on the flat desk and leaped over +it. + +"I'll bring you to terms, you young country fool!" he cried, and made a +clutch for Jerry's collar. + +Had our hero not turned like a flash he would have had the lad. But Jerry +was on guard and fled to the office door. Raising his foot he gave the +barrier a kick that caused it to crack heavily. + +"Stop that!" + +"I won't. Let me out, or I'll kick the door down." + +"Casey, catch the young rascal!" cried Slocum. "I'm going to teach him a +thing or two." + +Anxious to obey the command of the man who held him completely under his +thumb, Casey ran forward. Seeing him coming, Jerry fled behind a large +screen. Here rested a heavy cane, and he picked it up and brandished it +over his head. + +"Keep back! Advance at your peril." + +"I'm afraid to go near the young fool," said Casey. + +"I'll fix him. Stand aside. I never yet saw the boy that could get the +best of me," muttered Alexander Slocum. + +"He may kill you, Mr. Slocum." + +"I'll risk it." + +Running around the desk, the real estate dealer came for the young +oarsman. As he approached, the boy pushed the screen against him and he +went down, with the heavy object on top of him. + +"You--you villain!" he spluttered. + +To this Jerry made no answer. Taking advantage of the time afforded him, +he looked around for some means of escaping his enemies. To remain a +moment longer in the office he felt would be perilous in the extreme. + +Near the corner to which Jerry had retreated was an open window. Glancing +out of it he saw that the roof of the next building was but six or eight +feet below the window sill. + +Without stopping to think twice, our hero leaped out of the window and on +to the roof below. + +"Stop! stop!" + +Both Slocum and his assistant called after Jerry, but he paid no +attention. Leaving the vicinity of the window, he ran along the roof to +the rear. Here there was an addition to a tin-shop underneath, and he +dropped down and found himself within twelve feet of a narrow alleyway. + +"Are you coming back?" bawled Alexander Slocum; and then, as Jerry let +himself down over the edge of the roof, he suddenly disappeared from the +window. + +Guessing he was coming down to head him off, the youth lost no time in +dropping to the ground. + +Once down, it was an easy matter to gain the street. As he came out on the +pavement, Slocum came running up all out of breath. + +"You're a fine boy!" he cried. "Come back to the office, and let us talk +matters over." + +"Not to-day," answered Jerry. "I've had enough of a dose for the +present." + +"You are making a mistake." + +"I don't intend to put my head into the lion's mouth." + +While the two were speaking Casey came up, and, as the two appeared as if +they wanted to drag Jerry back into the building just left, the youth +retreated. + +Alexander Slocum followed for a block, and then gave up the chase. Seeing +this, Jerry walked on more leisurely. + +Our hero's visit to the real estate dealer had set him to thinking deeply. +The man's anxiety concerning the papers made the boy feel sure there was +more at the bottom of the land speculation than either his parents or he +had suspected. + +Perhaps the land was still held by this man and was of great value. If +this was so how was he to go to work to establish his father's claim? + +Pondering over the affair, the young oarsman thought of Mr. Randolph Islen +and of his kindness. He resolved to tell that gentleman his story and see +what he would have to say. + +This conclusion reached, Jerry felt in his inner pocket to see if the +precious papers were still safe. To his horror they were gone. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. + +SOMETHING ABOUT A TRAMP. + + +"Gone!" + +The cry burst involuntarily from Jerry's lips, and for the moment his +heart seemed to stop beating. The precious papers were missing. + +What had become of them? With great haste he hunted all of his pockets, +not once but a dozen times. Then he felt in the linings, and in fact in +all places where the packet might have become concealed. + +It was useless; they were gone; that was all there was to it. + +Had he dropped them in Slocum's office, or during his hasty flight to the +alleyway? + +Our hero retraced his steps, with eyes bent to the ground, in hopes that +they would be found lying on the walk. In doing this he ran into half a +dozen folks, many of whom did not take kindly to the collision. + +"Look where you are going, boy." + +"Hunting for a pin or gold dollars?" + +Jerry paid no attention to the remarks. Reaching the alleyway, he turned +into it and continued the search, but without success. + +"Say, wot yer doin' in here?" + +The question was asked by a youth in the tin-shop. He was red-headed and +had a freckled face, but not an unpleasant one. + +"I was looking for something I lost," said the young oarsman. "Have you +seen anything in here of a flat, white package with a black shoestring +tied around it?" + +"Why, yes, I did," he answered. + +"And where is it?" + +"A tramp had it. I saw him walk out of der alley wid it not five minutes +ago." + +"A tramp? What kind of a looking man?" + +"Tall and thin, with a grizzly beard. Oh, he was a regular bum." + +"Where did he go?" + +"Up the street, I think. Was the bundle valuable?" + +"Indeed it was, to me," replied Jerry, and hurried off. + +He could see nothing of any tramp, and, after dodging around among the +trucks for several minutes, returned to the youth. + +"Please describe that tramp to me, will you?" asked Jerry, and the +tinner's boy did so, as well as he was able. + +"I think da call him Crazy Jim," he concluded. "He don't come down here +very often. He belongs uptown somewhere." + +"Well, if you ever see him again, please let me know. My name is Jerry +Upton, and here is my address," and our hero handed it over. + +"All right, I will. My name is Jerry Martin. Wot was in de package?" + +"Some papers belonging to my father." + +The boy wanted to question Jerry for further particulars, but the young +oarsman did not care to say too much, and hurried off, to seek the tramp +again. + +That evening found our hero at Mrs. Price's, footsore and downhearted. He +had seen nothing of Crazy Jim, and it looked as if the precious packet was +gone for good. + +Jerry could not help but wonder what Alexander Slocum's next move would +be. Would the man endeavor to hunt him out or would he write to his +father? + +The next morning, on his way to Mr. Randolph Islen's place of business, +Jerry met Nellie Ardell. + +"Did you find Mr. Slocum's?" she asked. + +"I did; and had a very disagreeable visit," returned our hero. + +"I knew you would have," she went on. "I wish he was not my landlord." + +Jerry asked her how Tommy was, and then they parted, and five minutes more +brought our hero to the book-bindery. + +Mr. Islen was not yet in, but he soon arrived, and smiled as Jerry +presented himself. + +"On hand, I see, my young friend. Well, how did you make out? Did you +obtain a position?" + +"No, sir." + +"It's rather hard. Mr. Grice!" he called out. + +The foreman of the book-bindery came in and Jerry was introduced to him. +Quite a chat followed, at the end of which Jerry was hired to work in the +stock department at a salary of six dollars a week. + +The salary was not large, but it would pay his expenses, and that was all +he wished for at present. + +"I won't have to write home for money," he thought. + +Mr. Grice wanted Jerry to come to work immediately, but our hero begged to +speak to Mr. Islen in private for a moment, and when they were left alone +told his story from beginning to end. + +The rich book-binder listened with interest, and tapped meditatively upon +his desk when Jerry had finished. + +"This is rather a strange story, Upton," he said. "What would you like me +to do?" + +"I would like you to give me some advice, sir. What had I best do?" + +"You can do a number of things. What would be the best I cannot say. You +might hire a lawyer to look into the case, and again you might have this +Slocum arrested for locking you in the office. The loss of the packet +complicates matters. Did it have your name on?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Then you had better wait, and in the meantime advertise for the packet, +offering a reward. That tramp may be watching for such an advertisement." + +This was sound advice; but Jerry had no money, and said so. + +"I will pay for the advertisement and take it out of your pay," said Mr. +Islen; and the notice was written out without delay and sent off by the +office boy. + +The young oarsman now felt a trifle lighter in heart. He reasoned that the +packet would be of no value to the tramp and that he would be glad to +surrender it in hope of a reward. He did not remember at the time that he +had written Alexander Slocum's name and address on the outside wrapper; +yet such was a fact. + +When Jerry entered the bindery he found several pairs of curious eyes bent +upon him from boys of about his own age. Without delay Mr. Grice set our +hero to work. + +"What is your name?" asked one of the boys, as soon as he had a chance. + +"Jerry Upton. What is yours?" + +"Dick Lenning. Say, do you know you have got the job Grice was going to +give my brother?" + +"No, I don't." + +"It's so. Jack was coming to work to-morrow. It ain't fair to take the +bread out of a fellow's mouth like that," growled Dick Lenning. + +"I fancy Mr. Islen gave me my position--" Jerry ventured. + +"Oh! So it was the boss put you in. Well, it ain't fair anyway. Where do +you come from--Brooklyn?" + +"No, Lakeview." + +"Never heard of it. Must be some country village. You look like a +hayseed." + +As Dick Lenning spoke he gazed around to see if Mr. Grice had gone. Then +he added in a whisper: + +"You have to set up the drinks for the crowd before you can work here, +see?" + +"Drinks," repeated our hero. + +"Sure; all the new hands do that." + +"I--I rather think I won't." + +"You are too mean." + +"It's not that; I don't drink." + +"You are a country jay, and no mistake." + +Dick Lenning leaned forward and shoved Jerry with his elbow, at the same +time putting one foot behind the youth. He wanted to trip our hero up, but +Jerry was on guard, and, resisting him, the young oarsman caused him to +slip down against a bench upon which rested a pot of book-binders' glue. + +The glue tipped over and part of it went down Lenning's leg, causing him +to yell like a wild Indian. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX. + +MR. WAKEFIELD SMITH AGAIN. + + +"I'll hammer you for that!" + +"What did he do, Dick?" + +"Knocked the glue over me. You country jay, you!" howled Dick Lenning, +and, leaping up, he bore down on Jerry. + +Lenning was a good deal of a bully. He was tall and strong, and evidently +he thought he could make our hero submit to his will easily. + +"Take that!" he fairly hissed, and aimed a blow at Jerry's ear. The youth +dodged it and caught his arm. + +"Hold on!" Jerry ejaculated. "I don't want to fight. You will only make +trouble." + +"Let go!" + +"Not until you promise to keep quiet." + +"I'll promise nothing," stormed Lenning, and began to struggle more +excitedly than ever. + +But he soon wore himself out, when Jerry got behind him and clasped hands +over his breast. The bully was about to call on his friends to assist him, +when a cry went up. + +"Cheese it! Grice is coming this way." + +As if by magic the boys who had gathered around ran off to their work, +leaving the bully and Jerry alone. Our hero released his opponent, and, +turning around, Lenning glared at him vindictively. + +"I'll get even with you for this, see if I don't," he muttered in a hoarse +whisper. + +Then he followed his friends; and Mr. Grice came up and took Jerry to +another part of the shop. + +"I have changed my mind about letting you work here," he said. "I want you +to get used to the place before I put you among those other boys." + +Evening found our hero a good deal worn out, not so much by the work as by +the close confinement of the bindery. How different life in the great +metropolis was to life in the green fields of the country! + +After supper Jerry determined to take a walk uptown, to get the outdoor +exercise and also in hope of seeing something of the tramp who had taken +the packet. He knew that looking for the tramp in the metropolis was a +good deal like looking for a pin in a haystack, but imagined that even +that pin could be found if one looked long and sharp enough for it. + +The young oarsman sauntered forth toward Broadway, and thence past the +Forty-second Street depot and up to Central Park. It was a long walk, but +he did not mind it; in fact, it seemed to do him good, for it rested his +mind. + +The window displays interested Jerry not a little, and he took in +everything that came along. So the time flew quickly, until, coming to a +jeweler's window, he saw it was after ten o'clock. + +"I'll have to be getting back," he said to himself, and was on the point +of returning when he saw that which surprised him greatly. A cab whirled +past the corner upon which he was standing, and on the back seat he +recognized Mr. Wakefield Smith. + +The pickpocket was alone, and ere Jerry could stop him the cab rolled down +the side street out of hearing. + +Our hero did not stop long to consider what was best to do, but took to +his heels and followed the cab as best he could. + +The cab gained a distance of nearly two blocks, and Jerry was almost on +the point of giving up, when it came to a halt in front of what looked +like a private club-house. Wakefield Smith alighted and paid the cabman, +who went about his business without delay. + +"Stop there!" cried Jerry to the pickpocket, as the man mounted the steps +of the house. But whether the man heard our hero or not, he paid no +attention. When Jerry reached the spot he was standing on a low porch. + +"Did you hear me?" went on Jerry, and, to prevent Smith from entering the +place, our hero caught him by the button of his coat. + +To Jerry surprise, the rascal offered no resistance. Instead, he came down +the steps backward, and fell on his back on the sidewalk, his hat rolling +toward the gutter. + +"Shay, waz you do that fer?" he hiccoughed. + +Jerry gazed at the pickpocket in wonder. Then the truth flashed over our +hero. The man who had robbed him was beastly intoxicated. