Inland Waterways | Page 6

of the extra amount of labor involved, and the probability that their stay would be short. The cabin lockers could be lengthened by means of a sliding shelf until they formed reasonably roomy beds, and before nine o'clock these were called into service, for all hands were thoroughly tired.
It seemed to Phil as if he had but just fallen asleep when the motion of the yacht aroused him, and before his eyes were fairly opened the sound of voices came from the standing room.
"There's only three of 'em on board, I tell you, an' we can bluff them into setting up whatever we want," he heard someone say in cautious yet familiar tones. "If we work the thing right there's nothin' to prevent our travelin' like swells from here to Brunswick."
For a few moments Phil was literally bewildered, and then like a flash of light came the knowledge of where he had heard that voice before.
"It's the tramp whom we fed," he said to himself, "and it begins to look as if we might have a little trouble."
The fowling pieces were in the locker upon which Nat was sleeping, therefore it was necessary to waken his companions before it would be possible to prepare for any offensive measures, and to this end he stole softly across the cabin with the intention of covering the cook's mouth to prevent any word that might tell the intruders their presence had been discovered.
In doing this, however, he made the fatal mistake of passing his hand from the sleeper's forehead down, and before Phil could prevent him Nat started to his feet, crying loudly:
"What's the matter? Who are you?"
Phil hurriedly began to explain matters when the tramp replied, evidently believing the question had been addressed to him:
"Don't get skeered; it's only me -- the friend what took dinner with you this noon. I was kinder 'fraid some of these 'ere reckless fellers might make trouble, so I come to see if things was all right."
As he spoke he pushed back the sliding door, which the boys had not thought it was necessary to lock, and walked boldly in.
"Look here!" Phil cried angrily. "We've had enough of this, and I'll give you two minutes in which to get on shore!"
"Don't get excited, my boy; I'm here to spend the night with you in a sociable manner, an' this ain't the right way to treat a friend," the intruder replied, as he seated himself on the locker just vacated by Nat.
Phil's first thought was to grapple with the man and, by the aid of his companions, throw him out bodily; but before he could make the first move toward carrying this into execution two other men entered the little cabin, filling it rather more than comfortably full, and by this very contraction of space preventing the young yachtsman from making an attack.
Neither Harry nor Nat had spoken; the former stood near the after door, trying to decide upon some plan of action, while the latter began lighting the cabin lamps, a very necessary proceeding, whatever course might be adopted.
Even if Phil had not overheard the fragment of conversation from the standing room, he could have told by the actions of the men exactly what they proposed to do. All three had seated themselves on the lockers as if to show their determination to remain aboard, and to prove how thoroughly he felt at home, the spokesman deliberately lighted his pipe.
"I'm 'fraid you boys ain't overly glad to see us," the tramp said, as he began to puff great volumes of smoke, filling the cabin so full of the noxious vapor that it was with difficulty one could discern objects at the opposite end. "It's only your good that we've come for, an' the least that can be done is to give these gents, who are partic'lar friends of mine, a bite of something to eat."
"If there is a constable in town I will give you free lodgings!" Phil cried, no longer able to control his anger.
"Well, seein's how there ain't anything of the kind this side of Trenton, I reckon it'll be better to treat us somewhere near civil, an' then there won't be any hard feelin's on our part."
"Do you intend to leave this boat?" Harry asked, in a voice trembling with rage.
"Of course we don't, after takin' so much trouble to get here. Now listen to me," and the man changed his tone of pleasantry for one of anger: "We've come to stay till this craft reaches Brunswick, whether our company's agreeable or not. If there's any kickin' you may be the ones who'll have to go ashore, so the least you say an' the better we're treated, the easier matters will be for all hands. Now fetch out something to eat."
The anger which