Books: The House Boat Boys
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St. George Rathborne >> The House Boat Boys
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That was a pleasant lookout for a couple of boys bound south, and
with winter close upon their heels--in a week or two they might be
frozen in so securely that there would be no possibility of
release until spring.
No wonder, then, that Maurice looked serious as he sprang to the
side of the boat and stared over at the water of the creek.
It was running out--they should have known of the danger upon
hearing the gurgle during the night; but somehow, lacking
experience, they had thought nothing of it save that the sound was
a musical lullaby, soothing them to slumber.
They would know better another time, and not fasten their craft to
the shore in a shallow creek when the river was at a stand or
falling; it takes experience to learn some of the tricky ways of
these western rivers; but once understood the cruiser is not apt
to be caught a second time. Maurice snatched up the second pole
and threw his weight upon it, while Thad also strained himself to
the utmost; they could feel the boat move ever so little, but it
was most discouraging, to be sure.
Some other means must be employed if they hoped to get the Tramp
off the slimy bed before she settled there for good.
Maurice was equal to the occasion.
"The block and tackle does it!" he exclaimed, darting into the
cabin.
What mattered it if the rope was second hand, and the block
creaked for want of grease--that last fault was speedily
rectified; and having fastened one end of the line to a tree on
the opposite side of the creek, the boys secured a purchase and
then exerted themselves to the utmost.
It was a success, for now they had a firm foundation, whereas with
the poles it was partly a case of lost force, the soft nature of
the ground preventing them from doing their best.
Impulsive Thad gave a cheer when the boat began to move in
response to their united endeavor, and presently glided off her
slippery bed into the deeper channel of the creek.
"A close shave," declared Maurice, wiping the perspiration from
his forehead, and surveying the late resting place of the
shanty-boat with satisfaction.
"I should remark," echoed his chum, dancing a hornpipe on the
deck; "just think what if we had been stuck here a week or two;
all our grub gone, and the dickens to pay with our plans. Never
again for me. I'm going to be the most careful chap when it comes
to lying up to a bank with this craft you ever saw."
"I'll get the line loose while you start up the fire. Then we'll
push out of here and cook breakfast while we float downstream.
Every mile made now may save us trouble later; for you know what
old Pap Larkin told us about sudden freezes coming sometimes in
November, and we want to get in the big river before we strike
anything like that."
In less than ten minutes they were moving out of the mouth of the
creek, with the river, half wreathed in fog, lying before them.
"We'll have to keep a good lookout, unless we want to run a chance
of cutting down some river steamer coming upstream," laughed Thad.
"Oh, that's easily avoided by keeping close in by the shore until
this mist rises, which I calculate it will do by 9 o'clock or so,"
replied Maurice, using his pole to advantage, so as to send the
boat out upon the current of the river, where they were speedily
moving merrily along.
It was a delight to cook breakfast with such surroundings, and a
constantly changing panorama along the shore.
Never did bacon have such a delicious odor; and when the coffee
boiled up, sending its fragrance throughout the cabin and out of
the partly open door, Maurice, who was attending to the steering
part of the business at the time, loudly bewailed the fact that he
must wait five long minutes more ere satisfying the craving
appetite that these suggestions of breakfast put on edge.
While they were still eating they passed a place on the Kentucky
side that from the map they believed to be Uniontown, which proved
that they were making fair progress while sitting around--which is
one of the finest things in connection with drifting south.
As Maurice said it reminded him of a garden that grew while the
proprietor slept, for they could count on so many miles a day with
ordinary good luck, and not a hand put out to urge the craft
along.
While both these boys had spent much of their lives upon the banks
of the Ohio, and were accustomed to the various sights familiar to
all river dwellers, at the same time things had a vastly different
appearance now that they were afloat and actually drawing a little
nearer and nearer to the sunny southland with each passing hour.
They were in good spirits all the time, and hailed other voyagers
with the customary salutations suitable to the occasion.
It became no unusual thing to see one or two flatboats with cabins
something like their own, either drifting lazily along the stream
or tied up close to the bank; for, as has been said before, the
river is a muchly traveled highway, and the types of people that
make use of it in their annual pilgrimages south must prove of
tremendous interest to any one fond of studying humanity.
It was a banner day for the travelers, clear and fairly pleasant,
one that in the rougher times ahead would always be looked back to
as a period to be envied.