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX. + +AN UNLOOKED FOR ADVENTURE. + + +It would be hard to express Jerry's feelings when he found Mr. Wakefield +Smith was suffering heavily from intoxication. For the moment he could do +nothing but stare at the man as he lay helpless on the pavement. + +"Waz you mean, boy?" went on Smith, and he tried in vain to get up. "Waz +you knock me down for, I demand to know?" + +"Do you recognize me?" said our hero sharply, as he looked the pickpocket +squarely in the face. + +"No--don't know you from Adam, 'pon my word." + +"I am Jerry Upton, the boy you robbed the other night." + +At the words Smith straightened up for a moment and a look of alarm +crossed his face. + +"Jerry Upton," he repeated, slowly. + +"Yes. What have you done with my money?" + +"Ain't got a dollar of your money." + +"If you haven't, you've drank it up," Jerry ejaculated. "You ought to be +ashamed of yourself." + +"Zat's all right, m'boy, all right, I assure you. Come on and have a good +time with me." + +With great difficulty Wakefield Smith arose to his feet and staggered +towards the house he had been on the point of entering. Jerry pulled him +back and held him. As our hero did this he saw Smith drop a ten-dollar +bill. Jerry picked it up. + +"You are not going in there--you are going with me." + +"Where to?" + +"To the nearest station house." + +The pickpocket gave a hiccough and a cry of alarm that was very much like +a whine. + +"To the station house?" + +"Yes; come on." + +"Never." + +Smith struggled feebly to get away, but the boy held him with ease. +Overcome, the man finally sat down on the curbstone and refused to budge. + +"Shay, let us compromise," he mumbled. "It was all a mistake." + +"It was no mistake." + +"If I give you ten dollars, will you call it off?" + +"No." + +"Then you don't git a cent, see?" + +And with great deliberation the pickpocket closed one bleared eye and +glared at Jerry. + +"We'll see about that later," cried our hero, hotly, and catching the +rascal by the collar the youth yanked him to a standing position. "Now +come on, and no nonsense." + +Seeing that the youth was not to be fooled with, Wakefield Smith tried to +dicker again, getting himself badly twisted in his plea that he would make +everything all right. Jerry would not trust him and forced him to walk +along until the nearest corner was reached. Here he suddenly made a clutch +at an electric-light pole and held fast. + +"Help! help! help!" he cried out at the top of his lungs. "Police!" + +The young oarsman did not know what to make of this appeal for assistance, +for it seemed to him that the authorities were the very people Mr. +Wakefield Smith wished to avoid. He was destined, however to soon learn a +trick that was brand new to him. + +The pickpocket had hardly uttered his cry when a bluecoat put into +appearance and came running to the spot. + +"What's the trouble here?" he demanded. + +"Shay, officer, make that young fellow go away," hiccoughed Mr. Wakefield +Smith. + +"What is he up to?" + +"Trying to rob me, officer; reg'lar slick Aleck." + +At this cool assertion Jerry was dumbfounded. + +"So you're trying to rob this gent, eh?" said the bluecoat, turning to our +hero and catching his arm. "I reckon I came just in time." + +"It's a falsehood; he is the pickpocket," rejoined Jerry as soon as he +could speak. + +"He looks like it," said the officer, sarcastically. + +"He didn't rob me now, he robbed several nights ago. I just ran across +him." + +"He's a slick Aleck," went on Mr. Wakefield Smith. "Don't let him take my +watch, officer!" + +"No fear of that. Come along with me, young man." + +"If I have to go I want him to go, too." + +At these words Mr. Wakefield Smith's face changed color. + +"I can't go, officer; have an important engagement at the--er--club." + +"He is a pickpocket and I'll prove it at the station house," said Jerry, +warningly. "It is your duty to make him go along. I'll help you carry him +if it's necessary." + +"And you'll skip out, too, if you get the chance," remarked the policeman, +grimly. + +"If you think that, handcuff me to this fellow." + +"Do you mean that?" + +"I do, sir." + +"Hang me if I don't think you are honest, after all." + +"He's a big thief!" bawled Mr. Wakefield Smith. + +"Keep quiet and come along. They can straighten matters out at the +precinct." + +The officer took Mr. Wakefield Smith by the arm and started to walk the +prisoner away. With a dexterous twist the intoxicated man cleared himself +and plunged down the street. + +The bluecoat and Jerry made after him as quickly as they could, but a +drawing school in the neighborhood had just let out, and they were +detained by the crowd. Mr. Wakefield Smith stumbled across the street and +down a side thoroughfare that was very dark. The officer and our hero went +after him, but at the end of the second block he was no longer to be +seen. + +"Now you've let him escape," said Jerry to the policeman. "I have a good +mind to report you." + +"Go on with you!" howled the officer in return. "I reckon it was a put up +job all around. Clear about your business or I'll run you in for +disorderly conduct!" + +And he made such a savage dash at the young oarsman with his long club +that our hero was glad to retreat. + +He continued the hunt for the pickpocket alone, but without avail, and, +much disheartened, finally returned to his boarding-house. He was afraid +he had seen the last of Mr. Wakefield Smith, and was glad he had gotten at +least ten dollars from the pickpocket. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI. + +NELLIE ARDELL'S TROUBLES. + + +On the following morning Jerry went to work at the bindery as if nothing +had happened. When he went in, Dick Lanning glared at our hero and stopped +as if to speak, but changed his mind and walked off without saying a +word. + +During the day the young oarsman became much better acquainted with his +work and began to like it. + +That night, on leaving the bindery by the side entrance, which opened on a +narrow lane, our hero saw Dick Lanning and several of his friends waiting +for him. + +He attempted to pass but Lenning put out his foot, and had Jerry not +stopped he would have been tripped up. + +"Let me pass," said he, sharply, but instead of complying, Lenning took a +stand in front of him and hit the youth on the shoulder. + +"I said I'd git square," he hissed, savagely. "If yer ain't afraid, stand +up and fight." + +"I'm not afraid," replied Jerry, and pushed him up against the wall. + +Without delay a rough-and-tumble fight ensued. + +"Give it to him, Dick!" + +"Do the hayseed up!" + +"Knock him into the middle of next week!" + +These and a dozen other cries arose on the air, and the crowd kept +increasing until fully a hundred spectators surrounded the pair. + +Dick Lanning had caught Jerry unfairly, but the youth soon managed to +shake him off, and, hauling back, gave him a clean blow on the end of his +unusually long nose, which caused the blood to spurt from that organ in a +stream. + +"He's tapped Dick's nose!" + +"My! wasn't that a blow, though!" + +"The country lad is game!" + +Wild with rage, Dick Lanning endeavored to close in again. Jerry stopped +the movement this time by a blow on the chest which sent him staggering +back several feet into the crowd. + +"What's the matter, Dick?" + +"Don't let him use you like that." + +"I'll fix him!" howled the bully, and rushed at our hero a third time. + +Again he hit Jerry, this time in the chin. But our hero's blood was now +up, and, calculating well, he struck a square blow in the left eye that +knocked the bully flat. + +"Dick is knocked out!" + +"That country jay is a corker!" + +"Git up, Dick. Yer eye is turnin' all black!" + +"Better let him go, he's too much for you!" + +Dick Lanning was slow in coming to the front. The eye was not only black, +but it was closing rapidly. + +"He's got a stone in his fist--he don't fight fair," he growled to his +friends. + +"I have nothing in my fist," retorted Jerry. "If he wants anymore, I fancy +I can accommodate him, although I don't care to fight." + +Dick Lanning was uneasy. He glanced toward his friends and passed a signal +to one of his cronies. + +"Police! skip!" cried the crony. "Come on, Dick, you don't want to git +caught!" + +And he dragged Dick Lanning away, while the crowd scattered like magic. No +policeman was in sight, nor did any appear. It was only a ruse to retire +without acknowledging defeat. + +But that fight taught Dick Lanning a severe lesson. He still remained down +upon the young oarsman, but in the future he fought shy of our hero, +knowing that Jerry would not stand his bullying manner. + +On Saturday the shop closed down early, and, having nothing else to do, +Jerry walked down to the newspaper office in hope of receiving some answer +to the advertisement for the missing papers. + +But no answer was forthcoming and, disappointed, he retraced his steps and +sauntered in the direction in which Nellie Ardell and her little brother +Tommy lived. + +"I'll call on them and see how she made out about her rent," he said to +himself, and mounted the stairs to her apartment. + +There was a murmur of voices in the kitchen. The door was partly open and +Jerry saw the girl and her little brother standing there, confronted by a +burly man. + +"That rent has got to be paid, that's all there is to it," the man was +saying. + +"I cannot pay to-day," replied Nellie Ardell. "I will try to pay Monday." + +"It won't do. I've given you notice, and if you can't pay, you have got to +leave." + +At this the girl burst into tears. + +"Would you put me on the street?" she wailed. + +"I'll have to--it's orders," replied the burly man doggedly. + +"Whose order?" + +"Mr. Slocum." + +"Mr. Slocum is a very hard-hearted man," cried the girl, indignantly. + +"That's so," Jerry put in as he entered. + +"Oh, Jerry Upton!" Nellie Ardell cried, when she saw our hero. "This man +wants to put me out of my rooms." + +"It's a shame." + +"Who are you?" demanded the burly man. "Do you live here?" + +"No. I am this young lady's friend, however. Did Mr. Slocum say to put her +out?" + +"Yes." + +"What shall I do if they put me on the street?" wailed Nellie Ardell. + +"I'm sure I don't know. But Slocum sha'n't put you on the street if I can +help it," went on Jerry, suddenly. + +"What will you do?" + +"How much do you owe him?" + +"Twelve dollars. I have four, but he won't take it. He wants the entire +amount." + +"I will let you have ten dollars," said our hero, and brought out the bill +Wakefield Smith had dropped. + +"Oh, won't that be robbing you?" cried Nellie Ardell, but her eyes +glistened with pleasure. + +"Never mind; take it and pay this man off." + +Nellie Ardell accepted the amount without further words. + +"Now," she said, as she paid the man, "I am going to move." + +"Move! What for?" + +"I can get better rooms for less money just across the way." + +The burly man's face fell. He was Alexander Slocum's agent, and he knew +that to get tenants for the rooms Nellie Ardell occupied would be +difficult. + +"It ain't right to move now--in the middle of the summer." + +"You intended to put me out--if I couldn't pay the rent." + +"That is different." + +"I have paid up promptly for many months. Mr. Slocum could have been a bit +easier for once." + +"He is more than mean," put in Jerry. "I would advise you to move by all +means." + +"You seem to know a great deal about him," sneered the agent. + +"I do--and I'll know more some day." + +The agent began to growl, but, seeing he could do nothing, he went off to +inform Alexander Slocum that Nellie Ardell intended to move. