Inland Waterways | Page 5

seated himself at the folding table in the standing room, beginning the meal in a provokingly leisurely manner.
Harry was about to make an angry protest, but Phil checked him with a gesture, and said:
"Let's get at the work. Nat will attend to matters here," and when they were in the cabin, he whispered: "He's going it rather strong, but we won't spoil his dinner by acting as if we thought he wasn't good enough to be allowed on board."
"If we are to run a floating restaurant for tramps, I suppose it's all right; but in the future they must be content to have their meals ashore."
After this slight exhibition of temper he undressed himself, and in five minutes later the undesirable guest was almost forgotten as he and Phil stood in the water to their chins, discussing the best means of getting at the offending rope.
Both had sharp knives, and each in turn dove beneath the surface to work as long as possible at the manilla hawser, which was wound around the shaft so tightly as to be nearly as hard as metal. They could remain under water but sixty or seventy seconds at a time, and the work progressed very slowly, only two or three threads being brought up at each laborious effort.
"At this rate we shan't get through before sunset, and won't reach New York until to-morrow morning," Harry said, as he stopped for a moment to rest.
"You can't get out of the canal after ten o'clock to night on account of to-morrow's bein' Sunday," a voice cried from the deck and looking up, the boys saw their unbidden guest seated comfortably on one of the forward lockers, filling a short black pipe, with the air of one who intends to extract the greatest possible amount of enjoyment from his surroundings.
The announcement that they would be forced to remain in that, or some other equally undesirable place for thirty-six hours, prevented Phil from paying any attention to the free and easy manners of their guest, and he asked in dismay:
"Isn't it possible under any circumstances to get through the locks after ten?"
"I don't reckon the governor of this 'ere State could do it, 'cause them as tends the gate ain't any more fond of workin' than other folks, an' they're bound to knock off whenever the rules allow 'em. This is a snug place for you, a good deal better'n can be found between here an' Brunswick, so things ain't so bad as they might be after all."
"We could go back to Trenton," Nat suggested. "It would be more pleasant staying there."
"I don't want to turn round after we have once started," Phil replied after some thought. "If this is the worst hardship we shall run across during the cruise there won't be much suffering," and then looking up, as if noticing for the first time the occupation of their guest, he added, "See here, stranger, we don't fill pipes at the same table we eat from, and if you feel like smoking there's nothing to prevent your going ashore."
"That's all right, my boy. If I'd knowed you was so pertic'lar I'd a' brought along some two for a dollar cigars; but as you say, there ain't nothing to keep me aboard, an' I'll toddle on. Hope you won't get lonesome betwixt now an' Monday morning."
Then he walked leisurely out to the towpath, nodding his adieux in a jaunty manner, and sauntered back in the direction from which he had come.
"It wouldn't have done any harm if he'd thanked us for the five or mix square meals he's stowed away. There was enough on the table when he sat down for half a dozen hungry men, but it has all disappeared," and Nat continued his work of washing the dishes.
Phil looked after the stranger an instant, and then said thoughtfully: "We won't feel sorry for having given a hungry man something to eat. But we may as well hurry up this job, even if it is necessary to stay all night, for the water chills a fellow through and through."
From this time until late in the afternoon the boys worked with a will, Nat doing his share after the cook's duties had been performed, and not until then was the hawser entirely removed.
There was no possibility of getting through the canal before ten o'clock, and they settled down with a certain degree of patience to the fact that the enforced halt could not be avoided.
A supper of ship's biscuit, potted meats and hot tea was easily prepared, and after it had been disposed of they made themselves comfortable in the cabin. Harry urged that the tent be set up in order to try the experiment of shore living; but both Phil and Nat were opposed to it because