They made great progress, too, and when the afternoon sun waning
in the west warned them that it was time to keep their eyes about
for a decent place in which to pass the night, Maurice calculated
that they had come all of forty miles since morning, which was
making quite a gap in the distance separating them from the
junction of the two rivers.
The air was growing colder, and Thad, who professed to be
something of a weather sharp, declared that they were in for a
touch of winter very speedily, which made them both long to get
out of the clutches of the Ohio before ice formed and impeded
their progress.
Maurice scouted any chance of this happening; it might have been
more serious had they been cruising in a small boat which must
find a safe harbor every night in some creek; because it might
grow cold enough to freeze such a craft in some night, or at least
shut those harbors of refuge to entrance; but with such a big and
stanch craft they could tie up to the shore and pay little
attention to the in-rolling waves cast by the suction of passing
steam-boats.
This night they found a chance to secure the shanty-boat to some
rocks; and as the neighborhood seemed lonely, they chose to go
ashore and build a fire on the sandy stretch that ran under the
shelving bank.
Just for a change they cooked supper ashore, too, for it would be
seldom that this sort of an opportunity might come to them, and
they felt that they ought to take advantage of it while it lasted.
Already had the wind shifted to the northwest, and it was cold
enough to make them seek the leeward side of the fire while eating
supper.
They had gone aboard to see about the fire, and Maurice was lying
on a bed of dead grass and moss looking into the glowing depths of
the fire and allowing his thoughts to go out to the wonderful
possibilities of the beckoning future, with Uncle Ambrose as the
good fairy who was to lead him into strange lands that he had
always wanted to see, when a bit of turf falling upon his arm
caused him to suddenly glance upward.
To his surprise and a little to his consternation he beheld three
black faces surveying him from over the edge of the bank; nor did
he fancy the expression that could be seen upon the said
countenances.
Upon seeing that their presence was no longer unknown to the boy
below, the trio of darkies dropped over the bank.
Closer inspection failed to add to the good opinion of Maurice,
for the fellows bore all the earmarks of desperadoes, possibly
belonging to that class of nomads who prowl along the shores of
these western rivers, picking up a living by doing odd jobs, and
stealing whenever they think it can be done with safety.
"Hello, boss! Done takin' it easy, I spects. Got any 'jections ter
weuns warmin' up a little by dat fiah? Gittin' powful cold, boss,
an' it jes' happens we ain't got nary a match in our clo's, dat's
a fack," said the leader, advancing eagerly and holding out his
hands toward the blaze.
"Why, of course not, boys; make yourselves at home. I was just
going aboard anyway, and the fire's yours," remarked Maurice,
rising.
He saw the three roughs looks quickly toward each other, and noted
that one of them had slipped between him and the boat, as though
it might be their intention to prevent his leaving.
It was evident that there was trouble brewing, and unless it was
nipped in the bud something of a fight would take place.
That they would stand no show whatever in the hands of these
rascals, alone as they were in this isolated place, Maurice knew
full well, but he would not allow himself to show any sign of fear
lest in this way he precipitate the trouble.
Perhaps these men had been watching them for some time, and knew
there were only a couple of boys on the shanty-boat, so that it
would be useless to call out as if several husky men constituted
the crew.
Maurice did not wish to come within arms' length of the negro who
had slipped between himself and the boat, lest the fellow seize
upon him, so that he was in a quandary how to act in order to gain
his haven of refuge.
The puzzle was solved in a way he had not anticipated, for just as
the wicked-looking black tramp was putting out his hand to grasp
him, as he pulled back, a voice broke upon the silence, the voice
of his comrade Thad, saying:
"I'd be mighty careful how I laid a hand on that boy, you there!"
CHAPTER IV.
A LITTLE RUN IN THE NIGHT.
When Thad thus broke in upon the little drama being enacted upon
the strip of beach under the overhanging bank of the river the
three negroes, as well as Maurice, looked toward the deck of the
boat.
By the light of the fire on the sand Thad was seen holding the old
Marlin in his hands, and keeping the frowning muzzles of the two-
barrel gun pointed in the direction of the black tramp who had
seemed about to interfere with the passage of Maurice to the boat.