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII. + +A CRAZY MAN'S DOINGS. + + +"You are more than kind to me, Jerry Upton," exclaimed Nellie Ardell, when +they and her little brother were left alone. + +"I didn't want to see you thrown out of your home," said Jerry, soberly. + +"I shall pay you back that money as soon as I possibly can," she went on. +"I expect to get about twenty dollars for sewing next week. One of the +ladies I work for is out of town, but is coming back on Wednesday." + +"All right--take your time. When will you move? Maybe I can help carry +some things for you." + +"I've a good mind to move this afternoon. Those other rooms are all +ready." + +"Then do it, and I'll pitch right in," and in fun the young oarsman picked +up several chairs. + +"I will. Will you be kind enough to stay with Tommy a few minutes?" + +"Certainly." + +Nellie Ardell went off at once, and was back in ten minutes. When she +returned she had rented three small rooms for less money than she now +paid. + +She had not many articles of furniture and it did not seem the least bit +like working to our hero to assist her in transferring them across the +way. The two worked together, and as they labored they talked, Jerry +telling her a good deal about his mission to New York and the girl +relating her own experiences in keeping the wolf from the door. + +"We were not always poor," said Nellie Ardell. "When father was alive we +lived in our own home in Brooklyn. But he grew interested in a Western +land scheme and it took all of his money." + +"That was our trouble. I came to New York to see what I could do toward +making Alexander Slocum give an accounting of the money he put in a +California land scheme for my uncle." + +"Why, my father was in Slocum's land scheme!" she ejaculated. + +"Perhaps it was the same. This land scheme I speak of was called the Judge +Martin--why, I don't know." + +"It is the same. It was so called because the land once belonged to a +Judge Martin of Colorado." + +Of course, Jerry was deeply interested, and, the moving finished, he and +she sat down to talk the matter over. + +From what our hero learned of Nellie Ardell he came to the conclusion that +Alexander Slocum was every inch the villain he had taken him to be. + +The real estate dealer had hoodwinked the girl completely, and she had +surrendered to him all the documents her parent had left behind at the +time of his death. + +"It's too bad," said Jerry. "We must work together against him. But +nothing can be done until my missing papers are recovered." + +Before he left, another matter was discussed and settled. In her new +quarters Nellie Ardell had a small room she did not really need, and she +offered to board Jerry at three dollars and a half a week. As this would +be an acceptable saving just at present, our hero accepted the offer and +agreed to make the change on the following Monday. + +Sunday passed quietly. Jerry spent part of the day in writing a long +letter home, telling the folks just how matters stood and urging them not +to worry, as he felt certain all would come out right in the end, and that +he was quite content to remain in New York and support himself until he +had settled matters with Alexander Slocum. The letter was finished late in +the afternoon, and after taking supper he went out to post it. + +The novelty of life in the city had not yet passed, and, the letter put +into a corner box, the young oarsman sauntered on and on, taking in the +many strange sights. + +He had gone a distance of half a dozen blocks when he came to a church. +The doors were wide open, and as the congregation were singing, he stopped +to listen to the music. + +When the music stopped, our hero passed on down the street, which seemed +to grow poorer as he advanced. The new houses gave place to those that +were very old, and on all sides Jerry could see the effects of grinding +poverty. + +"It's a great city," he thought. "And it is true that one half doesn't +know how the other half lives." + +"Please, mister, will you give me five cents?" + +Jerry stopped in his walk and looked down to see who had addressed him. It +was a little girl, and she was crying bitterly. + +"Five cents?" he repeated. + +"Yes, mister; please don't say no. I've asked so many for the money +already and they won't give me a cent." + +"What are you going to do with five cents?" + +"I've got to bring it home to daddy." + +"To daddy--you mean your father?" + +"He's a sort of a father, but he's not my real papa," sobbed the little +girl. "He took me when papa died." + +"What does your--your daddy want with the five cents?" + +At this question the little girl's face flushed. + +"I--I daren't tell you--daddy would whip me," she whimpered. + +"Does he drink?" + +"I daren't tell you." + +"Does he send you out very often to beg?" + +"He sends me out when he's--when he's--but I daren't tell you. He would +whip me most to death." + +"Where do you live?" + +"Over there." + +And the little girl pointed to a long row of rear tenements, the very +worst-looking in the neighborhood. + +"And what is daddy's name?" + +"His real name is James MacHenry, but the folks around here all call him +Crazy Jim," she answered. + +Jerry started back in surprise. Crazy Jim was the tramp who had been seen +walking off with his packet of documents! + +"So you live with Crazy Jim?" said our hero, to the little girl, slowly. + +"Yes, sir." + +"How long have you lived with him?" + +"Oh, a long while, sir." + +"Take me to him." + +At this request she drew back in horror. + +"Oh, I can't do that, indeed I can't," she faltered. + +"Why not?" + +"I took a man to him once--a charity officer--and daddy--whip--whipped me +for it." + +"Then show me where he lives," went on Jerry after a pause. "You needn't +let him see you. I must have a talk with him. Perhaps I'll give him some +money." + +The little girl still hesitated, but finally led the way up the street +into a horrible-looking alley and pointed to a dingy tenement-house. + +"Daddy is up there on the top floor in the back." + +"And is that where you live?" asked Jerry, with a shudder he could not +repress. + +"Yes, of course." + +"It's not a nice place." + +"Oh, no," and something like a tear glistened in the girl's eye. + +"Here is ten cents for you," added Jerry. "You had better keep it for +yourself. Are you hungry?" + +"A little. I only had some bread to-day for dinner and supper." + +"Then go down to the restaurant on the corner and get something to eat for +the money. You need it." + +The little girl ran off to do as bidden, and our hero entered the +dilapidated tenement. Four dirty men and women sat on the stoop smoking +and drinking from a tin pail. + +"Who are ye lookin' fer?" asked one of the men, roughly. + +"Crazy Jim," answered Jerry, briefly, and brushed past him. + +The hallway was dark, and it was with difficulty that the young oarsman +found the rickety stairs, every step of which creaked as he trod upon it. + +Arriving at the top floor, the youth noticed a shaft of light streaming +from beneath a door in the rear. He knocked loudly. + +There was a movement within, the door was flung back, and Jerry found +himself confronted by a tall, round-shouldered individual, with long, +unkempt hair and a wild look in his small black eyes. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII. + +THE LITTLE NOBODY. + + +"Well!" demanded the man laconically. + +"Is this James MacHenry?" + +"That's me, boy." + +"I would like to see you on business," Jerry went on, as he brushed past +and entered one of the barest living apartments he had ever seen. + +"On business?" + +"Yes, a few days ago you picked up a packet downtown belonging to me--a +packet containing some documents and letters." + +"Who said they belonged to you?" + +"I say so. My name is Jerry Upton, and I dropped the packet in the +alleyway where you found it." + +The man stared at our hero. + +"Say, is this a game?" he demanded, harshly. + +"What do you mean?" + +"Are you trying to get me into trouble?" + +"No, I am trying to keep you out of trouble," replied the young oarsman, +warmly. + +"You say that packet belonged to you?" + +"Yes." + +"It didn't have your name on it." + +"No, it--" Our hero stopped short. "It had Alexander Slocum's name on it!" +he burst out. + +"Exactly." + +"You don't mean to say you delivered that packet to him?" gasped the +youth. + +"I did--not an hour ago." + +Jerry fell back into a chair and breathed heavily. The packet was +gone--into the hands of the enemy! + +"The man said it was his package," said Crazy Jim. "He gave me a reward of +five dollars for returning it to him." + +"It was mine. He wanted to steal it--and now he's done it," cried Jerry. +"You let him have it but an hour ago?" + +"Yes." + +"Where did he go?" + +"I don't know." + +"Did you open the packet?" + +"Yes, but I couldn't make nothing out of it--'cos I ain't eddicated. I +read his name on it and got another fellow to write a postal card +yesterday afternoon. He came here, examined the papers, and seemed much +pleased." + +"No doubt he was pleased," groaned the young oarsman. + +"Was the thing worth much?" + +"It was worth a good deal. I would have given five dollars to get it +back." + +"What does he want with it?" + +"Wants to do my father out of some property," answered our hero. "By the +way, who is that little girl who lives with you?" + +At this question Crazy Jim's face darkened. + +"That ain't none of your business," he growled. + +"You shouldn't send her out on the street to beg." + +"Wot! has she been blabbin' again? I'll break every bone in her body!" and +off the man started out of the room and down the narrow stairs. + +Jerry had noticed that his breath smelt strongly of liquor. He was not +only a drinking man, but also one who was not quite right in his head. + +"Don't hurt her, you brute!" called out the boy, and followed him out of +the alleyway into the street. At the nearest corner stood the little girl, +and Crazy Jim rushed up to her fiercely. + +"You good-fer-nothin'!" he bawled. "I'll teach ye a lesson! Didn't I tell +ye ter keep yer clapper still about me? Take that! and that!" + +He raised his heavy hand and struck her a cruel blow on the side of the +head. She staggered back, and he was about to repeat his unjust action, +when Jerry thought it about time to interfere. Catching him by the arm, +our hero hurled him backward with such force that he fell flat in the +gutter. + +At once a shout went up from those who saw Jerry's action. + +"What are yer doin'?" + +"Who is that boy?" + +With a fearful exclamation, Crazy Jim arose to his feet. + +"I'll fix ye fer that!" he hissed, and sprang forward. "You ain't got no +right ter interfere between me an' the gal." + +"You are a brute!" burst out our hero. "This little girl has done nothing +to deserve such punishment." + +"Who set you over me?" howled the infuriated man. "I'll fix ye!" + +He tried his best to hit Jerry with his fist, but the young oarsman dodged +him and took a stand in front of the little girl. + +"You had better run away," Jerry whispered to her. "He is in a terrible +mood just now." + +"Where shall I go?" whimpered the girl. + +"Anywhere. Up two blocks. I will join you soon." + +Without delay the little girl ran off. Crazy Jim tried to follow her, but +Jerry headed him off. + +Seeing he could do nothing with his hands, the savage man looked around +for some weapon. A heavy stone was lying handy, and he picked it up. The +next moment it was launched at our hero's head. + +Luckily, Jerry was quick at dodging, or he might have been seriously +wounded. The missile went sailing over the lad's head and flew with a +crash through the front window of a neighboring store. + +The smashing of the pane of glass was followed by a shout of alarm from +the storekeeper, who sat in a chair on the pavement. + +"Here, vot's dot?" he yelled. "Vot you means py preaking mine vinder, hey, +you Crazy Gim? I vos got you locked up. Ain't it? Bolice! bolice!" + +The German storekeeper continued to yell so loudly that it was not long +before an officer appeared. Seeing this, Jerry backed out of the crowd and +hurried off. He saw the policeman catch Crazy Jim by the arm, and a wordy +war followed. A minute later the fellow was being marched off to the +station-house. No doubt the policeman would have liked it had he found +Jerry, but our hero kept at a safe distance. + +It was now quite dark, and it was with some difficulty that Jerry again +found the little girl. She stood by a hitching post, sobbing bitterly. + +"Where is he?" she asked, choking back her sobs. + +"The policeman took him off. Don't cry any more," Jerry added, +soothingly. + +"But where shall I go?" she asked. "I can't go back." + +"Have you no friends?" + +"No. Crazy Jim and I came to New York alone when papa died." + +"Where did you come from?" + +The little girl shook her head at this. She had been too young to +remember. + +"What is your name?" + +"Dottie." + +"Dottie what?" + +"Nothing, only Dottie." + +Jerry was in a quandary. To a certain degree he felt responsible for her +present forlorn condition. Suddenly an idea struck him. + +"If you will come with me, I'll see to it that you have a good bed +to-night, and breakfast in the morning," he said. "And after that I'll see +what I can do for you, Dottie." + +"Who are you?" + +"My name is Jerry Upton." + +"You look like a nice boy and I'll go with you," and she placed her hand +confidently in that of the young oarsman. + +Jerry took the little one to Nellie Ardell's apartments. Of course she was +much surprised, and, sitting down, our hero had to explain everything as +far as he was able. Nellie Ardell agreed instantly to take the little girl +in. + +"You can stay here until we can do something for you," she said. "I know +how it would feel to have little Tommy on the streets homeless." + +And soon after that Dottie was put to bed, very well content. Her hard +life with Crazy Jim had made her used to ups and downs that no ordinary +little girl could have endured. + +The reader can well imagine that Jerry did not sleep much that night. He +could not forget that Alexander Slocum had the precious packet of papers. +Bitterly he regretted not having taken better care of the documents. + +"I will call on Slocum, and come to some sort of an understanding," Jerry +said to himself. "Perhaps when I tell him that both Nellie Ardell and +myself are ready to proceed against him he will be willing to come to +terms." + +The next day was a busy one at the book-bindery, and our hero got no +chance to call on Slocum. During that time he learned that Crazy Jim had +been locked up for resisting the officer and had been sentenced to thirty +days on Blackwell's Island. + +The young oarsman did not know what to do about little Dottie, but Nellie +Ardell solved this question. + +"I have received a whole lot of new work," she said. "So for the present +we can keep her to mind Tommy while I am dressmaking." + +So the little girl stayed on. Jerry never dreamed of how much she had to +do with his future life. + +On Thursday Mr. Islin's brother died and the bindery was closed for +several days. Jerry took the opportunity to walk down to Alexander +Slocum's offices. + +The real estate man was alone, and greeted our hero with a sinister +smile. + +"So you have seen fit to call again, young man," were his first words. + +"Mr. Slocum, let us come to business," Jerry replied firmly. "What are you +going to do about my father's claim?" + +Alexander Slocum laughed harshly. + +"Your father's claim?" he repeated. "I don't recognize the fact that your +father has any claim against me." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV. + +ALEXANDER SLOCUM SHOWS HIS HAND. + + +Alexander Slocum's statement was no more than Jerry had expected, so he +was not taken back by the words. He looked the man steadily in the eyes. + +"So that is the position you are going to take now--since you received my +packet from James MacHenry," said Jerry, deliberately. + +Slocum started and winced, and the young oarsman saw that Crazy Jim had +spoken the truth. + +"I haven't anything belonging to you, Upton." + +"It is useless for you to deny it, Mr. Slocum. He found the packet and +delivered it to you for a reward of five dollars." + +"The packet he delivered to me was my own. It contained some legal +documents belonging to this office." + +"You may make others believe that, Mr. Slocum, but--" + +"But what, boy? Remember, I want none of your insolence here. I will +listen to you, but you mustn't grow impertinent." + +"I'm only speaking the truth. You virtually robbed me, just as you robbed +my father and Mr. Bryant Ardell." + +"Ha!" Slocum leaped to his feet. "Who--where did you hear of Bryant +Ardell?" he asked, excitedly. + +"I have met Nellie Ardell several times--in fact, I am boarding with +her." + +"Did she set you to hounding me?" + +"No; we met by accident after I had come to New York almost on purpose to +see you." + +"She is an impudent young woman." + +"She told me that you had her land papers, just as you now have mine." + +"It's a falsehood!" + +"If both of us go to court with our story, we may prove that it is not a +falsehood." + +"Ha! are you going to combine to ruin my reputation?" cried the real +estate dealer, growing pale. + +"We are going to try to obtain our rights." + +"You'll gain nothing. I'll--I'll have you locked up on a charge of +black-mail!" Alexander Slocum began to pace his office nervously. "See +here, Upton how much do you want to go off and leave me alone?" he +questioned, suddenly. + +"I want what is due my father." + +"You'll not get it!" he whispered, hoarsely, throwing his mask aside. "Do +you think I have plotted and worked all these years for nothing? Not much! +All that property is mine, do you hear? Nobody else shall ever own a foot +of it. Now, I'll tell you what I am willing to do. I'll give you a hundred +dollars in cash and we'll call it square. Mind you, I don't admit your +claim. I only want to avoid trouble." + +Jerry looked at the man and drew a long breath. He could see through +Slocum's words as clearly as he could see through the window. His father's +claim was worth a fortune! + +"Come, what do you say?" demanded Slocum as Jerry did not answer him. + +"I say this, Mr. Slocum," rejoined our hero. "I won't accept your +proposition, and before I am done with you I'll have our rights and you'll +be in state's prison." + +With a snarl very much like that made by a fretful tiger, the man leaped +toward the boy as if to grab him by the throat. + +"You fool! I'll make you come to terms!" + +His hand touched Jerry's collar, but the young oarsman evaded him and +placed the flat-top desk between them. When the man ran around the desk, +Jerry picked up a heavy brass-bound ruler. + +"Stop, or I'll crack you with this!" cried our hero, and, seeing the +weapon, Slocum halted. + +"Don't be a fool, boy!" + +"I don't intend to be." + +"You can do nothing against me." + +"That remains to be seen." + +"Who will take your word against mine? Nobody. You are a mere country lad, +while I am a well-known New York citizen." + +"Mr. Ardell was also well known in his day." + +Again Alexander Slocum's face grew pale. + +"Nellie Ardell has no doubt urged you to attack me," he growled. "I must +see her. Why didn't she come with you?" + +"She is busy." + +"I will explain matters to her in detail. Really, the claim is not worth +anything, but I wish to avoid trouble, and--" + +"You might as well stop, Mr. Slocum, for it's too late to say that now. I +am positive our claims are of great value. Since you won't do the right +thing, I shall advise my father to bring action in court to compel you to +come to terms." + +While speaking, Jerry had walked to the door, and now placed his hand on +the knob. + +"Stop! stop!" + +"No, I have had enough for the present." + +"You villain!" + +Slocum ran toward Jerry, who opened the door to step out, but found the +way blockaded by Casey, his book-keeper. + +"Here, what's up?" cried the man, in wonder. + +"Don't let him get away, Casey!" cried Alexander Slocum. "He is going to +make trouble, sure!" + +"Let me go!" burst out our hero as the book-keeper caught hold of him. +"Let go, or I'll----" + +Jerry never finished that sentence. Alexander Slocum had picked up the +ruler the youth had dropped, and leaped to the front. Down came the weapon +on the young oarsman's head; he felt a sharp stinging pain--and then he +knew no more. + +When Jerry came to his senses all was dark around him. He was lying on a +damp, cement floor, evidently that of a cellar. + +His head ached greatly, and for several minutes he could not remember what +had happened. + +Then came back that scene in Slocum's office. He staggered to his feet. + +Where was he and how long had he been there? + +The first question was readily answered. Stepping forward, Jerry stumbled +over some loose coal. He was in a coal-cellar. Around and above were brick +walls. The door was of sheet-iron, and it was tightly closed and barred. +How had he come to that place? Probably his enemies had carried him +hither, although how they could do it without being seen was a question. + +As soon as our hero felt strong enough he looked about for some means of +escaping from his prison. With great care he examined the walls and tried +the door. + +Finding no outlet on any side, he turned his attention to the pavements +above. From one spot there came a faint glimmer of light, in a circle, and +he rightfully guessed that the coal-hole was located there. + +How to reach the hole was a problem. It was several feet above our hero's +head, and there was nothing in the coal-vault to stand upon. + +Jerry considered the situation for a minute, and then, standing directly +under the cover of the hole, leaped upward, sending his hand over his head +as he did so. + +The cover was loose, and the force of the blow caused it to fly upward. +Another blow and it fell away entirely, and in a second more the young +oarsman was clambering out of the opening. + +It was drawing towards evening, and the street was full of people, some of +which eyed the boy curiously. Restoring the cover to its place, he left +the spot. + +The question now was, should he return to Slocum's office or seek outside +assistance? He decided upon the latter course. To attempt to bring the +rascally real estate agent to terms alone would be foolhardy. + +Jerry's head ached so much he could think only with difficulty, and he +decided to return to Nellie Ardell's apartments. It was a hard walk, and +he was glad when the place was reached and he could sit down. + +"What's the matter--are you hurt?" cried the young woman. + +"I was knocked out," replied the youth, with a sorry little laugh. "I've +got a pretty big lump on the top of my head." + +Sitting down, he told his story, to which Nellie Ardell listened with +breathless attention. + +"The wicked man! He should be locked up!" she burst out, when Jerry had +finished. "It's a wonder he didn't kill you." + +"That's true. As it was, the blow was awfully hard." + +"What will you do now?" + +"I really don't know." + +"Won't that Mr. Islen whom you work for, help you?" + +"Perhaps he will," returned the youth, struck with the idea. "The trouble +is his brother is dead, and that has upset him." + +"One thing is certain, Jerry, the property is valuable." + +"Yes, and another thing is certain," added our hero. "We want our shares +of it." + +"It would be a great help to me to get some money out of it," said Nellie +Ardell, with a sigh. "This sewing constantly day in and day out is wearing +on me." + +The two talked for over an hour, and then Jerry felt compelled to lie +down. It was nearly morning before his head stopped aching and he got some +rest. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXV. + +A STRANGE DISAPPEARANCE + + +On the next day the bindery was opened as usual, but Mr. Islen did not +appear, having gone to Philadelphia. Jerry worked throughout the day, +wondering what Alexander Slocum had thought and done after he had +discovered the escape. Little did the young oarsman dream of what the real +estate dealer was then doing. + +Our hero was proving himself to be skillful at the work assigned to him +and the foreman often praised him. + +"You'll be worth a raise in wages," he said. "I never saw a boy take hold +as you do." + +Jerry never delayed after the day's work was over. He washed up, put on +his coat, and hurried forth to his boarding place. + +When Jerry reached the house he found little Dottie on the stoop, with +Tommy in her arms. Tommy was crying for something to eat, and the little +girl was having her hands full with him. + +"Where is Miss Nellie?" asked our hero in surprise. + +"I don't know," returned the girl. "She sent me out with Tommy after +dinner, and when I tried to get in after a while the door was locked and +she was gone." + +"And you have been sitting here ever since?" + +"Yes." + +"Come up. I'll open the door." + +Jerry led the way, and with a night key opened the door to the kitchen. + +A cry of surprise burst from his lips. Everywhere were the signs of a +desperate struggle. Two of the chairs were overturned, the table-cloth +hung half off the table, and Nellie Ardell's sewing was strewn in all +directions. + +"This is Slocum's work!" + +Those were the words which arose to the youth's lips as he surveyed the +situation in the kitchen. + +Alexander Slocum had tried to get him out of the way, and now he had tried +the same plan upon Nellie Ardell. + +There had been a fierce struggle, of that there was not the slightest +doubt. + +But the girl had been overpowered in the end and taken off. + +To where? + +That was the all important question. + +While our hero was gazing around the room, little Tommy was crying at the +top of his lungs. + +To quiet him, Jerry gave him his bowl of bread and milk, and also gave +Dottie her supper. + +Then Jerry began a minute examination of the rooms. + +There was mud on the oil-cloth--the tracks of four boots. + +"Slocum and Casey, his book-keeper," he said to himself. + +Going below he interviewed Mrs. Flannigan, a good-natured Irish woman who +lived on the nest floor. + +"Did you see Miss Ardell this afternoon?" + +"Sure, an' Oi did not Oi was out," she replied. + +He next tried the janitress, who lived in the basement. She was a peppery +old woman