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diff --git a/old/50327-h/50327-h.htm b/old/50327-h/50327-h.htm deleted file mode 100644 index 76f1d01..0000000 --- a/old/50327-h/50327-h.htm +++ /dev/null @@ -1,8571 +0,0 @@ - <!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" - "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> - <html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> - <head> - <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=utf-8" /> - <title>The River Motor Boat Boys on the Ohio</title> - <link rel="coverpage" href="images/cover.jpg" /> - <style type="text/css"> - body { margin-left:8%; margin-right:10%; } - h1 { text-align:center;font-weight:normal;font-size:1.4em; } - h2 { text-align:center;font-weight:normal;font-size:1.2em; } - p { text-indent: 1.2em; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0; text-align: justify; } - p.first { text-indent: 0; } - div.pbb { page-break-before: always; } - hr.pb { border:none; border-bottom:1px solid silver; width:100%; margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:2em; } - @media handheld { hr.pb { display: none; }} - .figcenter { clear:both; max-width:100%; margin:2em auto; text-align:center; } - .figcenter img { max-width:100%; height:auto; } - div.figcenter p { text-align: center; text-indent: 0; } - .chapter { clear:both; page-break-before: always;} - .cb-container { text-align:center; margin: 0 auto; } - .cb { display:inline-block; text-align:left; } - .lgc { text-align:center; } - .line { padding-top:2px; } - @media screen { hr.clearpage { margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom:2em; border: none; border-top: 1px solid gray; }} - @media handheld { hr.clearpage { page-break-before: always; padding-top: 10%; border: none; }} - .id01 { width:370px; } - @media handheld { .id01 { margin-left:20%; width:60%; }} - </style> - </head> - <body> - - -<pre> - -Project Gutenberg's The River Motor Boat Boys on the Ohio, by Harry Gordon - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world 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. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - - - -Title: The River Motor Boat Boys on the Ohio - The Three Blue Lights - -Author: Harry Gordon - -Release Date: October 27, 2015 [EBook #50327] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK RIVER MOTOR BOAT BOYS *** - - - - -Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.bookcove.net - - - - - - -</pre> - - - - - <div class='figcenter id01'> - <img src='images/illus-fpc.jpg' style='width:100%' alt=''/> - <div style='width:100%'> - “Here you,” shouted Mose, “don’t you go near those motors.” - </div> - </div> - - - <hr class='clearpage'/> - <div class='lgc'> - <div class='line' style='font-size: 1.6em; margin: 20px auto 10px auto;'>The River Motor Boat Boys on the Ohio</div> - <br/> - <div class='line'>OR</div> - <br/> - <div class='line' style='font-size: 1.2em; margin: 10px auto 20px auto;'>The Three Blue Lights</div> - <br/> - <div class='line' style='margin-bottom: 20px;'>By HARRY GORDON</div> - <br/> - <div class='line'>Author of</div> - <div class='cb-container'><div class='cb'> - <div class='line'>“The River Motor Boat Boys on the St. Lawrence,”</div> - <div class='line'>“The River Motor Boat Boys on the Colorado,”</div> - <div class='line'>“The River Motor Boat Boys on the Mississippi,”</div> - <div class='line'>“The River Motor Boat Boys on the Amazon,”</div> - <div class='line'>“The River Motor Boat Boys on the Columbia.’</div> - </div></div> - <br/> - <div class='line' style='margin-top: 20px;'>A. L. Burt Company</div> - <div class='line'>New York</div> - </div> - - - <hr class='clearpage'/> - <div class='lgc'> - <div class='line'>Copyright, 1913</div> - <div class='line'>By A. L. Burt Company</div> - <br/> - <div class='line' style='font-size: smaller;'>THE SIX RIVER MOTOR BOYS ON THE OHIO</div> - </div> - - - <hr class='clearpage'/> - <div class='lgc'> - <div class='line' style='margin-bottom: 10px;'>TABLE OF CONTENTS</div> - <br/> - </div> - <div class='cb-container'><div class='cb'> - <div class='line'><a href='#chI'>I.—IN QUEST OF SPARK PLUGS.</a></div> - <div class='line'><a href='#chII'>II.—A “FRIENDLY” CAPTAIN.</a></div> - <div class='line'><a href='#chIII'>III.—RESISTING AN OFFICER.</a></div> - <div class='line'><a href='#chIV'>IV.—A DIVE FOR LIBERTY.</a></div> - <div class='line'><a href='#chV'>V.—CAPTAIN JOE ON SHORE.</a></div> - <div class='line'><a href='#chVI'>VI.—JULE TURNS THE SWITCH.</a></div> - <div class='line'><a href='#chVII'>VII.—THE TRAINING OF TEDDY.</a></div> - <div class='line'><a href='#chVIII'>VIII.—CAPTAIN JOE’S MESSAGE.</a></div> - <div class='line'><a href='#chIX'>IX.—THE THREE BLUE LIGHTS.</a></div> - <div class='line'><a href='#chX'>X.—ANNIVERSARY OF A WRECK.</a></div> - <div class='line'><a href='#chXI'>XI.—CATCHING BIG CATFISH.</a></div> - <div class='line'><a href='#chXII'>XII.—THE GHOST OF THE MARY ANN.</a></div> - <div class='line'><a href='#chXIII'>XIII.—EXPLORING A LAGOON.</a></div> - <div class='line'><a href='#chXIV'>XIV.—CAPTAIN JOE HELPS SOME.</a></div> - <div class='line'><a href='#chXV'>XV.—THE RAMBLER STRIKES BACK.</a></div> - <div class='line'><a href='#chXVI'>XVI.—THE COAL BARGES INTERVENE.</a></div> - <div class='line'><a href='#chXVII'>XVII.—THE TWO CLAIMANTS.</a></div> - <div class='line'><a href='#chXVIII'>XVIII.—A FORBIDDEN SUBJECT.</a></div> - <div class='line'><a href='#chXIX'>XIX.—TEDDY MAKES A SENSATION.</a></div> - <div class='line'><a href='#chXX'>XX.—THE PIRATES’ NEST.</a></div> - <div class='line'><a href='#chXXI'>XXI.—FATE TAKES A TRICK.</a></div> - <div class='line'><a href='#chXXII'>XXII.—THE NIGHT-RIDERS.</a></div> - <div class='line'><a href='#chXXIII'>XXIII.—THE RAMBLER’S LIGHTS.</a></div> - <div class='line'><a href='#chXXIV'>XXIV.—THE LIGHTS HELP SOME.</a></div> - <div class='line'><a href='#chXXV'>XXV.—GRATEFUL NIGHT-RIDERS.</a></div> - </div></div> - <hr class='clearpage'/> - - <div class='chapter'> - <h2 id='chI'>CHAPTER I.—IN QUEST OF SPARK PLUGS.</h2> - -<p class='first'>“That Kentucky shore looks to me like good -hunting.”</p> - -<p>“What can you get over there?”</p> - -<p>“’Possums, coons, rabbits and squirrels.”</p> - -<p>“All right, we’ll go right now and get a coon.”</p> - -<p>Cornelius Witters threw himself back on the -gunwale and laughed and shook until little wavelets -sprang from the sides of the boat and rippled away -over the Ohio river.</p> - -<p>“You’ll get lots of coons in the middle of the -afternoon,” he said, finally. “You have to get -coons in the night.”</p> - -<p>“Well, there’s another night coming, ain’t -there?” suggested Alex Smithwick. “We’re -going to stay here in this eddy until morning, ain’t -we?”</p> - -<p>“I guess we’ll have to stay till morning,” Jule -Shafer cut in. “The motor has gone wrong, and -Clay doesn’t seem to know how to fix it.”</p> - -<p>Clayton Emmett looked up from the motors with -a very smutty face and smiled at the last remark.</p> - -<p>“I’ll tell you what it is, boys,” he said, “this -motor can’t be put in good shape until we get -another consignment of spark plugs.”</p> - -<p>The four boys, Clayton Emmett, Alex Smithwick, -Jule Shafer and Cornelius Witters, gathered -about the motor, looking with disgust at its -motionless cranks. The boat had been turned into an -eddy on the Kentucky side of the Ohio river about -noon, and Clay had been working at the machinery -ever since in the hope of getting farther down the -river that night.</p> - -<p>“Well,” Case said, after a short silence, “some -one must go out to civilization and buy some spark -plugs. How far do you think we’ll have to go? -Of course these little trading points on the river -don’t keep spark plugs. We’ll be lucky if we even -get gasoline there.”</p> - -<p>“I’ll tell you what we’ll do,” Clay suggested.</p> - -<p>“We may be able to buy or borrow spark plugs -from some passing launch or steamer. There are -store-boats on the Ohio, you know, and they may -carry all kinds of motor boat supplies.”</p> - -<p>“Oh yes,” Alex grinned, “there are store-boats -on the Ohio, and whiskey boats, and show-boats, -and house-boats, and about a thousand other kinds -of boats, but I don’t believe they carry such -supplies as we want.”</p> - -<p>“It’s just a chance,” Clay went on. “We may -be able to get a supply from some motor boat, but -in the meantime we’d better be looking about in -other directions.”</p> - -<p>“All right,” Case exclaimed, excitedly, “Alex -and I will go out hunting and steer toward any -little river town we get wise to. We may find motor -supplies in any old shanty town.”</p> - -<p>“All right,” Clay replied. “Go out and get a -mess of squirrels or rabbits while you’re hunting -for a supply store.”</p> - -<p>The motor boat <i>Rambler</i> lay in an eddy on the -Kentucky side of the Ohio river, some distance -below Louisville. The four owners had put the boat -into the river at Pittsburg, and were making their -way to the Mississippi at Cairo.</p> - -<p>They had only recently returned from an extended -trip up the St. Lawrence river. From Ogdensburg -they had followed the Great Lakes to -Chicago, which was their home. From Ogdensburg -the motor boat had been accompanied by the -launch <i>Cartier</i>, which had been presented to -Captain Joe, one of their old-time friends, because of -important services rendered by the boys. Those -who have read the previous books of this series -will understand the build and speed of the <i>Rambler</i>, -and also the affectionate relations existing between -the four boys and Captain Joe, an ex-sea, lake and -river captain.</p> - -<p>Captain Joe had been urged by the lads to -accompany them on their trip down the Ohio with -his launch, but had objected, saying that the boys -would be sure to get into all kinds of scrapes, and -that he did not care to become responsible for the -actions of a crew going about the world looking -for trouble!</p> - -<p>The old captain, however, had a very alert and -intelligent representative on board the <i>Rambler</i> in -the person of Captain Joe, a white bulldog of -forbidding appearance. This dog had been purchased -at Para, Brazil, by Alex, and had often made -himself useful during trying situations on previous -trips.</p> - -<p>There was also another passenger on board the -<i>Rambler</i> whose name did not appear on the crew -list. This was Teddy, the quarter-grown grizzly -bear which Alex had rescued from a floating tree -in the Columbia river, near the source of that -wonderful stream.</p> - -<p>The bear and the dog were very good friends, -playing together like kittens. During their many -river trips the boys had taught the bear to box, -wrestle and frisk about in the water. Captain Joe -was always ready for a tussle with the bear, and -had a habit of following Alex surreptitiously every -time the boy left the boat.</p> - -<p>The <i>Rambler</i> was well supplied with provisions -and ammunition of all kinds, but, the supply of -gasoline running low, the tanks being well-nigh -empty, and the spark plug badly worn, the boys -had proposed early in the day to merely drift down -the river, keeping headway with the sweep.</p> - -<p>But a little experience of this mode of traveling -on the great stream had caused them to tie up in -an eddy on the Kentucky side. It was September, -and the Ohio was alive with traffic of all kinds.</p> - -<p>During the early part of the day they had passed -several excursion boats, gay with flags and music, -almost a fleet of shanty-boats, and innumerable -packets, stern-wheelers and side-wheelers. -Drifting with no control to speak of, the -<i>Rambler</i> had several times come very near -collision with larger boats.</p> - -<p>On the Ohio, as well as on the Mississippi and -the St. Lawrence, the traffic-men seem to have a -great contempt for those who go about in gasoline -boats. Captains and pilots unite in making trouble -for the owners of such craft whenever it is -possible to do so.</p> - -<p>Once that forenoon the <i>Rambler</i> had come very -near destruction because of a monstrous tow of -coal barges moving down upon it. Later, the boys -had been annoyed and insulted by a gang of toughs -who were lounging over the railing of a whiskey boat -which was passing up the river.</p> - -<p>It was finally arranged that Alex and Case should -go ashore and look about for a place where supplies -might be purchased. There were no settlements in -sight from the point where the <i>Rambler</i> lay, but -the boys thought that, as she lay just above a great -bend which swept around a long peninsula, -turning to the south at last, there might be business -places not far away which were not in view.</p> - -<p>“And while you are gone,” Jule called out as -the boys rowed ashore, “catch a coon and half a -dozen squirrels. I can make a squirrel pie that will -bring Captain Joe down from Chicago!”</p> - -<p>“All right!” Alex called back. “We’ll bring -game enough to last a week. Get your fires all -ready by dark.”</p> - -<p>The shore on which the boys found themselves -a few moments later was wild and rocky. There -were great oaks towering along the side hills and -immense trees of hickory, beech and walnut shut -out the view on all sides. There was also a heavy -undergrowth.</p> - -<p>“Where are you heading for?” asked Case, as -Alex turned into a thicket and went tramping -through it with a great noise.</p> - -<p>“I think,” Alex replied, “that we’d better keep -off to the west and south. I looked at a map of -the river just before I left the boat, and there’s a -great bend here. We can walk across it in an hour -or two, but it would take half a day to float or row -around it.”</p> - -<p>“I see,” Case answered. “There may be a town -in a nook around the bend. That’s where they -build towns in this country.”</p> - -<p>The boys made good time for an hour or more, -when they came out on the bank of the river perhaps -three miles from the boat, across the bend, -and ten or fifteen by way of the river. Just below -them, hardly forty rods from the point where they -emerged from the underbrush, they saw a little -river settlement composed of half a dozen ramshackle -houses, a fishing dock, and one store -building.</p> - -<p>“There!” Alex said. “I’ll bet we find spark -plugs there!”</p> - -<p>“If we find as many spark plugs there as we -didn’t find squirrels coming through,” Case laughed, -“It will take a long time to get our motor started.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, well,” Alex answered, “we didn’t look -very hard for squirrels, anyway. We’ll see what -they’ve got here, and do our hunting on the way -back.”</p> - -<p>“Clay may get what we want from some of the -boats,” Case suggested. “There are lots of boats -on the river that ought to carry spark plugs. It’s -dollars to apples that every motor boat we’ve seen -to-day carries an extra supply.”</p> - -<p>“That won’t do us any good,” Alex answered, -“if they don’t show a disposition to pass them -around.”</p> - -<p>“Do you know,” Case went on, “I’m afraid of -some of those river boats. There’s a tougher gang -on some of them than you’ll find on Clark street. -They drink third-rail whiskey, made up in the -mountains, and are ready to do murder after a -dozen doses of it.”</p> - -<p>“Well,” Alex said, “we’ll just have to watch -out, that’s all.”</p> - -<p>“You remember that red, white and blue boat -we saw yesterday?” Case went on. “That was a -gambling house proper. Just looking over the -gunwale into the cabin windows, I saw roulette wheels -in operation and three faro layouts crowded with -excited gamblers.”</p> - -<p>“Yes,” Alex assented, “and it looked to me -like they were playing stud poker out in the open. -It’s a wonder the people along the river don’t put -dynamite under those boats some night.”</p> - -<p>“I reckon,” Case suggested, “that the people -along the river are more afraid of the store-boats -than they are of the gambling boats. These -store-boat men steal everything they can get their hands -on. They have been known to raid small towns, -strip the shelves of the business places, and even -take valuable furniture and musical instruments -from the residences. When they get a boat load -of this sort of plunder, they take it down to New -Orleans, where it is disposed of by men who make -a business of doing that sort of thing.”</p> - -<p>Alex scratched his red head and wrinkled his -freckled nose for a minute and then turned to his -chum with a grin on his face.</p> - -<p>“If they try to get the <i>Rambler</i>,” he said, “don’t -forget that we have dynamite under the after deck -near the gasoline tanks.”</p> - -<p>“If they try to get the <i>Rambler</i>,” Case exclaimed, -“they’ll do it while we are away on shore, or asleep. -These river rats are too cowardly to put up an -open fight. They do their work in the dark.”</p> - -<p>“That’s one reason why I don’t like being away -from the boat long at a time,” Alex went on. -“Clay and Jule would do anything any two boys -could do to protect our property, but, all the same, -two boys wouldn’t cut much ice with a gang of -river pirates like I’ve seen on those boats.”</p> - -<p>As the boy ceased speaking he laid an excited -hand on Case’s shoulder and turned his face in the -direction from which they had come.</p> - -<p>“Did you hear that?” he asked.</p> - -<p>Case nodded and turned back to the east.</p> - -<p>“It sounded like a gun,” he exclaimed. “I’m -going back to the boat.”</p> - -<p>Alex held him back and pointed toward the -settlement below.</p> - -<p>“We may as well see about the spark plugs,” he -advised. “It won’t take us very much longer. -That noise may be only hunters, anyway.”</p> - -<p>Trying their best to conceal their excitement, the -boys moved down the slope to the river bank and -stopped on a level platform before the store door. -The shots were now coming in a volley.</p> - </div> - - <div class='chapter'> - <h2 id='chII'>CHAPTER II.—A “FRIENDLY” CAPTAIN.</h2> - -<p class='first'>After the departure of Alex and Case, Clay -and Jule continued their efforts to get the motor -into working order. In the meantime, however, -they kept a sharp lookout for the approach of some -boat which might possibly supply them with what -they needed.</p> - -<p>However, they had little hope of relief from any -river craft.</p> - -<p>“There must be some towns along the river, -below the bend,” Jule insisted. “The boys will find -some sort of place where motor supplies are sold.”</p> - -<p>“If they do,” Clay answered, “I hope they’ll -bring a whole pocketful of spark plugs.”</p> - -<p>“And I hope they’ll bring back a dozen squirrels, -and six rabbits, and a coon, and a ’possum!” Jule -laughed. “Here we’ve been on this river all the -way down from Pittsburg, and haven’t had any -wild game yet! I’ve eaten fish until I believe there -are fins growing on my toes.”</p> - -<p>“There’s a large motor boat coming down,” -Clay said, pointing up stream. “Perhaps we can -get what we want by going aboard.”</p> - -<p>“Looks like a pretty decent sort of a craft,” -Jule suggested.</p> - -<p>“It looks to me like a store-boat, anyhow,” Clay -went on.</p> - -<p>“Then we’ll give ’em a hail!”</p> - -<p>The call from the <i>Rambler</i> was answered -immediately, and a large-sized motor boat turned in -toward the Kentucky shore. The name “Hawk” -was discernible on the prow as she came slowly on.</p> - -<p>“What idiot named a sailing vessel after a -bird?” asked Jule.</p> - -<p>“She may be a bird, at that,” decided Clay. -“She looks as if she could go some, anyway.”</p> - -<p>“Hello, the boat!” now came from the <i>Hawk</i>.</p> - -<p>“Have you got motor supplies?” Clay called -back.</p> - -<p>“What kind of supplies?”</p> - -<p>“Spark plugs,” was the answer.</p> - -<p>“Come on board and we’ll fit you out.”</p> - -<p>“That’s the talk!” Jule shouted.</p> - -<p>“Where are you bound for?” called out a man -on the deck of the <i>Hawk</i>.</p> - -<p>“Just down the river,” Clay answered.</p> - -<p>The man who had been speaking from the freight -deck of the <i>Hawk</i> now turned away and conversed -for a moment with two men who had been listening -to the conversation. As the fellow talked, he -pointed with his thumb over his shoulder, -significantly, at the <i>Rambler</i>.</p> - -<p>“I don’t like the looks of this!” Clay declared.</p> - -<p>“Then let’s cut it out,” replied Jule.</p> - -<p>“We can’t very well cut it out!” Clay exclaimed. -“They probably know we’re tied up here with a -disabled motor. If they are the kind of people -we fear they are, they’ll come and get us anyway. -I wish Alex and Case were here.”</p> - -<p>“Shall we stay here and shoot if they attempt to -board us?” asked Jule, the light of battle flaming -in his usually merry eyes.</p> - -<p>Clay thought hard for a moment and then turned -back to the cabin for his automatic, which he took -good care to keep out of sight.</p> - -<p>“Are you coming aboard?” the man shouted -from the <i>Hawk</i>.</p> - -<p>“We haven’t any boat,” Clay replied. “Our -friends have gone hunting on shore.”</p> - -<p>“We’ll fix that all right,” was called back, and -in a moment a rowboat rounded the stern of the -<i>Hawk</i> and made its way rapidly to the <i>Rambler</i>. -The boys watched the appearance of the boat with -premonitions of danger. The two rowers looked -like veritable river pirates.</p> - -<p>“Pile in!” shouted one of the men gruffly as he -held on to the anchor-chain of the motor boat. -“Hustle yourselves in here, and I’ll have you over -to the <i>Hawk</i> in a minute.”</p> - -<p>Motioning to Jule to remain where he was, Clay -dropped into the rowboat and told the man to pull -away.</p> - -<p>“Isn’t your friend coming?” one of the rowers -asked.</p> - -<p>“We can’t leave the boat alone,” was the reply. -“Why, we’ll be right here alongside,” urged the -other.</p> - -<p>As he spoke he lifted a hairy, repulsive face -toward the <i>Rambler</i> and shouted:</p> - -<p>“Come on, lad, the captain is fixing up a treat -for you boys!”</p> - -<p>“I’ve got to stay on board,” Jule answered.</p> - -<p>“Oh, come along,” ordered the other, almost -angrily.</p> - -<p>“Pull away,” Clay advised, “we never leave the -boat alone, night or day. It isn’t safe to do so on -the Ohio.”</p> - -<p>“Perhaps that isn’t a bad notion, either,” one of -the rowers replied, with a sullen smile. “Perhaps -the captain will send some one on board to keep him -company.”</p> - -<p>Clay saw by the significant and sneering looks -passing between the two men that they considered -him a prisoner already. So much of a prisoner, -in fact, that they did not consider it necessary to -attempt to conceal their contempt and their triumph.</p> - -<p>Had the <i>Rambler</i> been in fit condition he would -have leaped out of the boat and speeded away. It -seemed to him now, however, that the common-sense -course would be to find out exactly what kind -of a boat the <i>Hawk</i> was before taking any steps -having the appearance of alarm.</p> - -<p>“All right!” the boy answered in response to -the rower’s offer to send some one on board to keep -Jule company, “the boy may become lonesome -after a time, although I shall be gone only a very -few moments.”</p> - -<p>“There’s a mighty jolly crowd on board our -boat,” the rower went on. “There’s many a man -gets aboard for an hour’s ride and never gets off -for a hundred miles.”</p> - -<p>“I don’t doubt it!” Clay said with a laugh.</p> - -<p>It was the work of only a moment to land the -unwilling boy on the freight deck of the <i>Hawk</i>. -He was at once surrounded by a group of men who -seemed to represent all grades of society. There -was the well-dressed man wearing diamonds and -the man who was garbed like a river rat!</p> - -<p>The captain was a hatchet-faced man with rat -eyes and a perfect bill of a nose. His manner was -offensive as he approached Clay familiarly and laid -a hand on his shoulder.</p> - -<p>“So you’re going down the river on a little trip -of your own, eh?” he asked. “Nice boat you’ve -got.”</p> - -<p>“Yes,” Clay answered, “it’s not expensive, but -it’s pretty well rigged out. She’s a bit fast, too, -when in good shape.”</p> - -<p>“Looks like she could go some,” agreed the -captain.</p> - -<p>“What are you trading in?” asked a -handsomely-dressed man who looked enough like the -captain to be his brother.</p> - -<p>“Oh,” Clay replied, “we’re just out for amusement; -taking our vacation on the river.”</p> - -<p>“That’s a good bluff, too,” the other sneered. -“People don’t trail along the Ohio just for the fun -of the thing.”</p> - -<p>“If you’ve got whiskey aboard,” another called -out, “you want to keep off our beat. We’re doing -a little in that line ourselves.”</p> - -<p>By this time Clay was thoroughly frightened. -He saw that he was in the hands of a desperate and -reckless gang of river thieves. While pretending -to be a store-boat, the <i>Hawk</i> was merely a floating -receptacle for stolen goods, with gambling as an -assistant money-maker.</p> - -<p>“You said,” the boy began in a moment, trying -his best to conceal what he really felt, “that you -could fit me out with spark plugs if I came on -board.”</p> - -<p>“Sure, we can!” answered the captain, with a -sty wink at another. We can fit you out with -anything on this little old boat.”</p> - -<p>“All right,” Clay answered, “if you’ll get me -the plugs, I’ll pay for them and go back to the -<i>Rambler</i>.”</p> - -<p>“No hurry!” laughed the captain. “No hurry -at all. Still,” he continued, “if you’re anxious to -get back, I’ll send one of the boys into the -storeroom to look for the spark plug while you come -up for a little social visit in the cabin.”</p> - -<p>“No need of that,” smiled Clay, “I may as well -remain on the lower deck. It probably won’t take -long to find what I need.</p> - -<p>The captain took the boy by the arm in a manner -evidently intended to be friendly.</p> - -<p>“Oh, come on!” he said. “We’ve got a slick -little boat here, and I want you to look her over.”</p> - -<p>“You bet we have!” cried another, “and we -don’t let guests leave us without giving them -something of a treat.”</p> - -<p>Clay’s inclination was to deal the insulting -captain a blow in the face, plunge into the river, and -make for the <i>Rambler</i>. He knew very well, -however, that such a course would instantly bring about -hostilities; whereas, if he pretended to be unaware -of their purpose, assistance in some form might -come to him.</p> - -<p>“Yes, come along!” urged the captain. “I’ll -send a couple of boys over to bring your chum, -and we’ll have a jolly night of it.”</p> - -<p>It was useless for Clay to falter or draw back, -so he stepped along as if grateful for the invitation. -His hope was that Jule would understand the -situation of affairs on board the <i>Hawk</i> and stand guard -on deck with a good supply of automatic revolvers.</p> - -<p>“Where’d you say you came from?” asked the -captain as they ascended the stairway to the cabin. -“Chicago,” was the short reply.</p> - -<p>“Nice town, Chicago,” the captain went on with -a leer. “I used to live in Chicago. I know every -foot of the North Branch. Goose Island used to be -my favorite resort.”</p> - -<p>Clay was thinking that if the captain had ever -resided in Chicago he must have left it at the -request of the police, but did not say so. Reaching -the cabin, the captain led Clay to a long, narrow -stateroom looking out on the Kentucky shore. He -took pains, however, to seat the boy so that he could -not look out on the <i>Rambler</i>.</p> - -<p>Before seating himself the captain proceeded to -a cupboard hanging on the wall and took out two -bottles and a siphon. One of the bottles contained -whiskey; the other wine.</p> - -<p>“It strikes me,” the captain said, “that this -moonshine whiskey is a little bit too strong for boys, -so I’ll give you a glass of wine. That’s prime wine, -too. I bought it in Pittsburg and paid a big price -for it. If you were to buy that wine, kiddo, you’d -pay about two bits a glass for it. It’s the right -kind of stuff.”</p> - -<p>“Then I wouldn’t buy it!” Clay answered with -a smile. “The fact is,” he continued, “we haven’t -got any money to waste on drink, and don’t care -for it, anyway.”</p> - -<p>The captain went to a faucet with a glass and -brought back two goblets of water. Just before -he turned away from the faucet Clay was certain -that he saw him dropping something into one of -the glasses.</p> - -<p>“Well,” the captain said, sitting down at the -table and pushing one of the glasses over toward -Clay, “I don’t urge any boy to drink anything -intoxicating, but it would take a lot of this wine to -creep up to a man’s head. Perhaps a glass of water -will be just as good for you.”</p> - -<p>Clay suspected that if he drank the water he -would soon become unconscious. The captain of -the <i>Hawk</i> was playing a quick game. He had not -been aboard the vessel more than five minutes, and -yet here he was in the captain’s cabin, being urged -to partake of a drugged drink!</p> - -<p>He arose with the glass in his hand, walked to -the open window and looked out. The glass -dropped with a crash. The act was involuntary -for Clay saw the <i>Rambler</i> whirling away down the -stream.</p> - </div> - - <div class='chapter'> - <h2 id='chIII'>CHAPTER III.—RESISTING AN OFFICER.</h2> - -<p class='first'>While Alex and Case stood, hesitating, on the -little platform in front of the store, two men came -rushing out with excitement showing in their faces.</p> - -<p>“What’s the shooting, boys?” one of them asked.</p> - -<p>“I haven’t any idea,” Alex replied. “We just -came from that part of the country, and everything -was quiet when we left.”</p> - -<p>“It’s a sure thing,” one of the men, who seemed -to be owner of the store, declared angrily, “that -those river pirates have broken loose again.”</p> - -<p>“I’m afraid so,” his companion answered.</p> - -<p>“Do they give you much trouble?” asked Case.</p> - -<p>“Trouble!” exclaimed the merchant. “They -come here and strip my shelves. They bring a -howling mob of river rats into the town and take -everything they can get their hands on.”</p> - -<p>“Why don’t you have them arrested?” asked Alex.</p> - -<p>“Arrested!” exclaimed the other. “They’re -here one night and the next night they’re hundreds -of miles away, with a new coat of paint and a new -name on their boat. Besides all that, you can’t get -half the officers along here to take any action at -all. You go to them and make a complaint and -they’ll say that the robbery wasn’t committed in -their county, or in their township, or in the state -of Kentucky, or something of that kind! My -honest opinion is that they’re afraid of the pirates.”</p> - -<p>“Don’t put it too strong,” the other advised. -“There’s some pretty good officers along the river. -Besides, there’s the Government boats.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, there’s the Government boats,” decided -the merchant, “but the Government boats are as -easy to keep track of as a white elephant would be -in our main street. The river rats wait until Uncle -Sam’s boats get out of sight before they attempt -any mischief.”</p> - -<p>During this conversation, the boys had been -listening for more pistol shots from the direction in -which the <i>Rambler</i> lay. They had little doubt that -Clay and Jule were in trouble. They knew, too, -that the <i>Rambler</i> was virtually helpless, so the boys -had no chance whatever of escaping from any -hostile boat. Directly Alex turned to the merchant -and asked:</p> - -<p>“Do you keep motor boat supplies?”</p> - -<p>The merchant turned to his friend and indulged -in a long, slow, insulting wink.</p> - -<p>“So,” he said significantly, “you boys have a -motor boat up the river?”</p> - -<p>“Yes,” Case replied, “but the motors are out of -order.”</p> - -<p>“Is that where the shootin’ is?” asked the merchant.</p> - -<p>“There was no shooting when we left,” Alex answered.</p> - -<p>“Come, come, now!” the merchant advised. -“You boys may as well tell me the truth. Was it -one of them pirate boats that sent you here after -motor supplies?”</p> - -<p>“We have a motor boat of our own,” Alex answered -angrily. “She is lying in an eddy on the -other side of the bend, and we don’t dare to drift -her down stream.”</p> - -<p>“That’s too bad!” said the suspicious merchant -with another long and insulting wink. “What is -it you want in the way of supplies?”</p> - -<p>“Spark plugs,” was the short answer.</p> - -<p>“Well,” said the merchant, “extending a bony -finger and poking Alex on the chest, “I keep a few -spark plugs because there are a good many motor -boats passing along the river.”</p> - -<p>“Yes,” laughed the man who stood with him -on the platform, “you keep spark plugs, but you -take pretty good care not to sell them to men who -will put them to unlawful use.”</p> - -<p>“That’s the idea!” said the merchant.</p> - -<p>“Will you sell us some?” asked Case indignantly.</p> - -<p>“I might,” was the reply, “after a time. Just -now, you see,” he went on, regarding his companion -knowingly, “just now, we think we’d better hold -you boys until we find out what all that shooting is -about.”</p> - -<p>“Hold us?” repeated Alex and Case in a breath.</p> - -<p>“It’s just this way,” the merchant went on, -“this man here is constable in this township. It -was him I was giving the dig to a little while ago -about the officers not being ready to take action.”</p> - -<p>The officer turned back the lapel of his coat and -ostentatiously displayed a brass badge.</p> - -<p>“Yes,” he said, “I’m constable of this township, -and old Bill, here, never gets tired of telling folks -that the officers ain’t no account.”</p> - -<p>The two men roared lustily, pounding each other -on the shoulders, evidently regarding the whole -affair as a good joke.</p> - -<p>“Come,” Alex said, “will you sell me some -spark plugs?”</p> - -<p>“You can’t buy nothin’ just now,” the constable -declared. “You’re both under arrest!”</p> - -<p>“What for?” asked Case.</p> - -<p>“We think,” the constable replied, “that the -pirates sent you here to look over the town and see -what they could get. That’s too thin, your talking -about spark plugs. Why, every boat carries a lot -of them.”</p> - -<p>“If this man is a constable,” urged Alex, “why -don’t he hasten over to the other side of the bend -and find out what that shooting is about?”</p> - -<p>“There,” snarled the constable, “now I know -you’re in cahoots with a gang of river thieves. Old -Bill, here, heard you try to get me to go right up -there where they’re shooting, tried to get me to run -my neck right into a noose!”</p> - -<p>“They’re dangerous boys,” the merchant -suggested. “Why don’t you look them over for -weapons?”</p> - -<p>By this time quite a crowd was collecting about -the little store. The merchant and the constable -were receiving all sorts of advice, and women and -girls stood about with red hands rolled up in their -aprons, watching the two suspects with frightened -eyes.</p> - -<p>“I reckon I’d better be seeing what they’ve got -on,” the constable said with an important air. -“They probably didn’t come down here without -guns.”</p> - -<p>As the constable stepped forward Alex and Case -exchanged quick glances, each asking the other -what ought to be done. They understood that -arrest there meant confinement in a country jail for -several days, perhaps weeks, before they could -establish their identity.</p> - -<p>They knew, too, that their assistance was needed -on board the <i>Rambler</i>. The shooting had disclosed -a situation anything but peaceful.</p> - -<p>“Come on, now, boys!” the constable shouted -“Let’s see what you’ve got in your pockets.”</p> - -<p>“And don’t you try to hide nothing away from -us, either,” the merchant added. “Turn your -pockets wrong side out.”</p> - -<p>“All right,” Alex said, so angry that his face -was whiter than Case had ever seen him before. -“We’ll show you what we’ve got in our pockets.”</p> - -<p>As he spoke, he drew forth an automatic revolver -and held it threateningly at the head of the -constable. Case was not slow in following his -example. The little crowd instantly scattered; some -dashing around the corners of the store and others -hiding behind barrels and boxes. The women -present let out such screams as the boys had never heard -before. The merchant and the constable both -broke for the store door. Such a scattering the -little town had never seen before that day.</p> - -<p>In a second the constable opened the door of the -store about six inches and peered out, shaking a -rusty shotgun in one hand. The merchant stood -behind him, looking out of the glass panel and -showing an old army carbine.</p> - -<p>“We’re armed! We’re armed!” called out the -constable. “Don’t you try to come in here! You -boys will get a life sentence for this!”</p> - -<p>“This is highway robbery, and murder, and -piracy!” shouted the merchant.</p> - -<p>The boys backed away from the platform so as -to be out of reach of any shot from the angle of the -building and paused a second for consultation.</p> - -<p>“We’ve got him buffaloed!” was Alex’s, first -remark.