Evidently none of the fellows were armed, at least with shooting
irons, for it was almost ludicrous to see the rapidity with which
they threw up their arms and showed signs of surrender.
"Don't let dat little buster go off, mister. We ain't meanin' yuh
no ha'm, 'deed we ain't now, We's jes' de most innercentest coons
yuh eber seed, we is. All we asks is a chanct tuh wawm our fingers
by dis ere blaze, an' I reckons yuh won't keer 'bout dat, massa,"
exclaimed the leader, in a whining tone.
Maurice took advantage of the opportunity to walk around the
fellow who had interfered with his free passage, and gain the deck
of the boat, when Thad immediately turned the gun over to him.
Evidently the boys were in for a bad time of it.
These wandering blacks might want to lie around the fire all
night, and sleep would be impossible for both lads at the same
time, since there must be a watch kept lest the rascals rob them
during the hours of darkness.
Maurice knew that it was best to take the situation in hand right
then and there in the start; he also was aware of the fact that
these negroes only yielded to force, and that any attempt to gain
their good will would be absolutely wasted; for Southern boys
learn that early in life, and so it is they can manage the
shiftless population that is employed to work on the plantations,
while Northern men make the mistake of treating such negroes too
well.
Accordingly Maurice took the bull by the horns.
"See here, you fellows, we don't object to your having all the
fire you want, but we're not going to stand having you camp right
there all night. Go down the shore or up a hundred yards or so,
and take some of the fire with you. Then one of you come back here
and get a big fish we have no use for. I reckon you know how to
cook it without a pan. Anyhow, it's all we can let you have, for
we're on short rations ourselves. Dye understand, boys?" he said.
Maurice could assume quite an air of authority when he chose; it
seemed to be a portion of his birthright; and these lazy blacks
are quick to recognize this vein in the voice of anyone with whom
they come in contact.
"All right, boss. We don't wanter tuh disturb yuh, an' we'll go up
de sho' er bit. Dat fish he taste mighty fine, I reckons, mister,
an' we sho' be powful glad tug git 'im, dat's so. Hyah, yuh lazy
good-for-nothin' brack niggah, pick up some ob dat fiah an' tote
it up yander whah de p'int juts out. Dat look good enuff fur dis
chile. An' boss, ef yuh gut dat ere fish handy I cud kerry hit wid
me right now," remarked the strapping leader.
"Get it, Thad," said Maurice, in a low tone, not wishing to take
his eye off the trio of desperadoes for a moment, not knowing what
they might attempt, for if ever he had seen jailbirds loose it was
just then.
So Thad stepped around the cabin and took down the big "buffalo"
that was hanging by a cord so that the night air would keep it in
decent condition; it had come in on one of his lines that
afternoon, and they really had little use for such a quantity of
fish; indeed, both boys were already a little tired of a diet of
the products of the river, and yearned for different fare.
The darky ashore caught the finny prize, and his eyes glistened at
its size; but Maurice knew full well that this act of benevolence
on their part would not serve to protect them a particle from the
thieving propensities of the nomads if a chance were given to
purloin anything.
In ten minutes they could see a fire up on the point of land and
hear the loud voices of the three blacks disputing over various
things--evidently they were a noisy crowd, and the prospects for
a quiet night did not loom up very brilliantly. Maurice listened
and his brow clouded over.
"I don't like the prospect a little bit, Thad," he remarked, as a
louder burst of profanity than usual marked a near fight above.
"We're in for a tough night, it seems," sighed his chum, dismally.
"Oh! as to that, I don't know. It all depends whether we have the
nerve to cut the Gordian knot," observed Maurice, grimly.
His friend looked hastily at him, for the fire was still burning
fitfully on the shore, though robbed of its best brands by the
negroes.
"What dye think of doing--running those critters off--gee, it's a
big proposition for a couple of boys, Maurice."
"The running's all right, but you get the cart before the horse.
It's us who are to do the skipping, while they enjoy that fish a
little later. All depends on whether we care to take the chances
of floating down a mile or two further in the dark, and finding a
place to tie up. If we don't it's a case of floating on all night,
and running the risk of a collision."
"I say go. Why, we've got an anchor, you know, and the current
ain't so very swift near shore but what it'd hold when we chose to
drop her over. If we stay here one of us has to be on guard all
night, and even then I believe those black jailbirds would be ugly
enough to try and burn us up or something like that--steal our
pumpkin-seed boat perhaps. Yes, I'm in favor of cutting loose,"
declared Thad, eagerly.