who seldom had a pleasant word for anybody. + +"Did I see her? Yes, she went out with two men about two hours ago," she +said. + +"What sort of looking men?" + +"I can't say--I'm not taking notice of everybody who comes and goes." + +"But this is important, Mrs. Foley. I am afraid something has happened to +Miss Ardell." + +"They were tall men, and I guess both had big black mustaches and +beards." + +"Where did she go with them?" + +"Into a carriage. All of 'em seemed to be in a big hurry." + +"Which way did the carriage go?" + +"Down towards the Brooklyn ferry." + +In a thoughtful mood, the young oarsman walked back upstairs. He met Mrs. +Flannigan outside of the door. + +"What's wrong, Mr. Upton?" + +"That is what I am trying to find out. Miss Ardell is missing. If I go +out, will you look after the children?" + +"Sure, Oi will, bless the dears," she said. Her heart was as large as her +ruddy, full-blown face. + +Without waiting longer, Jerry ran down into the street and endeavored to +trace the carriage down to the ferry. In this he was successful, and +learned that the turnout containing two men and a young lady, who appeared +to be ill, had crossed to Brooklyn. + +By this time night had set in, and all efforts to follow the carriage +proved unsuccessful. Yet unwilling to give up, Jerry spent over two hours +in Brooklyn, hunting in every direction for a clew. + +Our hero had never been across the East River before, and in hunting +around it was but natural that he should get lost. At the end of the +search he found himself a good distance from the river, in a neighborhood +that looked anything but respectable. + +"It's time I got back," thought the youth, and started to make inquiries. + +"You're a dozen blocks out of your way," said a man. "Go down that way +three blocks, and turn to your left." + +As Jerry walked along a somewhat gloomy street, he noticed three men +walking ahead of him. One was a tall, finely built man, wearing a large +round hat, of the western type. + +The other men were short fellows, each with a red mustache. They carried +heavy canes and walked on either side of the tall individual. + +"Aren't we almost there?" Jerry heard the tall man ask, as he drew closer +to the trio. + +"Yes, it ain't but a step further," was the reply from one of the short +men. + +"You are certain this Crazy Jim is the man I am after?" + +"Oh, yes." + +The mentioning of Crazy Jim's name interested Jerry. Crazy Jim was still +up on Blackwell's Island. It was possible, however, that they referred to +some other individual. + +To hear what further they might have to say the young oarsman kept close +to the party. + +"It's been a long hunt for me, gentlemen," said the tall man, and by his +speech Jerry felt sure he was a westerner. "But if I am on the right +trail, things will soon come out right." + +"What do you want to find Crazy Jim for?" asked one of the short men. + +"I'm not saying any thing about that just now," was the cool response. + +"Oh, excuse me, of course not." The short fellow looked around, but failed +to catch sight of our hero. "Jack, how about a smoke?" he said to the +other short fellow. + +"Strike a light," was the answer. + +The words were evidently a secret signal, for hardly were they spoken when +one of the short men caught the westerner from behind and held his arms. + +"Here, what's the meaning of this?" cried the man, in alarm. + +"Keep still, old man, and we won't hurt you. Raise a row and you'll get +knocked out. Quick, Pete, with his diamond pin and that roll of bills in +his left pocket!" + +At this command the man in front rushed in and caught hold of the man's +pin. Out it came in his hand, a beautiful affair, worth at least a hundred +dollars. + +"Stop! stop!" yelled the westerner. "Police! police!" + +"Shut up!" hissed the man who held him. "Pete, crack him over the head. We +can't afford to take any chances here." + +Thus ordered, the man who held the diamond pin slipped it into his pocket. +Then he raised his heavy cane and started to do as bidden when Jerry +rushed at him. + +"Stop! Don't hit that man!" + +The rascal was surprised. + +"Who are you? Oh, it's only a boy. Clear out of here!" + +"I won't! You let that man alone." + +"Don't leave me," pleaded the victim. "They want to rob me. He has my +diamond pin!" + +"Shut up!" howled the man in the rear. "Crack him, Pete, and crack the +boy, too." + +Once more the heavy cane was raised. Our hero caught it in the center, and +by a dexterous twist wrenched it from the rascal's hand. + +With a howl of baffled rage the rascal turned and caught Jerry by the +throat. + +"Give me that stick, boy, or I'll choke the life out of you!" he hissed +into the youth's ear. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI. + +JERRY HEARS AN ASTONISHING STATEMENT. + + +When the footpad, for the fellow was nothing less, attacked Jerry, our +hero felt that he had a tough struggle before him. + +The rascal's grasp on the young oarsman's throat was light, however, and +Jerry quickly shook it off. + +In the meantime the westerner began to struggle and shout at the top of +his voice: + +"Help! Police! police!" + +In vain the fellow who held him tried to stop his cries. They grew louder, +and soon footsteps were heard approaching. + +Jerry received a savage blow on the chest and struck out in return, +hitting the footpad in the chin. Then the two clinched, and both rolled to +the pavement. + +Jerry's assailant was a strong man and he was slowly but surely getting +the best of the youth when three men put in an appearance. They were +heavy-set individuals and were followed by a policeman. + +"What's up here?" + +"Don't kill that boy!" + +"He is a thief!" cried Jerry. "He has that man's diamond pin." + +"That's right," put in the westerner, who had managed to turn and catch +hold of his assailant. "This fellow is his mate. They just tackled me when +the boy came to my help." + +"It is a falsehood," roared the footpad who had attacked our hero. + +Saying this, he arose and tried to sneak away. But Jerry tripped him up, +sending him headlong, and before he could rise the policeman had him +handcuffed. + +While this was going on the westerner and two of the new arrivals managed +to make a prisoner of the other footpad. He used some terrible language, +but this did not avail him. + +"I know them," said the policeman, after the capture was effected. "They +are Hungry Pete and Jack the Slick. They are wanted for a burglary at +Sheepshead Bay. How did you happen to fall in with them?" + +"I met them up at Rumford's Hotel. They said they knew a man I was looking +for." + +"Will you come along and make a charge against them?" + +"Certainly. He has my diamond pin." + +The pin was brought to light and handed over to its owner, and then our +hero was asked to go along. + +Anxious to know what the westerner might want of Crazy Jim, Jerry agreed, +and a minute later found the whole crowd bound for the nearest +station-house. + +Here the westerner gave his name as Colonel Albert Dartwell. He said he +was from Denver and had come east on private business. + +"I have been sick for two months," he said. "I am still weak. That is the +reason I did not put up a better fight when those two men tackled me." + +Jerry told his story, and the upshot of the matter was that the two +footpads were held for another hearing before the judge in the morning. + +"My boy, I owe you something for your services to me," said the westerner, +as he and our hero came out on the street. "You did well for a boy." + +"I did the best I could," replied the young oarsman "But I want to ask you +a question. I heard you mention Crazy Jim. What do you want to see him +for?" + +A look of pain crossed Colonel Dartwell's face at my words. + +"It's a long story, Upton. I am from the West and came many miles to see +him. Do you know the man?" + +"I know one fellow called Crazy Jim, sir." + +"His right name is James MacHenry." + +"That's the man." + +"Ah! And where can he be found?" + +"Most likely on Blackwell's Island." + +"He is in prison?" + +"Yes." + +"What for?" + +"For breaking the glass in a store window and creating a row." + +Colonel Dartwell drew a long breath. + +"Those footpads told me he was in a hotel in the neighborhood. You are +sure you are right?" + +"Yes, sir. To be truthful, I was mixed up in the scrape that took Crazy +Jim to prison." + +"Indeed. Would you mind telling me about it? You don't look like a boy +that would do wrong." + +"It wasn't my fault. Crazy Jim had a packet belonging to me--a packet +containing some valuable documents. I called for them and found he had +given them up to an enemy of mine." + +"And that led to the row." + +"Not exactly. He is a bad man, and there was a little girl living with +him, and he--" + +As Jerry spoke Colonel Dartwell grasped him by the arm. + +"Stop! What did you say about a little girl?" he demanded, eagerly. + +"I said there was a little girl living with him. He used to send her out +to beg. He got it into his head that she had set me against him, and he +started to beat her. I told her to run away, and then he attacked me and +got arrested." + +"And what became of the little girl? Tell me, quickly!" And Colonel +Dartwell's voice was husky as he spoke. + +"I met her afterward and took her to where I was boarding, and she is +still stopping there." + +"Describe her to me." + +Seeing there was something behind the inquiry, Jerry gave him the best +description he could. The colonel listened with fixed attention. + +"It must be her!" he murmured. "My poor, lost Dottie." + +"Dottie! That's her name!" cried our hero. "And she is--" + +"She is my daughter," was his answer. + +"Your daughter!" ejaculated Jerry, in amazement. + +"Yes, my daughter. Take me to her at once." + +"I will, sir; but this is the strangest thing I ever heard." + +"I have no doubt of it." + +"Was she stolen from you?" + +"Yes. It's a long story. I will tell it to you while we are on the way. +She is well?" + +"Yes, sir. But she has been misused, so you mustn't expect to see her +looking real good. She is very thin." + +"I have not seen her for four years, not since she was a mite of a +toddler." + +The pair started for the ferry without delay, and as they proceeded, the +colonel related his story. + +He was a mine-owner and had lived in the West for fifteen years. His wife +had died when Dottie was born, and the child had been turned over to the +care of a colored nurse. + +At that time James MacHenry had been a prospector in the region and he had +opened a mine close to that located by the colonel. + +All went well until the MacHenry mine petered out as it is called, and +then the man's mind became deranged. He accused the colonel of having +cheated him out of a slice of the richest land and a bitter quarrel +resulted. + +Two weeks later MacHenry disappeared, and shortly after that baby Dottie +was missing. A long search was made for the child, but without avail. + +Curiously enough, the colonel did not connect the disappearance of his +child with that of Crazy Jim. He started to hunt for the little one among +the Indians and the outlaws in the mountains. + +Two years passed, and then one night a good-for-nothing miner named Duffy +was shot in a quarrel over a game of cards. On his dying bed Duffy +confessed that he had once been intimate with Crazy Jim and that the +latter had acknowledged stealing Dottie. + +A hunt was at once made for the abductor. It was said he had gone to San +Francisco, and later on he was traced to Chicago, but there the trail was +lost until long after, when a tramp turned up who spoke of having seen +Crazy Jim around New York. + +Without delay Colonel Dartwell had come East and scoured the metropolis. +While here he had fallen in with footpads who had sought to rob him. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVII. + +A JOYOUS MEETING. + + +By the time Colonel Dartwell's story was told he and Jerry had landed in +the metropolis, and a hurried walk of a few minutes brought them to Nellie +Ardell's apartment. Mrs. Flannigan was waiting for our hero, having put +both of the children to bed. + +"An' did ye find Miss Ardell?" she asked, quickly. + +"No, Mrs. Flannigan. But I have found somebody else--the father of little +Dottie." + +"Indade, now! An' ain't that noice'" she exclaimed, glancing at Colonel +Dartwell's well-dressed figure. "Well, the poor dear needs somebody, not +but what she got good care here," she added, hastily. + +Tears stood in the colonel's eyes as he stepped up beside the bed upon +which Dottie lay. He took the white-robed figure up in his arms and kissed +her face. + +"It is she," he said, in a choking voice. "The living picture of her dead +mother!" + +Dottie awoke with a start and was inclined to cry out. But Jerry and the +colonel quickly soothed her. + +"I am your papa, Dottie; don't you remember papa and big Ruth that used to +be with you?" + +The little girl looked puzzled. Then she gave a cry. + +"Papa! papa! I know you! I knew you would come to me! Oh, papa, don't go +away again! Crazy Jim said you were dead! Oh, papa!" + +And she clung to him convulsively. It was such an affecting scene Jerry +had to turn away, while Mrs. Flannigan, standing in the partly open +doorway, shed copious tears. + +An hour later the children had again retired, and the colonel and the +young oarsman sat in the little kitchen talking. + +"And you say you think Miss Ardell was abducted?" he said. + +"I felt sure of it, sir. This Alexander Slocum wants to get her out of the +way on account of some property he is holding back from her. I am +interested in the same property." + +And Jerry told him the particulars of affairs so far as they concerned +Slocum. + +"If the land in question is near Sacramento it ought to be of great +value," said the colonel. "Property in that section is booming." + +"I want to find Nellie Ardell, sir. I am afraid he will do her bodily +harm. He might even kill her to get her out of the way." + +"I will help you all I can, Upton. You have done me a great service, and I +certainly owe the young lady much for taking my child in and caring for +her." + +Our hero and the colonel went over the matter carefully for fully an hour +and decided to start on a hunt as soon as it grew light. The colonel +offered to employ a detective and this offer Jerry readily accepted. + +Jerry passed several hours trying to sleep, and at the first sign of dawn +was up and dressed. The colonel had rested in an arm-chair, not caring to +separate himself from his child by going to a hotel. + +Mrs. Flannigan was again called upon and readily agreed to take charge of +Tommy and Dottie once more. She took them to her own rooms and was +cautioned about letting strangers in. + +"Don't fear, they'll not take 'em from me," she said, and in such a +determined way that Jerry was compelled to laugh. + +The call at a detective's office was soon over, and it was not as +satisfactory as our hero had anticipated. + +"You mustn't expect too much," laughed the colonel. "In spite of the +thrilling detective stories published, detectives are only ordinary men, +and cannot do the impossible. Mr. Gray will no doubt go to work in his own +way and do the best he can." + +Their next movement was to cross to Brooklyn. Here the pair started on the +hunt for the carriage that had carried Nellie Ardell off. + +An hour was spent in a fruitless search. They were about to give it up, +when they saw a carriage coming down to the ferry that was covered with +dust and mud. + +"That looks as if it had been out in the country a good distance," +observed Colonel Dartwell. "I'll stop the driver and see what he has to +say. It can do no harm." + +Walking up in front of the team he motioned for the driver to halt. + +"Want a carriage, boss?" + +"No, I want to know where you have been?" demanded the westerner. + +At this question the driver seemed plainly disconcerted. He looked around, +and, seeing a clear space to his left, whipped up his animals and sped +off. + +"He's our man!" cried the colonel. "Come on, he must not escape us!" + +He set off with all speed and Jerry followed. The driver drove as far as +the first corner and then had to halt because of a blockade in the +street. + +"Come down here!" commanded Colonel Dartwell. + +"I ain't done nothin'," growled the fellow. "You let me alone." + +"I asked you where you had been." + +"Up to the park." + +"Who did you have for a fare?" + +"An old man." + +"That's not true--you had two men and a girl." + +The carriage driver muttered something under his breath. + +"I--I--who said I had the men and a girl?" he asked, surlily. + +"I say so. Where did you take the young lady?" + +At first the driver beat about the bush. But the colonel threatened him +with arrest, and this brought him around. + +"Don't arrest me, boss. I wasn't in the game. The men hired me to take 'em +out--that was all. They said the girl was light-headed and the place was a +private asylum." + +"Probably," rejoined Colonel Dartwell, sarcastically. "Take us to that +place without delay. But stop--drive to police headquarters first." + +Very unwillingly the fellow complied. At the headquarters help was +procured in the shape of two ward detectives. All four of the party +entered the carriage and were driven off to effect Nellie Ardell's +rescue. + +It was with deep interest that Jerry accompanied Colonel Dartwell and the +officers of the law in the search for the missing young lady. + +On through the crowded streets of Brooklyn drove the carriage, the driver +now apparently as willing to help the law as he had before wished to evade +it. + +The carriage was turning into one of the fine thoroughfares when Jerry +caught sight of a figure which instantly arrested his attention. The +figure was that of Mr. Wakefield Smith. + +"Stop!" cried the young oarsman to the driver of the carriage. + +"What's up?" demanded the colonel. + +"Do you see that man over there by the paper stand?" + +"Yes." + +"That is Wakefield Smith, the pickpocket." + +"Indeed! He ought to be arrested." + +"You know him to be a pickpocket?" questioned one of the detectives. + +"I do. He robbed me of over twenty dollars. I got back ten dollars. He's a +very smooth and slick worker." + +"I think I know that chap," returned the detective. "Don't he look like +Charley the Dude?" he asked of his companion. + +"By Jove! that's our man!" ejaculated the second detective. "I would know +him anywhere by that peculiar walk. He has grown a heavy mustache since I +saw him last." + +"Will you stop and arrest him?" asked Jerry. "He ought to be locked up." +"We can get the policeman on the beat to attend to him. There is an +officer on the next corner. Just call him, Harrity." + +The carriage was brought up to the curb and our hero and the officers +alighted, the Colonel remaining behind to keep an eye on the driver. + +Mr. Wakefield Smith was strolling down the street in a lordly way when +Jerry tapped him on the shoulder. + +"So I've met you again," he said. + +The pickpocket turned and his face fell. But only for a moment; then he +gazed at the youth brazenly. + +"I don't know you, me boy," he drawled in an assumed voice. + +"But I know you, Mr. Smith," rejoined Jerry. "I want the balance of my +money. I got ten dollars the night you were intoxicated, but that is not +enough." + +"Boy, you are talking riddles. I never saw you before." + +"I can easily prove it, I fancy." + +"It's no use, Charley," broke in the detective, who had followed me. "We +know you well enough." + +"And who are you?" asked the pickpocket, much disconcerted. + +"I am a detective. You are the rogue known as Charley the Dude. You may +consider yourself under arrest." + +"This is an outrage!" + +"Hardly." + +By this time the second detective had arrived with a policeman. At sight +of the bluecoat the pickpocket became nervous. Turning, he suddenly +started to run. + +But the others ran for him, and soon he was handcuffed. Explanations to +the policeman followed, and the officer took him off, and Jerry and the +detectives continued on their way. + +It may be well to state here that the pickpocket, whose real name was +Charles Heulig, was later on convicted of several crimes and sent to state +prison for a term of years. Jerry never received a cent of the balance of +the money due, but other events that followed made this loss seem a +trivial one. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVIII. + +ALEXANDER SLOCUM IS BROUGHT TO BOOK. + + +In half an hour after the arrest of the pickpocket the young oarsman and +his companions found themselves on the outskirts of Brooklyn and bowling +along a smooth country road which the detectives said they knew well. + +On and on they went, until Colonel Dartwell asked the driver how much +further they had to go. + +"About half a mile, sir," was the answer. + +His words proved correct. Turning into a side road, the carriage came to +the entrance to a large grounds, surrounded by a high board fence. + +Over the gateway was the sign: + + DR. HALCONE'S PRIVATE SANITARIUM. + +"A private lunatic asylum," murmured Colonel Dartwell. + +"Yes, sir," said the driver. "You know I told you they said the young lady +was a bit off." + +"What shall we do?" was the question put by the westerner to the +detectives. "Shall we go in boldly and order them to produce the girl?" + +"Will they do it?" asked Jerry. "They may be in Slocum's pay, and hide her +away." + +"The young man is right," said one of the detectives. "We'll drive on a +way and then sneak back and size the place up." + +This was done, and five minutes later found the colonel and our hero +walking along a hedge which separated the grounds on one side from a +woods. + +"Look there!" Jerry cried suddenly, and pointed to an upper window of the +brick building beyond. + +He had seen Nellie Ardell's face as the young lady walked about the +apartment. As the others gazed upward Alexander Slocum appeared. He held a +sheet of paper and a pen in his hands. + +"He wants her to sign something," cried our hero in a low voice. "See! +see! he is going to force her." + +"Leave me be, Mr. Slocum," those below heard Nellie Ardell exclaim. "I +will not sign off my interest in that property. Leave me be! Oh, that +somebody was at hand to help me!" + +"Come on--there is no time to waste!" cried Colonel Dartwell, and pushed +through the hedge. + +Jerry followed, and both ran for a side door of the building, which stood +open. + +Here they found themselves confronted by a burly man of advanced age, +evidently the proprietor of the sanitarium. + +"Here, what do you want here?" he demanded, roughly. + +"We want that young lady upstairs!" cried Jerry. + +"You can't have her." + +"We'll see about that," put in Colonel Dartwell. "You have no authority to +detain her here." + +"She is insane, and----" + +"Help! help!" came from upstairs, and rushing past the burly doctor, Jerry +skipped up the stairs, three steps at a time. + +The colonel came behind. The doctor was about to remonstrate when he found +himself confronted by the two detectives. + +Our hero and the colonel soon found the proper door. It was locked, but +putting his shoulder to it the young oarsman soon burst it open. + +Alexander Slocum stood at the table in the center of the room. He had +Nellie Ardell by the wrist, and was endeavoring to force her to sign the +paper before them. + +"Leave her alone, you villain!" cried Jerry, and dragged him backward. + +"Jerry Upton!" exclaimed the young woman, and her tone was full of joy. +"Oh, how thankful I am that you have come!" + +"What--what is the meaning of this?" asked Slocum, turning deadly pale. + +"It means that you have been found out, Alexander Slocum," replied our +hero. "We have learned--" + +"Darnley the boomer!" burst out Colonel Dartwell at this point. "So this +is where you drifted to after the swindle at Silver Run." + +"Do you know him?" queried Jerry. + +"Only too well. He was in Colorado for several years under the name of +Chester Darnley. He is a boomer and all-around swindler." + +"It's a--a falsehood," burst from Alexander Slocum's lips, but his voice +trembled as he spoke. + +"I can prove all I say," said the colonel. "There are witnesses enough +against you at Silver Run." + +Slocum was all but overcome. He sank in a chair, and a moment later one of +the detectives came up and slipped a pair of handcuffs on his wrists. + +The proprietor of the so-called sanitarium was also arrested, and both +prisoners were driven down to the Brooklyn police station. A hearing was +had, and the prisoners were held for trial. + +From Brooklyn the colonel, Nellie, and Jerry returned to New York. Nellie +left the party to go home, and Jerry and the colonel continued on to +Slocum's office with an officer. + +The book-keeper, Casey, was found and arrested, and the office was placed +in care of the authorities. The next day Jerry recovered his father's +papers and also those belonging to Nellie Ardell. + +The young oarsman lost no time in sending word home how matters had +turned, stating that the claim was probably worth a good deal of money. He +added that if his father was not well enough to come to the metropolis, +Colonel Dartwell stood ready to take entire charge of the case and see +that they got their rights. + +An answer soon came back, written by Mrs. Upton. Mr. Upton was well enough +to sit up, but that was all, and he would be glad enough to do as his son +had suggested. So the necessary papers were made out, and a suit +instituted against Alexander Slocum. + +In the meantime, Mr. Islen sold out his bindery, and by this turn of +affairs our hero found himself out of employment. But he had had enough of +the great metropolis for the present, and was glad enough to go back to +Lakeview while awaiting the time when Slocum should be brought to trial. + +The news of what he had accomplished had leaked out, and when he arrived +he found Harry and Blumpo awaiting him at the depot. + +"You're a clever one, Jerry!" cried Harry, shaking his hand warmly. "To +run off on the quiet and come back with a fortune for your family." + +"We haven't got the fortune yet," laughed the young oarsman. "But we hope +to have it before long." + +"I always said Jerry was de greatest boy dat eber was born," ejaculated +Blumpo, with his face on a broad grin. + +"How is your father? Blumpo," asked Jerry, to change the subject. + +"He's very well again." + +"You must tell us your whole story," went on Harry. "I am dying to hear +it." + +"I will--but I must get home first," answered the young oarsman. + +He was soon on his way to the farm, where his parents received him with +open arms. A splendid dinner was awaiting him--such a repast as he had not +had since leaving--but none of the food was touched until his tale was +told from end to end, with all of its details as they have been presented +to my readers. + +"You did well, son," was Mr. Upton's comment. "I don't believe anybody +could have done better." + +Mrs. Upton smiled fondly and put her arms about the boy. + +"He's our Jerry, father," was all she said, but the simple words meant a +good deal. + +His own story told, and the dinner finished, Jerry wanted to know the news +around Lakeview, but his parents had little to tell. + +"I have not been out since your father was taken down," said Mrs. Upton. +"You'll have to asked Harry Parker and your other friends." + +"Have Si Peters and Wash Crosby been caught yet?" + +"No, and I doubt if they ever do catch them," responded Mrs. Upton. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIX. + +HARRY TO THE RESCUE. + + +Early on the following morning Harry came over to take Jerry for a sail on +the lake in the Whistler. + +"We can sail and talk at the same time," he explained. "I know you must be +longing for a whiff of the water." + +"You are right there, Harry," returned the young oarsman, "Lake Otasco is +better than the hot pavements of New York City a hundred times over." + +The two boys soon set off. Harry had expected Blumpo to accompany them, +but that youth was out in his own boat with a party that had hired the +craft for several days. + +"Blumpo is making money," said Harry, "and I am glad of it." + +"So am I," replied our hero. "He is an odd sort of chap, but his heart is +of gold." + +The Whistler was soon on her way up the lake with old Jack Broxton at the +tiller, and as the breeze was steady the boys had little to do but talk. +Once again our hero related his story, and Harry proved a most attentive +listener. + +"That Alexander Slocum ought to go to prison for life," he said, at the +conclusion. "The idea of daring to make out that Nellie Ardell was +insane." + +"It was a bold scheme, Harry." + +"It seems to me the world is full of bad people, Jerry. Look at such men +as that Slocum and his tools, and then at such boys as Si Peters and Wash +Crosby." + +"Where do you suppose Crosby and Peters are?" + +"The authorities don't know. But Blumpo told me a few days ago he was +almost certain he had seen them on the north shore of the lake. He said +they took to their heels in the bushes just about the time he spotted +them." + +"They are bound to be brought to justice sooner or later." + +"I don't know. But I do know one thing; I would like to get back my gold +watch." + +Thus the talk ran on, until Hermit Island was reached. Here they run in +for a few minutes, to pass a word with Blumpo's father, who greeted them +cordially. After this, they continued up along the south side of the +lake. + +As they skirted the beautiful shore they gradually crept up to a large +excursion boat. "Hullo, what's that boat doing here?" cried Jerry. + +"It's a Sunday-school excursion from Cedar Falls," replied his chum. + +The steamboat was not a large one and she seemed to have more than her +regular allowance of passengers aboard. Every deck was full of grown folks +and children, dressed in their best. + +A band was playing a merry air, and some of the children were singing. + +"Let's give them a cheer," suggested the young oarsman, as they drew +closer. + +"All right," replied Harry, pulling out his handkerchief. "One, two, +three. Hurrah! hur----" + +Harry stopped short, as a cry of horror arose on board of the excursion +boat. + +A young girl had been standing close to the rail on a camp stool at the +bow of the boat. + +As the steamboat swung around the girl lost her balance. + +She tried to save herself, and, failing, pitched headlong into the water. + +Harry saw her go under the greenish waves. + +"She'll be struck by the paddle wheel," he yelled, and then, splash! he +was overboard himself. + +Bravely he struck out to save the maiden. + +The order was given to back the steamboat. + +The wheels churned up the water into a white foam, but still the momentum +carried the large craft on. In the meantime Harry came up and struck out +valiantly for the girl, who was now going down for a second time. + +"Save her! Save her!" shrieked the mother of the girl, in an agony of +fear. + +Half a dozen life preservers were thrown overboard, but none came to where +the girl could reach them. + +The mother of the girl wanted to join her daughter in the water but strong +hands held her back. + +"The young fellow will save her, madam!" + +"He's a true hero!" + +Life lines were thrown over, but even these did no good. + +The steamboat swung around, but the run of the water washed the girl +closer and closer to the paddle wheel. + +She now came up a second time. Should she sink again all would be over. + +Harry was swimming with all the strength and skill at his command. + +At last he was within a yard of the struggling girl. + +The maiden threw up her hands and went under. + +As quick as a flash Harry dove down. + +A second passed. Then up came the youth with the girl clinging to his +shoulder. + +But now the current was apparently too strong for both of them. + +They were hurled up against the paddle wheel of the steamboat, and then +disappeared entirely from view. + +Jack Broxton gave a groan. + +"Harry is lost!" + +Jerry shuddered. + +"It looks like it," he replied. + +The captain of the steamboat did not dare to move his craft for fear he +would do more harm than good. + +The mother of the girl continued to struggle to free herself. + +But now a cry was heard. It came from the stern of the steamboat. + +"There they are!" + +"The girl is safe and so is that brave young man." + +Jerry and Jack Broxton heard the cry, and immediately put about in their +yacht. + +Harry was swimming along on his side. The girl was too weak to support +herself, and he was holding her up well out of the water. + +It took the Whistler but a moment to run up alongside of the pair. Jerry +reached over and caught hold of the girl and placed her on deck. + +In the meantime Harry secured a rope thrown by Jack Broxton and pulled +himself up. + +A cheer arose from those on the excursion boat. + +"She is safe now, sure!" + +The girl was too exhausted to move, and both boys rubbed her hands and did +what they could for her. + +Jack Broxton ran up alongside of the steamboat and a little later the girl +was placed on board. + +The mother clasped her child to her breast. + +"Go ahead, Jack," said Harry in a low voice. "I don't want the crowd to +stare at me." + +"But the mother wants to thank you," began Jerry. + +But Harry would not listen. He was too modest, and made Jack Broxton +actually run away from the excursion boat. + +But five hundred people cheered Harry and waved their handkerchiefs. + +"How did you escape the steamboat?" asked Jerry, when the excitement was +over. + +"We went under part of her," was the reply. "I swam for all I knew how, +but it was a close call." + +After this Harry retired to the cabin and changed his clothing. He drank +several cups of hot coffee, and half an hour later declared that he felt +as well as ever. + +The remainder of the run down the lake was uneventful. They dropped anchor +near the mouth of the Poplar River and started in to fish. + +They had all the necessary tackle on board, and procured bait at a +boathouse near by. + +The yacht was anchored at a well-known spot, and then the sport began. + +"I've a bite!" cried Harry + +And sure enough he had something. He began to reel in with great +rapidity. + +"First fish," said Jerry. + +Scarcely had Harry landed his haul than click, click, click went Jerry's +reel. The line went off like a flash. + +Jerry began to reel in. That something big was on his hook was certain. + +The fish darted in every direction and Jerry had his hands full playing +him. + +"You'll lose him!" cried Harry, excitedly. + +"I'll do my best with him," responded Jerry, quietly. + +After playing the fish for nearly five minutes he reeled him in rapidly. + +"Get the landing net, Jack," he said, and the old tar stood ready the +moment the fish came into view. + +"A bass! A three-pounder!" cried Harry. "By jinks! but that's a haul worth +making!" + +It was indeed a beautiful catch, and Jerry was justly proud of it. + +After this nothing was caught for twenty minutes. Then Harry landed a fine +fat perch weighing a pound. Jack was not fishing, but smoked and looked on +contentedly. + +Evening found them with a fine mess of bass and perch. + +"Not a bad haul," said Jerry, as he surveyed the lot. + +"I reckon it's about time to be gitting back," observed Jack Broxton. "We +want ter make Lakeview afore dark." + +So the anchor was hoisted and away they went before a nine-knot breeze. + +The return was made along the north shore. Here there were numerous little +islands, separated from the mainland by a series of channels, some shallow +and others deep enough to admit of the passage of a good-sized yacht. + +The Whistler was just passing one of these channels, and Jerry and Harry +were at the side, cleaning their fish, when suddenly old Jack Broxton +uttered a cry. + +"What is it, Jack?" asked the young oarsman, quickly, while Harry also +raised up. + +"There's a boat over yonder, back of that island, and I'm certain I saw Si +Peters and Wash Crosby on board," was the old boatman's interesting +answer. + + + + +CHAPTER XL. + +A STRUGGLE IN THE DARK. + + +"You are sure?" demanded Jerry and Harry, in a breath. + +"Yes. The boat had the name Redeye painted on the stern. If I remember +rightly, she belongs to a tough crowd of fishermen from Long Lake." + +"Where is she now?" demanded Harry. + +"Back there, somewhere." + +"We must follow that boat; eh, Jerry?" + +"I am willing," replied the young oarsman. + +"You may have lively times with that crowd," put in Jack Broxton with a +grave shake of his head. + +"We'll risk it," answered Harry. He was thinking of his missing gold +watch. + +The course of the Whistler was changed, and soon they rounded the shore of +the island Jack Broxton had pointed out. + +Sure enough, there was the Redeye, with all sails set, making up the +lake. + +Near the stern stood Si Peters, Wash Crosby and several rascally looking +men. + +"They have discovered that we are after them," cried Jerry, a few minutes +later. "See, they are crowding on all sail!" + +The young oarsman was right. Leaving the vicinity of the islands, the +other craft stood out boldly into the lake, and cut the water like a +knife. + +"She's a good one," observed Jack Broxton. + +The Whistler already had all sails out; and thus the craft went on, +neither gaining nor losing for half an hour. + +Then darkness settled over the lake, and the wind fell flat. + +"We've lost them now," said Harry, dismally. + +"It's a good thing the wind has fallen," replied Jerry. + +"How so?" + +"As soon as it is dark enough we can take the row-boat and follow in +that." + +"That's an idea." + +Soon night had settled over Lake Otasco. Then our hero and Harry lost no +time in entering the tender of the Whistler. + +"Make as little noise as possible," cautioned Jerry. + +He was in the bow peering ahead, while Harry was at the oars. + +So they went on a distance of a quarter of a mile. + +"See anything?" whispered Harry. + +"Not yet. Pull in a little closer to shore. I have an idea Peters and +Crosby may land somewhere around here." + +"Like as not that is their game." + +On they went, the darkness growing more intense as they proceeded. There +was no moon, and the stars shone but faintly in the blue vault overhead. + +Suddenly Jerry held up his hand as a sign to Harry to stop rowing. +Instantly his chum raised the oars. + +"What do you see?" he whispered. + +"Something ahead--I can't make out just what yet." + +Several minutes of breathless silence followed. Then Jerry bent back. + +"The Redeye is just ahead, but I believe Si Peters and Wash Crosby have +already left her." + +A second later a low but clear cry rang out: + +"You left that bundle behind, Crosby!" + +"Never mind, I don't want the old suit," was the reply, coming from some +distance in toward shore. + +"That settles it," whispered Jerry. "Crosby and Peters are in a row-boat +pulling for shore, beyond a doubt." + +"That's all right," replied Harry. "I would rather tackle them than all +those on the Redeye." + +"So would I." + +The row-boat was headed for the west. + +How far off the shore was they did not know. + +They had located the voice of Crosby and now steered in the direction. + +Jerry at the bow continued to keep his ears on the alert. + +"A little to the