</p> - -<p>“Hadn’t we better be getting out?” Case asked. -“I’ve a good mind to go in there and fill my -pockets with spark plugs,” Alex declared.</p> - -<p>“That would be a nice thing to do, wouldn’t it?” -scoffed Case. “That would be larceny from a store -in the daytime, and you can get fifteen years for -that; and if you went into a store with a gun and -put the keeper in peril of his life, you could get -fifty or sixty years!”</p> - -<p>“Then I won’t do it!” grinned Alex.</p> - -<p>“It’s me for the <i>Rambler</i>!” Case declared. “It -will take us until dark to get there now, and as soon -as we turn our backs that bum constable will have -a hundred men out after us.”</p> - -<p>“And that means that we’ve got to hot-foot -through the bushes!” Alex declared. “We can -beat ’em if they don’t get dogs.”</p> - -<p>The boys turned into the undergrowth and ran, -tearing their clothes and scratching their hands on -wild vines, and occasionally falling over a protruding -tree-root. At one time they both lay in a heap -at the foot of a beech tree, where they had fallen -over a mass of vines. When they scrambled to -their feet they heard shouts of laughter coming -from a thicket not far away.</p> - -<p>“Guess they’ve got us!” panted Alex.</p> - -<p>“I guess they have!” Case agreed.</p> - -<p>The next moment the brown barrel of a rifle was -thrust out at the boys. The boys sat flat down on -the ground and waited.</p> - -<p>“That’s right!” the holder of the gun said, -stepping out of the thicket. “Set right down and -take things easy. If you try to unlimber any -artillery, you’ll get the worst of it.”</p> - -<p>The man was tall, bony, angular. His face was -clean-shaven, showing high cheek bones, with -prominent nose and a cleft chin. His hair was brown, his -eyes blue, and the general expression of his face at -that moment was humorous rather than threatening.</p> - -<p>“What’s the idea?” Alex asked.</p> - -<p>“You don’t look like a man capable of holding -up two boys!” Case put in. “You look like a -pretty decent chap.”</p> - -<p>“If you’ve got any masked batteries with you,” -the man said a smile showing on his rugged face, -“just poke them out here, handle first, and then -we’ll arrive at some understanding!”</p> - -<p>The boys did as directed, although they would -have made a fight for their weapons only for the -indescribable air of friendliness about the man. -They rose to their feet as they dropped their -revolvers.</p> - -<p>“Better put that gun down,” Alex advised. -“You might get excited and let it go off.”</p> - -<p>The man sat down on a fallen log and laid the -gun across his knees.</p> - -<p>“Where you boys from?” he asked.</p> - -<p>The man’s voice and manner invited confidence, -and the boys told him briefly the story of the -<i>Rambler</i>, and of the shooting at the point where -they had left her.</p> - -<p>“I think you boys are all right,” the man said, -and I think, too, that river pirates are making -trouble for your friends.”</p> - -<p>“Do you think they will follow us from the -landing?” Case asked, anxiously. “They may shoot -us from the bushes.”</p> - -<p>The man pounded his thigh with one ponderous -hand and laughed until the woods rang. The boys -looked on in wonder.</p> - -<p>“Follow you? I should say not,” he said in a -moment. “Why that constable deputized me to -come and take you prisoners. He’s helping old -Bill barricade his store. Now we’ll see if we can -find out what’s wrong with the <i>Rambler</i>.”</p> - </div> - - <div class='chapter'> - <h2 id='chIV'>CHAPTER IV.—A DIVE FOR LIBERTY.</h2> - -<p class='first'>Left alone on board the <i>Rambler</i>, Jule lay for -a long time behind the gunwale watching the <i>Hawk</i>. -He saw Clay surrounded by a group of ill-looking -fellows as soon as he gained the freight deck. He -knew by the boy’s face that all was not going well.</p> - -<p>When Clay was taken up the cabin stairs and -into the stateroom by the captain, Jule got out his -field glass and scrutinized the windows of the boat. -Directly he saw the captain come to a window -facing the <i>Rambler</i> and look out. Clay was nowhere -in sight.</p> - -<p>Lying thus, almost flat on the deck, watching the -<i>Hawk</i> intently, the boy could not see what was -going on on the starboard side of the boat. Indeed, -so closely was he watching the <i>Hawk</i> that he did -not notice a little shiver which ran through the -craft as two husky men crept over the gunwale and -stood looking down upon him.</p> - -<p>“Hello, kid!” one of the men said roughly in a -moment.</p> - -<p>Jule turned around to see two revolvers pointing -at his head. He laid down his automatic and rose -to his feet. The two men on the deck before him -were signaling to the men on the <i>Hawk</i>, while the -latter were shouting words of congratulation.</p> - -<p>“Oh, Gid and I got her all right!” one of the -men said.</p> - -<p>“You bet we did,” the man referred to as Gid -went on.</p> - -<p>“What shall we do with the boy?” was the next -question.</p> - -<p>“We’ll send after him,” was the reply from the -<i>Hawk</i>.</p> - -<p>Jule walked over to a chair and sat down. -There was nothing whatever he could do. He knew -that Clay was in the hands of the river pirates, and -that resistance would be useless.</p> - -<p>“If you don’t mind,” he said finally, “I’d rather -stay on board the <i>Rambler</i>. It seems like home -here.”</p> - -<p>“There’s more fun on board the <i>Hawk</i>,” laughed -Gid.</p> - -<p>“I don’t suppose there’s anything to drink on -board this boat?” asked Gid’s companion.</p> - -<p>“There’s plenty of water,” answered Jule.</p> - -<p>“Don’t insult Mike with a drink of water,” Gid -advised; “Mike likes water to that extent that he -won’t even wash in it.”</p> - -<p>“He looks it!” Jule declared.</p> - -<p>“No lip, now, young fellow!” Mike broke in.</p> - -<p>“What are you going to do with the boat?” -asked Jule.</p> - -<p>“Why, this boat,” Gid answered, “will make a -fine tender for the <i>Hawk</i>. We’ve been wanting a -fine boat like this for a long time. You see, we get -parties on board the <i>Hawk</i>, sometimes, who need -a little more care than the ordinary river chap. -When such get tired of our company, and we’re -willing to let them go, we take ’em home in style.”</p> - -<p>“Well,” Jule answered, “the motors are out of -order, so you can’t run the <i>Rambler</i>, and I’m not -sorry for that, either.”</p> - -<p>“We can tow her, can’t we, until we can get the -motors fixed?” asked Mike. “It won’t take much -to fix the engine.”</p> - -<p>“All right!” Jule said. “When you get her -fixed up all right we’ll take her off your hands.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, you will, will you?” laughed Gid. “If you -don’t watch out, son, you’ll be wanting some one to -take you off our hands.”</p> - -<p>The two men now moved up to the prow of the -boat and whispered together for a long time. They -paid no attention to signals and calls from the -<i>Hawk</i>, and so a small boat was soon making its -way toward the <i>Rambler</i>. Jule saw the two men -handling their guns nervously as the boat supposed -to contain members of their own party approached.</p> - -<p>The boy watched the situation anxiously. It -seemed to him that the two men who had -boarded the <i>Rambler</i> were not at all pleased at the -approach of the rowboat. It appeared, too, that -those on board the <i>Hawk</i> were watching Gid and -Mike suspiciously.</p> - -<p>When the boat drew near, the man who had been -called Mike leaned over the gunwale with a -revolver in each hand.</p> - -<p>“Keep away, boys!” he said. “We don’t want -you on board!”</p> - -<p>“What does this mean?” demanded the mate of -the <i>Hawk</i>, who was one of the men in the small -boat.</p> - -<p>“Never mind what it means,” Mike called out.</p> - -<p>“Keep away from the boat if you don’t want to be -shot!”</p> - -<p>While Mike was holding the mate off with his -revolvers, Gid stood by the boy also with revolvers -in sight. The mate of the <i>Hawk</i> threw his hand -back as if to produce a weapon and Mike passed a -bullet so close to the side of his head that it scorched -his scalp.</p> - -<p>“Don’t try to get out any guns!” the man -ordered. “Get back to the <i>Hawk</i> and stay there!”</p> - -<p>“What right have you to take that boat?” -demanded the mate.</p> - -<p>“No words, now!” Mike shouted. “Get back -to the <i>Hawk</i>!”</p> - -<p>“We’ll sink you if you move away from here!” -shouted the mate.</p> - -<p>“You’ll do lot’s of sinking, with Government -boats patrolling the river!” mocked Mike. “You’d -get pinched in half an hour.”</p> - -<p>“How do you expect to get away with that -boat?” demanded the mate.</p> - -<p>“Why, we’ve got one of the owners on board,” -Mike laughed back, “and he’ll tell the Government -officers anything we ask him to.”</p> - -<p>“And look here, Mr. River Thief!” Gid joined -in, “if you make any noise about the taking of this -boat, or try to make trouble for us, or open your -mouths to the river police, we’ll give the <i>Hawk</i> -away good and plenty. Every murder and every -dirty game that’s been played on board will be in -the Government’s books within twenty-four hours.”</p> - -<p>Slowly, sullenly, the mate turned the boat around -and headed for the <i>Hawk</i>, glancing back over his -shoulders with angry eyes as he did so. Hoots of -derision came to him from the deck of the <i>Hawk</i> -as he returned. It was quite evident that those on -board the <i>Hawk</i> knew what had taken place.</p> - -<p>“Look here, kid!” Gid said to Jule as the boat -turned back, “get down there and loosen the anchor-chain. -We must be getting out of this and we haven’t got -time to hoist her up!”</p> - -<p>“I can’t do it while there’s a strain on the chain,” -Jule answered.</p> - -<p>“Then wait a minute,” directed the other, “and -she’ll probably slacken up.”</p> - -<p>Caught in a contrary swirl of the eddy in which -she lay, the <i>Rambler</i> gave a lurch ahead, in a -moment, and Jule took the opportunity of slipping the -stopper from the chain.</p> - -<p>When the boat settled back again the chain ran -out of the hawse-pipe with a clatter which -attracted the attention of those on board the <i>Hawk</i>, -and many oaths and epithets were passed back and -forth over the water.</p> - -<p>Not for long, however, for the <i>Rambler</i> -swinging out into the current, gradually swept down. -Now she ran stern against the current, now prow -against the current; now sideways; now swirling -round and round in an ugly whirlpool.</p> - -<p>It was at this moment that Clay, approaching -the window in the captain’s stateroom, saw what -had taken place. He turned to the latter a face -red with anger, his eyes flashing, his fists clenched.</p> - -<p>“What is the meaning of that?” he asked -pointing out of the window.</p> - -<p>The captain bounded to the window and peered -out. At that moment an imperative knock sounded -on the stateroom door.</p> - -<p>“What is it?” demanded the captain, opening -the door and starting out. “Why is that boat -running away?”</p> - -<p>“Mike and Gid have stolen her!” shouted the -mate. “They threatened me with guns when I -tried to board her. Now they threaten all on board -the <i>Hawk</i> if we attempt to recapture -the <i>Rambler</i>.”</p> - -<p>The captain tore about the stateroom in a blind -rage, dancing up and down and shaking his fists in -every direction. The mate stood by only a trifle -less excited. It looked like a show to Clay.</p> - -<p>“I’ll kill the dirty dogs!” shouted the captain. -“I’ll murder them both before they’re a week -older! They threatened me, did they? They -threatened to turn us over to the officers, -did they?”</p> - -<p>“That’s what they did!” shouted the mate. -“Mike had the drop on me, or I would have -settled the matter right then.”</p> - -<p>While this conversation was going on Clay stood -by the stateroom window, wondering whether it -would be possible for him to leap out and drop to -the river. His idea was that the men who had -stolen the <i>Rambler</i> could not by any possibility be -more vicious than the men on board the <i>Hawk</i>; -besides, if he could reach Jule, the two might stand -some chance of recovering the motor boat.</p> - -<p>While he stood making up his mind to undertake -the difficult task of leaving the boat without being -detected by those on the outside, two pistol shots -came from the deck. Instantly the captain and -mate whirled out of the stateroom, the latter -stopping for an instant to lock the door before dashing -down to the scene of the disturbance.</p> - -<p>Clay knew by the trembling of the deck under -his feet that they were getting the <i>Hawk</i> under -way. He saw little puffs of smoke coming from -the deck of the <i>Rambler</i>, and rightly surmised that -the shots had been fired at her. While he stood -undecided, the <i>Hawk</i> began moving down stream, -following in the wake of the <i>Rambler</i>.</p> - -<p>Without waiting another instant, the boy made -his way out of the window and clung to the casing -until his feet came in contact with one of the -fenders. Then he dropped down into the river with -a splash which, in the excitement of getting away, -was not observed by those on the lower deck. -Indeed, the boy was some distance from the pirate -vessel before his absence was discovered at all. -Then the captain returned to his stateroom and -found it empty.</p> - -<p>Rushing to the window, he fired several shots at -the boy, but all to no purpose. He was greatly -excited, and the boy was diving and dodging in the -water so not one of the bullets took effect.</p> - -<p>When Mike and Gid, on board the <i>Rambler</i>, saw -the boy swimming in the water they naturally -supposed him to be one of the crew of the <i>Hawk</i>. -Therefore, they began firing at him, thus placing -him between two dangers.</p> - -<p>Seeing that it would be impossible for him to -board the <i>Rambler</i> under the circumstances, the -boy dropped down in the water and made for the -shore, where he landed, sorely out of breath, in a -few moments.</p> - -<p>It was September, so the water was not very -cold, and Clay suffered little inconvenience from his -bath at that time. His first act was to secrete -himself behind the bole of a large hickory tree and -watch what was going on in the river.</p> - -<p>The <i>Rambler</i> was still drifting down with the -current, wheeling this way and that, threatened -with destruction nearly every instant. The <i>Hawk</i>, -now under full power, was shooting past her, -evidently with the intention of heading her off and -blocking farther progress.</p> - -<p>While the boy looked and waited he saw a white -head lifted above the gunwale and the next -moment Captain Joe, the bulldog, leaped into the -river. Clay gave a low whistle to direct the dog -in his direction and stood with his heart in his -mouth, almost, waiting to see if the brutes on board -the motor boat would fire at the bulldog.</p> - -<p>Just at that moment, however, Gid and Mike -were busy with sweeps and oars trying to get the -<i>Rambler</i> out of an eddy around which it was -whirling aimlessly. Jule looked over the gunwale of the -boat in a moment and Clay signaled to him from -behind the tree. The next moment the bulldog -sprang upon Clay in joyful greeting and the two -disappeared in the woods.</p> - -<p>Jule went back into the cabin and threw himself -down on a bunk.</p> - -<p>“I don’t believe,” he moaned, “that we’ll ever -get the <i>Rambler</i> away from these thieves!”</p> - </div> - - <div class='chapter'> - <h2 id='chV'>CHAPTER V.—CAPTAIN JOE ON SHORE.</h2> - -<p class='first'>“I’ll tell you right now,” Alex declared, panting -and out of breath in his efforts to keep pace with -the long stride of the new-found friend, “that there -isn’t anything the matter with the <i>Rambler</i>. There -never was anything wrong with the boat, and there -never will be. She may be in trouble, but she’s -been there before.”</p> - -<p>“Yes,” Case added, “and we’ve always gotten -her out of her troubles, and we’ll do it again. -What’s your name, Mister?” he added, turning to -the lanky guide who was forcing them through the -thickets at such swift pace.</p> - -<p>“My name,” the other replied, “is Hank Beers. -I live up in the mountains, and I came down to-day -to see about negotiating for a little product I make -up there.”</p> - -<p>“Are you a moonshiner?” asked Case, innocently.</p> - -<p>“No, I’m not a moonshiner,” replied Hank. -“I’m making a superior quality of aeroplanes up -in the hills. When I get one finished I put it in a -suit case and bring it down.”</p> - -<p>“That means,” Alex laughed, “that the product -of your factory is intended to send people up in the -air!”</p> - -<p>“Put it any way you like,” laughed Hank. “The -point with us now is to find out what’s become of -that boat of yours. You say you left her up at the -stem of the bend?”</p> - -<p>“Yes,” answered Case, “we left her to get a -spark plug and some squirrels. That shooting, you -know, may not have been at the <i>Rambler</i> or from -the <i>Rambler</i>. We may be unnecessarily excited -about it.”</p> - -<p>“Young man,” declared Hank, “when you hear -shooting going on like that in this vicinity, you just -make up your mind that the river pirates have -something to do with it.”</p> - -<p>“Why don’t they get out and lynch these river -pirates?” demanded Case.</p> - -<p>“Sakes alive!” exclaimed Hank. “If we Kentuckians -lynched all the people who make us trouble, -we’d have to import telegraph poles to hang ’em -on. There wouldn’t be anywhere near enough trees -for the business.”</p> - -<p>“I thought Kentucky was a law-abiding state,” -remarked Alex.</p> - -<p>“She’s the most law-abiding state you ever heard -tell of,” replied Hank with a laugh. “All the -trouble is,” he went on, “that sometimes we -mountain people make laws of our own, and when we do -that the laws have to be abided by.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, yes,” Case grinned, “I remember the -Knights of the Golden Circle, and the Ku Klux -Klan, and the Night-Riders, and the White Caps. -When that bunch wanted to kill a man, all they -did was to pass a law against him and then abide -by it.”</p> - -<p>“There are a whole lot of offenses,” the -mountaineer went on, “that can’t be handled by the laws -these here shysters put on the statute books. But,” -he continued, “we won’t talk about that any more. -We wouldn’t agree, anyhow. About how far are -we from the point where you left your boat?”</p> - -<p>“Two miles,” declared Alex.</p> - -<p>“Three!” suggested Case.</p> - -<p>“What time did you leave the boat?” asked -Hank.</p> - -<p>“Two o’clock,” was the reply.</p> - -<p>Hank looked at a ponderous silver watch which -he took from a back pocket of his trousers and -shook his head.</p> - -<p>“If you left the boat at two o’clock,” he said, -“and you had just come to the settlement when -that little ruction started, you were something like -three hours on the way. That means more than -three miles.”</p> - -<p>“Oh yes,” Alex agreed, “but we wandered -about this way and that, looking for squirrels, and -coons, and rabbits, so I think that we ought to be -somewhere near the boat by this time.”</p> - -<p>“If we don’t come to it pretty soon,” the -mountaineer suggested, “we’ll have to look for it -in the dark. It is getting twilight in here right -now. It will soon be almost impossible to make our -way through the thickets. ’Tarnal bad woods in -the night time, these are.”</p> - -<p>Darkness was indeed settling over the forest. -To make matters worse, a mass of heavy clouds -was drifting up from the Mississippi valley, -and the chances were remarkably good for a long, -slow rain. After proceeding some farther in the -thicket, Alex took out his electric -searchlight—without which he never left -the <i>Rambler</i>—and threw its rays on the -thicket ahead. As he did so Hank seized him by the arm.</p> - -<p>“Douse it, douse it!” the mountaineer cried. -“Don’t you know any better than to make a light -in here?”</p> - -<p>“Where’s the harm?” asked Case. “We’d -never get through there without a light.”</p> - -<p>“I’ll tell you where the harm is,” the mountaineer -answered. “Them fellers you stirred up -back there at the settlement will shortly be sending -men out here to look you up. I shouldn’t be -surprised if they sent men with bloodhounds.”</p> - -<p>“Oh well, then, we’ll have to do the best we -can in the dark,” Alex sighed, turning off the -light.</p> - -<p>“Let me see that, will you?” asked Hank.</p> - -<p>The mountaineer took the searchlight in his -great bony hand and examined it attentively, -switching the light on and off and turning it this -way and that, taking the precaution, however, to -hold the eye of the electric close to the ground.</p> - -<p>“You Yankees,” he said presently, “will soon -be getting searchlights by wireless! It’s a pretty -good light, though, and I don’t object to it if you -do. How much might one of those contraptions -cost?” he added.</p> - -<p>“All the way from four bits to four dollars,” -was the reply. “If you want a real large one, you -may go as high as fifty dollars.”</p> - -<p>“I’ll buy one when I bring down my next airplane,” -said the mountaineer, whimsically. “I -don’t doubt but that I could use it in my business. -I don’t suppose the wind would put that out, would -it? It’s mighty strong up there in the mountains -sometimes,” he added.</p> - -<p>“No,” Case answered, “nothing will put that -light out until the battery becomes exhausted. -That is, unless you break the lamp.”</p> - -<p>The boys were just starting on again when the -long terrifying baying of a hound came to their -ears. The dog was still a long distance off, yet -even as they listened his great voice came more -distinctly through the darkness.</p> - -<p>“There!” Hank said in a disgusted tone of -voice, “they’ve gone and done it at last! It’s just -this way, boys,” he went on, “when you left that -old skinflint of a merchant back there, you were -two little boys sent out by a river pirate to see if -the town was worth plundering. Ten minutes after -your departure, you were two river pirates, armed -to the teeth and half drunk on moonshine whiskey. -Thirty minutes after you left, they were saying that -the town had been visited by a band of pirates -armed with cannons. By to-morrow morning, they -will have the town pillaged and burned. I never -did see the way people exaggerate things.”</p> - -<p>“But where did they get that hound?” asked -Alex. “There wasn’t any there when we were -there.”</p> - -<p>“They might have got one off of the Government -boat,” Hank answered.</p> - -<p>“But there wasn’t any Government boat,” Alex -insisted.</p> - -<p>“There was one just coming up the river,” said -the mountaineer. “If we ever come to the bank of -the stream we’ll see her pass up.”</p> - -<p>“Well, what are we going to do about the dog?” -Case asked. “He’s evidently out of leash, for, -judging from the sound of his voice, he’s running -faster than any man could navigate through the -woods.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, he does seem to be out of leash,” the -mountaineer answered, “and it may be that he took -up the scent on his own hook. Still, the Federals -do have bloodhounds to aid in trailing the -moonshiners.”</p> - -<p>“Isn’t there any way to get away from the -brute?” asked Case. “If we don’t, he’ll tree us -and set up such a howling that the men will be -thicker than bees around us in about an hour.”</p> - -<p>“We can shoot him when he comes up,” -suggested the mountaineer.</p> - -<p>“Seems too bad to kill the dog,” Alex observed.</p> - -<p>“Besides all that,” Case went on, “we couldn’t -hit a barn in this darkness.”</p> - -<p>“Well,” Hank suggested, “the thing for us to -do is to make for the river as fast as possible. -There’s always a good many skiffs and rowboats -scattered along on the Kentucky side. You see, if -we can only get to the water and pack ourselves -into a boat, we can sit and make faces at that hound -until Kingdom Come.”</p> - -<p>Making what speed they could through the -thicket, stumbling over vines and protruding roots, -the boys proceeded on their way for a very few -moments. Then it became evident that the dog was -only a few rods away.</p> - -<p>“Now that’s too bad,” Hank said, “we’ve got -to climb a tree, turn that bottled gas concern of -yours on the dog, and put a bullet plumb through -his head. I never did like to kill dogs, somehow.”</p> - -<p>The dog came swiftly on, and it seemed to the -boys as if his voice could be heard for a thousand -miles. They were crouching in a thicket, -preparing to vault into the branches of a great beech tree -which stood near at hand, when a great commotion -was heard not far away. It seemed to them that -a wild hog, or a bear, or some heavy yet swift -denizen of the forest, awakened from his slumber by the -howling of the dog, had set out to make a swift -investigation of his own.</p> - -<p>“What was that noise?” asked Alex, clutching -his new-found friend by the arm.</p> - -<p>“Well, sir,” Hank replied, “that sounded to me -like a dog going out to hold a little conversation -with that hound! It ran like a dog, and, besides, I -think I heard a succession of low growls as it -passed us.”</p> - -<p>“Here’s hoping he keeps the hound so well -entertained that it won’t come any farther in this -direction!” Case said.</p> - -<p>In a moment there came a great snarling and -growling from a thicket not far away, accompanied -by such a thumping and beating on the ground as -the boys had not heard in many a day. The baying -of the hound ceased entirely, and in a moment -only low choking pants of suffering were heard.</p> - -<p>“I’ll tell you what it is, boys!” the mountaineer -exclaimed, excitedly, “that thing that went through -here is either a bulldog or a wild hog. He’s -mixing it with the hound right now, and we may as -well go and see the scrap.”</p> - -<p>Alex used his flashlight now without reproof. -The three pressed swiftly forward, the sounds of -conflict growing clearer as they advanced. -Directly they came to a great patch of bushes, from -the center of which the commotion came.</p> - -<p>In spite of the protests of the others, Alex -pushed his way into the jungle and turned his -searchlight on two objects struggling desperately -on the ground. The next moment they heard his -voice crying out joyfully:</p> - -<p>“It’s Captain Joe! It’s Captain Joe!” he said.</p> - -<p>“What has he done to the hound?” asked Case.</p> - -<p>“Who’s Captain Joe?” demanded the mountaineer.</p> - -<p>Alex answered the two questions by dragging -the white bulldog out of the thicket by the collar. -His jaws were smeared with blood, and he limped -slightly on one fore leg.</p> - -<p>“Captain Joe,” Alex replied, “is the gamiest -bulldog that ever lived, and there ain’t enough left -of that hound to bait a trap with.</p> - -<p>“Where did the bulldog come from?” demanded -Hank.</p> - -<p>“Huh!” Alex exclaimed. “That’s just exactly -what I want to know.”</p> - </div> - - <div class='chapter'> - <h2 id='chVI'>CHAPTER VI.—JULE TURNS THE SWITCH.</h2> - -<p class='first'>“I don’t believe,” Jule said, throwing himself -off his bunk in a moment, “that the <i>Rambler</i> has -made successful trips on the Amazon, the Columbia, -the Colorado, the Mississippi and the St. Lawrence -to become lost on an inland river like the -Ohio! In some way, we’re going to get out of this -scrape and continue our journey.”</p> - -<p>The boy sat down by the little stationary table -in the cabin and studied out the problem in his -own boyish way. There were police boats on the -river, and eventually the attention of some captain -would be attracted to a splendid motor boat like -the <i>Rambler</i> in the hands of a couple of river -toughs.</p> - -<p>Besides, the <i>Rambler</i> was entirely unmanageable, -and would doubtless soon bring up against a sand -bar or a mass of wreckage. In this case the first -boat coming within sight would undoubtedly stop -to inquire the cause of the trouble.</p> - -<p>Thus reasoning himself into a more hopeful state -of mind, the boy went out onto the little deck and -watched Gid and Mike panting and sweating at the -oars and sweep in their vain efforts to keep the -<i>Rambler</i> off a sand bar which lifted its white -surface above the river on the Kentucky side.</p> - -<p>For a time the men succeeded fairly well, but the -current set directly toward the bar, which was, in -fact, one of its creatures, and the <i>Rambler</i> soon -thrust her nose into the firm sand with a shock and -shiver which seemed to loosen every rivet and bolt.</p> - -<p>Gid rattled the oar he had been using down on -the deck and wiped his streaming brow with a dirty -hand. Mike sat down on the gunwale and swore -earnestly and with originality.</p> - -<p>“What’s the answer?” Mike asked in a moment.</p> - -<p>Gid shook his head gravely.</p> - -<p>“If we don’t get off this everlasting sand bar -before daylight,” Mike said in a moment, “there’ll -be a procession of river boats up here to know -what’s wrong. They’ll all be wanting to pull us -off, and they’ll all be wanting a pocketful of money -for doing it. Have you got any money, Gid?”</p> - -<p>“Have I got any money?” repeated Gid. “If -the whole world was selling for a dollar, I couldn’t -buy dirt enough to stop a watch! I was lucky -enough to get out of Louisville with a whole skin. -What did you do with your money?” he asked, -looking Mike keenly in the eye.</p> - -<p>“I bought lottery tickets with mine,” Mike -replied. “I’ve got the lottery tickets in my pocket -yet, and I never have any luck when I have the -things around. Honest, Gid,” the Irishman -continued, “I’ve carried lottery tickets in my clothes -for five years, and during all that time no band ever -played in front of me on the street. And that’s a -fact, if you want to know!”</p> - -<p>“Mike,” Gid observed with a smile, “do you -study the dream book every night and morning? -You’re as superstitious as an old woman!”</p> - -<p>“Now look here, Gid,” continued Mike. -“That’s the exact truth I told you about those -lottery tickets. Look here, now, here’s an illustration. -I was standing on South Clark street, Chicago, one -morning with three Louisiana lottery tickets in -my pocket. There was a procession coming down -the street with twenty bands in it. And I said to -the boys who were with me that I would bet the -cigars for the crowd that there wouldn’t a band -play when passing the spot where we stood.”</p> - -<p>“You got your nerve to bet on a hoodoo,” Gid -laughed.</p> - -<p>Jule was now becoming interested in the -conversation, which he had heard from his position at -the prow, and drew closer to the two men. He -noticed that they used remarkably good language, -and also that they seemed to know Chicago well, -so he resolved that he would try to learn more about -them as soon as an opportunity offered.</p> - -<p>“That lottery ticket hoodoo is one that is safe -to bet on at any spot in the road,” Mike continued. -“Well, as I was saying, there was a procession -coming up South Clark street with twenty bands -in it, and I was betting there wouldn’t a band play -in front of the spot where we stood. This was on -account of the lottery tickets I had in my pocket. -I was just plumb hoodooed with those tickets. -Why, look here!” he continued, “if I had thrown -those tickets overboard, we wouldn’t be on this sand -bar now. I tell you they have just plumb hoodooed -me. I think I’ll throw them overboard now.”</p> - -<p>“What about the twenty bands and the -procession?” asked Jule, with a grin on his face. -“Tell me about that.”</p> - -<p>“Hello, kid!” Mike said with a chuckle. “Did -you hear me talking that fool stuff about the -lottery tickets?”</p> - -<p>“Sure I did,” Jule answered.</p> - -<p>“Well, you take warning by me and don’t ever -buy any!” Mike declared.</p> - -<p>“Well, what about these twenty bands?” Jule -insisted.</p> - -<p>“Sho’, of course, I nearly forgot all about the -bands. Well nineteen bands passed our corner -without a note of music. Walked by just like they -were going up the street in a political parade. You -know, son,” Mike continued, “that musicians think -they are paid to walk in parades on account of their -uniforms, and not on account of their music.”</p> - -<p>“What did you say these twenty bands did?” -laughed Jule.</p> - -<p>“Nineteen marched plumb by without ever -blowing a horn. The twentieth one started in half a -block below us. I just had a notion then that that -band was going to play, and that I would have to -buy the cigars, and then I thought that one of the -tickets might draw a prize so I wasn’t kicking any. -Well, sir, do you know that that big band headed -up to us in full tune.”</p> - -<p>“So you had to buy the cigars?” asked Jule.</p> - -<p>“Did I have to buy the cigars?” repeated Mike. -“Say, kid, twenty feet below us a horse hitched -to a carriage filled with ladies reared up on his hind -feet and they had to stop the music until they got -by us so as not to frighten the horse any more. -You bet I don’t have to buy the cigars on any bet -like that!”</p> - -<p>Encouraged by the friendly voice and manner of -the Irishman, Jule asked what they intended doing -with the <i>Rambler</i>.</p> - -<p>“It’s just this way, boy,” Mike replied, “we’ve -been skinned and cleaned up, and knocked out, in -every enterprise we ever undertook. We’re both -printers, and used to work on the old Chicago -Herald when Jim Scott owned it. Well, we beat -the faro bank until we didn’t have a cent. We -played poker and roulette until the other fellows -held a mortgage on our pay envelopes. So we’re -just plumb disgusted with civilization. We haven’t -got the brains to become city pirates and run -gambling houses and elect aldermen and all that, but -we have got muscle enough to become river pirates, -so here we are, and here your boat is.”</p> - -<p>“Are you going to keep the boat?” asked Jule.</p> - -<p>“Of course, we’re going to keep it!” Mike declared.</p> - -<p>“You bet we are!” Gid put in. “No man we -ever played with ever gave us any Christmas -presents after he’d cleaned us out.”</p> - -<p>“Well,” Jule announced, “I’ll set up a yell the -first boat comes near us and your hoodoo lottery -tickets will probably land you in jail.”</p> - -<p>“We don’t want to be rough with you, kid,” -Mike went on, “but when you see a boat coming -if you don’t hustle into the cabin and go to bed and -cover up your head and ears, we’ll take the hide off -your back in long, wide strips.”</p> - -<p>“I don’t believe it!” Jule answered with a faint -smile.</p> - -<p>“That’s all right,” Mike answered, “we’re -pretty good fellows, but we’re just plumb disgusted -with everything in the world. Now, really,” he -went on, “this boat belongs to that pirate gang -over there, and we stole it from them. We didn’t -steal it from you. We’re innocent bystanders, as -it were.”</p> - -<p>“Why doesn’t the <i>Hawk</i> come over here and -get you?” asked Jule.</p> - -<p>“I don’t know exactly,” replied Mike, “but it -is my idea that there is a police boat somewhere in -sight. We can’t see around the bend, and so -wouldn’t know if one was coming, but the <i>Hawk</i>, -lying nearer to the other shore, would know it -right quick.”</p> - -<p>“I hope there is a police boat coming!” Jule -said.</p> - -<p>“Well, when you see one, you duck into that -cabin,” Mike ordered, “and do it mighty quick. -No Federal officer would believe your word against -ours, so you wouldn’t gain anything by making a -fool of yourself.”</p> - -<p>The <i>Hawk</i> did seem to be acting strangely. It -was now deep twilight and yet she could be seen -lying over near the Indiana shore, her great bulk -dim against the gathering darkness. Not a light -was to be seen on board. Not a sound was to be -heard.</p> - -<p>“I reckon there is a police boat coming,” Gid -said, after a short pause, “but if we lie right still -and don’t show any lights, she’ll pass on the other -side. Anyway, she can’t help seeing the <i>Hawk</i>, -and she’ll go there first.”</p> - -<p>Half an hour passed and it grew dark on the -river. Clouds were driving over the valley, and -it was likely to be a rainy night. A wind came up -the river as the darkness increased, and the moaning -of the trees and the rush of the waters made -conversation quite difficult, even when the parties -stood close together, as the three did on the deck of -the <i>Rambler</i>.</p> - -<p>Jule stepped back to the cabin entrance and stood -close to the electric switch which controlled the -strong searchlight on the prow. Mike and Gid -stood leaning over the gunwale, their eyes fixed -intently on the bulk of the <i>Hawk</i>, now almost lost -in the darkness. A faint light, something like that -of a candle or a small kerosene lamp, now showed -on the freight deck of the river pirate.</p> - -<p>“There’s a Government boat coming up the -river, and that’s no dream!” Gid cried.</p> - -<p>“There’s no other way to account for the mighty -strange actions of the captain of the <i>Hawk</i>,” Mike -responded.