"All right; consider it settled. We'll just wait until we think
they're busy with the fish and then one of us must go ashore while
the other covers him with the gun, and undo the line from those
rocks. After that it will be easy."
Half an hour passed away.
Then, as the sounds had died out above, they fancied the trio of
unwelcome neighbors must be busily employed in eating, so Thad
volunteered to drop ashore and get the rope loose from its
anchorage.
Maurice was a little skeptical about the apparent freedom from
surveillance, and stood on deck with the shotgun in his hands
ready to spring to the assistance of his pard at the slightest
sign of trouble.
But Thad met with no opposition when he climbed to where the loop
of the rope was secured over the pinnacle of rock, and in a minute
he had freed the line, tossing it down on the beach where it could
be pulled aboard.
When his comrade was again alongside, Maurice breathed easier;
this was their first adventure, and it was apt to make a deep
impression on both lads.
A dozen pulls sufficed to bring the rope aboard and then the poles
were taken in hand with the idea of shoving off from the shore.
They had been careful not to let the boat ground, remembering
their experience of the previous night, so this part of the job
was not difficult at all.
Just as they began to move with the current they heard a loud yell
from the shore, and looking up saw one of their late visitors
standing there, surveying the vanishing shanty-boat with manifest
dismay and anger.
His shout was evidently understood by the others, for they could
be heard tearing along down the shale heading for the scene.
But our boys had now pushed the boat far enough out into the
stream to avoid any possibility of being boarded, no matter how
bold the desperadoes might be; and it gave them no concern that
the trio howled and swore and threatened all manner of things for
being deserted in this manner, just when they thought they had a
good soft snap for a breakfast, and perhaps fat pickings.
Thanks to the friendly current, the boys were quickly beyond
earshot of the loud-tongued and chagrined blacks on the shore.
"Ugh! that wasn't a pleasant experience, was it? Did you ever set
eyes on three more villainous mugs in all your life? Those
scoundrels are sure doomed to meet with a noose before they're
many months older, for if they haven't done murder up to now
they're going to before long. I'm glad we gave them the slip. It
was well done all around. Now to float on for an hour or so, and
then see if we have any luck finding an anchorage."
Maurice contented himself with these words, but Thad had to skip
around on the deck in his usual exuberant style before he could
settle down to taking his trick at the steering apparatus.
Thus the shanty-boat floated on through the darkness, and the
minutes slipped along until the hour set had been exhausted; then,
when they were thinking of coming to a halt, the lights of a town
appeared close by, and it became necessary to navigate with
caution lest they strike some obstruction in the shape of an
anchored boat or a dock where steamboats landed.
It was decided to drop down a little distance below the place and
tie up, for as some of their provision were already getting low,
it would be necessary to go ashore and lay in more bread at least.
When a jutting point shut out the last of the town lights, they
poled in closer to the shore, and began to cast about for some
friendly tree to which the hawser could be attached.
"There's a shanty-boat tied up yonder," whispered Thad, suddenly,
pointing to a place where the gleam of a light through a small
window could be seen.
"Let her float down a bit farther. We don't want too close
neighbors, especially when we know nothing about them. There,
listen to that dog bark; the little rat sees us all right. That's
where we made a mistake not to get a dog to go with us on the
trip; they're good company, and fine for guarding the boat. First
chance I get I mean to have one, no matter if it's a mongrel
yellow cur."
A man stepped out of the cabin of the boat that was tied up and
looked across the little stretch of water separating them.
"Hello!" he said, as if seeing them clearly. "Going to tie up
below?"
Maurice rather liked the ring of his voice, and so he made answer.
"We want to--is there good holding ground or a convenient tree, do
you know?" he asked.
"Yes, half a dozen of 'em. I saw the lot before dark; and the
swing of the current pushes in toward the bank. Don't get too far
in, as she's lowering right along," continued the friendly
flatboatman.
Maurice thanked him, for it was a pleasure to run across a chap so
different from the usual type of selfish, envious and profligate
drifters.
They quickly sighted the trees, and Thad, jumping ashore, soon had
a line fast around one that would hold them safely until daylight.