right, now," he said. "That's it. If you don't make too +much noise we'll surprise them completely." + +"I think the best thing we can do is to follow them after they land, until +they reach some place where we can have them locked up, Jerry." + +"That is certainly a good plan. It will save us the trouble of dragging +them off to jail, if we are fortunate enough to capture them." + +Harry's plan was accepted, and on they went. + +"Look!" cried Jerry, presently, and pointed down the shore. + +"I don't see anything, Jerry." + +"Don't you see the lights coming toward us?" + +Harry strained his eyes. + +"I see them now." + +"It's a steamer coming this way." + +"My gracious, we'll have to get out of the way or we'll be run down!" + +"She is close in shore," went on Jerry. "I believe she'll pass between the +other row-boat and ours." + +"Let us hold up a minute and see what she intends to do," said Harry. + +He rested on his oars. Soon the craft came closer. It was the excursion +boat on her return. + +"She is not coming near us," said Jerry. "Pull on." + +Harry had just taken to the oars again, when a wild cry rang out. It came +from the row-boat which held Peters and Crosby. + +"Stop! Don't run us down!" + +"The steamboat is onto them!" ejaculated Jerry. + +Scarcely had he spoken when there came another cry, followed by a crash. + +"They've been struck!" yelled Harry. + +"Pull ahead!" cried Jerry. "Like as not they have either been killed or +are drowning!" + +He sprang to Harry's side, and with an oar each they sped on to the +assistance of the unfortunate ones. + +In the meanwhile the steamboat stopped. + +"What's the trouble?" called a voice. + +No answer was vouchsafed, and a moment later the steamboat went on. + +"Like as not, Si Peters and Wash Crosby are dead," observed Harry, as he +bent to his oar. + +"We'll soon know the truth," replied the young oarsman. + +Both boys pulled a swift stroke, and were soon on the spot where the +catastrophe had occurred. + +In the meanwhile the steamboat was fast disappearing in the distance. Soon +the last light faded from sight. + +In the darkness of the night Jerry and Harry could see but little. + +"There is an oar," cried Harry, pointing it out. + +"And there is part of the row-boat's bottom," said Jerry. "It looks as if +the row-boat was actually ground to pieces." + +"Then it isn't likely that Si Peters and Wash Crosby escaped." + +"Well, we'll take a good look around." + +The two continued to row about, but for a long while saw nothing but bits +of wreckage. + +Then our hero beheld a form floating just to their right. + +"Take both oars, Harry," he said, "and be careful, for that is Wash +Crosby's body." + +Harry took the oars and began to row slowly. + +As he moved on, Jerry stood in the bow. + +At that instant a strange thing happened. Si Peters came up under the +boat, giving it such a shove that Jerry was hurled overboard. + +Then, with a swiftness that was really surprising, Si Peters clambered +into the row-boat. + +In his hand he held part of a broken oar. + +"Jump out after Jerry Upton!" he growled as he advanced upon Harry. + +Without replying, Harry leaped up to defend himself. As he did this he saw +that Jerry and Wash Crosby were fighting in the water. + +Neither Crosby nor Peters had been hurt by the collision, both having left +their craft before the steamboat struck it. + +Their one thought now was to get the good row-boat away from our two +heroes. + +Jerry, thinking Wash Crosby seriously hurt, was taken completely by +surprise. + +Crosby caught him by the shoulder and forced him far under the water, and +then did his best to hold him there. + +Crosby was a powerful fellow, and he well understood what defeat and +capture meant--a term in prison. + +But, as we know, Jerry's muscles were like iron, and his first surprise +over, he went for Crosby tooth and nail. + +With a powerful twist he freed himself from the rascal's grasp and swam +some distance away. + +Then coming up behind Crosby, the young oarsman let out with his right +fist. + +The blow took the Rockpoint bully behind the ear, and Crosby let out a +wild yell of pain, broken by a gasp for air, as he went under the bosom of +the ocean. + +As he went down, our hero gave him an extra shove and then swam with all +speed for the row-boat, which had drifted several yards away. + +He saw Harry and Si Peters standing up in the boat. Peters had just struck +at his chum, and Harry had partly dodged the vicious blow. + +But the broken oar landed on Harry's arm, causing him to cry out from +pain. + +"Drop that, Si Peters." + +The command, coming so unexpectedly, startled Peters. He turned, to find +Jerry at the gunwale directly behind him. + +"Oh, Jerry, help!" cried Harry. + +Si Peters gave a low yell of rage. + +Again Harry sprang away, and now armed himself with an oar. + +"You can't frighten me, you fool!" shouted Peters. "Don't you dare to put +your hand on the boat!" + +And as Jerry grasped the gunwale, Peters raised his heavy foot as if to +crush our hero's fingers. + +But Jerry was too quick for him. + +He dropped off. Then whizz! something dark flew through the air. + +It was part of the broken oar, thrown by Jerry, and it took Si Peters in +the neck. + +"Whack him one, Harry, while you have the chance!" + +Harry needed no advice on the subject. He sprang in, and a second later a +resounding crack laid Si Peters flat on his back. + +"That was a good one," cried Jerry, as he clambered over the side. "Now +bind him before he comes to." + +"Haven't a blessed thing," replied Harry. + +"Here is some cord. Tie his hands together." + +While Harry was doing this, Jerry began to look around for Wash Crosby. + +"This way! We are in trouble!" yelled Crosby. + +"Pshaw!" exclaimed Jerry. "He'll have that yacht down on us in another +minute." + +But for once the young oarsman was mistaken. The men on the Redeye had no +desire, after befriending Si Peters and Wash Crosby, to fall into the +hands of the law, and instead of coming up they allowed their craft to +float off in an opposite direction. + +"There is Crosby!" shouted Jerry, a moment later, as he beheld the youth +floundering around in the water. "And look, here comes the Whistler." + +He was right. A slight breeze had sprung up and Jack Broxton had nursed +the yacht along with all of the skill at his command. + +The coming of the old sailor ended the battle, so far as the bad boys from +Rockpoint were concerned. Both Si Peters and Wash Crosby were hauled on +board, and here they were tightly bound, to prevent their making further +trouble. + +It was after midnight when Lakeview was reached and the prisoners were +handed over to the local police. Then Harry and Jerry separated, to go +home and tell of their fresh adventures. + +The following morning Si Peters and Wash Crosby were taken to Rockpoint +and an examination was held. The bad boys confessed robbing the hotel and +the larger part of the money taken was recovered, as was also Harry's gold +watch, which Si Peters had been bold enough to wear. Some time later the +evil-doers were tried and sent to jail, and that was the last our heroes +heard of them. + + + + +CHAPTER XLI. + +A LAST RACE--GOOD-BYE TO THE RIVAL OARSMEN. + + +"Hurrah, here they come!" + +"It's going to be a dandy race, Harry." + +"Indeed it is, Dick." + +"There comes Hosmer!" + +"Here comes Pinkney!" + +"What's the matter with Villelet?" + +"He's all right!" + +The conversation took place on the bank of the Hudson River, not far from +Poughkeepsie. + +It was the day of the great intercollegiate boat races. + +The single-shell race had just been ordered. + +Among the number to compete in this race was Jerry Upton. + +Our hero was rich now--that is, his folks were, which amounted to the same +thing. + +On trial it had been proven what a villain Alexander Slocum was. All of +his masquerading in the west under the name of Darnley was exposed, as +well as his fraudulent land schemes in the east. The real-estate +manipulator was sent to prison for a term of years, and the property in +California was divided up between Jerry's father, Nellie Ardell and +several others who held an interest in it. + +The land was found to be within the city limits of Sacramento, and the +Upton share was computed to be worth forty-five thousand dollars. + +Mr. Upton was offered forty thousand dollars for it, but by the advice of +Colonel Dartwell, who became his intimate friend, he concluded to keep +it. + +"The investment is bringing in good interest," he said, "and as it was +Jerry who did the work in getting it, the lad shall have it just as it +stands when I and my wife die." + +Immediately after these matters were settled up, Jerry began to study for +college, and Harry did also, and both made the entrance examination with +ease. + +Jerry was a fine scholar and he was also one of the best oarsmen in his +class. Harry likewise rowed a good deal, although not near as much as +formerly. + +It was a perfect day and the river was filled with pleasure boats, loaded +down to the rails with sightseers. The banks of the stream were likewise +lined with the crowds which had poured in to see the various college +oarsmen compete for the supremacy in aquatic sports. + +In the crowd on short was our old friend Blumpo Brown. Blumpo was now in +business at Lakeview, letting out pleasure boats, of which he owned +several, and he was unusually prosperous. Just at present he was wearing +the colors of Jerry's college and "whooping her up" for our hero whenever +the chance presented itself. + +At the given signal the single shells took their places at the starting +point. + +The participants were the pick of the single-shell men, and Jerry realized +that he would have a struggle to win. + +A puff of smoke, the report of a gun, and they were off! + +"A fine start!" + +"Hosmer leads!" + +"He will lead to the finish!" + +"Pinkney is a close second!" + +"Jerry Upton is third!" + +"My! but they are cutting the water!" + +"Two to one that Hosmer wins!" + +"Three to one that the record is broken!" + +"Foah to one dat Jerry Upton wins dis race!" cried Blumpo Brown, waving a +big college flag over his head. "Dat boy don't know what it is to lose!" + +"Hear that chap talk!" + +"Pitch him overboard to cool him off!" + +"Dat's all right, it's Jerry Upton's muscle dat's talkin', not me!" +growled Blumpo. + +Down the straight course came the single-shell oarsmen, each back bending +to a long and powerful stroke. + +The quarter stretch was past with Hosmer still in the lead. + +Behind him came Pinkney and Jerry, side by side. + +Then came the half stretch. The leaders still held the same positions. + +"Told you Hosmer would win!" + +"Jerry Upton is falling behind!" + +It was true. Pinkney had increased his stroke and was crawling up slowly +but surely to the leader. + +"Pull, Jerry, pull," yelled Harry. + +"You dun got to win dat race, suah!" screamed Blumpo. + +Jerry heard them, but paid no heed. He was rowing the race of the +year--the race that would make his college chums shout with joy or look +glum for the balance of the season. + +And now the three-quarter mark was past. A quarter of a mile more and the +race would be over. + +"See! Pinkney is drawing up to Hosmer!" + +"Pinkney leads! Hosmer has dropped away behind!" + +"Pinkney first and Jerry Upton second!" + +"Villelet is crawling up!" + +"He has passed Pinkney!" + +And so the shouting went on. The end of the course was in sight. How the +oarsmen were pulling! But now look at Jerry. + +How like a flash his back bends! How powerful is that broad stroke! How +quick his recovery! + +In vain Pinkney tried to hold his lead. Jerry means to win and nothing can +hold him back. + +He fairly flies past Pinkney and comes in a winner by a length and a half. +His friends go wild. + +"Hurrah for Jerry Upton!" shouts Harry. + +And the cheers echo and re-echo along the water and back to the distant +hills. + +Blumpo dances a breakdown for joy. + +"I told you he could do it," he cries. "Da can't beat our Jerry nohow!" + +"That's right, they can't!" adds Harry. "Hurrah! hurrah! hurrah!" + +Jerry leaves his shell, and is hoisted up upon the shoulders of his +friends and marched around the town. + +That night he is given a big reception by his fellow students. It is the +happiest moment of his life. + +And here we will leave him and Harry and Blumpo, and all of the rest, +shouting as do our hero's many friends: + +"Hurrah for the Young Oarsman of Lakeview!" + +THE END + +------------------------------------------------------------------------- + +FAMOUS BOOKS FOR BOYS + +These are new and superior editions of these famous authors' books for +boys. They are printed from new plates on an excellent quality of paper +while many are profusely illustrated. Each book is sewed, thus making a +flexible back, so that it opens easily, making its reading a pleasure and +a comfort. The covers are printed in two colors from appropriate designs +on a heavy coated enameled paper in assorted colors. + +FROM THE MODERN AUTHORS' LIBRARY + +By G. A. 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