</p> - -<p>“Perhaps if we keep all lights out and lie -perfectly still, the police boat won’t see us!” the other -suggested.</p> - -<p>The two men stood long at the gunwale, watching -the pirate boat as long as the falling night -permitted. Jule, too, remained on deck, standing by -the switch which controlled the searchlight.</p> - -<p>Once or twice, when the sound of a steam exhaust -came from below, he put his hand to the -switch, but always drew it away again when no -lights showed over the dark river. He was waiting -until the right moment.</p> - -<p>Directly a sharp whistle sounded from below, -and then the lights of a steamer flashed into view -around the bend. Jule put his hand to the switch -but brought it away once more when the lights -turned toward the <i>Hawk</i>, still lying near the -Indiana shore, motionless.</p> - -<p>“Now,” Mike said in a moment, “if we could -only get this consarned boat off this idiotic bar, -we’d be able to slide out of sight while that -gold-laced officer is listening to the lies the -captain of the <i>Hawk</i> will tell him. Prime liar, -that fellow is!”</p> - -<p>Standing on the deck with all close individual -sounds shut out by the wash of the waters and the -roaring of the trees, they saw the steamer head -directly toward the <i>Hawk</i>, then in a moment the -pirate craft was ablaze with light.</p> - -<p>“Crafty chap, that captain!” Mike declared. -“He knows he’s been observed, and so lights up.”</p> - -<p>Jule could wait no longer. With one motion of -his hand, he turned the switch and the strong prow -light flashed out over the river. Gid sprang toward -the boy with a leveled revolver.</p> - </div> - - <div class='chapter'> - <h2 id='chVII'>CHAPTER VII.—THE TRAINING OF TEDDY.</h2> - -<p class='first'>“You confounded idiot!” shouted Mike, catching -his companion by the arm. “Do you want to -bring that police boat over here inside of two -minutes? If you do, just fire that gun.”</p> - -<p>“Look what he did!” almost panted Gid, in a -heat of rage. “He turned on the light, and they’ll -be over here as soon as they get done with the -<i>Hawk</i>.”</p> - -<p>“Can’t be helped now!” declared Mike.</p> - -<p>During this short conversation Jule stood regarding -the men intently, his face pale but his eyes -flashing with the spirit of defiance which was in his -heart. Mike regarded him whimsically.</p> - -<p>“Will you turn out the light?” he asked. “Or -shall I smash it?”</p> - -<p>“Turn it out yourself!” ordered Gid, “if you -know where the switch is.”</p> - -<p>“I don’t know where the switch is,” Mike replied.</p> - -<p>“Then coax the boy to turn it out,” sneered Gid. -“He seems to be a special friend of yours.”</p> - -<p>“Turn it out kid,” advised Mike.</p> - -<p>Jule, realizing that the light must already have -accomplished the purpose intended, turned the -switch and the <i>Rambler</i> was again in darkness. -He realized that the light would be extinguished -whether he turned the switch or not, for the lamp -could be easily broken.</p> - -<p>“Now, boy,” Gid thundered in Jule’s ear, “you -get into that cabin and stay there. If any of these -sneaking Government officials come on board, -you’re sick! Do you understand that? You’re sick -abed! And we’re your good, kind protectors! -Understand that? If you ain’t good and sick while -they’re here, you’ll be ailing in earnest as soon as -they go away.”</p> - -<p>“All right,” Jule answered, “I’ll go into the -cabin now and lie down. But, look here,” he -continued, “I’d like to have you gentlemen make me -a promise. Will you?”</p> - -<p>“What is it?” asked Mike, not unkindly.</p> - -<p>It was very dark now, and they could not see -each other’s faces, especially as the glare of the -light during its brief presence had in a manner -dazzled their eyes. Perhaps this was just as well, -for Gid would not have liked the look on Mike’s -face as he spoke to the boy. It was all sympathy -and feeling.</p> - -<p>“Well,” Jule said, with a low chuckle, “when -you’re hanged for murder or piracy, I’d like to -have you invite me to the festival.”</p> - -<p>Gid uttered a snarl of rage and struck at the boy -but Mike only laughed as Jule dodged the blow, -only indistinctly seen, and, entering the cabin, -closed the door behind him.</p> - -<p>“They forget,” he thought to himself, “that -there are lights in the cabin which, when turned, -will reveal the presence of the <i>Rambler</i>. Anyway,” -he added, “I believe the Government officers saw -the searchlight. I don’t see how they could have -missed seeing it.”</p> - -<p>Teddy, the quarter-grown grizzly bear, now -rubbed a soft muzzle against the boy’s hand, as if -in sympathy, and nestled close to his side.</p> - -<p>“Teddy,” Jule said, “you and I have been captured -by pirates. Captain Joe has gone off to find -Alex, and we’re here in the possession of a couple -of Desperate Desmonds. We want to get away. -Now what would you suggest?”</p> - -<p>In the darkness the boy knew that Teddy was -sitting up on his hind feet suggesting a boxing -match.</p> - -<p>“That’s the thing, Teddy,” Jule said, speaking -into the bear’s ear, as if in belief that the cub -understood every word he said. “That’s just the -thing! You suggest a fight, and that’s just what -it’s got to be.”</p> - -<p>The boy and the bear sat together in the cabin -for a long time. Through the window on the -starboard side the boy could see the lights of the -Government boat and the lights of the <i>Hawk</i>.</p> - -<p>There seemed to be some commotion on board -the pirate boat, and the boy at one time thought he -detected the sound of a pistol shot.</p> - -<p>“After they get done with those river robbers,” -Jule thought, “they will probably be over here to -see why the <i>Rambler</i>’s light died out so quickly. -Now, what shall I do when they come?”</p> - -<p>The boy failed to reach any conclusion regarding -future actions. The correct course seemed to -be to be guided entirely by circumstances. If -the officers came aboard he must find some way of -notifying them of the true condition of affairs. If -they did not come aboard, he must, again, attract -their attention.</p> - -<p>After half an hour or more the Government boat -turned toward the <i>Rambler</i> and directly the boy -heard a call.</p> - -<p>“Hello, the boat!”</p> - -<p>“Come aboard!” Mike’s voice answered.</p> - -<p>“Send a boat!” ordered the officer.</p> - -<p>“We’re stranded on a bar,” Mike returned. -“Can’t you-help us off?”</p> - -<p>The boy could hear the rattle of a boat against -the hull of the Government steamer, and then the -creaking of oars. Just then the cabin door opened -and Gid made his appearance, his bulky form -clearly shown in the light from the steamer which -came through the cabin window.</p> - -<p>“Now, boy,” Gid said, “the Government officers -are coming on board. Buckle down on the bunk -and keep your mouth closed.”</p> - -<p>The fellow enforced his command with a revolver, -and Jule hastened to do as ordered.</p> - -<p>“If Mr. Gold-Lace comes into the cabin,” Gid -went on, “I’ll be setting here peaceful like with the -lights turned on. You’ll be over there in the bunk -sound asleep. If you make a move or open your -lips, I’ll shoot you full of holes. See?” he added, -thrusting one hand into his right pocket and -pushing the muzzle of a revolver out against the cloth, -“I can do some pretty good shooting from a -pocket.”</p> - -<p>Jule started to speak, but Gid lifted a heavy -hand for silence.</p> - -<p>“Mr. Gold-Lace is coming on board,” he said, -“now mind what I’ve been telling you.”</p> - -<p>Jule lay still under the blanket he had drawn -over his shoulders and chuckled softly to himself.</p> - -<p>“Teddy,” he laughed, “Teddy will be taking that -fellow by the leg in a minute and then there’ll be -doings! Just wait till that officer gets on board,” -the boy’s busy brain went on, “and I’ll get that -pirate into a boxing match with the bear.”</p> - -<p>It was true that Gid had not observed the bear, -for Jule had motioned him into a dark corner as -soon as the pirate’s hulking figure had shown in the -doorway.</p> - -<p>Presently Gid arose to his feet and looked out of -the glass panel in the cabin door.</p> - -<p>“There’s two coming aboard,” he said turning -toward the boy.</p> - -<p>“Are you going to put me on the reception -committee?” asked Jule, with a snicker.</p> - -<p>“I don’t see that you’ve got anything to laugh -at!” Gid declared.</p> - -<p>“Oh, what’s the odds?” Jule demanded. “The -<i>Rambler</i> is a mascot, and always was. You can’t -do anything to her.”</p> - -<p>“I’ll do something to you!” declared Gid, “if -you don’t keep that mouth closed.”</p> - -<p>“You don’t dare!” returned Jule. “If you -touch me I’ll yell like a loon, and then the officers -will come running in here, and that’ll be your -finish. You’d better go out on deck.”</p> - -<p>Gid did go out on deck, arriving just in time to -greet two Government officers as they stepped on -board the <i>Rambler</i>. This formality over, the -fellow backed up against the cabin door and stood -facing the light now burning at the prow. The -cabin door was open, and the boy could hear nearly -every word that was spoken on deck, the wind -having in a measure died out.</p> - -<p>“What’s your boat?” he heard an officer ask.</p> - -<p>“<i>Rambler</i>, Chicago,” was the reply.</p> - -<p>“Whither bound?”</p> - -<p>“New Orleans,” was the quick answer.</p> - -<p>“Who have you on board?” was the next question.</p> - -<p>Jule saw Mike point with a hairy fist toward -the cabin.</p> - -<p>“Only a kid,” he said, “back there in the cabin -shaking his bones to pieces with the ague.”</p> - -<p>“How long have you been on this bar?” asked -the official.</p> - -<p>“We struck it just before dark,” answered Mike, -who really was doing a very good job in the way -of convincing the officer that everything was all -right and straight on board the <i>Rambler</i>.</p> - -<p>“There are a good many motor boats doing -illicit business up and down the river,” suggested the -official.</p> - -<p>“I know it,” replied Mike. “We’re afraid some -of them will come along while we are tied up on -this bar.”</p> - -<p>“How did it happen?”</p> - -<p>“Lost a spark plug,” was the reply. “At first -we limped along in fairly good shape, and then the -others had to go bad with us. Honest,” he -continued, “I don’t think we’ll ever get off this sand -bar unless you give us a line.”</p> - -<p>“I’ll gladly do that,” said the officer, “and I’ll -do more. I’ll send over half a dozen spark plugs.”</p> - -<p>“That’s kind of you,” Mike suggested. “We’ll -be glad to pay for them. It is a great accommodation -to us.”</p> - -<p>Jule snickered in his bunk, for he had recently -heard the two men talking about being absolutely -penniless. Observing that Gid was not watching -him very closely, the latter’s attention being -directed to the two men standing forward, the boy -beckoned to Teddy, who came shambling up to the -side of the bunk and laid a soft paw against the -boy’s cheek.</p> - -<p>“Now, Teddy,” Jule said, “we’re going to play -a trick on those men out there. Do you think you -can do a boxing stunt to-night?”</p> - -<p>Teddy sat up on his haunches at mention of -the word “boxing” and admitted in perfectly -good bear talk that he could.</p> - -<p>“You just wait, Teddy,” Jule went on, “until -that police boat draws the <i>Rambler</i> off this bar and -supplies her with spark plugs, and we’ll give a -show that will beat any four-ring circus that ever -traveled out of Chicago. It’ll be something worth -buying a ticket to.”</p> - -<p>After some further conversation the Government -officers returned to their steamer. A cable was -carried to the motor boat and in a minute she was -floating in free water.</p> - -<p>“Now,” called an officer from the stern of the -steamer, “bend on that manilla hawser to your -spare anchor and throw it out.”</p> - -<p>Mike obeyed instructions to the letter, and the -<i>Rambler</i> was soon swinging easily with her grip -on the bottom of the river.</p> - -<p>“You’ve got a favor coming from us now,” -Mike shouted, “if the time ever comes when we -can render you one! Shall I come aboard for the -spark plugs?”</p> - -<p>“We haven’t got any rowboat,” Gid reminded -his companion.</p> - -<p>In the end the steamer dropped down and the -spark plugs were tossed aboard, being caught deftly -by the Irishman.</p> - -<p>“Now,” said Mike with a grin, “we’ll fix up -these motors and get down toward New Orleans -at a right smart gait.”</p> - -<p>“Why didn’t you ask the officer about the -<i>Hawk</i>?” demanded Gid.</p> - -<p>“Oh, that old captain lied himself clear, all -right,” Mike answered. “Don’t you see that the -<i>Hawk</i> lies there with her lights all going and the -Government steamer is going on up the river?”</p> - -<p>Gid turned to Jule with something like a smile -on his sullen face.</p> - -<p>Jule was standing by the closed cabin door with -the bear fully instructed and trained, brushing -against the inside of it.</p> - -<p>“Well, boy,” Gid said, “you did remarkably -well during the visit of the officers, so we’re going -to let you get us something to eat. While we fix -the motors, you cook up some supper and we’ll soon -be sailing down the river as happy and contented -as three peas in a pod. I presume you’ve got -plenty of provisions on board.”</p> - -<p>“You bet we have!” answered Jule happily. -“I’ll get you a supper that’ll make your mouth -water.”</p> - -<p>The boy knew that while preparing the meal he -would be tolerably free from the surveillance of -the two men. This would give him an opportunity -to bring a couple of revolvers from the -cupboard where they were kept, and also to confer with -Teddy as to the course to be pursued.</p> - -<p>“Now, Teddy,” the boy said, as he went into -the cabin and shut the door, “I don’t know what -to do to these men. Sometimes I think I’ll drug -their coffee, and sometimes I think I’ll give them -a scare that will make their heads look like the top -of a snow-capped mountain.”</p> - -<p>The bear turned his head thoughtfully to one -side and expressed the rather selfish opinion that -he thought a boxing match would be about the -best thing under the circumstances. The bear had -had boxing matches with river pirates before that -night, and he knew pretty well what to do when -the boys set him going on strangers.</p> - -<p>“If I drug their coffee,” Jule went on, “they’ll -go to sleep and we’ll have them on our hands. If -I give them a scare, they’ll jump into the river and -that’ll be the last of them.”</p> - -<p>Looking out of the window the boy now saw -the Government steamer disappearing rapidly -upstream. He also saw the <i>Hawk</i> turning her prow -in the direction of the <i>Rambler</i>. Mike and Gid -stood by the port gunwale talking earnestly in low -tones.</p> - -<p>“I guess there’s trouble brewing that I wasn’t -counting on,” the boy said dejectedly. “Teddy -and I can’t fight the whole bunch.”</p> - </div> - - <div class='chapter'> - <h2 id='chVIII'>CHAPTER VIII.—CAPTAIN JOE’S MESSAGE.</h2> - -<p class='first'>“Where do you think the bulldog came from?” -asked Hank as, with Alex and Case, he stood -watching the dog capering about in the joy of victory. -“He seems to know you boys pretty well.”</p> - -<p>“This dog,” Alex answered, “is the champion -four-footed traveler of the world. He’s been on -all the big rivers, and in all the big cities. He’s -taken bites out of all the tribes on the face of the -globe. He belongs on the <i>Rambler</i> with us.”</p> - -<p>“Seems like a mighty pert dog?” admitted the -mountaineer.</p> - -<p>“You don’t have to guess again!” Case put in.</p> - -<p>“Anyway, he done finished that hound in good -shape,” Hank suggested.</p> - -<p>He stooped as he spoke and took the end of a -rope into his fingers.</p> - -<p>“You see how it is,” he said, “the animal broke -his leash and got away from the bunch sleuthing in -the woods.”</p> - -<p>“Then they won’t be able to find us?” asked -Alex.</p> - -<p>The bony mountaineer shook his head.</p> - -<p>“They might as well look for a needle in a load -of hay,” he said.</p> - -<p>Alex now bent over and began talking gravely -to the bulldog.</p> - -<p>“Captain Joe,” he said, “why didn’t you follow -me sooner? I might have been eaten alive at -that landing. Next time, you come quicker.”</p> - -<p>Captain Joe pointed his blood-stained nose in the -direction of the river and whined softly.</p> - -<p>“What’s that?” asked Alex.</p> - -<p>The dog drew away from the boy and ran a few -steps to the north and looked back.</p> - -<p>“Look here!” Alex said, speaking excitedly to -Case and the mountaineer, “the bulldog says -there’s some of our friends over in the direction of -the river.”</p> - -<p>“I didn’t hear him talking,” laughed the mountaineer.</p> - -<p>“That’s because you don’t know dog talk. -Captain Joe has a language of his own,” laughed Case. -“Great dog, that!”</p> - -<p>“Anyway,” admitted the mountaineer, “he -seems to understand what you say to him.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, come on!” urged Alex. “Let’s don’t -waste any more time standing here. There’s something -wrong on board the <i>Rambler</i>, or Captain Joe -wouldn’t be here.”</p> - -<p>“The <i>Rambler</i>,” Case insisted, “is a long way -upstream.”</p> - -<p>“I guess Captain Joe knows where it is,” Alex -replied. “You fellows come right along. I’m going -to follow the dog.”</p> - -<p>The boys used their searchlights freely now, and -made considerable noise making their way through -the thickets. After walking steadily for fifteen -or twenty minutes, the bulldog darted on ahead and -left them to make their way without his guidance.</p> - -<p>Even while the three were discussing the disappearance -of the dog, they heard him barking not -far away, and then a voice they knew came to their -ears. The dog’s bark took on a note of welcome.</p> - -<p>“Hello, Alex! Hello, Case!” they heard Clay -call. “Why don’t you come on out to the river?” -“We’re moving as fast as we can,” Case called -back. “This jungle is harder to work through -than a Saturday night crowd on South Clark street. -How did you come to be on shore?” he added.</p> - -<p>By this time, the two boys and the mountaineer -had gained the spot where Clay stood.</p> - -<p>“What’s doing on the <i>Rambler</i>?” Case asked -after the mountaineer had been presented to Clay.</p> - -<p>“We have met the enemy and we are theirs!” -said Clay dolefully.</p> - -<p>In as few words as possible he told the story -of the situation on the <i>Rambler</i> at the time he left -it.</p> - -<p>“And Jule is still there with those thieves?” -asked Case.</p> - -<p>“He is unless he’s made a dive for liberty,” replied -Clay.</p> - -<p>“You say the boat was drifting the last you saw -of her?” asked Hank.</p> - -<p>“Broadside downstream!” answered Clay.</p> - -<p>“Well, then,” the mountaineer suggested, “we’d -better be moving on down. Was she on this side -of the river or the other?”</p> - -<p>“Pretty close to the Kentucky shore,” answered -the boy.</p> - -<p>“Then you’re in luck!” the mountaineer -laughed. “There’s a sand bar down here, just -around the point, that will be sure to catch her. -You may have my head for a football if we don’t -see her wedged against that bar as soon as we come -in sight of it.”</p> - -<p>After half an hour’s difficult walking along the -river bank, winding far into the river to escape -coves, crossing little runs on fallen trees, they -passed around the point of the bend and looked -down a long sweep of river.</p> - -<p>“Thunderation!” shouted the mountaineer.</p> - -<p>“Now, what do you think of that?” demanded -Clay.</p> - -<p>“Rotten!” Alex and Case declared in a breath. -What the boys saw was the <i>Rambler</i> lying at -anchor, perhaps forty rods away with the <i>Hawk</i> -bearing down upon her.</p> - -<p>“It looks to me,” the mountaineer said, “as if -those pirates were bound to have that boat.”</p> - -<p>“And it looks to me,” Case put in, “as if they’re -going to get her, too! They seem to have the top -hand in this game.”</p> - -<p>“I don’t know about that,” declared the mountaineer. -“I don’t think we ought to let those brigands -run away with that boat.”</p> - -<p>“Well, then, suggest something!” urged Clay.</p> - -<p>Before Hank could speak again, the <i>Rambler</i>’s -anchor was hauled in and she was headed directly -for the shore almost at the exact spot where the -four stood. The <i>Hawk</i> steamed steadily after her.</p> - -<p>“What’s she doing that for?” demanded Case.</p> - -<p>“That boat of yours,” suggested the mountaineer, -“will almost float in a heavy dew, while the -<i>Hawk</i> as you call her requires a considerable depth -of water.”</p> - -<p>Clay nudged his companions and laughed.</p> - -<p>“That’s shows that you’re not familiar with -boating,” he said, in a moment. “That old barge -out there will float in twenty-five inches of water, -while the <i>Rambler</i>, sticking her keel down like a -knife, requires at least thirty-five inches. I guess -the truth of the matter is,” he added, “that the -pirates on board the <i>Rambler</i> are coming this way -in the hope of dodging the <i>Hawk</i>.”</p> - -<p>“Why don’t they do a little shooting?” Case -asked. “Those fellows aren’t usually so saving of -their ammunition.”</p> - -<p>“I guess the police boat isn’t far away,” -suggested the mountaineer. “She may be just -downstream, or just upstream, but they know she’s -hereabouts, and there’d be plenty of shooting if they -didn’t suspect her presence. Those fellows usually -shoot to kill, too.”</p> - -<p>The <i>Rambler</i> came in within a dozen feet of the -shore and then turned prow down. The <i>Hawk</i> -dropped down, too, edging in upon her every minute. -The boys watched the maneuvers with anxious eyes.</p> - -<p>“I hope they won’t get to shooting,” Clay said, -“because Jule and Teddy must be still on board.”</p> - -<p>“If those fellows on the <i>Rambler</i> knew the -game they are playing,” Alex declared, “they -would turn the motors on full speed and run away -from that pirate. Perhaps they don’t know it, but -our boat can go three miles while the other boat is -traveling one.”</p> - -<p>“Let’s go aboard and show them how to run it!” -suggested Case.</p> - -<p>The prow light was still burning on the <i>Rambler</i>, -and the cabin was also brightly illuminated. -Through the small window on the port side, they -could see Jule busily engaged over the electric coils -at the back of the cabin.</p> - -<p>“I believe I can get on board that boat without -being seen,” Alex declared, and before the -others could offer a word of remonstrance, the -little fellow was in the river swimming mostly under -water toward the after deck of the motor boat. -They saw him climb up on the deck and peer in at -the window in the rear wall of the cabin.</p> - -<p>“The little monkey!” chuckled Clay. “I don’t -think I would have undertaken a game of that kind -for a million dollars.”</p> - -<p>“Well,” Case said excitedly, “we’re going to -do exactly the same thing. Those fellows on board -are so busy watching the pirates that they won’t -see us, and the pirates are so busy watching the -<i>Rambler</i> that they won’t see us. We’ve just got to -get on board.”</p> - -<p>The mountaineer threw himself at full length on -the ground and laughed until his lean sides shook.</p> - -<p>“And what will you do when you get on -board?” he asked directly. “You’re the gamest -lot of kids I ever saw.”</p> - -<p>“About the first thing I do,” Case declared, “will -be to get something to eat. I’ll just bet you a red -apple that Alex has got his nose into the provision -chest this minute.”</p> - -<p>They all glanced toward the <i>Rambler</i> at mention -of the boy and saw that the after deck was vacant.</p> - -<p>“It’s a sure thing he’s got his nose into some -kind of food if he’s inside the cabin,” Clay remarked.</p> - -<p>“But, honest, now, boys,” the mountaineer -asked, “what do you think of doing after you get -on board? You can’t fight the pirates on your boat -and the pirates on the <i>Hawk</i> too.”</p> - -<p>“Why,” Clay said, “we’ll run away from that -boat in a minute. In three seconds after we get -our hands on the motors, we’ll be going so fast -downstream that a bullet from the <i>Hawk</i> couldn’t -catch us.”</p> - -<p>“You kids certainly beat my time,” chuckled -the mountaineer. “If I didn’t have plenty of -business at that little aeroplane factory of mine up in -the hills. I’d be tempted to go with you.”</p> - -<p>“This man,” Case explained to Clay, “makes -moonshine whiskey up in the hills. He calls his -still an aeroplane factory because his product sends -people up in the air.”</p> - -<p>“It will send a man pretty high up in the air if -he drinks enough of it,” the mountaineer chuckled.</p> - -<p>“Why don’t you quit it and play fair with the -Government?” asked Clay.</p> - -<p>“Sho’, boys,” answered the mountaineer, “I -wouldn’t enjoy life if it wasn’t for the skirmishes -I have with the Government officers. Besides, there -ain’t nothing else a man can do in this country. -When a man can make a hundred dollars’ worth of -moonshine out of ten dollars’ worth of corn, and -do it with mighty little trouble, what’s the use of -his coming down into the valley and shoveling coal -into a steamer for a dollar and a half a day?”</p> - -<p>The argument was never completed, for at that -moment the boys saw the cabin door open and -Teddy, standing erect in a boxing attitude, move -out. He was getting to be quite a good-sized bear -now, and he bulked fierce and heavy against the -lights. At first, neither one of the river thieves on -board the <i>Rambler</i> saw him.</p> - -<p>In fact, the first indication Mike had of his -presence was when he felt a sharp claw laid on the arm -lying across the gunwale. He turned quickly, -looked for one instant into the pig-like eyes of the -bear, and with a cry which echoed down the river, -sprang into the stream.</p> - -<p>“I guess he thought the bear was going to eat -him!” Case observed.</p> - -<p>The mountaineer now lay rolling and tumbling -on the bank of the river. The scene had opened so -unexpectedly; the bear’s appearance had been so -fierce and intimidating, that he had at first felt a -little shiver of fear, but now he saw that the bear -was merely performing tricks he had been taught -While he chuckled, Gid also leaped into the river, -and then he saw Case and Clay, followed by -Captain Joe, swimming lustily toward the <i>Rambler</i>.</p> - </div> - - <div class='chapter'> - <h2 id='chIX'>CHAPTER IX.—THE THREE BLUE LIGHTS.</h2> - -<p class='first'>The entire situation on board the <i>Rambler</i> had -not been observed from the shore. The boys and -the mountaineer had seen only Teddy in the center -of the stage, so they had naturally supposed that -the swift departure of the pirates had been -occasioned by the sudden appearance of the grizzly. -Had they been in a little different position, they -would have seen Alex and Jule standing in the -open doorway of the cabin with threatening automatics -in their hands.</p> - -<p>“Now, that’s a funny proposition,” the mountaineer -deliberated, as Clay and Case clambered to -the after deck. “Them pirates are watching the -<i>Rambler</i>, and yet they don’t see that the boys are -getting possession of her. They must be a stupid -lot.”</p> - -<p>The next minute, however, convinced the -mountaineer that he had been mistaken in his estimate of -the intelligence of the pirates. Half a dozen pistol -shots came in quick succession, making little spurts -of water on the surface of the river near the stern -of the boat. However, Clay and Case were soon -climbing, dripping with river water, through the -window at the rear of the cabin.</p> - -<p>Still watching from the shore, the mountaineer -saw Clay creep up to the bridge deck which -concealed the motors, keeping down below the level -of the gunwale. Bullets from the <i>Hawk</i> continued -to spatter about the motor boat, but seemed to do -no damage whatever.</p> - -<p>As those who have read the previous volumes of -this series will understand, the entire exterior walls -of the <i>Rambler</i> were sheathed with bullet-proof -steel. This fact, it will be remembered, had preserved -the lives of all the boys during the voyage -to the head waters of the Amazon river.</p> - -<p>Directly the watcher saw the anchor, which had -been dropped again when the boat had taken her -position near the shore, lifted and the next instant, -the motor boat went gliding like a shot downstream.</p> - -<p>The moonshiner bent his head forward and -rubbed his eyes in wonder. It was all new to him, -this wonderful speed. His acquaintance with -motor boats had consisted almost entirely of a -slight knowledge of the large flat-bottomed scows -hardly worthy the name of motor boats. When the -<i>Rambler</i> darted away at a speed not less than -twenty miles an hour, it all seemed to him like -magic.</p> - -<p>He stood for a moment on the bank watching the -little spurts of flame shooting from the <i>Hawk</i> and -then turned into the thicket with a chuckle which -shook his broad shoulders.</p> - -<p>“Sho’,” he exclaimed, “we mountaineers don’t -know much about river folks, after all. I never -knew there was anything on the face of the earth -that could go as fast as that motor boat went.”</p> - -<p>He tramped along in the darkness for a long -time and then stopped and made a small fire, by -the side of which he slept until morning. With -the appearance of the day he was out toward the -hills, and also forever out of the lives of those on -board the <i>Rambler</i>.</p> - -<p>“Now, see here,” Clay suggested as the Rambler -speeded beyond reach of the bullets from the -<i>Hawk</i>, “we can’t long keep this gait with empty -gasoline tanks.”</p> - -<p>“If we pull in at the landing just below here,” -Alex laughed, “we’ll all get pinched. If you leave -it to that old store keeper, we’re pirates, and Case -and I are little rhinoceros birds sent on ahead to -see whether the picking is good.”</p> - -<p>“Well,” Clay continued, “we don’t have to -strain the motors right now, so we’ll keep just -enough gasoline burning to give us headway. -Perhaps we’ll strike a more hospitable settlement -farther down.”</p> - -<p>“I don’t believe that old fellow had any -gasoline to sell, anyhow,” laughed Case. “If you boys -could have seen the rubes fall all over each other -when we pulled our automatics, you’d have nearly -died laughing!”</p> - -<p>“Suppose we stop and see how they feel about -the matter to-night,” suggested Alex. “I’d like to -drag that constable out of bed!”</p> - -<p>“No use of looking for trouble,” Clay advised. -“After all, you must remember that those fellows -have the law on their side.”</p> - -<p>“Yes,” Case declared, “and if they could once -get us into jail they’d keep us there for years. -They’re likely good and angry about the way we -bluffed them before their own townspeople.”</p> - -<p>Teddy now came up to where the boys were -standing and demanded appreciation for the part he -had played in the recapture of the boat. Captain -Joe, also, advised the boys of his presence by -nipping them quietly on the legs.</p> - -<p>“I know what’s the matter with the menagerie,” -Alex exclaimed. “They haven’t had any supper. -And that makes me think,” he went on, making a -dive for the cabin, “that I haven’t had any supper, -either.”</p> - -<p>“What are you going to get for supper?” Clay -asked, following the boy to the cabin door.</p> - -<p>“Oh,” Alex replied with a grin which wrinkled -his freckled nose, “it’s almost midnight now, and -we’ll just get a light little luncheon.”</p> - -<p>“You make lots of bad breaks trying to talk the -English language,” Case advised. “You mustn’t -say ‘luncheon’ unless you have pie. It’s ‘lunch’ -when you don’t have pie, and ‘luncheon’ when you -do have pie.”</p> - -<p>“I said ‘luncheon’, didn’t I?” asked Alex.</p> - -<p>“You certainly did,” was the reply.</p> - -<p>“Well,” Alex said, “then we’re going to have -pie.</p> - -<p>“The only kind of pie we can have now,” Case -objected, “is fish pie. I’ll go and catch a couple of -river perch and you can make a fish pie.”</p> - -<p>“Say, look here,” Alex said, shutting the cabin -door in Case’s face and talking through the glass -panel, “what do you know about pie? I suppose -you’ll be wanting me to make a liver pie next.”</p> - -<p>“That would be fine fodder!” laughed Case. “I -guess you are joking!”</p> - -<p>“You’ve forgotten about those canned apples,” -Alex insisted. “I’m going to make hot apple pie -for our midnight luncheon. And we’re going to -have ham and eggs, and potatoes, and soda biscuit, -and a whole lot of good things.”</p> - -<p>“Go to it!” grinned Case, as he went back on -the prow and sat down to watch the river.</p> - -<p>The boat slipped steadily down with the current -for about an hour before any lights were seen on the -Kentucky side. Then Clay got out his map of the -river and they all examined it intently.</p> - -<p>“Here’s the big bend below Brandenburg,” Case -said with his finger on the representation of the -river. “Just now, we are free of the big bend, and -so that light on the south bank must be at Wolf -Creek.”</p> - -<p>“Je-rusalem!” Jule exclaimed. “The name -sounds fierce, all right!”</p> - -<p>“Anyway,” Clay went on, “there’s a little stream -enters the Ohio at Wolf Creek, and we can tie up -there until morning. If they haven’t got any gasoline -there, we can shoot over to the Indiana shore as -soon as it gets daylight and see what we can do -there.”</p> - -<p>The suggested plan was carried out so far as -entering the mouth of Wolf Creek was concerned. -The first thing the boys did, however, was not to -search the few stores the village boasted for gasoline. -In the first place, they did not care to awaken -the store keepers, as there was no necessity for their -going on that night. In the second place, they -desired to keep their arrival at the landing as quiet as -possible, as some rumor of the show of arms at the -landing above might have filtered down the river, -in which case they would all be regarded with -suspicion.</p> - -<p>As soon as the boat was fairly at rest in the mouth -of the creek, Alex opened the cabin door and -announced in a joyous voice that dinner was served -“in the dining-car.”</p> - -<p>For the next hour the boys paid little attention -to anything save the bountiful meal provided by -their chum. Alex’s soda biscuit and hot apple pie -proved very attractive to the hungry boys.</p> - -<p>“Now then,” Alex declared, walking out on -deck after leaving the table, “I’m going to bed for -the night!”</p> - -<p>“You’ve surely earned a little sleep!” Case -grinned. “That’s the best dinner we’ve had in -many a day.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, I guess I can go some when it comes to -cooking,” laughed Alex, “and I’ll wake up in shape -to cook another good breakfast in the morning.”</p> - -<p>“I’ll be thinking all night what we’re going to -have for breakfast,” Clay suggested. “How did -you ever come to think of that hot apple pie?”</p> - -<p>Before Alex could answer the question, Jule -caught him by the shoulder and pointed out to the -surface of the river almost directly opposite the -mouth of the creek.</p> - -<p>“What do you know about that?” he asked.</p> - -<p>“About what?” demanded Alex.</p> - -<p>The three blue lights!” answered Jule.</p> - -<p>The other boys were all attention now, but all -declared that they could see no lights whatever. -Presently Jule bounded to the top of the gunwale, -steadying himself by the roof of the cabin, and looked -toward the distant Indiana shore.</p> - -<p>“There they are!” he shouted, “There they are! -Three blue lights! Now what do you suppose they -mean?”</p> - -<p>“They’re probably in a boat?” Clay asked, -tentatively.</p> - -<p>“Nix on the boat!” Jule protested. “They’re -just floating right down flat on top of the wet -water.”</p> - -<p>Clay now vaulted to the gunwale and followed the -direction of the boy’s pointing finger. As he -did so, a sharp detonation came from the river, -echoing down the stream weirdly, and then the -lights he had seen only a moment before -disappeared from view.</p> - -<p>That was the boys’ first experience with the three -blue lights!</p> - </div> - - <div class='chapter'> - <h2 id='chX'>CHAPTER X.—ANNIVERSARY OF A WRECK.</h2> - -<p class='first'>There was a blank look on Clay’s face as he -stepped back to the deck of the <i>Rambler</i>. Jule also -showed great excitement as he faced his friend.</p> - -<p>“Did you see them?” the latter asked of Clay.</p> - -<p>“See what?” demanded Alex.</p> - -<p>“The three blue lights!” Jule answered.</p> - -<p>Alex and Case punched each other in the ribs -and chuckled.</p> - -<p>“You’re the boy that’s been reading out of the -dream book,” the latter said.</p> - -<p>“Didn’t you see three blue lights right down on -the surface of the river?” asked Jule, again -turning to Clay.</p> - -<p>“I certainly did!” the latter answered.