The man on the other boat had glimpsed them sufficiently to have
his interest aroused, for they could hear him throwing a pair of
oars into a small boat, and sure enough he quickly came alongside.
"Anything I can do to help you, boys?" he asked with so much
heartiness that Maurice warmed toward him immediately.
Of course there was really no need of assistance, since everything
had been already accomplished; but Maurice asked the other to come
aboard and join them in a friendly little chat.
The trip promised to be lonely enough, with suspicions directed
toward nearly all those encountered, so that it was a real
pleasure to run across a good fellow like this who felt some
interest in them.
CHAPTER V.
HARD PUT TO KEEP WARM.
The big, broad-shouldered man proved to be a machinist and clock
mender, who was in the habit of plying his trade along the river
every winter; he had his family aboard the boat that served him as
a workshop, and there were certain localities on his route where
they looked for him regularly--he was, it seemed, a jack-of-all-
trades, and could after a fashion even tune a piano if pushed.
Our two boys enjoyed an hour or two in his company very much, and
learned considerable about matters connected with the lower river
that might possibly prove valuable to them later on.
In return, of course, they told Bob Archiable all about their
project, and he wished them a pleasant voyage to the Crescent
City, with much luck when Uncle Ambrose came to port.
The itinerant machinist told them they had undoubtedly done a wise
thing in quitting their harbor up the river after the advent of
those three roughs. He believed he knew who the trio might be, and
if he was right they were the ugliest set of desperadoes in that
vicinity, who would not hesitate to attempt any sort of dark deed,
provided the reward seemed sufficient to compensate for the risk
involved.
It was a real pleasure to run across such a pleasant and manly
fellow as Archiable, and the meeting, brought about in so queer a
manner, would always remain in the memory of the two boys as one
of the bright spots of their cruise down the river.
The night passed quietly.
One of the boys came out on deck now and again, as they happened
to be awake; for the incident of the early evening seemed to have
made them somewhat nervous; but nothing happened, and morning came
along in due season, with a lowering sky and a feeling of snow in
the air.
Maurice went back to the town for supplies after they had eaten
breakfast, while Thad took the dinky and paddled up to where the
other boat was tied to enjoy a little more talk with the jolly
owner.
He met Bob's wife, a little woman who seemed to thoroughly enjoy
the strange experience of being a pilgrim half the year.
There were also a couple of boys, one six and the other eight,
sturdy little chaps, who looked like chips of the old block, and
only eager for the time to come when they could put their
shoulders to the wheel and help "dad."
Finally they got away and waved a farewell to this friendly
couple, who had conceived a sudden and abiding interest in the
future of the two young voyagers starting out in the big world to
seek their fortunes.
"We're going to get it in the neck today, I reckon," remarked
Thad; and if his words were lacking in elegance, they certainly
conveyed a proper notion of what he meant to his comrade, for the
air was biting, and the waves dashed up against the starboard side
of the shanty-boat in a way that was suggestive of storm and little
progress.
So it must always be in making a trip down these inland waters,
where one is at the mercy of a capricious current save when a
favorite of fortune chances to own a motor boat that scorns the
usual drifting process, and speeds along at a ten-mile-an-hour
clip, regardless of baffling head winds.
One day excellent progress may be made, and then come several
during which it seems as though every deterring influence in the
calendar arises to keep the voyager from making his expected
distance during the hours of daylight.
It is just as well in the start to decide that nothing that can
arise will disturb one's temper, and that with equally good nature
the bad will be accepted with the good.
By ten o'clock it was snowing furiously, and the tang of the
bitter wind that swept across from the far distant Indiana shore
seemed to penetrate to the very marrow, so that the boys were
constantly exchanging places, one bobbing inside the cabin to get
warm while the other held the steering apparatus.
The snow became so furious that soon they were unable to see even
the Kentucky bank, and then Maurice began to think they had better
haul up before losing their bearings; it would be a serious matter
to find themselves adrift on the wide river without knowing
whether they were in the middle of the stream or not.
"We'd better haul in closer to the shore, and come to a halt, I
think, Thad. It may be all right to run along in the midst of this
storm, but I don't like it a little bit. In fact, that cabin seems
good enough for me today. How do you feel about it, old man?" he
asked, rubbing his hands, which, even when covered with a pair of
woolen gloves, felt the stinging cold.
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