</p> - -<p>“Then they’re there yet,” Alex insisted, vaulting -to the top of the gunwale. “They must be -there yet, for no boat could disappear so quickly. -I’ll take a look at them myself.”</p> - -<p>“But I tell you they wasn’t in any boat!” insisted -Jule. “They were floating right on the surface of -the water—three large and very brilliant blue -lights.”</p> - -<p>“Did you see them, Clay?” asked Alex, scornfully.</p> - -<p>“Yes,” replied Clay, “I did, and they were actually -floating directly on the surface of the river.”</p> - -<p>“Why can’t I see them, then?” demanded Alex -from his position on the gunwale.</p> - -<p>“Because,” laughed Jule, “it is only the eye of -the believer that sees. Clay believed, and he saw.”</p> - -<p>“Honest, Clay?” asked Case.</p> - -<p>“Yes, I saw three blue lights down to the level -of the river,” answered Clay, “and I saw something -more. You-all heard the explosion?” he -asked. “Well, when that explosion came, there was -a puff of smoke and the lights went out in a second.”</p> - -<p>“Wasn’t there any one in sight?” asked Alex.</p> - -<p>“No one in sight!” replied Clay.</p> - -<p>“No boat, or anything of that kind?”</p> - -<p>“Not a thing!” shouted Jule. “I tell you those -three blue lights came right up out of the bed of the -river. And then there was an explosion, and they -disappeared, just like they’d been winked out. -Strangest thing I ever saw!”</p> - -<p>“Well, that’s enough for me!” Alex declared. -“You’ll be seeing green elephants with blue tails -next. I’m going to bed.”</p> - -<p>In a short time all the boys were abed save Jule, -who sat on the prow with Captain Joe and Teddy, -the bear. The night had not fulfilled its promise of -rain, and the stars now shone dimly down from a -misty sky. It was very still on the <i>Rambler</i>’s deck, -for no noises came from the landing, and there was -no wash of the current against the boat.</p> - -<p>The boy was puzzling over the strange appearance -and disappearance of the three blue lights. -There was a trace of superstition in the nature of -the boy, and he was half inclined to regard what -had been seen as a manifestation of the supernatural.</p> - -<p>“If Clay hadn’t seen the same thing I did,” he -mused, “I wouldn’t have any trouble making up my -mind. Blue lights don’t rise up out of rivers through -human agency.”</p> - -<p>The boys were all astir shortly after daybreak, -and Alex went on a scouting tour up to the little -river settlement at the mouth of Wolf Creek. The -<i>Rambler</i> lay only a few feet from a rough pier -which had been spiled out into the stream, so the -boys had no difficulty in reaching the shore. The -rowboat, it will be remembered, had been left up -the river when the two boys had set out on their -hunting trip.</p> - -<p>Early as it was, the boy found people moving -about the one street of the little town, which lay on -the east bank of the creek bearing its own name. -Standing on the rude platform before a small storehouse, -the boy saw two men; one of sober aspect, -wearing a long gray beard, and the other much -younger and showing a laughing face under his -dilapidated cap. As he approached the younger -man beckoned.</p> - -<p>“What do you want, boy?” he asked.</p> - -<p>“Gasoline,” was the answer.</p> - -<p>The young fellow stepped off the platform and -advanced toward the pier where the <i>Rambler</i> lay. -The old man sat down on the platform.</p> - -<p>“Is that your boat?” the young man asked of -Alex.</p> - -<p>“Yes, that’s our boat,” replied the boy. “Our -gasoline tanks are empty. Can I buy a supply in -town, do you think?”</p> - -<p>“Certainly!” was the answer. “Father keeps it -for sale. During the course of the season a good -many motor boats tie up here. We keep all manner -of supplies.”</p> - -<p>“Well, then,” Alex replied, “We’d like to get -about a dozen spark plugs. I don’t think that -porcelain insulation is as good as it used to be, for we -break a good many. They go smash at the least -little jar.”</p> - -<p>“All right!” the young man replied. “Step up -there and tell father what you want and he’ll open -the store now. Are your friends on the boat -awake?”</p> - -<p>“Sure!” replied Alex. “They’re all awake -except the bear and the bulldog.”</p> - -<p>The young man laughed and turned toward the -pier, while Alex hastened toward the place where -the old gentleman sat on the store platform.</p> - -<p>The boy explained his wants briefly and the old -gentleman unlocked the battered door of his place -of business. It was an uncouth, unpainted, sidling -little store, with broken panes showing in the -windows and new shingles speckling the roof.</p> - -<p>The interior, however, showed considerable care -in the arrangement of goods and the stock seemed -to be large and of good quality. Without making -any pretense of waiting on the boy, the old dealer, -who introduced himself as Martin Groger, seated -himself in a much whittled arm chair and pointed -Alex to another.</p> - -<p>“Boy,” he said with a very serious expression -of countenance, “did you sleep in the motor boat -at the mouth of Wolf Creek last night?”</p> - -<p>“Part of the night,” answered Alex.</p> - -<p>“What did you hear along after midnight, say -an hour or two after midnight?”</p> - -<p>“Nothing special,” answered the boy.</p> - -<p>“Did you hear anything that sounded like an -explosion?” the old man went on, “—something like -the explosion of a boiler?”</p> - -<p>“Why, I heard something of that kind,” Alex -replied, wondering what the old gentleman was -getting at. “Did you hear that, too?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, I heard it,” answered the old gentleman, -drawing his long beard through his fingers and -fixing his grave eyes on those of the lad. “Yes, I -heard it,” he repeated, “and I’ve heard it a good -many nights when there wasn’t any one else awake -to hear it—when there wasn’t any one else astir in -the village but me, and no boat tied up at the mouth -of Wolf Creek. Did you see anything?” he added -eagerly.</p> - -<p>“What would you expect me to see?” asked -Alex, with a smile.</p> - -<p>“I ain’t saying anything about that,” replied the -old gentleman. “I’m asking you a plain simple -question. Did you see anything just before that -explosion?”</p> - -<p>“No, I didn’t,” the boy answered, “but two of -my chums did.”</p> - -<p>The merchant leaned forward with suspicion in -his eyes.</p> - -<p>“You’re not lying about this?” he asked.</p> - -<p>“I would have no object in doing that.”</p> - -<p>“Then tell me what you saw.”</p> - -<p>“Two of my chums saw three blue lights floating -on the surface of the river—at least that’s what -they said.”</p> - -<p>“And this was just before the explosion?” -queried the old man.</p> - -<p>“The lights disappeared after the explosion,” -Alex explained. “Do you know anything about -them?” he asked.</p> - -<p>“Boy,” the old man exclaimed, moving about in -his chair excitedly, “your chums have seen what -only one person in this section has ever been able to -locate.”</p> - -<p>“Why,” Alex declared, “any one, I guess, might -have seen the lights. The boys said they stuck out -from the river like a sore thumb.”</p> - -<p>“Just so!” answered the old gentleman, eagerly. -“Just so! Now let me tell you something about -those blue lights,” he went on. “I’ve seen them -time and time again, but the people hereabouts -always deny seeing them.”</p> - -<p>“Isn’t that remarkable?” asked Alex.</p> - -<p>“There’s my son Charles, now,” continued the -old man. “I’ve tried to point them out to him, but -he says they don’t exist. Flings out at his old -father just like that. Says they don’t exist!”</p> - -<p>“How often do they appear?” asked the boy.</p> - -<p>“I haven’t heard of their being about before -last night for several months,” answered the old -merchant. “I was in hopes they’d never be seen -here again.”</p> - -<p>“What’s the matter with ’em?” asked Alex.</p> - -<p>“Matter enough,” was the reply. “They bring -disaster!”</p> - -<p>“Alex restrained a burst of laughter with difficulty, -but finally managed to face the old gentleman gravely.</p> - -<p>“Bring disaster, do they?” he asked.</p> - -<p>“Indeed they do!” was the reply. “Whenever -the ghosts of the river dead walk on the surface of -the water, it means trouble for all river dwellers.”</p> - -<p>“Many years ago,” the old man continued, “the -<i>Mary Ann</i>, as trim a passenger packet as ever -sailed between Cincinnati and the Mississippi, blew -her boilers all to flinders right opposite the mouth -of Wolf Creek. There were two hundred passengers -on board and they were dancing when the explosion -took place.”</p> - -<p>“The deck where they were amusing themselves -was lighted by three blue lights! Ever since that -night, the three blue lights have warned of -impending calamity.”</p> - -<p>“So you think they’re ghost lights, do you?” -asked Alex.</p> - -<p>“I know they are!” replied the old merchant. -“And I’ll tell you why. Those lights never fail -to appear on the anniversary of the wrecking of the -boat.</p> - -<p>“The Mary Ann went down ten years ago to-night, -and on every anniversary of the drowning of -those two hundred people, the three blue lights are -seen rising over the exact place where she sank.”</p> - -<p>“That’s remarkable!” exclaimed the boy.</p> - -<p>“Those who were drowned,” the merchant continued, -“went down in their sins. They were dancing -to the devil’s music when they sank. Their -bodies rest uneasily on the bottom of the river, for -none of them were ever found.”</p> - -<p>“Why, that’s singular!” Alex remarked. “It -would seem that the bodies might have been -recovered.”</p> - -<p>“They never have been found,” was the reply. -“River men say they were carried off by an undercurrent -and whirled down into the Mississippi, but -I believe the bodies are in there yet.”</p> - -<p>“And every anniversary of their death, they show -three blue lights, do they?” asked the boy wonderingly.</p> - -<p>“Three blue lights!” said the old man, “and -after the three blue lights, the explosion. I have -watched for the lights and the noise every night -for nine years and I have never failed to see and -hear.”</p> - -<p>“And trouble always comes after the exhibition?” -queried the boy. “Then there is another -mystery for the crew of the <i>Rambler</i> to solve.”</p> - </div> - - <div class='chapter'> - <h2 id='chXI'>CHAPTER XI.—CATCHING BIG CATFISH.</h2> - -<p class='first'>On his way back to the <i>Rambler</i> after his rather -remarkable conversation with the old merchant, -Alex met Clay and the old man’s son hastening toward the store.</p> - -<p>“It’s all right!” Clay announced to the boy. -“They’ve just got in a big stock of gasoline, and -we’ll fill all the tanks and buy a few red cans on the -side.”</p> - -<p>“And for the love of Mike,” Alex interposed, -“buy about a peck of spark plugs. And say,” he -called out as Clay mounted the little platform in -front of the place of business, “buy a couple of -fish lines that would bring a freight car out of the -water, and the right kind of hooks to go with them.”</p> - -<p>“What’s the idea?” Clay called back.</p> - -<p>“Well, you just bring the hooks and lines and -I’ll show you where the idea is,” replied the boy.</p> - -<p>When Alex reached the deck of the <i>Rambler</i> he -found Case and Jule busy over a great stack of -pancakes. One was spreading them thick with honey -and the other was making them more eatable by the -use of bacon gravy. Eggs were frying in the skillet -over the stove and a great pot of coffee was -simmering on the electric coils.</p> - -<p>“Whew!” shouted the boy, sticking his nose into -the cabin, “you fellows smell good in here.”</p> - -<p>“Yes,” Case laughed, “and you took good care -that you didn’t help produce the fragrance which -pervades this apartment.”</p> - -<p>“I got supper last night,” pleaded Alex.</p> - -<p>“That’s all right,” Jule cut in, “it was your turn -to get breakfast this morning, too. You know -what we all agreed to when we left Chicago on the -first trip. The boy that talked slang had to cook -the meals and wash the dishes.”</p> - -<p>“Aw, when did I talk slang?” demanded Alex.</p> - -<p>“You’ve been talking slang for a week!” Case -declared.</p> - -<p>“What’d I say?” demanded Alex, scornfully.</p> - -<p>“You said one of those river pirates was balmy -in the head,” answered Jule. “You’re always -making some break like that. If I had a twirler like -that you carry around with you, and couldn’t keep -it under any better control than you do yours, I’d -throw the belt off the wheels.”</p> - -<p>“I know who’ll cook meals and wash dishes -now,” laughed Alex. “When it comes to talking -slang, you’ve got me backed up on a blind siding -with my fires drawn.”</p> - -<p>“Go to it, boys!” roared Case. “Go to it. Get -it all off your chests, and I won’t have to do any -work for a month.”</p> - -<p>Alex was soon busy at the breakfast table, and -when Clay returned with a great load of gasoline -and provisions from the store, everything was neatly -cleared away in the little cabin.</p> - -<p>“There!” Clay said, throwing a great package -at Alex’s, head, “there’s your fish line and your -fish hooks, and for fear you’d want to use the coal -stove or one of the motors for a sinker, I brought -along a section of railroad iron. I guess that’ll hold -your line.”</p> - -<p>As the boy spoke, he threw about four inches of -steel railway iron down on the deck with a great -thud.</p> - -<p>“What did that old gentleman at the store say -to you about the three blue lights?” asked Alex, -as Clay prepared to get the boat under way. “Did -he have a ghost story to spin?”</p> - -<p>“He didn’t say a word to me about the three -blue lights,” Clay replied. “We didn’t have any -time to talk about such things, and we haven’t any -time now, so you fellows just get up here and help -fill these tanks.”</p> - -<p>All four boys were busy in a moment and young -Groger from the store assisted materially in getting -the gasoline on board.</p> - -<p>In less than an hour all was ready for departure. -The young merchant shook the boys heartily by the -hand and asked them to call if they returned -home by way of the river.</p> - -<p>“Oh, we’ll come back all right,” Alex called out. -“At least, I’m coming back. I’m bound to know -something more about those three blue lights. I’m -the original mystery investigator!”</p> - -<p>“So father told you about that, did he?” queried -young Groger.</p> - -<p>“Of course, he did!” Alex replied. “He -couldn’t talk about anything else. He seemed to be -glad that Clay and Jule saw the three blue lights. -I guess he’s got an idea that the people around here -think he’s been talking about something that never -existed.”</p> - -<p>“I’m afraid he is,” replied the young man. -“He’s always talking about the three blue lights -and the wreck of the <i>Mary Ann</i>, and the explosion, -and all that, but he’s the only one about here who -ever saw the lights or heard the explosion.”</p> - -<p>“Well, you’re mistaken there!” replied Alex. -“Clay saw them last night and Jule saw them, and -all four of us heard the explosion.”</p> - -<p>Watching the young man’s face closely as he -stepped ashore, Clay thought that he saw a sudden -pallor come over it. The son was evidently as -fully superstitious as his father.</p> - -<p>“Now, what did the old merchant tell you about -the three blue lights?” demanded Jule, as the boat -swung off down the river.</p> - -<p>In as few words as possible Alex explained the -mystery of the three blue lights according to the -aged merchant’s theory.</p> - -<p>“Well,” Jule said, after a moment’s thought, -“the three blue lights did bob up out of the river. -There wasn’t anything there to keep them floating -down with the current, or to sustain them on the -surface. And,” he went on, “there wasn’t -anything there to cause an explosion.”</p> - -<p>“Ho!” Alex scorned. “You’ll be saying next, -that you believe in the ghost story! Now, just to -show you that there’s nothing to it,” he continued, -“I move that we come back up the river after a -time and find out where those blue lights come from, -and where they go to.”</p> - -<p>“What do you say to that, Clay?” asked Jule.</p> - -<p>“You needn’t ask me whether I’m interested or -not,” Clay replied. “I’ve been thinking about those -three blue lights a whole lot. I don’t believe in -ghosts, or superstitions of any kind, but I do believe -that there is something significant about those -lights.”</p> - -<p>“Then it’s settled that we’ll return and -investigate?” Alex asked.</p> - -<p>The boys all replied in the affirmative and then -Alex opened the package Clay had brought him and -unrolled his fish lines, which looked more like cables -than anything else. Case and Jule laughed until -they found it necessary to hold their sides.</p> - -<p>Clay looked on with an amused expression on his -face. He knew that Alex usually had a pretty good -reason for anything he did, and was expecting -something novel and original. He was not disappointed.</p> - -<p>Paying no attention whatever to the jeers of his -chums, Alex bent the great hooks to the cable-like -line, took a turn with each around the section of -railroad iron, and moved the whole contraption to -the stern.</p> - -<p>“Now, you fellows help me to get these lines in -right,” he commanded. “It wants one boy to a line -so they won’t get tangled when I dump this sinker -in. Hurry up now, we want this fish.”</p> - -<p>“Sinker?” repeated Jule. “I thought your idea -was to build a submarine railroad.”</p> - -<p>“Fish!” laughed Case. “What kind of fish do -you expect to catch with that layout? That won’t -catch fish!”</p> - -<p>“Huh!” answered Alex. “If I had a book containing -all you boys don’t know about catching fish, -I’d have to rent the Coliseum in Chicago to put it -in. You boys mean well, but you’re ignorant.”</p> - -<p>“Where’re you going to put this fish after you -get it?” demanded Jule, snickering. “We haven’t -got any contract for feeding any state troops, have -we? What do you want a big fish for, anyway?”</p> - -<p>Alex merely thrust his hands inside the waist -band of his trousers and grinned.</p> - -<p>“I’ve got plenty of storage room,” he finally declared.</p> - -<p>“Honest, now, Alex,” Clay asked, “what kind -of a fish do you expect to catch?”</p> - -<p>“Catfish!” was the short reply.</p> - -<p>“Wow!” exclaimed Jule. “I wouldn’t eat a -catfish any quicker than I would eat a cat.”</p> - -<p>“What are you putting all that weight on the -lines for?” asked Case.</p> - -<p>“It’ll sink the hooks into the mud about a foot,” -Jule put in.</p> - -<p>“Sure it will!” continued Case. “And catfish -are never found at the bottom of the river. They -call them catfish because they climb up on things.”</p> - -<p>“You’re the wise little fisher boy,” laughed Alex. -“A catfish couldn’t climb to the surface of the river -if they had an electric elevator. They live in the -mud and eat in the mud. After they get a square -meal, they stretch out on a bed of silt like a cat on -a sitting room floor. Now get these lines over and -I’ll show you what a real catfish looks like.”</p> - -<p>The boys took the lines into their hands and -leaned over the stern. Alex with the iron poised -in air stopped suddenly and laid it down on deck.</p> - -<p>“I guess I need a little instruction myself,” he -said. “You can’t catch catfish by trolling for them. -You’ve got to let the line lay wiggling from a weight -in the mud of the river.”</p> - -<p>The boy rushed back to the motors, shut off the -power, and then dropped the anchor.</p> - -<p>“Now, boys,” he said, “if you’ll all get back -into the cabin and remain quiet, I’ll coax a catfish -two feet long out of the river.”</p> - -<p>“You have my sympathy,” Case answered, “and -I’ll help you all I can. I’ll go back into the cabin -and make a noise like a dish of cream.”</p> - -<p>Regarding Case’s offer as light and trifling, Alex -got his lines into the water and sat down to await -results.</p> - -<p>“I don’t know,” he said after a while, “but I -ought to have waited until we came under that -wooded island just ahead. Catfish have a way of -hovering in the mud around the towheads.”</p> - -<p>“We can drop down if you think best,” Clay -proposed.</p> - -<p>“Just you wait a minute!” Alex exclaimed all -excitement, “I’ve got a bite right now. Two -bites!” he yelled the next moment. “Both lines are -running out! Catch one, quick!”</p> - -<p>The boy’s announcement that the lines were -moving out brought his three chums instantly to the -front. Case and Jule both grabbed for the same -line, with the result that the tops of their heads -came together with a thud and the line continued to -wiggle along the deck. Clay stepped on the -moving line and Alex seized it.</p> - -<p>The boy now held a line in each hand and was -drawn tightly against the after gunwale.</p> - -<p>“Hold on, Alex, hold on!” shouted Case.</p> - -<p>“Pull ’em in, pull ’em in!” yelled Jule.</p> - -<p>“You bet I’ll hold on!” panted Alex. “Why -don’t you boys catch on to the line?”</p> - -<p>The boy sprang for the lines again, but their -fingers met only the bare deck. Alex, hanging on -like grim death, stood for a moment with his feet -braced against the gunwale and then went head-first -into the river.</p> - -<p>“Great spoons!” Jule exclaimed. “Talk about -catfish! I’ll bet he’s got a team of wild colts at the -end of those lines!”</p> - -<p>Alex, hanging to the lines, went bobbing down -the stream.</p> - </div> - - <div class='chapter'> - <h2 id='chXII'>CHAPTER XII.—THE GHOST OF THE MARY ANN.</h2> - -<p class='first'>“Don’t loose your fish!” jeered Jule, leaning -over the gunwale, his face red with laughter.</p> - -<p>“What do you think you are?” called Case. “A -blooming pilot?”</p> - -<p>Alex could make no headway swimming in the -direction of the boat, for the creatures he had -hooked were pulling him, iron and all, toward the -Indiana shore. Now and then the boy was drawn -beneath the surface and came up spluttering, but -still grimly holding to the lines.</p> - -<p>“Why don’t the little idiot let go?” asked Jule -as the boy’s head disappeared under water for the -third or fourth time.</p> - -<p>“He’ll never let go!” Case exclaimed. “Why -don’t we get the <i>Rambler</i> under motion and pick -him up?”</p> - -<p>The motor boat was soon racing toward the boy. -Alex was still hanging to his fish lines, and the -catfish, or whatever was at the other end, were -making fast for the center of the stream.</p> - -<p>It took some moments to reach the boy, and more -time to land him on deck, for he still persisted in -hanging on to the fish lines.</p> - -<p>Not until the thick lines were securely fastened -to a deck cleat would the boy release his hold.</p> - -<p>“Now,” Clay laughed, “if anybody can find a -derrick, we’ll get these fish on board.”</p> - -<p>“Aw, those are not fish,” Jule exclaimed, “they’re -alligators!”</p> - -<p>“Whatever they are,” Alex grinned, “I didn’t -let ’em get away with me! They ducked me, but -they didn’t get away!”</p> - -<p>“Well,” Clay said in a moment, observing that -the lines had ceased to move about in the water, -“your fish must be pretty well tired out by this time, -so we’ll take them ashore.”</p> - -<p>“All right!” Alex replied. “While you’re towing -them to a shallow place, I’ll go and get on some -dry clothes.”</p> - -<p>When at last the motor boat drew the hooks and -the sinker to a shallow spot on the Kentucky side, -the boys saw two monstrous catfish squirming -weakly. In grabbing for the raw beef with which -the hooks had been baited, they had been caught -far back in the jaws, so no amount of pulling could -have released them.</p> - -<p>“They’re alive yet!” shouted Jule.</p> - -<p>“I’ll fix that in a minute!” Alex declared, -appearing on deck in a dry suit. “I’ll administer a -couple of lead pills which will cure the ills of life.”</p> - -<p>“Hear him talk Shakespeare!” jeered Jule.</p> - -<p>Alex considered this remark too immaterial to -notice. He leveled his automatic at the fish and -fired a volley at their heads.</p> - -<p>“Now, where’s that derrick?” asked Case.</p> - -<p>As the fish were nearly two yards in length, it -was evident that only one need be brought aboard -for food, so one was sent sailing down the stream -and the other was, with no little difficulty, lifted to -the deck. Alex danced about his prize joyously.</p> - -<p>“Why, look here!” Case exclaimed. “This -fish hasn’t got any scales!”</p> - -<p>“Do you think I’ve been going through all this -to get a sturgeon?” asked Alex. “I should think -not!”</p> - -<p>“The catfish,” Clay explained, “belongs to the -bullhead tribe, and has a hard, tough hide instead -of scales.”</p> - -<p>“Is it good to eat?” asked Jule.</p> - -<p>“Of course it’s good to eat,” answered Alex. -“Do you think I’d go to the floor of the river with -a fish that wasn’t fit to eat?”</p> - -<p>“I’d like to know why they call these things catfish,” -Case exclaimed, turning the monster with his -foot.</p> - -<p>“Huh!” snickered Jule. “They have back -fences at the bottom of the river, and these fish -climb up and give midnight concerts.”</p> - -<p>“Jule,” said Alex gravely, “your imagination -seems to be getting the best of your conscience. If -we had an Ananias club on board this boat, you -surely would be the Perpetual Grand.”</p> - -<p>“All right,” Jule said, “when you get a club -formed I’ll take the office. But who’s going to cook -this fish?” he went on.</p> - -<p>“I’ll cook him if you’ll skin him,” Case offered. -“We want only a few pounds of catfish steak,” -Clay observed.</p> - -<p>“I’m going to boil about half of him!” Alex -declared, “so as to give Captain Joe and Teddy the -feast of their lives.”</p> - -<p>“It’s a wonder Captain Joe didn’t jump into the -river after you when the fish invited you down into -the mud,” Jule laughed.</p> - -<p>“Captain Joe and the bear were both asleep in -the cabin,” Case explained.</p> - -<p>The boys had a merry time preparing that fish -for cooking. It is not hard work to dress a catfish -if you know how, but these boys did not know -how. At last, however, a great hunk was boiling -in a pot and slices were ready for frying. By noon -the meal was ready, and the boys all admitted that -Alex’s, catfish was a very good substitute for -salmon, although nothing at all like it in appearance.</p> - -<p>The boys drifted slowly on the river that day, -taking in the wild scenery and stopping now and -then at cosy little landings on the Kentucky side. -It was a warm, clear day in September, and the -world never looked brighter to them than it did at -that time.</p> - -<p>They passed river craft of all shapes and sizes -during the day. There were monstrous steamers -having the appearance of floating hotels, there -were great freight boats loaded to the guards, there -were house-boats, motor boats, and great coal tows -which dominated the stream as they passed.</p> - -<p>“There’s a boat,” Clay said just before twilight, -“which looks to me like a river saloon and I -think those on board are watching the <i>Rambler</i>.”</p> - -<p>“If it is,” Case suggested, “we’d better take to -our heels. We don’t want any more experience -with river pirates.”</p> - -<p>“I should say not!” broke in Alex. “Those -fellows don’t own the river. We’ve got just as much -right here as they have. If they try to come aboard, -we’ll set Teddy on them.”</p> - -<p>The suspicious steamer checked her speed as the -boys slowed down on the <i>Rambler</i>, and it was soon -evident that those in charge of the whiskey boat -were desirous of speaking with the boys.</p> - -<p>“Hello, boys!” called a voice from the cabin -deck of the steamer.</p> - -<p>“Hello, yourself!” Alex called back.</p> - -<p>“How’s the bear?” asked the voice.</p> - -<p>“Fine!” Alex answered.</p> - -<p>“What do you know about our bear?” Case demanded.</p> - -<p>“I was on the <i>Hawk</i> last night,” was the reply.</p> - -<p>“Did you see those two men head for the -water?” Jule asked with a snicker.</p> - -<p>“Funniest thing I ever saw!” the other answered.</p> - -<p>There was a short silence and then another voice -called out from the steamer:</p> - -<p>“Why don’t you boys come on board?”</p> - -<p>“Nothing doing!” answered Clay.</p> - -<p>“Some of our people want a look at the dog and -bear!” the first speaker said. “So, if you don’t -object, we’ll come on board.”</p> - -<p>“No, you don’t!” Clay answered.</p> - -<p>“We’ll see about that!” came from the boat.</p> - -<p>The steamer shot ahead so as to come up to the -port side of the <i>Rambler</i>.</p> - -<p>“Keep off!” ordered Clay. “We don’t want any -of that whiskey crowd on board! If you try to put -foot on our deck, we’ll shoot.”</p> - -<p>“I guess not!” laughed the other.</p> - -<p>While Clay had been talking with those on board -the steamer, Case had been at work with the motors, -and the <i>Rambler</i> now shot ahead at full speed, -drawing swiftly away from the steamer.</p> - -<p>There was an instant commotion on the deck of -the saloon boat and then she, too, shot ahead at a -good rate of speed.</p> - -<p>Given a clear stretch of water, the <i>Rambler</i> would -soon have been out of sight of the steamer, but on -turning a bend, a monster coal tow came into view. -There were rows on rows of barges heaped high -with coal, all headed for the Mississippi. In the rear -was a gamey tug swinging from side to side in -order to keep the fleet under control.</p> - -<p>“Now we are up against it!” exclaimed Clay. -“We never can get by those barges!”</p> - -<p>“How do the steamers get by?” asked Jule.</p> - -<p>“They don’t get by at all when the coal tow is -passing around a narrow bend like that!” was the -answer.</p> - -<p>“Well, what are we going to do?” Alex asked. -“Let those fellows come on board here and eat us -up?”</p> - -<p>“If there weren’t so many people on board that -saloon boat,” Case declared, “I’d dynamite it. -She ought to be blown out of the water, anyway. -We can’t be bothered all the way down with these -whiskey boats!”</p> - -<p>“We shall be if we don’t make a record in some -way!” Clay said. “I move we run into the little -creek there on the Indiana shore and shoot if they -come near us.”</p> - -<p>“Say!” Alex said in a moment. “That isn’t a -creek at all. Don’t you see that the main river is -on the other side of it? That’s a big island with a -lagoon in the middle, and an opening on the upper -end.”</p> - -<p>“That’s not the main river on the other side!” -Case observed. “It is wide, but it looks shallow. -If it was the main river, we could pass through -there and so get in ahead of the coal tow.”</p> - -<p>“Well, then, suppose we run into the lagoon,” -suggested Alex.</p> - -<p>It was now quite dark, and the lights of the -saloon boat showed that those on board were holding -some sort of conference with those on board the -tug in charge of the tow. The boats were some -distance apart, yet even in the gathering darkness -the boys could see the crew of the barges racing -over the coal in order to do business with the -bartender on the steamer.</p> - -<p>“Before morning,” Case observed, “those saloon -pirates will have every dollar there is in that bunch -of rivermen. I wish there was some way to -separate the two crews.</p> - -<p>“What do we care?” laughed Alex. “Either -bunch would rob us if they could.”</p> - -<p>“Now,” Clay said in a moment, “turn the boat -in toward the entrance to the lagoon, keep all the -lights off, and let her drift. They’ll think we’ve -gone downstream on the other side of the island.”</p> - -<p>“That lagoon looks pretty good to me,” Jule -observed. “I feel like I hadn’t had any sleep for a -week. We’ll just tie right up in that little pond and -sleep all we want to.”</p> - -<p>“That will be a nice place to tie up!” laughed -Case. “Alex won’t run any risk of being towed -down the Mississippi if he goes fishing again.”</p> - -<p>And so, with no lights showing, the <i>Rambler</i>, -under the impetus of the last push of the propeller, -glided noiselessly into the mouth of the lagoon. -Both arms of the island were heavily wooded and -in a moment, the boys were out of sight of the tow -and the saloon boat. It was dark and still along -both shores of the lagoon. Wild birds settling for -the night called to each other across the narrow -stretch of water, but otherwise all was silent.</p> - -<p>“Nice and quiet,” Jule declared, “but just look -ahead there, if you will. You can all see the three -blue lights, now, if you want to! The ghost of the -<i>Mary Ann</i> must have lost his bearings.”</p> - </div> - - <div class='chapter'> - <h2 id='chXIII'>CHAPTER XIII.—EXPLORING A LAGOON.</h2> - -<p class='first'>“Are those blue lights on the water or on the -shore?” asked Clay.</p> - -<p>“You can search me!” Alex replied.</p> - -<p>“They’re on the water!” insisted Jule. “Can’t -you see the blue gleam shining on the waves?”</p> - -<p>“Wherever they are,” Clay said, “I’m going -down and investigate.”</p> - -<p>“That’s a good idea,” said Alex. “We’ll go -down and see what the ghost of the <i>Mary Ann</i> has -to say for himself.”</p> - -<p>“I was thinking of taking Captain Joe for company,” -Clay laughed.</p> - -<p>“All right,” Alex grinned, “go on with Captain -Joe if you want to.”</p> - -<p>“I’m afraid two will make too much noise making -their way through the thickets,” Clay said -thoughtfully.</p> - -<p>“How are you going to get ashore?” asked -Alex, briefly.</p> - -<p>“I’m going to pole the <i>Rambler</i> up close enough -so I can jump,” was the answer.</p> - -<p>“I guess you can do that all right,” Case cut in. -“This water seems to me to be about fifty feet -deep.”</p> - -<p>“This is an odd looking island,” Jule observed. -“The land seems to be shaped like a horse shoe.”</p> - -<p>“There are numerous odd-shaped islands in the -Mississippi and Ohio rivers. You can see easily -enough how this peculiar formation came about,” -Clay observed, “some forest fire burned the timber -out of the center of the island. When the roots and -stumps died out, the river carried the soil away. If -the big trees on the two arms of the island should -be cut down, the river would eat the soil away in a -very short time.”</p> - -<p>“Well, what are you going to do when you get -over to shore?” asked Alex.</p> - -<p>“I’m going to sneak down to where the lights -show, and see what it is that makes them.”</p> - -<p>“All right,” Alex said with an aggrieved air, -“while you’re out having fun with the blue lights -and the dog I’ll go to bed.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, come along if you want to,” Clay laughed.</p> - -<p>“No,” Alex replied more cheerfully, “I think -I’ll go to bed. You boys can blunder around all -night if you want to.”</p> - -<p>The boy made his way to the cabin, and Clay -warped the boat toward the north shore. In a few -moments the keel seemed to strike bottom and then -the boy examined the bank with a searchlight. All -was clear so he sprang lightly across the narrow -stretch of water and disappeared in the darkness.</p> - -<p>The three blue lights were still observable not far -from two hundred yards from the boat. They lay -in a straight line up and down the lagoon.</p> - -<p>The boys heard Clay making his way through -the thicket for a few moments, and then all sounds -on the shore ceased.</p> - -<p>“I don’t believe he’ll find anything in there,” -Jule said.</p> - -<p>“Then what makes those lights?” demanded -Case.</p> - -<p>“The old merchant up at Wolf Creek told us -what made the three blue lights,” chuckled Jule.</p> - -<p>“I just believe,” Case replied, “that that is some -signal.”</p> - -<p>“What would be the use of a signal, out in the -middle of the river opposite Wolf Creek?” -demanded Jule.</p> - -<p>“I can’t explain it,” Case answered, “but it’s a -signal, just the same. It just can’t be anything -else.”</p> - -<p>“And what would be the use of a signal in this -little old shut-in lagoon?” continued Jule.</p> - -<p>“Then if it isn’t a signal, what is it?” asked -Case.</p> - -<p>“It’s just some natural phenomenon,” was the -reply. “When Clay gets down there he won’t see -anything at all. It may be that you can’t see the -lights from any direction except this! You’ve seen -wandering lights in swamps, haven’t you? Well, -it’s my idea that this is that kind of a light.”</p> - -<p>“We may know something more about it when -Clay comes back,” Case suggested. “He may find -out what it means.”</p> - -<p>While the boys sat on the deck watching the -mysterious lights with puzzled eyes, there came a -quick, sharp explosion and the lights disappeared. -The explosion sounded like the touching off of -dynamite.</p> - -<p>Both boys arose to their feet and leaned over the -gunwale of the boat, gazing down the lagoon with -mystified faces.</p> - -<p>“Alex went to bed too early!” Case suggested.</p> - -<p>“Yes, he should have seen that little old Fourth -of July celebration,” Jule replied. “Let’s wake him -up and tell him about it.”</p> - -<p>“You wake him up,” Case answered.</p> - -<p>Jule made his way into the cabin and felt around -on the bunk occupied by the boy. Teddy, the bear -cub, lay there sound asleep but Alex had disappeared! -Jule returned to the deck with a grin.</p> - -<p>“That little idiot,” he said, “has left the boat -again.”</p> - -<p>“We might have known he would!” answered -Case. “He runs away from the boat in the night -every time he gets a chance, especially if Clay is -ashore. They’ll both be back here before long.”</p> - -<p>“Clay probably will,” Jule observed, “but we -don’t know when Alex will return. We usually -have to get him out of some scrape.”</p> - -<p>In the meantime Clay was pushing steadily -through the thicket which lined the north arm of -the peculiar-shaped island. For some moments he -guided his steps by the blue lights which seemed -to him to rest upon the water. Then came the -explosion which the boys had heard and the lights -were no longer in view.</p> - -<p>“Now that’s a funny proposition,” the boy -mused. “Why should those lights be hidden in -this out of the way lagoon, and why should they -pop out like that?”</p> - -<p>Captain Joe, following close at the boy’s heels, -now forced his way through the underbrush to the -water’s edge and began uttering a series of low -growls. Clay whistled softly but the dog refused -to return. In a moment he ceased his verbal -demonstrations and lay still, looking across the lagoon -to the other shore.</p> - -<p>“What’s the matter with you, Captain Joe?” -Clay demanded in a whisper. “If you see some one -who might have produced those lights, why don’t -you say so? And don’t make so much noise about -it, either!”</p> - -<p>The dog advanced a few feet into the water until -his shoulders were well covered and then backed -out again. All this time his snarling muzzle was -directed toward the opposite bank.</p> - -<p>Directly he came out of the lagoon and crouched -down at Clay’s feet.</p> - -<p>“There’s something going on here, dog,” Clay -whispered, patting Captain Joe on the head, “and -we’ll just settle down right here and find out what -it is. All you’ve got to do in order to help out is to -keep still.”</p> - -<p>The dog nodded his head knowingly, and the two -crouched down in the darkness of the thicket to -listen and to watch.</p> - -<p>While they waited, the lights of the <i>Rambler</i> -showed farther up, and Clay understood that -something unusual was in progress there.</p> - -<p>“They might as well invite that saloon boat to -come sailing in here as to turn on those lights!” -Clay muttered. “There must be something serious -or they never would illuminate the <i>Rambler</i> in that -way.”</p> - -<p>Captain Joe now began moving restlessly about, -and finally started up the lagoon toward the motor -boat. Clay followed slowly, and soon came within -the circle of light from the deck. He found Case -and Jule looking over the gunwale.</p> - -<p>“Why don’t you put out the lights?” he asked.</p> - -<p>“We turned them on to direct you boys home,” -was the reply.</p> - -<p>“You boys home?” repeated Clay.</p> - -<p>“Yes, you boys!” answered Jule. “Alex -jumped out about as soon as you left. Did you -see him anywhere?”</p> - -<p>“I don’t think he came out on this side” Clay -replied.</p> - -<p>“If he didn’t,” Jule went on, “he’s in some mixup -over on the south arm. There’s doings of some -kind over there.”</p> - -<p>“How do you know?” asked Clay.</p> - -<p>“Because, just a few moments after we discovered -that the boy had gone, a large rowboat -came in at the mouth of the lagoon, passed along -our port side and ducked into the bank some distance -down. We couldn’t see her, of course, only -just for a second as she came opposite us, and then -only indistinctly, but we could hear her when she -landed.”</p> - -<p>“The question before the house now,” Case observed, -“is about getting you on board again. -You can jump from the gunwale to the shore but -you can’t jump from the shore back to the gunwale.”</p> - -<p>“There’s a long board under the forward deck -between the storage bins,” Clay answered. “Get -that out and I’ll climb it.”</p> - -<p>The board was brought, and Clay was soon on -deck. The first thing he did was to turn off the -lights.</p> - -<p>“What did you do that for?” asked Case. -“Alex never will find his way back here in the -darkness!”</p> - -<p>“Alex can hide in some thicket until we find out -what’s going on,” Clay answered. “As for the -<i>Rambler</i>, we want to drift down so those in the boat -won’t know exactly where she lies.”</p> - -<p>The boat drifted down on the sluggish current -of the lagoon for perhaps two hundred yards, and -then the anchor was dropped at a point very near -to where the three blue lights had shown.</p> - -<p>“Now, we’ll keep as quiet as three bugs in a rug -till we find out what’s going on,” Clay said.</p> - -<p>“What did you find out about the lights?” asked -Jule.</p> - -<p>“They went out before I got to them,” Clay -answered.</p> - -<p>“What do you think about them?” Jule insisted.</p> - -<p>“I don’t think!” was the reply.</p> - -<p>“Case insists that they are merely signals,” Jule -went on.</p> - -<p>“That’s my idea, too,” Clay answered. “The -lights certainly do not come up out of the water.”</p> - -<p>“But who would be signaling in this lonely old -lagoon?” demanded Jule.</p> - -<p>“That’s what we don’t know,” Clay returned. -“All we’ve got to do is to lie here and watch.”</p> - -<p>“Say!” Case exclaimed in a moment. “What -did you do with Captain Joe?”</p> - -<p>“Why, he was right there when I came on -board,” Clay replied. “I thought he came up the -long plank right after me.”</p> - -<p>“Well, he didn’t?” Case went on. “I took in -the board after you came up, and the dog was -nowhere in sight.”</p> - -<p>“I’m glad of that!” answered Clay. “I certainly -am glad of that!”</p> - -<p>“I don’t see any good reason for celebrating the -disappearance of the dog!” growled Case.</p> - -<p>“I do!” Jule cut in. “Captain Joe will go and -find Alex.”</p> - -<p>“Sure he will!” admitted Case. “I never -thought of that.”</p> - -<p>The three boys sat for a long time on the deck of -the motor boat looking out into the darkness. Now -and then they heard the sound of rustling bushes -on the shores, but as a rule the scene was very still. -It must have been near midnight when Jule -caught his chums by their arms and drew them -closer to the port gunwale.</p> - -<p>“There,” he said, nodding his head to the west, -“there are the three blue lights. They are close to -the south arm of the island this time. Now what -do you make of it?”</p> - -<p>“Let’s wait and see if they blow up like the -others did,” suggested Case. “They, too, may -explode with a loud noise.”</p> - -<p>“What else can we do?” chuckled Jule.</p> - -<p>“There’s only one thing we can do,” Clay -advised, “if we want to settle this mystery right here -and now, and that is to turn on the motors and shoot -down there like a rocket.”</p> - -<p>“I’m for it!” Jule declared. “Let’s ram the ghost -out of the water!”</p> - </div> - - <div class='chapter'> - <h2 id='chXIV'>CHAPTER XIV.—CAPTAIN JOE HELPS SOME.</h2> - -<p class='first'>Alex did not remain long in the cabin of the -<i>Rambler</i> after Clay’s departure. His two chums -were seated on the prow of the boat, and the lights -were out, so he had little difficulty in dropping -unobserved into the water. Before leaving the cabin, -he had drawn on an old suit of clothes used for just -such purposes, so he did not mind getting wet.</p> - -<p>Once in the water, he struck out for the south -arm of the island. It was his idea that the coal -tow and the saloon boat would hover about that -spot for some little time. Those who had whiskey -to sell would be sure to keep in the company of -the tow, and those who had the whiskey thirst -would be pretty apt to rush on board the steamer -for the purpose of satisfying it.</p> - -<p>The boy, of course, did not understand that the -tug in charge of the barges could not have held -them against the push of the current in any event. -His idea that the tow and the saloon boat would -keep company, however, was the correct one.</p> - -<p>Almost as soon as his feet came in contact with -the sloping shore of the south arm, he heard shouts -of laughter coming across the wooded stretch of -land between the lagoon and the main channel of -the river. Proceeding on as rapidly as was -possible in the darkness, he soon came to a position -from which he could see the lights of the steamer. -She was standing perfectly still some distance down -the stream from the mouth of the lagoon, and the -tug and barges seemed to have halted, too.</p> - -<p>Directly he saw lights flashing along the barges -and heard exclamations of anger and dismay from -the front ranks. Then he saw what had taken -place. The crew of the tow had paid too much -attention to whiskey and too little to navigation.</p> - -<p>The front line had grounded at a bend just -below, and the others were piling against them. Even -with his limited knowledge of river work, the boy -saw that it would be hours before the barges could -be towed off the bar. A good many of the men -supposed to be in charge of the tow were still -drinking on board the saloon boat.</p> - -<p>“That’s always the way with whiskey,” Alex -said. “It jumps into the places where it can make -the most trouble. “If I ever take a drink of the -stuff, I hope I’ll get five years for every drop I -swallow. A person who drinks whiskey is no -good, anyway, and might as well be in prison as -anywhere else.”</p> - -<p>There was now a great commotion on board the -steamer, and the boy saw that those in charge of -the tow were forcing their unruly employes back -to their duty. Directly the steamer anchored a -short distance up the river. The barges which were -grounded were detached from the main tow, and -the whole mass went swinging down the river -again, followed by shouts of laughter from the -steamer.</p> - -<p>“Now,” mused the boy, “I wonder whether that -pirate boat will keep on after the tow in order to -get what little money those poor fools have left, -or whether it will be kept here in the hope of -annexing the <i>Rambler</i>?”</p> - -<p>The question was answered in a moment, for the -steamer edged in close to the shore and threw out -an anchor.</p> - -<p>“That’s fine!” Alex muttered. “Now they’ll -be running over this island to find the <i>Rambler</i>, -caught like a rat in a trap. I’m glad they haven’t -got sense enough to run up and block the lagoon!”</p> - -<p>The lights of the steamer made a fair illumination -on the bank where Alex lay, and directly he -saw a boat put out and head for the very thicket -which concealed him. He crept softly back toward -the interior and waited for developments. When -the boat touched the shore two men stepped out -and pressed through the thicket toward the lagoon.</p> - -<p>“This is foolishness,” the boy heard one of the -men say. “I tell you, Bostock,” he went on, -“that the motor boat made the north passage and -went on down the river while we were fooling with -that tow crowd.”</p> - -<p>“I don’t believe it, Davis,” was the reply. -“They just doused their lights and dropped into -the lagoon. I was watching the river and no lights -showed below the island.”</p> - -<p>“Well,” Davis said, “we can soon find out. It -isn’t far from here to the lagoon, though it’s mighty -unpleasant traveling in the night time. You may -be right, but I don’t believe it.”</p> - -<p>The two men passed within six feet of where -Alex lay, concealed, and as soon as the thicket -closed behind them, he crept along in their wake. -As the men made considerable noise themselves, he -figured that they would not be likely to hear any -racket he might make.</p> - -<p>In fifteen minutes the three reached the highest -point on the island, from which, in daylight, both -the main channel of the river and the lagoon might -be seen. Just at the moment they came within sight -of the inner channel the lights flared out on the -<i>Rambler</i>.</p> - -<p>Alex restrained an exclamation of disgust with -great difficulty.</p> - -<p>“The confounded idiots!” he said under his -breath. “To go and light those lamps at this time! -Why, we crawled in there to hide!”</p> - -<p>“There!” the boy heard the man who had been -called Bostock exclaim, “I told you the motor boat -had made for the lagoon!”</p> - -<p>“Well, you were right,” was the reply.</p> - -<p>“Now, all we’ve got to do,” Bostock went on, -“is to run the steamer up to the mouth of the lagoon -and nail these boys in good and tight.”</p> - -<p>“That’s right,” the other answered, “and once -we get hold of that motor boat there isn’t a thing -we can’t do on this river. I’ve heard of the -exploits of those boys all the way down from Pittsburg. -That boat is built with the motors of a sea-going -tug, and can outrun anything on the river. -Besides that, unless I am greatly mistaken, the -cabin and the deck under the gunwales are bullet-proof.”</p> - -<p>“Right you are!” Bostock answered. “There -isn’t a thing we can’t do after we get hold of that -boat, but what are we going to do with the boys?”</p> - -<p>“We’ll have to make some arrangements for -keeping them out of the way,” Davis suggested. -“If they put up a fight, well, the lagoon is a pretty -good place to leave them.”</p> - -<p>“Now, then,” mused Alex, “the thing for me -to do is to shoot both of those murderers, and so -get the <i>Rambler</i> out of this scrape!”</p> - -<p>Without any intention of following his own -advice, the boy thrust his hand into his pistol pocket -and found it empty.</p> - -<p>“Anyway,” he muttered, “it wouldn’t have been -any good after swimming over here. It seems as -if I never did have a gun when I wanted one.”</p> - -<p>The boy struck off to the east, his idea being to -gain a position a short distance above the <i>Rambler</i> -and then swim aboard. He had proceeded but a -few yards when a rustling in the bushes just ahead -attracted his attention. The rustling was soon -followed by a low growl, and directly the damp -muzzle of the bulldog was thrust into the boy’s -face.</p> - -<p>“So you’ve gone and run away, too, have you -Captain Joe?” demanded Alex. “I’ve a great -mind to send you out to eat up two pirates.”</p> - -<p>It was too dark to see the bulldog distinctly, but -Alex knew that he was accepting the commission -joyfully.</p> - -<p>“I don’t think it will do any good, doggie,” the -boy finally whispered. “Those pirates are about -like skunks—you kill one and half a dozen more -come to the funeral. If those fellows don’t get -back to their steamer directly, there’ll be a mob -of their companions on this island before daylight. -All we can do now is to get to the <i>Rambler</i> and -head her out of this lagoon before the steamer gets -to the entrance.”</p> - -<p>With this object in mind, the boy and dog made -their way swiftly through the thicket, paying little -attention to the noise they made. Far in the -rear they heard the river pirates calling out to them, -but paid no attention. When Alex reached the -shore of the lagoon he was at a loss which way to -turn. There was now no illumination to show the -location of the <i>Rambler</i>.</p> - -<p>“What’s your notion now, Captain Joe?” he -asked of the dog. “If you can tell me which way -to turn to find that motor boat, I’ll give you a -chunk of catfish as big as your head when we get -aboard.”</p> - -<p>Thus urged and bribed, the dog lost no time in -turning to the west.</p> - -<p>“I think you’re wrong, Captain Joe!” Alex urged.</p> - -<p>The bulldog insisted that he was right, and as -the boy had no good grounds upon which to dispute -his judgment, he followed along after him. -It was by no means good walking along the bank, -for in many places trees and shrubs had been -undermined during high water, and trunks and masses -of smaller growth often stretched out into the -water.</p> - -<p>“I tell you what it is, Captain Joe,” Alex said -as they went along. “If you dare to take me back -where those saloon pirates are, I’ll advise Teddy to -take a bite out of your ear when we get aboard the -<i>Rambler</i> again, if we ever do.”</p> - -<p>Captain Joe’s only reply was to seize Alex by -one trousers’ leg and hustle him along over a mass -of boughs which seemed to the boy to be several -miles high.</p> - -<p>At last, after a great deal of this climbing, Joe -stopped on the bank of the lagoon and pointed with -his nose out over the water. The two of them -must have made considerable racket scrambling -along the beach, for just as Joe stopped a soft -whistle came out of the darkness.</p> - -<p>“Captain Joe,” whispered Alex, patting the dog -on the head, “you’re the candy kid! That’s Clay, -without the shadow of a doubt. Now you tell him -that we want to come aboard.”</p> - -<p>As if understanding every word spoken to him -by the lad, the dog fawned about for a moment and -then uttered a short, sharp bark.</p> - -<p>“Come aboard, you runaway!” a voice whispered -from the boat.</p> - -<p>“Don’t you think we won’t! exclaimed Alex. -“Can’t you show a light just for a minute? It’s -so dark I wouldn’t know the river was wet if I -didn’t feel it.”</p> - -<p>A flashlight was turned on for just an instant -and then shut off. Captain Joe greeted the finger -of light with a joyous bark and plunged into the -lagoon. Alex was about to follow his example in -the matter of taking to the water when he felt -himself seized by the collar and drawn back. It was -evident that the two had made altogether too much -noise, and had been followed by the men from the -steamer.</p> - -<p>“Keep your mouth closed now!” whispered one -of the men in Alex’s ear.</p> - -<p>“Ram your gun down his throat if he doesn’t!” -another voice said.</p> - -<p>Alex knew that the purpose of the pirates was -to prevent his warning his companions of the -presence of the steamer and its crew in that vicinity. -He knew, too, that unless he could notify those on -board the <i>Rambler</i> of the intentions of the pirates, -their retreat from the lagoon would soon be shut -off.</p> - -<p>He knew, too, that he was taking great chances -in making the situation understood. Still, he -decided to risk his own life in order to warn his -friends. With the pirate holding him by the -collar, he sprang forward and cried at the top of his -voice:</p> - -<p>“Captain Joe! Captain Joe!”</p> - -<p>Something in the tone of the boy’s voice told the -dog as well as those on board the motor boat that -Alex was in deadly peril. It was not his habit to -ask for assistance unless it was very badly needed.</p> - -<p>Answering the indefinite but well-understood -appeal, the dog turned back to the shore, unseen but -plainly heard in the disturbed waters.</p> - -<p>One of the men struck fiercely at his head with -the butt of a gun as he swept past him. The man -who had hold of the boy fired a shot at the dim -rushing figure. The bullet went wide of its mark.</p> - -<p>The next instant the bulldog had a set of very -capable teeth clamped about the throat of the -outlaw. The man struggled and gurgled horribly as -the impact of the dog’s body threw him back, -releasing Alex from his grasp. The boy sprang -away and shouted:</p> - -<p>“Turn on the lights, boys, turn on the lights!” -In a second the powerful searchlight on the prow -of the <i>Rambler</i> was turned on the spot from which -the call had proceeded. It revealed one of the men -lying helpless on the ground, writhing under the -dog’s jaws and the other disappearing in a thicket.</p> - -<p>Alex picked up the outlaw’s revolver, which had -fallen to the ground, and called the dog away. He -was stooping over the prostrate figure to ascertain, -if possible, the extent of the injuries inflicted -by the dog when a shot came from a tangle a short -distance away.</p> - -<p>“Come on, Captain Joe!” the boy shouted. -“Let him alone.”</p> - -<p>Leaving the two outlaws on the bank, one-half -unconscious, the other raging helplessly in the -jungle, the boy and the dog sprang into the lagoon. -As they did so another harmless shot came from -the interior, and then the lights on the <i>Rambler</i> -were switched off.</p> - -<p>Several spiteful shots were now fired toward the -boat, but the two swimmers were, of course, out of -sight of the outlaws, so the bullets were not -directed at them.</p> - -<p>In a very brief space of time, Alex and Captain -Joe were hauled on deck, where they lay dripping -and panting for an instant before a word was -spoken. The lights were still out.</p> - -<p>“You’re a beautiful pair!” Jule whispered, then. -“We were just talking about you two getting into -a scrape before we got out of the lagoon.”</p> - -<p>“Never mind the scrape!” Alex panted, still -breathing hard. “Put on full power and steam up -out of the lagoon. That whiskey boat is going up -to block the way!”</p> - -<p>Without waiting for further information on the -subject, Clay sprang to the motors and the <i>Rambler</i> -was soon making her way upstream.</p> - -<p>When they came to a low-lying portion of the -south arm, they saw the lights of the steamer across -the point, trying to head them off.</p> - </div> - - <div class='chapter'> - <h2 id='chXV'>CHAPTER XV.—THE RAMBLER STRIKES BACK.</h2> - -<p class='first'>“Just let me get up on the prow with a gun!” -Alex exclaimed, pulling himself out of a puddle -of water on the deck. “I want to get a couple of -shots at those devils on board that steamer!”</p> - -<p>“What did they do to you?” asked Case.</p> - -<p>“They didn’t do nothing to me, only choked me -nearly to death with the collar of my own shirt,” -said the boy, “but I heard them planning to leave -us lying at the bottom of the lagoon and steal the -boat.”</p> - -<p>“That’s what they’re here for!” Clay answered. -“When you see a whiskey boat on any river, you -may make up your mind that the men on board will -commit murder if they find it necessary.”</p> - -<p>“If we don’t get more speed on,” Case exclaimed, -pulling Alex away as he made a dash for -the prow, “they’ll beat us to the entrance to the -lagoon now.”</p> - -<p>Clay rushed back to the motors to see if another -ounce of power could not be turned on while Jule -seized the lines and headed the boat off on the port -side.</p> - -<p>“They’ll come in from the river side,” he said -to Case, “and we may slip through between their -prow and the little bend which tops the lagoon on -the north side.”</p> - -<p>The <i>Rambler</i> was moving much faster than the -steamer, but the latter had several rods the start. -As they raced desperately for the narrow strip of -water between the two arms of the island it was -an open question as to which would win.</p> - -<p>“I just believe she’s going to get there first!” -Jule said drawing still farther away to port. -“Can’t you make her go any faster, Clay?”</p> - -<p>“Every pound of power is on!” Clay replied. -“You boys would better be getting your guns -ready. If we come together they may try to board -us. If you shoot, shoot to some purpose.”</p> - -<p>“We ain’t a-going to come together!” Jule -whispered to Alex, who now occupied a position at -his side. “At least, we’re not going to come -together so they can jump over on our deck.”</p> - -<p>“What are you going to do?” Alex asked. -“Look here!” Jule queried. “The <i>Rambler</i>’s -sides and prow are braced with steel, aren’t they?”</p> - -<p>“You know it!” Alex answered with a -chuckle as he began to understand the purpose of -his chum.</p> - -<p>“Well, then,” Jule declared, “I’m going to ram -her! If that steamer gets her nose in our way, I’m -going to send the <i>Rambler</i> plumb through her. I -wonder how they’ll like that?”</p> - -<p>“If you do,” Alex advised, “reverse the minute -you strike. If you don’t, you are likely to get -wedged into any hole you may make.”</p> - -<p>“I tell you I’m going to send the <i>Rambler</i> clear -through her!” insisted Jule. “I’m going to bang -her with all the force of the motors.”</p> - -<p>“Go to it!” Alex exclaimed. “I’m game for -any racket of that kind. Only don’t you say anything -to Clay about it. He’d be afraid of breaking -the motors or something.”</p> - -<p>The <i>Rambler</i> was now almost to the entrance. -The steamer was still moving upstream. As the -boys looked the prow of the whiskey boat turned -almost directly into the path which the motor boat -must follow in order to leave the lagoon.</p> - -<p>Jeers of triumph arose from the cabin deck of -the steamer as those on board took in the -significance of the situation. They now considered it -certain that the <i>Rambler</i> would soon be at their -mercy, blocked beyond the possibility of escape in the -lagoon.</p> - -<p>Jule at the helm of the motor boat, however, -had a very different idea as to how the scene ought -to terminate. In a second the great steamer, -lumbering and loosely built, lay broadside to the -oncoming <i>Rambler</i>. Clay gave a cry of warning as -the boy swirled the boat so as to strike the steamer -amidships, but Jule held on to his course.</p> - -<p>Before Clay could utter another cry of warning, -the steel prow of the <i>Rambler</i> crashed into the -steamer about a third back from the prow!</p> - -<p>It seemed for a moment as if Jule’s prediction -that he would go clear through the lumbering old -steamer was to be fulfilled, for the steel prow cut -into the thin sides of the steamer as a knife cuts -into cheese. The shock was terrific.</p> - -<p>The boys were knocked off their feet, and Jule -found himself rolling on the deck with the tiller -ropes still grasped in his hands!</p> - -<p>Shouts of rage and alarm came from the sinking -boat, and there was an immediate rush for the -railing overlooking the motor boat. The steamer was -still staggering under the impact of the blow, and -those on board were reeling like drunken men.</p> - -<p>Clay’s first act was to reverse the motors. -Much to his delight and surprise, the <i>Rambler</i> -backed slowly out of the cavity she had cut into -the side of the steamer. The side wall of the -ponderous old boat had been shattered into bits many -feet on either side of the actual cut!</p> - -<p>As the <i>Rambler</i> backed away, the steamer -began drifting downstream, moving as chance would -have it, toward the main channel of the river -instead of toward the lagoon. The boys saw at once -that she was filling with water, and would probably -sink where she lay. They saw, too, that men with -pistols in their hands were threatening them from -the cabin deck of the steamer.</p> - -<p>With fear and trembling Clay set the motors -going again, wondering whether they had been -injured in the collision so as to render -the <i>Rambler</i> unmanageable. The motors responded -nobly, however, and in a moment the boys had the -satisfaction of seeing her glide past the dipping prow -of the steamer.</p> - -<p>It was dark as ink over the surface of the river, -and Alex turned on the lights as the <i>Rambler</i> -rounded the sinking saloon boat and swept on -downstream. Once well under way, Clay walked -up to the prow and looked it over.</p> - -<p>“Any harm done?” called Jule.</p> - -<p>“No harm that paint and putty won’t repair,” -answered Clay. “That is, not here,” he added. -“Some of you boys would better look into the -cabin.”</p> - -<p>The cabin certainly was in a mess. Alex’s cherished -catfish lay rolling on the floor, with Teddy -shambling back and forth after it. Many of the -lockers had been burst open, and a heap of broken -crockery lay on the floor not far from the electric -coils. The glass panel in the cabin door was -shattered, and the coal stove, which had been used in -lower latitudes to keep the boys warm, lay on its -side.</p> - -<p>“Everything’s all right in here!” Alex cried -sticking his freckled nose through the sash formerly -occupied by the glass panel. “Nothing wrong -in here at all, except that the stove is tipped over, -and the dishes are all broken, and our expensive -wardrobes are rolling in the dirt, and Teddy’s -eating up my catfish. Oh, we’re all right in here!”</p> - -<p>Clay left the prow and looked through into the -cabin.</p> - -<p>“We ought to charge this to Jule!” he said with -a laugh.</p> - -<p>“All right!” said Jule. “I wouldn’t have -missed that for a thousand dollars. Do you think -I sunk that boat?”</p> - -<p>“You certainly did!” answered Clay. “The -last I saw of her as we came around the bend her -cabin lights were shining mighty low.”</p> - -<p>“And now,” Case complained, “they’ll be -sending word on down the river to have us arrested -for piracy on the high seas.”</p> - -<p>“Don’t you ever think they will!” Alex put in. -“I don’t believe there’s a man on board that boat -that dare step foot either into Indiana or Kentucky. -They sell drugged moonshine whiskey, and they -rob every man that comes on board, so it’s a sure -thing that there’s a warrant for them in every town -along the river.”</p> - -<p>“I didn’t think you had it in you, Jule!” Clay -laughed.</p> - -<p>“What’s the answer?” Jule questioned.</p> - -<p>“I didn’t think you had the nerve to ram a boat -the size of that one. It was a desperate thing -to do.”</p> - -<p>“Huh!” grinned Jule. “I guess if I hadn’t -rammed her, we’d be packed like sardines in some -dirty old steamer hold now.”</p> - -<p>“And that’s no dream!” Alex shouted.</p> - -<p>With her prow light burning brightly, the <i>Rambler</i> -proceeded slowly down the river. In a few -moments they came to four great coal barges -stranded on a sand bar. As they glided by a man -in a rowboat shot out into the circle of light and -called out:</p> - -<p>“What’s the trouble up the river, boys?”</p> - -<p>“Oh,” Alex answered, “a saloon boat ran into -something and broke in two. I guess she’s sinking.”</p> - -<p>“I thought I heard a crash of some kind,” answered -the stranger. “Anybody likely to get -drowned?”</p> - -<p>“I hope so!” Clay answered. “That’s one of -the meanest outlaw boats on the river. I was glad -to see her going down.”</p> - -<p>“Indeed it is,” agreed the other. “I saw the -men on board of her getting the bargemen drunk. -You see the result here. Hundreds of tons of -perfectly good coal wasted.”</p> - -<p>“Suppose we run into a cove here, or up against -one of those barges,” Jule whispered, “and see if -this man knows anything about the three blue -lights.”</p> - -<p>The <i>Rambler</i> was steered under the lee of the -lower barge downstream from the sand bar and the -stranger rowed alongside.</p> - -<p>Clay was about to question him regarding the -phenomenon, now twice witnessed, when the hum -of low voices came from the shore. The boy -listened intently and the next moment the heavy -tramping of horses’ feet came to his ears. Directly -the sharp whinny of a restive horse cut the still air!</p> - </div> - - <div class='chapter'> - <h2 id='chXVI'>CHAPTER XVI.—THE COAL BARGES INTERVENE.</h2> - -<p class='first'>The stranger looked at the boys sharply as they -stood listening to the noises on shore. There -was an expression of displeasure on his face as he -noted how watchful they were.</p> - -<p>“What’s that?” asked Alex.</p> - -<p>“Sounds like horses and men, replied the -stranger, speaking sharply and turning away as he -did so.</p> - -<p>“What are they doing out on the river bank at -this time of night?” queried Jule. “What’s -coming next, I wonder?”</p> - -<p>The stranger, who had turned away abruptly, now -moved back so that his face was plainly seen under -the prow light of the <i>Rambler</i>. When he spoke it -was with an attempt at heartiness, but the boys saw -that he was worried.</p> - -<p>“I may as well tell you all about it,” he began -with an insincere air. “You’ve heard the horses -trampling, and heard the men talking, so you may -as well understand what they’re here for. These -river pirates have been making a lot of trouble lately. -They coax our plantation hands on board their -pesky boats and that’s the last we ever see of them. -There’s many a good crop gone to waste along the -Ohio river because those outlaws carry whiskey to -sell.”</p> - -<p>“We’ve seen quite a lot of that,” Clay suggested.</p> - -<p>“Everybody who is on the river sees a lot of it,” -the stranger continued. “Well, now we’ve decided -not to stand it any longer. We came here to -destroy that boat, and I’m half sorry that an accident -prevented our accomplishing the work. One boat -nicely blown up would warn a score away. They -need the lesson.”</p> - -<p>“Well,” Clay laughed, “it wasn’t an accident -that destroyed the steamer. She tried to block us -in the lagoon and we rammed her with our steel -prow. That boat will never make you any more -trouble.”</p> - -<p>“You are to be congratulated!” the stranger -observed. “You have my permission to ram every -whiskey boat on the river.”</p> - -<p>The man’s face was smiling enough, and his -manner was sufficiently friendly, still the boys all found -themselves wondering if he was telling the exact -truth. They knew very well that many people -scattered along the river on both banks were in -touch with the whiskey boats, even supplying them -with moonshine and tobacco.</p> - -<p>“Why don’t some of those men with the horses -show up?” asked Jule presently. “Why are they -hiding in there now?”</p> - -<p>“Because they don’t care about being identified -as being mixed up in a raid on a whisky boat!” -was the reply. “Only for the fact that you got -the start of us we could have destroyed that boat -without one of us being recognized. We don’t care -for lawsuits.”</p> - -<p>“If they remain here a few hours,” Case suggested, -“they will probably have a chance at another -boat. The <i>Hawk</i> was not far from this place -not very long ago.”</p> - -<p>“And you had a bit of a tussle with her?” -laughed the stranger.</p> - -<p>“Oh, they got a little gay, but we managed to -keep away from them,” was the reply. “They -tried to steal our boat.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, I presume they would like a trim little -motor boat like yours,” suggested the stranger. -“And now,” he continued, “I may as well get back -to my friends. It will be daylight in an hour or two, -and we’ve got to work at this dirty business in the -dark if we work at all.”</p> - -<p>Jule opened his lips to ask the man a question -regarding the three blue lights but Clay, as if -understanding his purpose, drew him back and whispered -in his ear:</p> - -<p>“No more questions just now, boy.”</p> - -<p>“Why not?” Jule asked impatiently. “That’s -just what we came up here for—to find out -something about the three blue lights.”</p> - -<p>“I have an idea,” Clay explained, “that this man -didn’t tell the truth about the other things, and that -he won’t tell the truth about the three blue -lights—that is, if he knows anything about them at all.”</p> - -<p>“I’ve been a little bit leary of him all along,” -Jule replied.</p> - -<p>While the boys were talking together, the stranger -left the stranded coal barge upon which he had -been standing and, pushing his boat along, joined -his friends on the bank. The boys could hear a -murmur of conversation following his arrival there, -and now and then the light of a match flared up.</p> - -<p>“There’s one thing I can’t understand,” Clay -said as the boys put out into the current again, -“and that is, why we have seen no wreckage from -the steamer coming down.”</p> - -<p>“That’s easy,” Alex grinned, “the boat must -have dropped into the mouth of the lagoon.”</p> - -<p>“No she didn’t!” Case cut in. “She sunk south -of the arm of the island. She’s lying there now in -twenty feet of water unless I am very much -mistaken. Still, we should have seen wreckage by this -time.”</p> - -<p>“Suppose we take a run up and see what the -situation is there,” suggested Alex. “It would -give me great joy to see a lot of those fellows -marooned on that island, with nothing to eat or drink -for a week.”</p> - -<p>“We’ll only get tangled up in some kind of a -mess if we go there,” Clay advised, “so I think -we’d better go on down the river and see if we can’t -shake off all this trouble and have a pleasant, -leisurely river trip. We’ve had trouble in plenty on -all our other trips, but I thought the Ohio journey -would mostly consist of floating in the sunshine -through cities and back yards.”</p> - -<p>“All right!” Alex said. “I’m just as willing -to get out of this mess as any one. Anyway, it will -soon be daylight, and we’ll then be needing breakfast. -Who does the cooking this morning?”</p> - -<p>“We all cook,” answered Case, “for we all talk -slang except Captain Joe and Teddy, and they -probably have done something in that line themselves -only we didn’t understand them.”</p> - -<p>“Look here!” suggested Jule when a faint line -of daylight began to show upstream. “Suppose -we pull over to that wooded cove and build a -roaring fire on the bank. Then we’ll send Alex out to -get another catfish and bake it Indian fashion.”</p> - -<p>“He didn’t make a success of Indian cookery on -the St. Lawrence,” suggested Case. “I don’t want -any foolishness about this breakfast.”</p> - -<p>“Well,” Alex laughed, “there was something -the matter with the soil over there. I guess it leaked -gas or something of that kind. Anyway, the clay -along the Ohio is all right.”</p> - -<p>“Very well,” Clay said, “we’ll run into the cove -and give the boy a chance to serve catfish a la -Indian. The combination of gritless clay and green -leaves ought to produce fine results.”</p> - -<p>“You just watch me!” Alex insisted.</p> - -<p>The <i>Rambler</i> was accordingly anchored in a -pretty little cove whose banks were covered with -trees of large growth. At first, Alex tried to capture -a fish from the stern, but, not succeeding in this, -he ran out into the river and anchored there, leaving -the other boys on shore. It was broad daylight -when he felt a strong pull at his line and knew that -he had hooked some denizen of the stream.</p> - -<p>So busily was he engaged in playing the fish that -he heard nothing of the shouts from upstream, or -the warning from his chums on the bank. Directly, -however, he glanced up to see that a coal tow which -appeared to fill the entire width of the river was -drifting down upon him.</p> - -<p>“Get into the cove! Get into the cove!” cried -Clay.</p> - -<p>“You’ll be struck in a minute!” shouted Case.</p> - -<p>“Release your anchor line and shoot -downstream!” Jule suggested.</p> - -<p>This last advice appeared to be not only the most -desirable but the easiest to follow, so the boy -severed the manilla line with one blow of a sharp -hatchet and sprang to the motors. When at last -the boat was under way headed downstream, the -foremost barges were almost upon her.</p> - -<p>The men on board the tow seemed to be taking -great delight in the thought that the <i>Rambler</i> would -soon be completely at their mercy. Several of them -stood at the top of their barges making crude and -humorous suggestions to the boy.</p> - -<p>With the boat under way and headed downstream -at a speed with which the tow could by no -means compete, Alex amused himself by making -scornful faces at the men on the tow.</p> - -<p>“Come back here, you river rat!” one of the -men shouted. “You’ll get a bullet in your back -if you don’t!”</p> - -<p>“Fire away!” shouted Alex and promptly -ducked down under the protected gunwale of the -boat.</p> - -<p>The boys on shore saw the <i>Rambler</i> speeding -away with many expressions of disgust. Jule even -started on a run down the bank, but soon gave over -the attempt to catch the swiftly disappearing boat.</p> - -<p>The men on the tow, observing the boys on the -bank, greeted them with insulting epithets and -amused themselves by heaving chunks of coal toward -them. Case replied with a pistol shot but did -not succeed in wounding any of the men. The coal -came thicker after that for a time, but the -barges were soon too far down the river to make -such an attack effective.</p> - -<p>“Now, we’re in a nice box!” Jule cried, as the -steamer in charge of the tow disappeared around -a bend in the river. “How do you suppose that -little monkey will ever get that boat back to us?”</p> - -<p>“Aw, that’s easy enough!” Case answered. -“River boats pass those coal tows every day in the -week, and I guess Alex can get the <i>Rambler</i> -upstream again. In fact,” he added, “I don’t think -he needed to run down so far. He might have -ducked over to the other shore and let the barges go -by. Anyway,” the boy added with a smile, “he’ll -lose his fish. And serve him good and right at -that!”</p> - -<p>“And we lose our fish breakfast!” Clay returned. -“And that won’t serve us good and right!”</p> - -<p>“That’s a fact!” shouted Jule. “We haven’t -got a thing to eat on this bank!”</p> - -<p>“We probably won’t have to wait long for the -boy to come back,” Clay assured the others. “He -may be afraid the bargemen will make trouble for -him, and may run down until he comes to the mouth -of a creek or deep cove in which he can hold the -<i>Rambler</i> until the tow passes by. In that case, he -may be away an hour or so, but I reckon we won’t -starve to death in that time.”</p> - -<p>“I’ve a good notion to go and hunt out some -farm house and buy something to eat!” Jule declared. -“We’re most out of eggs, anyway.”</p> - -<p>“It seems to me,” Clay laughed, turning to Case, -“that Alex and Jule have been having most of the -adventures lately. Now what I propose is that you -two boys stay here and wait for the <i>Rambler</i> to -return while I cut back into the country and see what -I can buy in the way of provisions.”</p> - -<p>“That will be all right,” Case replied. “And -while you are gone, Jule and I will flop into a thicket -and go to sleep. I’ve had to prop my eyelids open -with my fingers for the last hour. The bulldog -can keep watch while we get our forty winks.”</p> - -<p>“Why,” Clay said, “I didn’t see Captain Joe -come on shore. I guess you’ll find that he’s on board -the boat with Alex and the bear.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, he was here all right,” Case insisted. “I -saw him running about on the other shore of the -cove acting as if he had got scent of a rabbit or a -squirrel.”</p> - -<p>“Then he’ll be back all right!” Clay replied. -“Be sure that he is before both of you go to sleep. -He’ll stand guard, all right, if you tell him to watch -for Alex. You wouldn’t like to have the <i>Rambler</i> -come back here and not find you!” Clay added.</p> - -<p>And so, leaving the boys preparing a bed of leaves -in the thicket, Clay turned away to the south and -disappeared in the forest.</p> - </div> - - <div class='chapter'> - <h2 id='chXVII'>CHAPTER XVII.—THE TWO CLAIMANTS.</h2> - -<p class='first'>Sailing swiftly down the stream in the early -morning, Alex was not at all in bad humor as he -regarded the general situation. He figured that he -could very readily elude the coal tow and return -upstream to his chums. In fact, the portion of the -incident which he regretted most was the loss of -his fish.</p> - -<p>“Now,” he pondered as he whirled the boat over -towards the Indiana shore in order to find open -water for his passage upstream, “I’ll have to go -and hook another catfish before we can have breakfast.”</p> - -<p>He chuckled softly to himself as he thought of -the chums marooned on the shore of the little cove -without a thing to eat. At the time of his sudden -departure with the <i>Rambler</i>, no supplies of any -kind had been carried ashore. He laughed as he -thought of the rage of the boys.</p> - -<p>“I’ll throw out a troll-line as I go up,” he mused, -“and perhaps I’ll have a pickerel or something of -that kind all ready for the hot stones when I get -up to the cove.”</p> - -<p>When within a short distance of the Indiana -shore, the boy saw a long line of floats extending -out from the bank, indicating the location of a -fishing net. The boy sprang to the motors in the hope -of saving the net by shutting off the power, but he -was too late. In fact, his effort only made the -meeting with the net more disastrous.</p> - -<p>Running at full speed, the boat might have cut -the net and passed on, but drifting with the current -as she was when she came to it, something like two -hundred feet of stout fibre were wound about the -propeller, about the skag, and about the rudder and -rudder-post, as the motors were reversed in an effort -to back away.</p> - -<p>As the boy leaned over the stern to ascertain the -extent of the damage, the clatter of the motors died -out and he knew that the clogging of the propellers -had been responsible.</p> - -<p>In a moment the <i>Rambler</i> was drifting aimlessly -downstream, swinging this way and that with the -current, spinning along broadside to the wash -of the river oftener than in any other position.</p> - -<p>“Now, I’m in a beautiful mess!” the boy declared. -“I shall never be able to get that stuff out -of the propeller without beaching the boat.”</p> - -<p>As the boy was lifting a heavy oar in the hope -of sending the motor boat over to the Indiana side -of the river, he heard a slow, drawling hail from the -mouth of a little creek some distance down.</p> - -<p>“’Tend to your rudder!” shouted a hoarse voice. -“You’ll go over the rapids in a heap if you keep on -that way!”</p> - -<p>“Propeller and rudder clogged!” shouted Alex. -“Come on out and tow me in! You’ll be well paid -for your work.”</p> - -<p>The boy thought, in a moment, that the last sentence -had been entirely superfluous, for their experience -on the river had been that waterside characters -were always too willing to assist any crippled -boat. At all times their charges were exorbitant.</p> - -<p>“All right!” the man called from the shore, and -then the boy saw a small skiff shoot away from the -side of a dilapidated-looking shanty boat which lay -half hidden by a thicket at the mouth of the creek.</p> - -<p>When the man in the skiff reached the <i>Rambler</i>, -he rowed completely around her as if examining -her good points. He was a long, lanky, sour-visaged -individual with long black hair and beard. He was -dressed in the homespun cotton so common with -rivermen.</p> - -<p>“Right pert boat you’ve got there,” he said, at -last.</p> - -<p>“Never mind the boat now,” Alex answered. -“She’s drifting downstream every minute. Tow -her to shore and help me to get this net out of the -propeller.”</p> - -<p>“So it’s a net in the propeller, is it?” snarled -the man from the houseboat. “I hope you hain’t -gone and took up my net.”</p> - -<p>“Did you have a net out in the river?” asked -the boy.</p> - -<p>“I certainly did!” was the reply. “And if -you’ve gone and cut it up, you’ll pay for it.”</p> - -<p>Alex knew very well that the man from the -houseboat had never owned a net of the value of -the one he had destroyed, but he decided to have no -words with the fellow until the <i>Rambler</i> was ready -to proceed on her journey. He saw that the man -was evidently seeking a quarrel.</p> - -<p>“Yessir!” the riverman went on. “If you’ve -gone and cut up my net you’ll pay me a good price -for it. There’s too many of you sports romping up -and down the river with your gasoline boats.”</p> - -<p>“Time enough to talk about that when we get -the boat over to the shore,” Alex declared. “I -don’t want to drift downstream any farther.”</p> - -<p>Scowling and complaining over the exertion -required, the fellow finally managed to work the -<i>Rambler</i> into the mouth of the creek where the -houseboat lay. As Alex took in the situation at -one quick glance, he saw two evil-faced fellows -lounging on the deck of the houseboat.</p> - -<p>“What you got, Mose?” one of them called out -to the riverman.</p> - -<p>“I’ve salvaged a motor boat!” was Mose’s reply.</p> - -<p>“What’s the trouble with her?” was the next -question.</p> - -<p>“She’s got my net wound around her propeller!” -answered Mose.</p> - -<p>“Sho’,” returned the other. “That new net of -yours that cost a hundred not a week ago?”</p> - -<p>“Yessir, that same new net!” returned the -riverman.</p> - -<p>Alex saw that the men were preparing to make -trouble for him. He knew that they could not -collect a cent of salvage for towing his boat out of the -stream. He was positive that the net did not -belong to them. Houseboat people of their class -consider themselves fortunate in the possession of -ordinary fishing lines and spears.</p> - -<p>However, he only smiled as they talked of their -hundred-dollar net, and dropped over into the -shallow water of the creek to inspect the damage done -to the propeller and rudder.</p> - -<p>So far as he could see, there was nothing broken. -The net which was wound about everything at the -stern of the boat seemed to him to make a bundle -as large as a whiskey barrel. He took out his knife -preparatory to cutting it away.</p> - -<p>“Look here, you boy you!” shouted Mose. -“Don’t you go to cuttin’ up that net. You just -take your consarned old propeller and rudder off the -stern so that we can unwind it.”</p> - -<p>Alex knew that this would be impossible. His -idea was to cut the net away, spring to the motors, -and pass out of the reach of the houseboat men -before they suspected what he was up to.</p> - -<p>Therefore, he at once set to work with his knife -and began slashing the strong threads of the net. -The three men looked on angrily for an instant and -then Mose said:</p> - -<p>“I told you not to cut that net, boy!”</p> - -<p>“I’m afraid there is no other way,” Alex answered -very civilly.</p> - -<p>“I hope you’ve got the money in your jeans to -pay for it,” Mose shouted. “If you haven’t, I’ll -just naturally have to take charge of that boat. I -can’t afford to lose that net.”</p> - -<p>“All right,” Alex replied, cutting industriously -away at the obstruction, “my chums are up the -river a short distance and they will be down here -directly. Then we can talk about paying. We’ll -fix you out all right as soon as they get here.”</p> - -<p>“You better see that you do!” Mose responded -angrily.</p> - -<p>It took some time to cut away the great net, but -the propeller and rudder and skag were free at last -and then Alex climbed back on the deck.</p> - -<p>“Here, you,” shouted Mose, presenting the muzzle -of an old-fashioned double-barreled shotgun. -“Don’t you go near those motors. I’ve been -expecting you’d try to run away without paying your -just debts.”</p> - -<p>“No fear of my going away just yet,” Alex -answered. “I’ve got to wait somewhere along here -until my chums come.”</p> - -<p>While Mose held the rusty old gun in a threatening -manner, his two companions attached a heavy -cable to the forward bitts of the <i>Rambler</i> and -carried it ashore. After winding it around the -trunk of a great tree, they returned to the houseboat -and lay down on the forward deck to gaze -impudently at the boy.</p> - -<p>“Now, we’ll see if you make a sneak down the -river!” Mose cried triumphantly. “The best way -for you to get away from this creek is to lay down -about a hundred and fifty dollars.”</p> - -<p>“I didn’t know there was so much money in the -world!” laughed Alex.</p> - -<p>“If your chums don’t come in one hour,” Mose -went on, “we’ll take possession of your boat. This -man here,” pointing over his shoulder with his -thumb, “is a constable! Ain’t you, Clint? And he -can sell your boat right here on the river bank. -Can’t you, Clint? We’ll see if these sports are -coming down here and destroy our property without -paying for it!”</p> - -<p>In all his experience in river journeys, Alex had -never been confronted by so puzzling a proposition. -He knew that the rivermen had no claim upon him -whatever, although he considered Mose entitled to -some compensation for his friendly act. Still he -realized that for the time being the fellows held the -whip hand.</p> - -<p>It happened that he had considerable money—two -or three hundred dollars in his possession, -having taken charge of the expense fund only a few -days before. His inclination now was to pay the -men the money demanded and get away. Then he -reasoned that the exhibition of such a sum of -money would only arouse the greed of the outlaws. -That they would never let him depart with any -money at all in his possession, he knew very well. -It was a trying situation.</p> - -<p>While he stood deliberating over the problem, a -a loud hail came from upstream and turning he saw -the coal tow sweeping down the river.</p> - -<p>“Hold that boat!” shouted a harsh voice from -one of the foremost barges. “Hold that boat ’till -we get there.”</p> - -<p>Scenting an additional profit in the arrival of the -tow, Mose sprang into his skiff and rowed out. As -the first barge came down, Alex saw two men -spring into the skiff which was at once headed for -the shore. The two men lounging on the houseboat -at once sprang over to the deck of the <i>Rambler</i>, the -man with the rusty shotgun keeping it in full view.</p> - -<p>When the skiff reached the <i>Rambler</i>, the two men -clambered on deck while Mose ran the skiff up into -the creek. The two men were extremely well-dressed -although their clothing showed connection -with the water of the river and the smut of the coal -barges. They were both very much excited, and -the first thing one of them did was to shake his fist -under Alex’s, nose.</p> - -<p>“Now, you young thief!” he shouted. “We’ve -got you at last!”</p> - -<p>“No rough house, pardner!” exclaimed the -houseboat man who held the gun. “No rough -house here, because, you see, we’ve got a claim on -this boy ourselves. He just destroyed a net worth -a hundred dollars!”</p> - -<p>“A hundred dollars!” snarled the whiskey boat -man. “Do you know what he did to us?” he went -on. “He stole this motor boat and sunk our -steamer with it. He’s cost us more than twenty -thousand dollars!”</p> - -<p>Alex stood silent in the face of all these -accusations. He had recognized the two men from the -barge as men he had seen on the whiskey boat, and -he knew that they would do their best to make him -trouble. For a moment it seemed to him that the -fate of the <i>Rambler</i> was sealed.</p> - -<p>“What do you say to all this, boy?” asked the -man with the gun.</p> - -<p>Alex sat down dejectedly on the gunwale.</p> - -<p>“I guess I’ll let you fellows fight it out between -you,” he said.</p> - -<p>“I can’t see as there’s anything to fight out!” -one of the men from the whiskey boat shouted.</p> - -<p>“This is our boat and we’re going to take it away! -As for this boy, we’ll place him in the custody of the -first United States marshal we come to!”</p> - -<p>Once more the rusty barrel of the old shotgun in -the hands of the houseboat man was hoisted to a -threatening position.</p> - -<p>“Don’t you forget,” the man said viciously, -“that this boat busted our net. We don’t care -whose boat it is, we’re going to hold it until we get -paid for our property!”</p> - -<p>“You talk like a fool!” shouted the man from -the steamer.</p> - -<p>“And you act like a fool!” insisted the other.</p> - -<p>“I don’t believe you fellows ever owned any -net!” the enraged outlaw shouted. “I’ve seen your -old houseboat sneaking along the river here for -months. You’re the kind of men who never have -the price of a drink unless you can steal it. If you -try to hold this boat, I’ll fill you both full of bullet -holes!”</p> - -<p>The eyes at the stock of the shotgun flashed -wickedly, but the man’s voice was remarkably -smooth as he said:</p> - -<p>“If you move, either one of you, or try to get -out a gun I’ll blow the tops of your heads off! You -observe,” he went on, “that there are two barrels -to this gun, and I’ll tell you right now that they’re -both loaded with slugs.”</p> - -<p>“This is nonsense!” roared the man from the -steamer.</p> - -<p>“That’s what I’ve been calculatin’,” replied the -other.</p> - -<p>Alex was thinking fast. It seemed to him at that -time that it would be better to leave the <i>Rambler</i> -in the hands of the houseboat men than in those of -the men from the steamer.</p> - -<p>The houseboat men would be satisfied with a -small amount of money as soon as they discovered -that they could get no more, while the other -outlaws would insist on taking the <i>Rambler</i> for their -alleged debt.</p> - -<p>Taking this view of the situation, he turned to -the man who was holding the shotgun.</p> - -<p>“These two men,” he said, “are whiskey boat -men. They have no more claim on this boat than -you have.”</p> - </div> - - <div class='chapter'> - <h2 id='chXVIII'>CHAPTER XVIII.—A FORBIDDEN SUBJECT.</h2> - -<p class='first'>While Alex was having his troubles with the -two gangs of outlaws, and while Jule and Case were -asleep in a thicket at the cove, Clay was pushing -his way through a heavy undergrowth in the direction -of a shabby-looking farm house which stood -in the center of a weed-grown tobacco field not far -away.</p> - -<p>As he approached the uncared for fence which -surrounded the field, he heard horses stamping and -champing at their bits in the woods not far away -to his left.</p> - -<p>At first he thought seriously of visiting the -undergrowth on a tour of investigation, but finally -decided that his actions might be misconstrued, so he -passed on toward the house in the tobacco field.</p> - -<p>It seemed to him that half a hundred dogs of all -sizes and breeds leaped out as he advanced through -the weeds toward the front door.</p> - -<p>He was having his hands full with the dogs, -fending them off, when the door opened and a woman -made her appearance on the threshold.</p> - -<p>“Down, you ornery purps!” she shouted in a -voice that sounded more like that of a man than -that of a woman. “Come right along in, stranger,” -she added. “I reckon they won’t bite you up -none.”</p> - -<p>Under the protection of the woman’s voice and -presence, Clay finally succeeded in making his way -to the house.</p> - -<p>“I’m sure ashamed of them ornery purps,” the -woman declared, striking at a large brindle dog -with a mop stick. “Somehow I can’t beat no manners -into ’em!”</p> - -<p>“They appear to be a fine lot of dogs!” Clay -said, resolved to conciliate the woman if possible. -“I’m used to Kentucky dogs, so I was not at all -afraid of them.”</p> - -<p>“What mought be your business, stranger?” the -woman asked then.</p> - -<p>“Well,” Clay answered, “I’m looking for -something to eat.”</p> - -<p>“Sho’!” answered the woman. “A nice, likely -lookin’ lad like you goin’ around hungry! I’d be -glad to give you a set-down of flapjacks and coffee. -Come right in.”</p> - -<p>“That would help some!” laughed Clay. “But -what I want is provisions to carry away to my -chums—eggs, chickens or anything of that sort -you may have to sell.”</p> - -<p>“And where mought your chums be?” asked the -woman, a little suspiciously as Clay thought.</p> - -<p>“We came down the river in a motor boat,” the -boy replied, “and I left the boys in a cove some -distance from here.”</p> - -<p>“I wonder, now,” the woman queried, “whether -you might have been on the river last night.”</p> - -<p>Clay replied in the affirmative.</p> - -<p>“Well,” the woman went on, “I’ve been waiting -all morning for news from the river. My men -went out last night at dusk and haven’t returned.”</p> - -<p>“There were horsemen along the river last -night,” Clay suggested.</p> - -<p>“That would be them.”</p> - -<p>“And I heard horses champing their bits just as -I came up to the fence,” Clay went on.</p> - -<p>“Sho’!” answered the woman. “My men always -have fresh hosses near the house. What did -you hear on the river last night?” she added.</p> - -<p>“It seemed rather quiet,” Clay replied, “except -that a whiskey steamer got wrecked some distance up.”</p> - -<p>“That’s too bad, now!” declared the woman.</p> - -<p>“There’s one thing peculiar I noticed about the -river last night,” Clay went on, “and that was something -which looked to me like a signal. We saw -three blue lights resting on the surface of the water. -Then there came an explosion and they disappeared.”</p> - -<p>The woman almost staggered back in the doorway. -Her ruddy face became slightly pale, and -Clay saw that the work-worn hands were trembling.</p> - -<p>Clay sprang to a pail of water which stood near, -dipped up a liberal supply in a gourd which hung -on a wall, and approached the woman with it in his -hand.</p> - -<p>“Sho’, now!” the woman almost gasped, placing -her hands at her sides, “here I be havin’ another -spell with my heart. Seems like I was always havin’ -trouble with that pesky organ.”</p> - -<p>Clay did not believe the explanation given by the -woman for her sudden fright. He had no doubt -that the mention of the mysterious three blue lights -had led to this alleged heart failure.</p> - -<p>“I’ll shore be better in a minute,” the woman -said, dropping into a home-made chair which stood -just inside the house. “What was it you said about -the three blue lights? I was took sudden just as -you began speaking of them.”</p> - -<p>Clay repeated what he had said regarding the -mysterious lights, watching the woman closely every -second. She did not again show sign of emotion -of any kind.</p> - -<p>“Why,” the woman said directly, “them’s the -ghost lights that are often seen on the Ohio. The -steamboat <i>Mary Ann</i> went down with a dancing -party on board ten years ago, and ever since then -the lights have been seen on the river.”</p> - -<p>“But the <i>Mary Ann</i> went down just off Wolf -Creek,” Clay suggested.</p> - -<p>“There is a story,” the woman began in a -hushed voice, “that the lights show every year about -the time the boat went down, at the exact place -where she sunk. And then, again,” she continued, -“they do say that wherever a body from the <i>Mary Ann</i> -remains unburied at the bottom of the river -the three blue lights show at least once a year.”</p> - -<p>“So they really are ghost lights?” asked Clay.</p> - -<p>“Why, stranger,” the woman continued, “boats -have been pushed directly into them lights as they -floated on the surface of the river, and they have -burned right on after being submerged! Them -explosions have been heard time and time again, and -nothing has been found which could have produced -them. We people along the river are mighty skeery -of them ghost lights.”</p> - -<p>“I have heard that they bring disaster,” Clay -suggested.</p> - -<p>“They sure do!” replied the woman. “But -come in,” she went on, “here I’ve been talkin’ like -a foolish old gossip, and you standing hungry in -the doorway. Come in and sit down.”</p> - -<p>Clay took the proffered chair but he was not -thinking of the breakfast being prepared for him.</p> - -<p>He was thinking, instead, of the sudden panic -into which the old woman had fallen at the mention -of the three blue lights. He saw now that there -was some significance to the signal.</p> - -<p>He came to understand, sitting there watching -the still troubled face of the woman, that the three -blue lights indicated some desperate action on the -part of the river people—some desperate action -which took the men away from their homes and -left the women anxious and afraid. He saw that -the woman in trying to deceive him by her words -was still telling the story of some terrible situation -by her voice and manner. He wondered but could -reach no conclusion.</p> - -<p>The boy was supplied with a bountiful breakfast -of corn pancakes, fried eggs and coffee, and then he -opened negotiations with his hostess for a supply -of provisions for the <i>Rambler</i>. The woman looked -distressed and answered his inquiries with -downcast eyes.</p> - -<p>“I’m sure sorry,” she said, “but we had a lot of -friends here to dinner yesterday, and they eat about -everything in the house. Them eggs you’ve just et -were laid this morning.”</p> - -<p>“I’m sorry, too,” Clay replied, “but if you -haven’t got provisions, you can’t sell them. -Perhaps I can find a supply at some near-by farm house. -How far is it to the nearest one?”</p> - -<p>“It is a long way through the thicket,” the woman -answered, “and I wouldn’t advise no boy like -you to be wandering in the woods in this vicinity -right now. It ain’t safe!”</p> - -<p>“Why, there ought not to be anything to be -afraid of!” Clay suggested.</p> - -<p>“You don’t know this region as well as I do, -boy!” the woman replied. “These folks that come -up from the river are mighty bad sometimes, and -I’ve known people that didn’t live on the river to -do desperate, bad things occasionally.”</p> - -<p>Clay sorely puzzled, looked the woman frankly in -the face and asked:</p> - -<p>“Do you imagine trouble because the three blue -lights showed on the river last night?”</p> - -<p>“Well,” was the reply, “they surly do bring -trouble.”</p> - -<p>“In what way?” insisted Clay.</p> - -<p>“Oh, there’s wrecks, and burnings, and shooting, -and all manner of things going on, somehow, -after them three blue lights show.”</p> - -<p>“Then perhaps I’d better be getting back to the -river!” Clay suggested.</p> - -<p>“I wouldn’t leave no boat that was worth ready -money long alone along the Ohio river at this time -of year,” the woman answered. “And let me tell -you another thing,” she went on. “If you see -three blue lights, keep away from them! Don’t go -near where they are, and get out of the vicinity of -them as fast as you can.”</p> - -<p>“We’re not afraid of ghosts!” laughed Clay.</p> - -<p>“I can’t say more!” the woman continued. “I -don’t know but I’ve said too much now. I hope -you’ll take an old woman’s advice and keep out of -trouble. Where might you boys be from, now?”</p> - -<p>“Chicago,” replied Clay.</p> - -<p>“Sho’, now!” exclaimed the old woman. “I’ve -never seen any one from Chicago before. “I’ve -heard of it often, though. Must be a right pert -place. Some one told me it was almost as big as -Paducah.”</p> - -<p>“Yes,” Clay replied, “Chicago is some city. -Will you accept pay for my breakfast?” he -continued.</p> - -<p>“You’re only a boy,” the woman replied, “and -so don’t know any better than to offer a Kintucky -woman pay for a feed. But I wouldn’t do that any -more if I were you.”</p> - -<p>Thanking the woman from the bottom of his -heart for her hospitality and her kindly advice, the -boy started away in the direction of the river.</p> - -<p>On his return he took care to pass through that -portion of the thicket where he had heard the horses -on his way in. He found three remarkably fine-looking -animals, all saddled and bridled, standing -in the thicket. As he stepped toward one of them, -a boy, certainly not more than twelve years of age, -leaped at him.</p> - -<p>“What you doing here?” the youth demanded.</p> - -<p>“I have just come from the house,” Clay replied. -“Your mother gave me a fine breakfast.”</p> - -<p>“Did she, now?” asked the boy suspiciously.</p> - -<p>“She certainly did,” answered Clay resolved to -continue the conversation with the lad until he -learned something more concerning the three blue -lights. The boy dropped his hostile attitude at -once.</p> - -<p>“I was going on to other houses in search of -provisions,” Clay went on, “but your mother -advised me that it wouldn’t be safe.”</p> - -<p>“It shore ain’t safe!” the boy replied.</p> - -<p>“She told me,” Clay resumed, “that it was never -safe in this section when three blue lights burned -on the river.”</p> - -<p>“Did she, now?” asked the boy. “And did you-all -see the three blue lights?”</p> - -<p>“Twice,” answered Clay. “Last night and the -night before—once opposite Wolf Creek and once in -the lagoon at that odd-shaped island just up the -stream.”</p> - -<p>Clay thought that the boy shivered a little in his -ragged clothes.</p> - -<p>“What is all this about the three blue lights?” -he asked in a moment.</p> - -<p>The boy shook his head gravely.</p> - -<p>“We-uns ain’t allowed to talk about the three -blue lights,” he answered.</p> - -<p>“You think they are ghost lights, eh?” asked -Clay.</p> - -<p>“We-uns ain’t allowed to talk about the three -blue lights,” repeated the boy. “We never mention -them.”</p> - -<p>Seeing that further conversation with the boy -was likely to prove without result, Clay again turned -to face in the direction of the river.</p> - -<p>“I wish I knew,” he mused, as he pushed his -way through tangled thickets and descended and -ascended rocky slopes, “I wish I knew exactly why -that woman came near fainting when I mentioned -the three blue lights.</p> - -<p>“I have an impression,” he went on, “that there’s -some feud coming to life. In the first place, I don’t -believe the story told at the stranded coal barges -last night.</p> - -<p>“Those men never sought the river with the intentions -of destroying that steamer. They wouldn’t -have brought their horses along if that had been -their object.</p> - -<p>“The horses, of course, might have been used in -the way of transportation to the river, but, at the -same time, men out on such a mission would not -care to be seen riding so openly through the -country.”</p> - -<p>It is needless to say that the boy did not believe -one word of the story told him by the woman who -had given him his breakfast. He was too -hard-headed to believe in ghosts or supernatural -demonstrations of any sort.</p> - -<p>He knew however, that there must be some reason -for the display of the lights, and knew that no little -ingenuity had been shown in the placing and -extinguishing of them. So studying over the -problem, the boy finally came to the little cove where he -had left Case and Jule.</p> - -<p>Captain Joe fawned about him as he advanced, -but when he approached the thicket where the boys -had been preparing their rough beds, he saw that -they were not there. He lost no time in making a -close examination of the ground, both at the landing -and at the entrance to the thicket.</p> - -<p>What he saw set his heart to bounding excitedly: -At both points there many indications of a -desperate struggle.</p> - -<p>Had he known the plight in which Alex found -himself at that moment, Clay would have been -doubly alarmed.</p> - </div> - - <div class='chapter'> - <h2 id='chXIX'>CHAPTER XIX.—TEDDY MAKES A SENSATION.</h2> - -<p class='first'>“What’s that you say?” thundered one of the -men from the steamer, as Alex explained to the -houseboat men that neither party had any interest -whatever in the <i>Rambler</i>.</p> - -<p>“You’d better keep truth on your side, young -man!” the other whiskey boat man put in.</p> - -<p>“That’s right,” Alex declared, dodging away -from one of the men who made an attempt to seize -him. “That’s right! These whiskey boat men -never saw this craft until last night. We rammed -their steamer because they tried to block us in a -lagoon, and I hope we sunk her.”</p> - -<p>“You did all of that!” one of the others replied.</p> - -<p>“According to the boy’s statement,” Mose cut -in, “you fellows have no right on this boat at all, -so I’d advise you to make yourself skurce.”</p> - -<p>The recent arrivals saw that they were not -making good in their bluff to the houseboat men and so -resorted to sterner measures.</p> - -<p>Quick as a flash one of them seized the muzzle of -the rusty old shotgun, drew it away from the -clumsy hands holding it, and dropped the weapon -into the river. Almost at the same instant, two -automatic revolvers flashed out of the hip pockets -of the outlaws.</p> - -<p>“Now,” the man who had been doing most of the -talking thundered, “you river thieves get off this -boat!”</p> - -<p>“We will when we get pay for our net!”</p> - -<p>“You never owned a net!” shouted the other. -“You never had the price of a dozen fish hooks at -one time, say nothing about a net!”</p> - -<p>“Anyway,” Mose insisted, “I brought you over -to this boat and kept the boy from running away -before you got here.”</p> - -<p>“Now, you’re talking sense,” the outlaw sneered. -“Throw him a couple of dollars, Chet,” he added.</p> - -<p>The fellow’s companion tossed two silver dollars -scornfully down on the deck and turned to Alex.</p> - -<p>“You get into the cabin,” he said, “and stay -there. We’ll settle with you later on.”</p> - -<p>Alex had no idea of remaining on board the -<i>Rambler</i> after it had passed into the possession of -the outlaws. He knew that the desire for revenge -on their part might lead to murder. He had no fear -of being turned, over to the officers of the law, for -the outlaws were in no position to make charges -against others. He stepped into the cabin as -requested and closed the door after him.</p> - -<p>“Now, Teddy Bear,” he said, “you and I have -got to jump away from this darling old boat, and -we’ve got to do it right soon.”</p> - -<p>Teddy, awakened from a sound sleep, scratched -his nose with a soft paw and replied in the most -polite of bear talk that he would do whatever Alex -thought best.</p> - -<p>The men who belonged on the houseboat were by -this time off the deck of the <i>Rambler</i>. The outlaws, -however, were watching the boy very closely. They -laughed when they saw him talking with the bear.</p> - -<p>“That’s a cute pet you have there!” one of the -men exclaimed, speaking through the broken panel -of the door.</p> - -<p>“It is indeed,” Alex answered cheerfully. -“Teddy Bear is a pretty good friend. We’ve had -him a long time.”</p> - -<p>“What’re you going to do with him?” asked the -outlaw.</p> - -<p>“Take him back to Chicago with us.”</p> - -<p>The outlaws laughed and regarded the boy and -the bear with humorous faces. Alex sat down and -watched them curiously.</p> - -<p>“I don’t see you getting back to Chicago right -away,” one of them finally said. “That is, not to-day -nor to-morrow.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, we’re going down to Cairo first!” Alex -grinned.</p> - -<p>The two outlaws turned away with a laugh, and -as soon as their backs were in view Alex opened -the swinging sash of the rear window and motioned -for Teddy to leap out.</p> - -<p>The bear cub followed instructions, and landed -lightly on the after deck. In an instant Alex was -through the window and the two sprang into the -water and made for the shore.</p> - -<p>The outlaws would doubtless have remained unconscious -of the escape until the boy and his companion -had reached the thicket only that the men on -the houseboat shouted and pointed at the bear.</p> - -<p>“Look at the menagerie!” one of them cried.</p> - -<p>This brought the outlaws to the shore-side of the -boat, and directly several harmless bullets whizzed -close to the two swimmers.</p> - -<p>“Go it, boy! Go it, bear!” was shouted from the -houseboat.</p> - -<p>The three men already disgruntled by the manner -in which they had been treated by the outlaws, were -now inclined to support Alex and the bear in their -efforts to escape.</p> - -<p>While the men on the <i>Rambler</i> sent badly aimed -bullets after the two in the water, the men on the -houseboat hurled billets of wood and whatever else -they could lay their hands on at the outlaws.</p> - -<p>This action on their part, while doing no physical -harm whatever, had the effect of directing the -attention of the outlaws from the boy and the bear to -the three men. When Alex and Teddy disappeared -in the thicket on the east side of the little creek, -immediately in the rear of the houseboat, the outlaws -were still firing, and the others were still pitching -wood and pieces of coal over the deck of the motor -boat.</p> - -<p>After a very long run upstream, out, perhaps fifty -yards from the water’s edge, the boy and the bear -threw themselves down on the moss beneath a forest -tree and panted out congratulations to each other -on their escape.</p> - -<p>“Teddy,” almost whimpered Alex. “We’ve -gone and lost the <i>Rambler</i>!”</p> - -<p>The bear looked very grave indeed.</p> - -<p>“We’ve gone and lost the <i>Rambler</i>!” Alex went -on, “and have nothing to show for it at all! I set -out to catch a fish, and lost the boat!”</p> - -<p>Teddy rubbed his soft muzzle against Alex’s, -cheek and looked sympathetic. He seemed to -understand every word said.</p> - -<p>“And now, bear,” the boy went on, “we’ve got -to walk five or ten miles up this bank of the river -and swim across. I guess the boys must be pretty -near a dozen miles away.”</p> - -<p>Teddy, while looking sympathetic, thrust his -muzzle into Alex’s, pocket looking for crackers.</p> - -<p>“Je—rusalem!” exclaimed Alex. “I wish I had -some, Teddy. I never was so empty in my life!”</p> - -<p>After a short rest, the boy arose and the two -proceeded on their difficult journey. Now and then -they came to weedy fields where corn had been -grown and where great shocks of stalks still stood, -but for the most part their way lay through a narrow -slice of forest which fringed the river. Alex took -occasion, after a time, to investigate some of the -corn shocks but found no ears.</p> - -<p>“Pretty soon,” the boy mused, “I’ll be hungry -enough to eat the stalks. And the boys must be -hungry, too,” he went on, “but all the provisions -we had are on board the <i>Rambler</i>. I don’t know -what they’ll say to me when I go back and explain -what happened.”</p> - -<p>After a long, long walk, during which it seemed -to the boy that he had covered at least a score of -miles, he discerned on the opposite bank of the -river the little cove in which the <i>Rambler</i> had been -moored that morning. Although he strained his -eyes hoping to see the familiar figures of his chums, -he could see no motion whatever.</p> - -<p>“I guess they’ve got starved out and gone away,” -the boy complained. “I suppose when I get over -there, there’ll be only a burned-out camp-fire and -nothing to eat. The next time I go out fishing for -catfish, I won’t go. It always brings bad luck.”</p> - -<p>Realizing that he might have to swim across the -whole width of the river, the boy kept on upstream -knowing that it would be better to have the current -in his favor when he entered the water.</p> - -<p>While he sat looking across the stream, several -river craft passed, some going up and some going -down. Once he thought of calling to a small motor -boat and asking the occupants to ferry him across -the river. But he soon changed his mind not -knowing what sort of people he would be likely to find -in any of the river boats.</p> - -<p>While the boy stood near the bank of the river -looking out, Teddy, as usual, was nosing about -looking for something to eat. The boy had hardly -noticed the absence of the bear when a succession of -long shrill squealings came from a thicket not far -distant.</p> - -<p>“There!” the boy mused, starting away on a run. -“Teddy has gone and scared the life out of some -one.”</p> - -<p>“Fo’ de Lawd’s sake! Fo’ de Lawd’s sake!”</p> - -<p>The voice died away, and was succeeded by a -commotion in the bushes just ahead of the running -boy.</p> - -<p>The next moment a little short, fat, dumpy negro -with a fringe of gray hair running around an -otherwise bald head, came into view, trying to run very -fast, but succeeding only in stumbling over every -obstruction which came in his way, and landing -flat on his back with his heels high up in the air. -The sight was indeed a comical one.</p> - -<p>“Fo’ de Lawd’s sake! Fo’ de Lawd’s sake!” -repeated the negro, his eyes rolling in his head like -great white marbles.</p> - -<p>Teddy, evidently unconscious of the sensation he -was creating, came dashing after the fallen darkey, -and at once assumed a boxing attitude.</p> - -<p>“Take him away! Take him away!” roared -the negro. “Ah’s done bein’ eat up! Take de b’ar -away, take him away!”</p> - -<p>Instead of taking the bear away, Alex, hungry -and tired as he was, threw himself down on the -grass and roared with laughter.</p> - -<p>“Ah’s done bein’ eat up!” shouted the negro although -Teddy was at least two yards away.</p> - -<p>“He won’t hurt you,” Alex said as soon as he -could control his voice. “Teddy is a tame bear.”</p> - -<p>“Ah never did take to bears!” the negro shouted -rolling his fat body farther away. “Ah don’ see -no good in b’ars.”</p> - -<p>After some persuasion the boy induced the negro -to come nearer. This he did with fear and trembling, -and ever with a watchful eye on the playful -cub.</p> - -<p>“What’s your name?” asked Alex.</p> - -<p>“Uncle Zeke,” was the reply.</p> - -<p>“Do you live here?” was the next question.</p> - -<p>“Ah libs way up de ribber,” was the guarded -reply.</p> - -<p>“Then you must have come down in a boat?” -asked the boy.</p> - -<p>“Ah sure did!” answered the negro.</p> - -<p>“Well,” Alex said then, “we want to get over -to the other side of the river. Will you take us -across?”</p> - -<p>The negro backed away from the bear again and -seemed to be about to take to his heels. He turned -back in a moment, however, as if anxious to be -friendly with the boy and declared:</p> - -<p>“Ah nebber did cotton to no b’ar!”</p> - -<p>“Oh, he won’t hurt you,” the boy explained, -“he’s just a tame cub. We’ve had him ever since -he was as big as a kitten. Row us across to that -little cove over there and I’ll give you a dollar.”</p> - -<p>Uncle Zeke fingered his bald pate and entered -into negotiations for the job, still with his eyes fixed -suspiciously on Teddy.</p> - -<p>“Ah’ll done row you over for a dollar,” he said.</p> - -<p>“But the bear’s got to go,” Alex insisted.</p> - -<p>“Dat’ll be anudder dollar,” insisted Uncle Zeke.</p> - -<p>“All right,” Alex laughed, “where’s your -boat?”</p> - -<p>Delighted with having made so good a bargain, -Uncle Zeke led the way to the river bank not far -away and pointed out a fair-sized rowboat rocking -in the water.</p> - -<p>“Why!” Alex exclaimed excitedly. “Where -did you get that boat?”</p> - -<p>“Ah bought it,” replied the negro.</p> - -<p>The boat was the one belonging to the <i>Rambler</i>!</p> - -<p>It had been left, it will be remembered, on the -Kentucky shore of the river some distance above Wolf -Creek. The boys who had landed in search of -gasoline and spark plugs had left it hidden in a thicket. -During their absence, the <i>Rambler</i> had made her -way downstream for some distance, and so the -rowboat had not been recovered. It looked familiar -to Alex now.</p> - -<p>“Where did you buy it?” asked the boy.</p> - -<p>“Niggerman sold me dat boat,” answered the -other.</p> - -<p>“All right,” Alex said. “Take us across and -I’ll give you the two dollars.”</p> - -<p>He had no intention of leaving the <i>Rambler</i>’s boat -in the possession of the negro, but he thought it -advisable not to make any claim to the boat until he -had reached the other side of the river.</p> - -<p>With Teddy sitting at the very stern of the boat -as far as possible from the rower, the two were -ferried across, striking the bank a few paces above -the east shore of the cove.</p> - -<p>“Now,” Alex said as he stepped ashore, “come -on over to the camp and I’ll give you your money.” -Uncle Zeke eyed the bear critically.</p> - -<p>“Ah nebber did cotton to no b’ar!” he said.</p> - -<p>“Well,” Alex went on, “you’ll have to come -over to the camp or I can’t give you your money.” -Very reluctantly the fat, old negro waddled over -to the heap of embers which was all that remained -of the fire the boys had built early that morning. -Alex’s wandering attention was brought back to -the negro directly by a short, sharp cry of alarm.</p> - -<p>“Fo’ de Lawd’s sake!” he cried. “Fo’ de -Lawd’s sake!”</p> - </div> - - <div class='chapter'> - <h2 id='chXX'>CHAPTER XX.—THE PIRATES’ NEST.</h2> - -<p class='first'>Alex sprang to his feet just as Captain Joe -came dashing up to the negro, looking fierce enough -to consume him at one bite.</p> - -<p>If there had been any extra hair at the top of the -old negro’s pate it must have stood horizontal at -that moment, for Teddy shambled up to the bulldog -and began a series of boxing antics such as the old -fellow had never witnessed before.</p> - -<p>“Gimme mah two dollahs!” he finally managed -to shout. “Gimme mah two dollahs, and Ah’ll -done go ’way!”</p> - -<p>Before Alex could reply, Clay came into the -little opening and stood gazing about with -wondering eyes.</p> - -<p>“Did you see Case and Jule?” was the first -question he asked of Alex.</p> - -<p>The boy shook his head silently.</p> - -<p>“I left them here!” he said.</p> - -<p>Clay stepped toward the bank and looked out -over the cove.</p> - -<p>“Where is the <i>Rambler</i>?” he asked, not -without anxiety in his voice.</p> - -<p>“The pirates got her!” was Alex’s reply, and -there were actually tears in his eyes as he spoke.</p> - -<p>During this short conversation between the two -boys, Uncle Zeke had stood, trembling, by the heap -of embers, gazing from boy to boy and from bear -to dog.</p> - -<p>“Ah nebber did cotton to no bulldog!” he said.</p> - -<p>“Where did you get that?” asked Clay, -forgetting for a moment what Alex’s reply meant to the -party.</p> - -<p>“That’s Uncle Zeke,” answered Alex with a -grin. “He rowed Teddy and I across the river.”</p> - -<p>“Ah’m goin’ to hab two dollahs!” put in the -negro.</p> - -<p>Clay again turned toward Alex, his manner -showing great excitement.</p> - -<p>“Tell me about it!” he said kindly.</p> - -<p>Alex told the story, already well known to the -reader, in as few words as possible. Clay did not -interrupt him, and at the close stood looking out on -the river with a very grave face.</p> - -<p>“We’ve got to get her back!” Alex shouted in -a moment. “We’ve just got to get the <i>Rambler</i> -back!”</p> - -<p>“Of course,” Clay said stubbornly, “of course! -I was only thinking how. There surely must be -some way.”</p> - -<p>“Where are Case and Jule?” Alex now asked.</p> - -<p>“I don’t know!” was the reply. “I went away -to look up something to eat, and when I came back, -they were not here.”</p> - -<p>“They probably went after something to eat, -too!” Alex suggested.</p> - -<p>“No,” Clay went on, “I was to bring back provisions, -if I succeeded in finding any. When I -returned, Captain Joe was here, but they were -gone.”</p> - -<p>“That’s strange!” Alex muttered. “I don’t -see why they should leave camp when they were -expecting you to bring them something to eat.”</p> - -<p>“I don’t think they left the camp voluntarily,” -Clay continued. “If you’ll look at the head of -the cove, and at the side of the thicket where they -were preparing their beds, you’ll see evidences of a -struggle.”</p> - -<p>“I’ll tell you what it is,” Alex began, “those -pirates from the steamer we sunk got down here on -that coal tow and swam ashore.”</p> - -<p>“That is very likely!” Clay replied. “We -know, at least, that two of them were on the coal -tow.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, sir,” the boy went on, “they saw the fire -here, and recognized the <i>Rambler</i> lying just below -the barges, and swam ashore to punish us for -ramming their old whiskey boat.”</p> - -<p>“There may be something in that,” Clay returned.</p> - -<p>“And, then, after the <i>Rambler</i> was crowded -downstream, and after you went away to get something -to eat, they attacked the two boys and lugged -them away. I wish we’d killed them all.”</p> - -<p>“You’re the bloodthirsty little fellow this morning!” -Clay smiled.</p> - -<p>“I don’t care!” Alex responded. “Just think -of our motor boat, with all the provisions and -ammunition on board, falling into the hands of those -outlaws! I’ll just tell you right now, Clay,” he went -on, flushing with anger, “if I’d had a stick of -dynamite handy, I’d have set the fuse on fire before I -crawled out of the cabin window.”</p> - -<p>“Then I’m glad you didn’t have any dynamite -handy!” smiled Clay.</p> - -<p>Uncle Zeke, who had been standing motionless -in mortal terror of the dog and the bear, now -stepped forward.</p> - -<p>“Ah done hear what you-all said,” he remarked.</p> - -<p>“Of course,” Clay answered, “have you any idea -in your head at all which points to the recovery of -our motor boat?”</p> - -<p>“Ah nebber done cotton to dem pirates,” said -the negro.</p> - -<p>“Well, then, show us how to get our boat back!” -Alex laughed.</p> - -<p>“Ah suah will,” replied the negro. “Dem -pirates,” he continued, “has a nes’ nex’ de big bend -Ah been dere many a time. You go more ’n forty -miles aroun’ de ben’ an’ you go ten miles across.”</p> - -<p>“Aw!” laughed Alex. “There isn’t any such -bend on the Ohio river in this vicinity. There’s a -bend below here that makes a circuit of about ten -or twelve miles to get one mile downstream.”</p> - -<p>“Ah don’ know ’bout no miles,” Uncle Zeke -answered. “Ah know ’bout dat pirate’s nes’ at de -horseshoe ben’.”</p> - -<p>“Can you get across the neck in a rowboat?” -asked Clay.</p> - -<p>“Ah suah can,” was the reply.</p> - -<p>“You didn’t know, did you, that the boat you -have is one that belonged to our motor boat? We -lost it a ways up the river.”</p> - -<p>“Ah done gib two yaller-legged hens for dat -boat,” insisted Uncle Zeke. “Ah buy it of a black -nigger.”</p> - -<p>“Well, I suppose it was abandoned property, -anyway,” Clay said, “so we’ll pay you for it if we find -that we need it again.”</p> - </div> - - <div class='chapter'> - <h2 id='chXXI'>CHAPTER XXI.—FATE TAKES A TRICK.</h2> - -<p class='first'>Left alone in the thicket at the head of the cove, -Case and Jule waited for some time for the -appearance of Captain Joe. While not actually afraid -of any attack upon themselves in that quiet place, -they much preferred leaving the bulldog on watch -when they went to sleep.</p> - -<p>“Captain Joe ought to be here before long,” -Case observed searching the thickets with his eyes -in the hope of discerning the bulky form of the dog. -“It is a rare thing for him to go away alone, but -when he has done so in the past he soon returns.”</p> - -<p>“I wish he’d come back right now,” Jule replied, -“I’m so sleepy I couldn’t eat a breakfast if we had -one. Look here, Case,” he went on, “why is it -that we always have such infernal bad luck when -we start out on a river trip? Its been night-and-day -trouble ever since we left Pittsburgh.”</p> - -<p>“Yes,” Case replied, “and it was night-and-day -trouble on the Amazon, and on the Columbia, and -on the Colorado, and on the Mississippi, and on the -St. Lawrence. I’ll tell you what I think we ought -to do,” he continued with a grin, “we ought to -take an aeroplane along so we could mount up into -the blue sky when things got mixed.”</p> - -<p>“I wouldn’t mind being several miles up in the -blue sky right now,” Jule laughed, “if I could find -a nice soft cloud to sleep on. They look like -feather beds, don’t they?” he asked, pointing to -wandering clouds in the sky some of them tipped -with the early sunlight.</p> - -<p>“They certainly do,” answered Case, “but I’m -afraid you wouldn’t find them very soft or very -dry. In fact, you’d fall right through and probably -tumble into the river. Did it ever occur to you,” -he went on, “that a cloud is a great big bluff? It -looks solid and handsome, and all that, from the -surface of the earth, but it’s nothing but a great -big fog.”</p> - -<p>“I never lost much time considering clouds, -Jule replied. “Suppose you go out into the woods -and see if you can’t find Captain Joe.”</p> - -<p>“No use to look for him,” Case replied, “if he’s -got the trail of a rabbit, he’ll run from now until -next week at two o’clock.”</p> - -<p>“Then let’s go to sleep,” Jule proposed. “We -can lie right down here in the thicket, and if anyone -should come poking around, they wouldn’t be -able to see us. We didn’t have any sleep last night -at all, you know.”</p> - -<p>“I don’t know what’s the matter with the bunch, -anyway,” Case said, rather crossly. “Clay goes off -to get breakfast and doesn’t come back, and Alex -goes out to get fish and gets chased off by a coal -tow, and Captain Joe runs away and doesn’t return!”</p> - -<p>“Alex ought to be here by this time,” Jule complained. -“There’s plenty to eat on board the -<i>Rambler</i>, so if Clay doesn’t find any provisions we -won’t go hungry. Everything seems to be going -wrong.”</p> - -<p>“Moved and supported that we go to sleep,” Case -replied. “The ayes have it! Motion prevails! -You just watch now and see me flop down here in -the bushes. I’m going to sleep a week!”</p> - -<p>“All right!” Jule answered with a yawn. -“When it comes to sleeping, you haven’t got anything -on me.”</p> - -<p>“And when we wake up,” Case continued, -“we’ll see the <i>Rambler</i> riding out there in the cove, -with Alex cooking the catfish a la Indian, and Clay -exhibiting the eggs and milk he bought at some -romantic farm house.”</p> - -<p>“Go to sleep and dream all that!” Jule snorted.</p> - -<p>The boys lay down on the beds of leaves which -they had prepared in the undergrowth and were -soon sound asleep. After all, they had nothing -serious to worry over, for they both believed that a -situation something like that forecast by Case would -present itself when they awoke.</p> - -<p>The sun rising over the river cast long lances of -light into the thicket where they lay. The cool -breeze of the morning stirred the leaves about them -like a lullaby. The birds darted and sang in the -sweet air. The scene was as peaceful and pastoral -as one might well imagine.</p> - -<p>But only for a time. Directly the heavy tramp of -horses was heard, the rattling of rings and the -champing of bits.</p> - -<p>The riders, a score or more, advanced through -the woods to the cove and halted on the east shore. -There they tied their horses to trees and threw -themselves upon the ground. They were sturdy -men, clean-limbed, alert, with fierce eyes and -determined faces.</p> - -<p>All unconscious of the presence of the riders, the -boys slept on. Presently a lean hound belonging to -the company ran sniffing and snarling around to the -thicket where Case and Jule lay. There he sat up -such a baying as might have awakened the Seven -Sleepers.</p> - -<p>The two boys sleepily rubbed their eyes and -looked about. It seemed to them at first that -Captain Joe had returned, but they soon saw the -difference between the lean hound and the white -bulldog.</p> - -<p>“What’s got into your dog, Peck?” one of the -men asked.</p> - -<p>“He’s found something in the bushes.”</p> - -<p>“The consarned brute is always finding -something in the bushes, when we want to keep under -cover!” snarled the other man.</p> - -<p>“Look here, Hart,” Peck said sternly, “you let -the dog alone. He’s done us many a good turn in -his time, and he’s likely to do more. I wasn’t -thinking about the dog at all,” Peck went on. -“Just take a couple of sniffs at the air and see if you -can locate that wood fire.”</p> - -<p>“There surely is a fire hereabouts!” Hart -answered in a conciliating tone. “Perhaps there -are tramps here and the dog has come and caught -them. If so, we’ll send them about their business.”</p> - -<p>The two men arose, passed around the cove and -soon came to the thicket where Case and Jule were -struggling to their feet rubbing their eyes sleepily -as they did so.</p> - -<p>“Hello here!” Hart exclaimed. “This seems -to be quite a find.”</p> - -<p>The two boys, now thoroughly awake, reached -for their automatics as they gained their feet. The -men’s faces glared down upon them sinister and -suspicious.</p> - -<p>They glanced eagerly about hoping to see the -<i>Rambler</i> riding in the cove but, as the reader -understands, the motor boat was not there. Clay had not -returned and the fire built for the purpose of -cooking the fish had burned down to embers.</p> - -<p>“None of that, boys!” Peck threatened as Case -and Jule reached their hands back to their hip -pockets. “You don’t have to draw any guns on -us.”</p> - -<p>“If you try it,” Hart cut in angrily, “you’ll -get a taste of good birch rods. We have no time -to fool with boys.”</p> - -<p>By this time the men lounging on the bank of -the cove were on their feet, taking note of what was -going on near the fire. Seeing their companions -talking with two boys who seemed to them to be -tramps, they dropped back to the ground again -without interest.</p> - -<p>A tall, rather pleasant looking man however soon -left the group and approached the place where the -boys were standing.</p> - -<p>“What seems to be the trouble, Peck,” he asked -as he drew near.</p> - -<p>“Well, Ball,” Peck answered, “we seem to have -come upon two boy tramps. They’re harmless -enough, I guess.”</p> - -<p>“Where are you going, boys?” Ball asked.</p> - -<p>“Waiting for our chums to come back with the -boat,” answered Case.</p> - -<p>“So you’ve got a boat have you?” Hart -exclaimed.</p> - -<p>At the mention of a boat, Ball leaned forward -and eyed the boys critically, a suspicious gleam in -his eyes.</p> - -<p>“Where is the boat now?” he asked.</p> - -<p>“Down the river,” was the reply.</p> - -<p>“You see,” Jule went on, helping Case to -answer the question, “one of the boys went out to -catch a fish and a coal tow chased him down. He’ll -be back directly. Ought to be here now.”</p> - -<p>“What kind of a boat is it?” asked Ball.</p> - -<p>“Motor boat,” replied Case.</p> - -<p>Ball beckoned Peck and Hall a short distance -away and the three stood for some moments in -earnest conversation.</p> - -<p>“Oh, I don’t believe there’s anything wrong with -the boys,” Peck was heard to say. “No use to -trouble them.”</p> - -<p>“We can’t afford to take any chances,” Hart -replied. “Just where did you see that motor boat?” -he went on turning to Peck.</p> - -<p>“Some distance up the river,” was the reply. -“I went out to a bar where several coal barges had -stranded to see if the pirates had had anything to -do with the trouble, and there I saw a motor boat.”</p> - -<p>“Did you talk with the boys?” Peck asked.</p> - -<p>“Yes,” Peck answered, “I talked with the boys, -and they talked straight enough, but I didn’t like -their suspicious actions. They couldn’t give any -account of themselves, except that they were going -down the river just for the fun of the thing. -Besides, I’m certain they heard the men talking and -the horses fussing on the bank. I saw them -looking that way several times. I’m rather afraid of -them!”</p> - -<p>“Did they ask you a lot of questions?” demanded Hart.</p> - -<p>“Why,” was the reply, “I told them we were out -after the river pirates, and they seemed satisfied -with that.”</p> - -<p>“It seems to me,” Hart insisted, “that we ought -not to turn these boys loose. I just believe they’re -spies sent here by our enemies. It can’t do any -harm to take charge of them for a little while, anyway.”</p> - -<p>“Still, this motor boat,” Peck suggested, “is a -mighty fine craft, and these boys appear to me to -belong to wealthy families. The boat will soon be -back here, if what the boys say is true, and then -inquiries will be made, and the first thing we know -the District Attorney will have every one of our -names before the grand jury.”</p> - -<p>“You may be right,” Hart said reluctantly, “and -if I thought the boys would go on about their -business as soon as the boat returns, I’d be in favor of -letting them alone, but I don’t believe they will. -They’ll just sneak and pry around here until they -get us into trouble.”</p> - -<p>“Perhaps we’d better put the whole matter up to -the others,” suggested Ball, “then, whatever action -is taken, we can’t be blamed.”</p> - -<p>“Now see here, fellows,” Peck exclaimed, -“there are quite a number of reckless fellows in that -company over there, and I’m afraid they wouldn’t -take into consideration the fact that they are -dealing with little boys. Now I’ll tell you what -I propose.</p> - -<p>“If you think best, I’ll take the boys up to -the house and leave them there with the old woman. -Then we’ll scatter, and by the time the boys get -back with their friends, the country will be as -peaceful as a stony farm in Massachusetts.”</p> - -<p>“That will be all right,” Hart agreed, “provided -some of us remain here and take charge of the other -boys when they return.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, I think that advisable,” Peck admitted. -“Now, I’ll tell you what you do, Ball, and perhaps -you’d better go with him, Hart—you take these boys -over to my place and leave them there with -instructions to the old lady to keep them safe and sound -until I get back. While you’re gone. I’ll dismiss -the company and stay on watch here.”</p> - -<p>“That’s a good idea!” Ball declared. “We don’t -mean any harm to these boys, but we certainly must -keep track of them until they get out of the -country. If their friends come back here and seem -to be all right, we’ll pack them all off in their own -boat, and wish them good luck on their trip down -the river. We can’t be too careful, you know.”</p> - -<p>The plan mapped out in this conversation was -carried out. Case and Jule were marched to the -farm house where Clay had taken his breakfast and -locked up in a room guarded by the motherly old -lady who had been so kind to Clay. Dismayed but -not disheartened at the sudden change of fortune, -the boys sat down on rude chairs in their not very -secure prison and regarded each other with humorous -glances.</p> - -<p>“And when we wake up,” Jule mocked, “well -see the <i>Rambler</i> riding in the cove and Alex -cooking a catfish a la Indian at the fire! If I couldn’t -get things any straighter than you can, Case, I’d -certainly go out of the prophet business! As a -forecaster of future events, you’re about as big a -frost as the weather department of the United -States Government! What does all this mean, -anyway?”</p> - -<p>“You can search me,” Case answered a little -sourly. “I don’ know whether we’re under arrest, -or whether we’ve been snatched up by a choice -collection of river pirates, or stored away for -ransom by whitecaps.”</p> - -<p>“The leading impression in my mind, if you -want to know,” Jule announced, “isn’t in my mind -at all; it’s in my stomach!”</p> - -<p>“You’re always hungry!” laughed Case.</p> - -<p>“Hungry!” repeated Jule. “The word hunger -doesn’t express it. I wonder if the old lady will -give us something to eat.”</p> - -<p>“And indeed I will!” cried a feminine voice -from the other side of the door. “Sure I will, -boys! Somehow it seems to be raining boys on -this ’tarnal old farm this morning!”</p> - -<p>“Let us out,” Clay suggested, “and we’ll help -you get something to eat. You’ll want water or -wood to be brought, or something of that kind. -We won’t run away.”</p> - -<p>“I reckon my old batter pail will be empty if -any more hungry lads come up from the river,” -Mrs. Peck went on, opening the door.</p> - -<p>“Did you have one hungry boy here this -morning?” asked Case.</p> - -<p>Mrs. Peck replied in the affirmative, and Case and -Jule exchanged significant glances. They -understood very well who that hungry boy was, and, in -answer to questions asked of the friendly old -woman, were soon in possession of all the facts -connected with Clay’s visit to the place and return to -the river.</p> - -<p>And while the boys were eating a generous breakfast -prepared by their kind-hearted jailor, Alex, -Clay and Uncle Zeke were discussing the possibility -of reaching the <i>Rambler</i> by the cut-off across -Horseshoe bend.</p> - -<p>While they talked and planned two pair of black, -suspicious eyes were gazing out at them from the -undergrowth on the east side of the cove, and the -dog was sniffing suspiciously in that direction.</p> - </div> - - <div class='chapter'> - <h2 id='chXXII'>CHAPTER XXII.—THE NIGHT-RIDERS.</h2> - -<p class='first'>While the two boys laid their plans by the -embers of the camp-fire, Peck and his companion, -the watchers, moved stealthily over in their -direction and came within sound of their voices.</p> - -<p>“Now, Uncle Zeke,” they heard Alex say, “if -you can get us through the cut-off and bring us out -to where the pirates have their ‘nest’, as you call -it, we’ll give you ten dollars, and if we succeed in -getting the <i>Rambler</i> away from them, we’ll take -you down the river with us and get you a good job -up north.”</p> - -<p>“Ah’d hab to work up norf!” Uncle Zeke answered -with a grin.</p> - -<p>“You certainly would,” Clay laughed.</p> - -<p>“Ah nebber did cotton to no work!” the negro -replied.</p> - -<p>“Well, then,” Alex promised, “if we get the -boat, we’ll give you twenty-five dollars. Now, -you’ll do your best to get us through, won’t you? -We’ve just got to get that craft and slide out of -this country.”</p> - -<p>“That’s about what I thought!” Peck whispered -to his companion. “All the boys want is to get -their boat back and get out of the country.”</p> - -<p>“What was it that kid said about pirates?” asked -the other.</p> - -<p>“Perhaps the pirates stole their boat,” suggested -Peck.</p> - -<p>“If we keep still, we’ll soon find out, probably.”</p> - -<p>“Before we leave this country,” Clay said in a -moment, “we ought to get even with those pirates -in some way. They tried to shut us into the lagoon -so they could get possession of the boat, and we got -away from them. Now they’ve actually captured -the <i>Rambler</i>, and may do a lot of harm to the -motors before we can get it back. I don’t believe -they know how to run a boat like the <i>Rambler</i>!”</p> - -<p>“There!” Peck exclaimed, nudging his companion -in the side. “Them pesky pirates are to -blame for the boys being here. Now if these boys -have seen anything that might make us trouble, -these river robbers are to blame for it. I wish we -hadn’t sent the two kids we found here up to the -house. They are having troubles enough of their -own.”</p> - -<p>“Well,” Peck’s companion observed, “I don’t -see any necessity for us to remain here after this. -We’ve got to see a lot of the boys to-day, after we -find out exactly what is to be done to-night, and so -we may as well go on about our business.”</p> - -<p>Peck hesitated for a long time before he replied.</p> - -<p>“The boys,” he said then, “seem to be bribing -the old nigger to show them the way through the -cut-off.”</p> - -<p>“That’s the way I get it.”</p> - -<p>“And the old coon’s been telling them that the -pirates have a rendezvous somewhere near the end -of the cut-off. Is that the way you understand it?”</p> - -<p>“That’s what the boy said,” was the answer. -“Anyway, they’re expecting the nigger to take -them to the pirates’ rendezvous and help them get -their boat back.”</p> - -<p>“Then,” Peck continued, “if you’re satisfied that -it’s the right thing to do, I’ll go back to the house, -turn the other boys loose, and tell them where they -can find their friends.”</p> - -<p>“That’ll be all right so far as I’m concerned.”</p> - -<p>Captain Joe ran inquisitively toward the thicket -as the men moved away, but made no demonstration, -as the intruders were not approaching the fire.</p> - -<p>“Now,” Alex said, “if we can persuade Uncle -Zeke to bring in a large, long piece of firewood, -or a stone from the river, or some edible thing of -that sort. I’ll have breakfast. If you can’t find -anything of that sort that I can digest, Uncle Zeke,” -he went on whimsically, “pass me one of the oars -and I’ll take a light lunch off that.”</p> - -<p>“Why,” Clay laughed, “what’s the matter with -Uncle Zeke going out and getting a fish?”</p> - -<p>“That may be all right,” Alex replied. “But -look here, Uncle Zeke,” he went on, “if you get -hold of a fish of the forty-mule-power variety, don’t -you ever try to pull him in! He’ll drag you down -the river, and there’s a party of thieves in a -houseboat down there who are waiting for some nice fat -darkey to cook for their dinner.”</p> - -<p>“Ah nebber did cotton to no houseboat trash!” -the negro exclaimed.</p> - -<p>“Can you catch a fish for this starving boy?” -demanded Clay.</p> - -<p>“Ah suah can!” answered Uncle Zeke. “Dar’s -plenty ob fish in de ribber, but Ah hain’t got no hook -an’ line.”</p> - -<p>“Can you find bait?” asked Alex.</p> - -<p>“Worms and grubs!” replied the darker pointing -to the bank of the river.</p> - -<p>“Well,” Clay informed him, “there are hooks -and lines under the prow of the rowboat. You’ll -find all kinds of fishing outfit there, including a -piece of a jointed bamboo rod. If I wasn’t so -nearly dead for want of sleep, I’d go and catch a -fish myself!”</p> - -<p>“That’s the ticket!” cried Alex. “You crawl -under there and go to sleep, and when Uncle Zeke -and I come back from our fishing trip, you’ll be -somewhere up in the blue sky looking for Case and -Jule.”</p> - -<p>“Mighty funny thing where those boys went -to!” Clay suggested. “Do the pirates ever come -over into this cove, Uncle Zeke?” he added.</p> - -<p>The negro, being somewhat puzzled at the abrupt -question, Clay explained to him that two of their -chums had disappeared in a mysterious manner. -After listening to the explanation, the old negro -made a circuit of the cove, examining the turf -closely as he passed along.</p> - -<p>When he returned to the embers of the fire, what -was left of his gray hair was standing almost on end -notwithstanding its natural kinkiness. The terror -he had felt at the sight of the bear was nothing to -this.</p> - -<p>“What is it, Uncle Zeke?” Alex asked.</p> - -<p>“Night-riders!” replied the old darkey.</p> - -<p>“You’ll have to get a new dream book, Uncle -Zeke!” Alex laughed. “Ten or fifteen years ago -there were night-riders, and all that sort of thing -in Kentucky, but nothing of that kind goes now.”</p> - -<p>“Ah nebber did cotton to no night-riders!” -exclaimed the negro.</p> - -<p>“What makes you think night-riders have been -here?” asked Clay.</p> - -<p>“’Cause,” answered the negro, “dey’re gettin’ -mighty promiscuous lately. Ah’m feared ob dem -night-riders.”</p> - -<p>“What did you see over there?” demanded Clay,</p> - -<p>“Hoss tracks!” answered the negro.</p> - -<p>The two boys looked at each other with understanding -in their eyes.</p> - -<p>“Do you remember the trampling we heard at -the bar where the barges were stranded?” asked -Alex.</p> - -<p>“Yes,” replied Clay, “and I remember, too, the -horses tied in the thicket near the house where I -had breakfast.”</p> - -<p>“Do you think the night-riders carried the boys -away?” asked Alex.</p> - -<p>“Ah sure do!” replied Uncle Zeke. “Mighty -’spicious people, dem night-riders! Ah nebber did -cotton to ’em.”</p> - -<p>“Well,” Alex suggested in a moment, “you go -see if you can get a fish. I’ll stay here with Clay -and watch for night-riders. If they show up while -you’re gone. I’ll pick out the fattest one and eat him -for breakfast. I’m hungry enough to eat a night-rider, -horse and all!”</p> - -<p>Uncle Zeke disappeared in the direction of the -boat with a grin on his black face, and in a few -moments Alex had the satisfaction of seeing him -haul a couple of good-sized perch from the river. -The boy instantly darted into the thicket after dry -wood, and before many minutes the old darkey was -on shore with his catch.</p> - -<p>“Now,” Alex asked, “how am I ever going to -get them cooked?”</p> - -<p>“Why,” Clay answered, “there’s a small frying-pan -in the bow locker of the boat. Don’t you -remember how we always kept a few provisions -and cooking utensils in there in case of accident?”</p> - -<p>“What kind of provisions?” shouted Alex, -dancing about.</p> - -<p>“Why, canned beans, and tomatoes, and -chicken!” answered Clay.</p> - -<p>“Je—rusalem, my happy home!” shouted Alex. -“Do you mean to tell me that all that good eating -has been in the boat all this time while my stomach -has been growing to my back bone?”</p> - -<p>He dashed off to the boat as he spoke, and soon -returned with a beaming face, his arms piled high -with tinned goods. He soon had some of the cans -opened and before many minutes, the perch were -sizzling in the frying-pan.</p> - -<p>“Ah sure should know ’bout that chicken!” -grinned Uncle Zeke as he watched the boys open a -tin can.</p> - -<p>Clay sat back and laughed heartily at the puzzled -expression on the negro’s face.</p> - -<p>“If you’d only known about that chicken being -there, you’d have found a place for it long before -this, wouldn’t you. Uncle Zeke?” he asked.</p> - -<p>“Ah sure would!” replied the old darkey. “Ah -sure done gettin’ hungry right now! Yaller-legged -chicken! Huh!”</p> - -<p>“All right!” Clay suggested. “As soon as Alex -gets the fish ready, we’ll all have breakfast. I’ve -had one good feed this morning, but I can stand -another.”</p> - -<p>“Tell you what,” the old darkey continued with -his eyes fixed ravenously on the frying fish. “Ah -don’t go through no cut-off wid de sun up! Dat -country’s full of pesky pirates.”</p> - -<p>“Mother of Moses!” cried Alex. “Have we got -to wait here until night? If we have, I’ll spend the -time eating.”</p> - -<p>“That might not be a bad idea!” Clay exclaimed. -“Case and Jule may come back before long. If -they really have been captured by the night-riders, -they won’t be held very long.”</p> - -<p>“We don’t know that,” Alex insisted. “The -man we talked with up at the barges was probably -a night-rider, and he talked fair enough, but if -they suspect the boys of being spies, it will be a -long time before they gain their liberty.”</p> - -<p>“Anyway,” Clay suggested, “if we have to remain -here until twilight, we can look about on the -chance of finding the kids.”</p> - -<p>“Ah’m advisin’ you boys not to do no lookin’ -about in dis here country!” Uncle Zeke exclaimed. -“Mighty ’spicious people, dem night-riders!”</p> - -<p>“That’s exactly the idea, Alex!” Clay expressed -himself. “The night-riders probably suspect that -we are here as spies and that’s why they have taken -the boys away. Now there’ll probably be something -doing here before long, for the riders seem to be -out in force.</p> - -<p>“After they have accomplished the purpose of -their gathering, they’ll probably disband, and there’ll -be no more trouble with them until they get ready -to burn down another tobacco warehouse, or beat -up some defenseless grower, whose only crime is to -want to get rid of his product.”</p> - -<p>While these events had been taking place at the -landing, Case and Jule, very much to their surprise, -had been released from surveillance at the farm -house and advised to make their way back to the -river.</p> - -<p>“My old man declares there’s no harm in you-ins,” -Mrs. Peck said, as she patted the boys on the -shoulder in a motherly way and wished them good -luck. “You’ll probably find your friends at the -cove,” she said, “for our folks just returned from -there, and the boys were waiting for you to show -up. Only don’t say a word about having been -brought here at all. It will be better for you not -to.”</p> - -<p>The boys agreed to this, and shot away at a -double-quick pace toward the cove, anxious to meet -their chums, and doubly anxious to be on the deck -of the good old <i>Rambler</i> again. They were hardly -outside the clearing in the middle of which the old -farm house stood when a party of a dozen men came -dashing across the weed-grown field and approached -the old woman now standing in the doorway.</p> - -<p>“Where are those boys?” the man who seemed -to be the leader of the party demanded. “Bring -them out here, quick!”</p> - -<p>As he spoke, several members of the party -flourished long beechen whips which had evidently -been cut from the forest very recently.</p> - -<p>“What do you-uns want of the boys?” asked the -old lady mildly. “We’ll explain that to them!” -answered the leader, his face flushing with anger. -“We don’t have to be cross-examined by you.”</p> - -<p>“I sho’ hope those boys hain’t done no mischief,” -the woman replied.</p> - -<p>“They’re spies!” the leader shouted. “We’ve -just found out that they’re spies! The word came -down the river! Where are they?”</p> - -<p>“I’m sure sorry,” Mrs. Peck answered, “but Ball -done brought me word from my old man to turn -the lads loose.”</p> - -<p>“Which way did they go?” demanded the leader. -Mrs. Peck hesitated. She knew what her fate -would be should she attempt to deceive these lawless -night-riders, and should be detected. Her idea -was to protect the boys as far as lay in her power, -yet she did not want to render herself and family -liable to the wrath of the riders.</p> - -<p>“Sho’, now,” she said after a moment’s silence, -“them boys ducked out of the clearing somewhere -west, and I was that stupid that I didn’t see whether -they kept straight on west or not.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, what’s the use of talking with a woman?” -demanded one of the riders. “The boys undoubtedly -returned to the river. We’ll find them -there if we make haste.”</p> - -<p>“And when we do find them,” the leader declared -spitefully, “we’ll give them a bit of instruction -according to Doctor Birch. We have desperate -work on hand for the next week, and we can’t afford -to have our plans frustrated by a few school-boys!”</p> - -<p>The party dashed away at a gallop. The old -lady saw them approach the forest with a sinking -heart.</p> - -<p>Before they reached the tumbled-down fence, -however, she saw them wheel suddenly about and -point with their whips to the south, where a mass of -flame and smoke was roaring skyward.</p> - </div> - - <div class='chapter'> - <h2 id='chXXIII'>CHAPTER XXIII.—THE RAMBLER’S LIGHTS.</h2> - -<p class='first'>Unmindful of the peril which they had so -fortunately escaped, Case and Jule made their way -through the forest in quick time and finally came to -a point from which the camp at the head of the cove -was to be seen. It is needless to say that the sight -of their chums was more than pleasing.</p> - -<p>At the moment of their approach, Alex was taking -the fish from the fire, Clay was opening tinned -goods, and Uncle Zeke stood mourning over the -fact that he had not sooner discovered the presence -of the yellow-legged chicken.</p> - -<p>The boys dashed down to the fire with shouts of -joy, and the reader may well understand that their -welcome was a hearty one.</p> - -<p>“Where’s the <i>Rambler</i>?” Case asked of Alex -after the greetings were over. “She ought to be -put there in the cove.”</p> - -<p>“The pirates got her!” Alex answered briefly.</p> - -<p>“Have you been to breakfast?” Clay cut in.</p> - -<p>“Have we been to breakfast?” repeated Case,</p> - -<p>“We’ve been captured, and fed, and released since -we saw you. Do you know, boys,” he added, dancing -cautiously around, “that I’ve got an idea that -we’re mixing up with night-riders.”</p> - -<p>“We have just been informed of that fact by -Uncle Zeke,” Clay answered. “Where did you -see night-riders?” he added.</p> - -<p>“Just after you left,” Case explained, “a company -of men came here on horses. We heard them -talking about our being spies. Then we were taken -to a house back in the country and locked up. -Then we were given a peach of a breakfast by the -kindliest old lady you ever saw and turned loose. -Now what do you think of all that?”</p> - -<p>“Night-riders!” exclaimed Alex. “Why do the -riders ride, and why do the riders ride at night?” -“You’ve come to the right shop for information,” -Jule replied with a grin. “Just before we left -Chicago I was reading a book about night-riders. -They ride because they can’t get over the ground -fast enough on foot, and they ride at night because -they don’t want any one to see them riding.”</p> - -<p>“That’s all right!” chuckled Alex. “Now tell -me what they ride for. In other words, what’s the -answer?”</p> - -<p>“The night-riders want ten or twelve cents a -pound for their tobacco, and the planters on the -lower lands near the river are willing to sell theirs -for five or six cents a pound, because they can raise -more crops a year and because their land is easier -tilled.”</p> - -<p>“And so they’re getting up a combination in -restraint of trade, eh?” laughed Alex. “That -seems to be the proper thing to do.”</p> - -<p>“I don’t know about that,” Jule went on, “but -they’re trying to equalize prices by reducing the -supply. Whenever these river planters get nice big -warehouses packed full of the weed, the night-riders -make their appearance in the dark of the moon and -burn them down.”</p> - -<p>“This night-rider business was all right ten or -fifteen years ago,” Clay insisted, “but I don’t -believe there’s anything doing in that line now.”</p> - -<p>“Then what are all these men out with their -horses for?” demanded Jule.</p> - -<p>“Yes, and why did they lug us off to a farm -house, and lock us up until some one sent word that -we wasn’t spies?” Case demanded.</p> - -<p>The boys now turned their attention to the old -negro who stood on a little elevation at the back of -the cove sniffing suspiciously at the air.</p> - -<p>“Where did you get that coon?” asked Case.</p> - -<p>“He brought our boat down the river to us,” -laughed Alex.</p> - -<p>“Honest, did he?” demanded Jule.</p> - -<p>“If he hadn’t, we wouldn’t be eating tinned goods -would we?” asked Clay.</p> - -<p>“Why, you might get those out of the <i>Rambler</i>,” -Case ventured. “That was a joke about the pirates -getting the motor boat, wasn’t it?”</p> - -<p>“Indeed it wasn’t!” Alex replied gravely, and -in a short time the story of the boys’ morning -adventures was told.</p> - -<p>“Now, that’s what I call rotten!” Jule cried out. -“And I move that we get to a telegraph office -somewhere and notify some central point from -which all the police boats on the river can be notified -of what has been done. We’ve got to get the boat -back!”</p> - -<p>“I don’t like to call out the state troops,” Clay -grinned. “We got into this scrape, and I want to -get out of it without any help from the officers if -possible. Uncle Zeke thinks he can take us to the -<i>Rambler</i> to-night, and we’re going to wait here -until the edge of the evening and make the attempt.”</p> - -<p>“What’s the matter with Uncle Zeke?” asked -Case. “He stands up there snuffing the air as if he -smelled more chicken.”</p> - -<p>In a moment the old negro came dashing down -to where the boys stood, his eyes almost starting -from his head.</p> - -<p>“It doesn’t take much to frighten you, Uncle -Zeke,” Clay laughed as the old darkey came up on -a run. “According to all accounts, you have fits -on the slightest provocation. The bear and the dog -and the tracks of horses’ feet have all set you going -this morning. What is it this time?”</p> - -<p>“It’s done broke out! It’s done broke out!” exclaimed -the negro looking wildly about and even -starting for the rowboat.</p> - -<p>Clay caught him by the arm and held him back. -“Here,” he said, “you ain’t going away with -that boat right now! See if you can’t catch your -breath long enough to tell us what’s ‘done broke -out’. Put us wise to what the trouble is.”</p> - -<p>“De night-riders done broke out!” cried the old -negro. “Ah smell ’em!”</p> - -<p>“What is it you smell?” asked Clay.</p> - -<p>“Burnin’ ’baccy!” was the reply. “Dey done -fire some warehouse!”</p> - -<p>“Not in the daytime!” exclaimed Jule. “They -don’t set fire to warehouses in the daytime!”</p> - -<p>“Cain’t nebber tell whut dem night-riders gwine -do nex’,” answered Uncle Zeke. “Dey’re pow’ful -ornery trash!”</p> - -<p>“I know what I’m going to do next!” Alex -exclaimed. “I’ve got a misery in my stomach and -I’m going to quell it right now!”</p> - -<p>“You hungry, Uncle Zeke?” asked Clay.</p> - -<p>“Ah sure got mah eye on dat chicken!”</p> - -<p>“Well,” Clay went on, “if you run up through -that fringe of trees and see what’s burning, I’ll -give you some chicken as soon as you get back.”</p> - -<p>The old negro was off like a shot. In ten minutes -he was back with the report that he had learned -from a farmer who was hastening toward the -conflagration that the Slocum warehouses, not more -than half a mile away, had been set on fire just -before daylight and had smoldered for hours before -bursting into flames.</p> - -<p>“It strikes me,” Case suggested, “that the best -thing we boys can do is to get out of this country -right now. We’ve bumped into river pirates, and -night-riders, and the next we know, we’ll be arrested -by some fresh officers charged with being in cahoots -with the incendiaries.”</p> - -<p>“I’m not going to run away without that motor -boat,” Alex muttered, his mouth full of fried fish.</p> - -<p>“What’s the use?” asked Jule. “If we start -out now, we’re likely to be followed, and if we -remain here in camp we may escape observation. -The night-riders know we’re here, of course, but -they’ll be too busy getting under cover to pay any -attention to us to-day.”</p> - -<p>“That listens good to me!” Alex put in. -“We’ll stay here till night and work our way -through the cut-off by the light of burning warehouses. -I wish I could say ‘by the light of burning saloon -boats’, too.”</p> - -<p>“Talk about your wild life at the head waters of -the Amazon!” roared Clay, “this peaceful little old -Ohio river beats anything we have encountered yet. -We seem to get into the thick of it everywhere we -go.”</p> - -<p>The boys were not molested during the day.</p> - -<p>Shortly after noon a negro who looked about as -badly frightened as one could imagine, came down -the river in an old canoe and stopped to talk with -Zeke.</p> - -<p>He stated that the night-riders had destroyed -several warehouses the night before, and had also -whipped several planters who had resisted.</p> - -<p>“Ah nebber did done cotton to no night-riders!” -the old darkey informed the boys as he repeated the -story.</p> - -<p>“I wonder if those outlaws will make trouble for -Mrs. Peck for letting us go,” mused Case. “Say, -Uncle Zeke!” he said in a moment. “If you’ll send -this friend of yours up to a farm house in the -interior, we’ll give you a dollar.”</p> - -<p>“Ah wants dat dollah!” Zeke exclaimed.</p> - -<p>“All right, go yourself if you want to,” Case -answered. “We want to know if the woman in -the farm house has been troubled at all by the -night-riders. We want you to go and tell her that we’re -down here in the cove, and will do all we can to -help her if she gets into trouble.”</p> - -<p>“Dat’s mah dollah!” cried Uncle Zeke already on -his way.</p> - -<p>In a couple of hours the negro returned with -the information that he had talked with the woman, -and that she had seemed grateful for the offer made. -He stated, too, that there were men about the house, -and that they had been highly amused at the message -he had delivered.</p> - -<p>“Dey sure done laugh at dis ol’ coon!” Uncle -Zeke added, “when ah tole ’em you-all wanted to -come up an’ fight for de lady what gib you-all -pancakes an’ coffee. Dey sure did roar!”</p> - -<p>“What did they say about the burning -warehouse?” asked Clay.</p> - -<p>“Ah sure don’ mention no burnin’ warehouse -where dem men is,” replied the darkey. “Mought -be dey set dat fire demselves.”</p> - -<p>“Well,” Case said handing the darkey a silver -dollar. “Here’s your money. I would have given -more to have informed the old lady that we felt -grateful for what she did for us this morning.”</p> - -<p>“She shore glad you-all feel so!” Uncle Zeke -replied.</p> - -<p>At five o’clock in the afternoon, Alex sent Uncle -Zeke out to catch more fish and began building up -the fire.</p> - -<p>“What’s coming off now?” asked Jule.</p> - -<p>“What do you ’spose is coming off?” demanded -Alex. “I haven’t had anything to eat for two or -three hours.”</p> - -<p>“The kid is all right!” Clay declared. “We -must get supper early and make up a lot of sandwiches -for midnight. We may have to lay and -wait in the cut-off for hours before we can get to -the <i>Rambler</i>. We can’t show any lights, and so it -will be impossible to cook. So, as Alex will be -sure to be hungry, we’ll take our midnight supper -with us.”</p> - -<p>“What you going to make your sandwiches of?” -asked Jule.</p> - -<p>“Huh,” laughed Alex, “I’m going to take fat -perch and stuff ’em with beans and chicken. How -would a sandwich like that go on South Clark -street?”</p> - -<p>“It would go down mighty quick!” laughed Jule.</p> - -<p>After eating their supper and putting up a large -supply of provisions for the night, the boys made -ready for their trip to what Zeke declared to be the -pirates’ nest. They were at twilight, moving slowly, -silently across the river and then down the cut-off, -which at high water was navigable for small boats, -and which would soon make an island of the -peninsula enclosed within the rim of the river.</p> - -<p>By nine o’clock it was very dark. The trees overhanging -the narrow channel through which the boat -was poled and dragged—the water being too -shallow in places for the use of the oars—stood like -grim walls, shutting out what little light came from -the uncertain sky.</p> - -<p>Owing to fallen trunks and heaps of rubbish -washed in by a recent freshet, the cut-off was -difficult of navigation, but just after midnight the lads -saw across a wooded point of land a strong light -flash out for a moment and then die away.</p> - -<p>“And there burn the <i>Rambler</i>’s light” Alex -cried.</p> - </div> - - <div class='chapter'> - <h2 id='chXXIV'>CHAPTER XXIV.—THE LIGHTS HELP SOME.</h2> - -<p class='first'>I’d give a good deal to know just how many -people there are around that boat!” Clay whispered.</p> - -<p>“If you’ll just push this old scow up a little -closer, I’ll sneak over there and find out,” said Alex.</p> - -<p>“If he tries to get away, tie him up with a rope!” -whispered Jule. “Every time that boy gets out of -sight, he lands in trouble up to his long ears!”</p> - -<p>“There were only two when I left the <i>Rambler</i>,” -Alex exclaimed, making a sly face at Jule. “They -shot a dozen bullets at me while I was getting away, -and never turned a hair!”</p> - -<p>The boat was worked slowly through another -hundred yards of the cut-off, and then the boys -could see the bulk of the <i>Rambler</i> outlined against -a cloudy sky. There were no lights on board and -no sounds were heard.</p> - -<p>The boat lay in a sort of a bight carved out by -the river as it bent away to the north just before it -made the western turn. Behind it was a tangle of -swamp.</p> - -<p>In front swept the heavy current of the river. -The rowboat halted within perhaps a hundred yards -of the place where the stolen <i>Rambler</i> lay.</p> - -<p>“If they had had the good sense to anchor on -the other side of the river,” Case whispered to Alex, -“they might have made us a lot more trouble. I’m -glad they stopped where they did.”</p> - -<p>“I’m afraid there are a whole lot of outlaws on -board,” Clay whispered, as the boys sat in the -rowboat, watching the dim bulk of the <i>Rambler</i>.</p> - -<p>“Then the two thieves who stole the boat have -picked them up out of the river,” Alex insisted. -“There were only two when I left the deck, and -they came off from a coal tow which was going -downstream.”</p> - -<p>“If there were only two, we ought to go and -blow the tops of their heads off, and take the boat -away from them, just to show that we can,” said -Jule. “We ought to do something to show them -that they’re not the only apples on the tree. Don’t -you think so, boys?”</p> - -<p>“You’re the bloodthirsty little pirate now!” -laughed Clay. “I’ll be satisfied if we can dump -them in the river and get on board the good old -<i>Rambler</i> again.”</p> - -<p>The boys sat still in the boat for a long time, -hardly knowing what course to pursue. The sky -was clearing of clouds, and the glow of the stars -shone dimly down on the <i>Rambler</i>. Although no -lights showed on board the motor boat, suspicious -noises in the cabin and on the deck informed the -lads that people were moving about there.</p> - -<p>“They’re awake and watching us, all right!” -Alex whispered, after a time. “We’ve got to do -something to place them off their guard!”</p> - -<p>While the boys were listening and waiting, -Captain Joe sprang out of the boat and waded and swam -over to the hard ground on the south of the cut-off. -The boys saw only a white flash as the bulldog left -the water and disappeared in the darkness of the -jungle. Teddy, the bear, seemed inclined to follow -him, but the boys held him back by main force.</p> - -<p>“Now I wonder,” whispered Jule, “if the pirates -are over there, too! If they’ve got us surrounded, -we’re likely to open a barrel of trouble in about a -minute.”</p> - -<p>The noise made by Captain Joe and also by the -struggle with the bear apparently attracted the -attention of those on board the <i>Rambler</i>, for a -faint light blazed up in the cabin of the motor boat -for an instant and was then extinguished.</p> - -<p>“They’re getting their guns ready, I guess,” Clay -whispered. “Suppose we pull the boat under the -shadow of the bank and take to the shore. We -might be safer there.”</p> - -<p>“I’ll tell you what I think,” Case observed. -“When those fellows turned on the light they were -getting ready to set the motors going. If we don’t -watch out, they’ll have the <i>Rambler</i> whizzing -downstream at the rate of twenty miles an hour.”</p> - -<p>“Well,” Jule declared, “if we go ashore we may -get into trouble there, so I propose that we land on -the north side of the cut-off and try to make a sneak -on board.”</p> - -<p>“Whatever we do,” Clay advised, “we ought to -keep the boat within reach so that, if they do go -on downstream, we can follow them as fast as the -current will carry us.”</p> - -<p>The boys argued in whispers for some time over -Clay’s proposition and then Alex broke out:</p> - -<p>“If you fellows will push over to the south shore -for a minute, I’ll get out and see what is going on -there. I don’t like the idea of having a gang of -pirates come up behind us after we land and advance -to the <i>Rambler</i>. That wouldn’t look well.”</p> - -<p>“Don’t you never let him go!” Case advised. -“If you do, he’ll get mired in a swamp or bring -a company of night-riders on top of us.”</p> - -<p>Alex, however, did not wait for the boys to -either pole the boat to the south shore, or to decide -as to whether he ought to land. Before any further -objections could be offered, he was up to his waist -in water moving toward the shadows on the south -bank.</p> - -<p>“The little monkey!” whispered Case. “I wish -I had a rope around his neck!”</p> - -<p>“What shall we do now?” asked Jule. “We -can’t go away and leave him in that patch of -woods.”</p> - -<p>“I think we’d better go on over to the north -shore and see if we can retake the <i>Rambler</i>” Clay -answered. “Alex, probably, has some notion in his -head which we don’t understand, and, anyway, he is -capable of taking care of himself.”</p> - -<p>In accordance with this idea, the three boys -landed and, leaving Uncle Zeke in charge of the -boat and the bear, with instructions to answer -Alex’s call from the south bank, they took their way -to the bight in which the <i>Rambler</i> lay. They had -only a shore distance to go, and were soon within a -few feet of the motor boat, which lay within a -couple of yards of the shore.</p> - -<p>From the position they now occupied, they could -see a dilapidated old houseboat lying beyond the -<i>Rambler</i>, her nose resting lightly on the bank.</p> - -<p>“That’s where the pirates have been living!” -whispered Case. “If we could only do something -to drive them back to the old hulk, we might -possibly get the <i>Rambler</i> away.”</p> - -<p>All remained dark and silent on board the motor -boat, still the boys knew that the men on board were -awake and alert. They had seen the prow light -turned on when farther up the cut-off, and only a -few moments before a light had shone in the cabin.</p> - -<p>The boys waited for what seemed to them an -hour or more, watching and listening, hoping for -Alex’s return, and hoping, too, for some indication -of the intentions of the pirates.</p> - -<p>“We’ve just got to make a break pretty soon,” -Jule said. “I believe those fellows on board the -boat know that we’re in the vicinity. They’re not -asleep, and they wouldn’t be sitting there in the -dark unless they were suspicious.”</p> - -<p>“If you boys will stay here,” Clay suggested, -“I’ll attempt to gain the after deck of the <i>Rambler</i>. -If I succeed, I may be able to drive the pirates out -of the boat.”</p> - -<p>“I was just thinking of that myself!” whispered -Case.</p> - -<p>“You remain here,” Clay went on, “and I’ll see -what can be done.”</p> - -<p>The words were hardly out of his mouth before -the “chug, chug, chug,” of motors was heard, and -the <i>Rambler</i>, still showing no lights, glided softly -upstream!</p> - -<p>After proceeding a few paces, however, the power -was shut off, and she remained swinging in the -almost stagnant waters of the bight. Her position -was, perhaps, a hundred paces to the north of the -cut-off, and perhaps ten paces from the shore where -the boys were.</p> - -<p>“I guess they’ve got us going now!” Case exclaimed -regretfully. “They’ll shoot upstream in a -minute, and that’ll be the last of the merry -old <i>Rambler</i>! We’ll have to build another boat, boys!”</p> - -<p>No one replied, for just at that moment the splash -of oars and poles was heard, coming swiftly down -the cut-off. The boys turned their eyes in that -direction and almost shouted in their amazement as -three blue lights, following the channel of the cut-off, -proceeded to the west, to all appearances floating -six or eight feet above the surface of the water! -The boys stood silent for a moment.</p> - -<p>“Now, what do you think of that?” whispered -Clay. “Three times and out!”</p> - -<p>“I know now what the three blue lights mean!” -gasped Case. “They constitute a signal used by the -night-riders!”</p> - -<p>“There ain’t any tobacco warehouses to burn -here!” Jule scoffed.</p> - -<p>The three blue lights came on steadily, stopping -after a time at the very mouth of the cut-off, two -or three hundred feet from where the <i>Rambler</i> lay.</p> - -<p>Heretofore the lights had seemed to be floating in -the air. Now the boys could faintly distinguish the -bulk of a boat looking weird and ghostly under the -mysterious illumination.</p> - -<p>“I wonder if that won’t scare the pirates?” asked -Jule.</p> - -<p>The answer came from the <i>Rambler</i> itself, for -the motors were turned on and the boat whirled -swiftly away toward the opposite bank of the river. -Then a volley of shots rang out from the mysterious -boat, and a voice called over the water:</p> - -<p>“Obey the signal, boys! If you don’t, we’ll fill -you full of lead! You know what three blue lights -mean!”</p> - -<p>Much to the amazement of the boys, the motors -ceased their clatter and the <i>Rambler</i> lay swaying -just at the edge of the current.</p> - -<p>“Do you mind that now?” whispered Case. -“The pirates on board the <i>Rambler</i> don’t know -that the outer walls are all bullet-proof!”</p> - </div> - - <div class='chapter'> - <h2 id='chXXV'>CHAPTER XXV.—GRATEFUL NIGHT-RIDERS.</h2> - -<p class='first'>The next moment the great flashlight on the -prow of the <i>Rambler</i> blazed out over the waters.</p> - -<p>“Why!” exclaimed Clay, “that’s our boat, and -there’s some one holding three blue lights up on a -stick!”</p> - -<p>“Yes,” exclaimed Jule, fairly dancing up and -down in his excitement, “and that little monkey in -the prow is Alex! He’s the one that’s holding up -the three blue lights! Now where do you suppose -he got that layout?”</p> - -<p>“He has a way of picking things out of the -atmosphere!” laughed Case.</p> - -<p>“Looks like a scene in a play!” cried Jule.</p> - -<p>“That would be a mighty good place to drop a -curtain!” suggested Case.</p> - -<p>“Not quite yet,” Clay insisted. “The scene -mustn’t close just yet. The audience wants to know -what the three blue lights are going to do to the -<i>Rambler</i>.”</p> - -<p>The boys were not long kept in waiting in this -regard. The rowboat, sunk almost to the guards -under the weight of four men and a boy, swept up -to the <i>Rambler</i>. Directly all were on the deck of -the motor boat. Alex dancing excitedly up and -down when he was not waltzing over the deck with -the white bulldog.</p> - -<p>“Why don’t you let us in on that?” demanded -Jule from the bank.</p> - -<p>“Oh, there you are!” shouted Alex springing -up on the gunwale. “We thought you boys had -gone and got lost. Wait a minute, and I’ll row the -boat over to you.”</p> - -<p>The lad dropped into the rowboat with a tunk, -and soon had his wondering companions on the deck -of the motor boat. What they saw there added, if -possible, to the surprise of the previous five minutes.</p> - -<p>Four men, two of whom Alex recognized as the -men who had stolen the boat, lay tied hard and fast -on the deck, and four other men, two of whom -had visited the camp at the cove during the forenoon, -were standing over them with guns in their -hands. The prisoners seemed to be trying to the -best of their ability to conciliate their stern-faced -guards.</p> - -<p>“We didn’t know that you had an interest in the -outfit,” one of the prisoners was saying. “Those -boys rammed our steamer, and we were bound to -get even with them.”</p> - -<p>“It’s hands off the boys!” exclaimed Peck -sternly. “What do you think we ought to do with -them?” he asked turning to his companions.</p> - -<p>“We ought to stretch their necks!” was the fierce -reply.</p> - -<p>“I wouldn’t mind assisting at a necktie party,” -Peck answered, “but, under the circumstances, I -think we’d better not become too prominent in any -such society event. You three men pitch them over -into the old houseboat and drift along the river until -you come to a Government steamer. Then turn -them over as outlaws and return on the Government -steamer if it’s going upstream to the cove. If it’s -going downstream, get the first upboat you can.”</p> - -<p>Peck’s authority seemed to be supreme, for in -five minutes the four bound men were transferred -to the houseboat which was then nosed out into the -stream by the <i>Rambler</i>. This done, Peck sat down -in a deck chair and regarded the four boys -quizzically.</p> - -<p>“Where’s the old negro?” he asked in a moment.</p> - -<p>“Didn’t you hear him splash in the water?” -asked Alex. “When you showed the three blue -lights, he waddled ashore with a face so white it -made a chalk-mark on the night.”</p> - -<p>“What does it all mean?” asked Clay.</p> - -<p>As he spoke he pointed to the blue lights still -burning on the prow of the rowboat.</p> - -<p>“It’s all easily explained,” Peck replied with an -engaging smile. “Just after two of you boys left -my house to-day, a gang of good fellows laboring -under a misapprehension came up with a supply of -birch whips intended for the backs of you kids. -Their attention was attracted to a burning building, -or they would have overtaken the lads before they -reached the cove and beaten them half to death.</p> - -<p>“When I reached home, my wife told me of the -incident, and I began worrying for fear the boys -would be caught and mistreated. While we were -talking it over, that old nigger came up and said -that you boys wanted to do something for my wife -because she had been so good to you.</p> - -<p>“This kindness on your part—this willingness to -do anything you could if we needed your help—stirred -me up considerable. So we started out -through the woods for the cove. When we got to -the cove, which was after dark, of course, you were -not there, and we’ve been floundering around in the -water and woods and bushes ever since. We crossed -the stream in a rickety old scow and landed on the -peninsula, thinking that perhaps the river pirates, -known to have headquarters here, had made trouble -for you.</p> - -<p>“Just as we were about to turn back, this little -chap,” pointing at Captain Joe, “came plunging -through the bushes and we knew that you were not -far away. Then this boy came panting along and -we grabbed him. He was frightened half to death -for a minute, but when things were explained, he -told us the kind of a mixup you were in.</p> - -<p>“Well, we came down to the cut-off and got into -the boat and came down here. Then we remembered -that the river pirates stand in deadly terror -of the three blue lights—our boys having been a -little rough with them!—so we put up the signal you -saw, and I guess that’s about all!”</p> - -<p>“I guess I know what the three blue lights mean,” -Alex blurted out. “They constitute a signal used -by the night-riders. I don’t wonder the pirates are -afraid of them!”</p> - -<p>“And I guess the night-riders are the ones who -keep the ghost stories about the lights going!” Jule -added.</p> - -<p>“Of course,” Peck replied with a whimsical smile, -“I don’t know anything about that. One of my -friends, here, just happened to have three blue lights -with him, so we put ’em up to scare the pirates. -We thought that if we could make the outlaws believe -that we belonged to the night-riders, we could -throw a bigger scare into them.”</p> - -<p>“Of course,” Case laughed, winking at Peck, -“we never thought for a moment that you -gentlemen belonged to the night-riders!”</p> - -<p>“Of course not!” laughed Peck, winking back. -“Nobody around here belongs to the night-riders! -You might travel up and down the river, and over -the mountains, for a thousand miles, and not find -a night-rider in the whole country! Fact!” he -added, significantly.</p> - -<p>“Do they put out blue lights whenever they’re -going to burn some one’s warehouse?” asked Alex.</p> - -<p>“Boy,” answered Peck, patting Alex kindly on -the shoulder, “you mustn’t ask any questions about -the night-riders in this section of the country. They -think they are protecting their own interests in what -they do, and that’s all I know about it.”</p> - -<p>“I’d just like to know how they make the lights -go out so quickly,” Jule grinned. “They go out -with a loud noise, don’t they.”</p> - -<p>“I had that explained to me once,” replied Peck -with a queer smile, “and if you won’t say anything -about it. I’ll tell you how it’s done.”</p> - -<p>“The three blue lights are placed on a board, -either floating on the water or suspended from -some elevation. On the same board is a stick of -dynamite with a long fuse. After the lights burn a -few moments—they are just little kerosene lamps -with blue globes, you know—the dynamite explodes -and that ends the display. Perfectly simple, ain’t -it, boys?”</p> - -<p>“I should think it was!” answered Clay.</p> - -<p>Peck remained on board the <i>Rambler</i> until -daylight, and then the boys took him back up the river -to the little cove near his own home. When at last -he shook hands with the lads at parting, they did -their best to reward him, but he refused every -offering made.</p> - -<p>“I did this for you boys,” he said, “just because -you sent that word up to my wife. You thought -she was alone, and might be in trouble, on account -of the rough characters you had seen about, and you -notified her that you were ready and willing to fight -for her if she wanted any assistance. That was -enough for me!”</p> - -<p>After cooking breakfast at the old camp at the -head of the cove, the boys again set out on their -journey. During the rest of the trip they avoided -saloon boats and coal tows.</p> - -<p>They also tied up at night near some city or -town. Now and then they read in the daily -newspapers stories of alleged outrages by night-riders, -but their experiences with the men of the three blue -lights led them to make many excuses for them.</p> - -<p>They spent nearly a month loitering along the -river, stopping here and there, sometimes tying up -for two or three days at a time. When at last they -saw the lights of Cairo they were heartily sorry -that the journey was ended.</p> - -<p>“We have had a pleasant trip, mixed with a little -healthy excitement!” laughed Case, as they threw -out their lines at one of the lower wharves.</p> - -<p>“A little excitement?” repeated Alex. “Say, -look here, kid, the Ohio is the sixth river we’ve -navigated, and she’s given us the liveliest run for -our money we’ve had yet.”</p> - -<p>“And now,” Case said rather soberly, “we’ll sail -up the Mississippi, through the Illinois river and the -canal, and get back to our little pier up on the South -Branch.”</p> - -<p>“Whew!” exclaimed Alex, “won’t Captain Joe, -the old sea-captain, be glad to see us come sailing -in?”</p> - -<p>“I don’t believe he’ll accept half our three-blue-lights’ -stories as true!” Jule put in.</p> - -<p>“Anyway,” Clay replied, “we’ve had the experiences, -and Captain Joe can think what he likes!”</p> - -<p>THE END.</p> - </div> - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The River Motor Boat Boys on the Ohio, by -Harry Gordon - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK RIVER MOTOR BOAT BOYS *** - -***** This file should be named 50327-h.htm or 50327-h.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/0/3/2/50327/ - -Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.bookcove.net - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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