Inland Waterways | Page 8

was quiet, when Harry whispered:
"I can see one of the gang. He just came around from the corner of the building, and is now hidden by the deep shadow on this side."
Even as he spoke the other two tramps appeared in view for an instant as they crept toward the bank of the basin in such a stealthy manner that there could be no doubt but that they meditated mischief.
"There is a chance those fellows may be thinking of swimming across, with the belief it will be possible to get on board without our knowledge. Go aft, Harry, while I watch here, and Nat walks back and forth to make sure we're both attending to business."
After another long time of waiting, during which not a sound was heard, the tramps came out of cover, and walked down the towpath in the direction of New Brunswick.
"I guess they've come to the conclusion that it is no use to try to catch us napping; but we won't run any risks. One shall sleep an hour while the other two watch; and by that means we'll be on duty only a couple of hours apiece. You take the first trick below, Nat, and Harry shall have the second."
In the absence of any immediate danger it is not difficult for one to close his eyes in slumber after a hard day's work, and the cook did not waste many moments lying awake.
From this time until sunrise the utmost vigilance was maintained, but there was no sign of the enemy. The tramps had disappeared; but since it was quite possible they might return with an increased force, the yachtsmen did not feel secure.
After breakfast had been served the same rule was observed in regard to guard duty; and at no moment during the twenty-four long hours which followed was the Restless without two sentinels.
"We've made what might be called a bad beginning," Nat said, as he awakened Phil a few moments before sunrise on Monday morning, "and if this thing comes from our having started on Friday morning, the sooner we turn around and try it over again, the more certain we'll be of ever seeing the St. Lawrence River."
"We won't act quite so foolishly as that," Phil replied laughingly. "After the yacht is in the canal once more you set about getting breakfast, while Harry and I run the craft."
"We may meet those very particular friends of ours who want to make the trip to New Brunswick."
"If we do, both guns will be where we can use them, and I'll answer for it that no one gets on board without our full permission."
After this no delay in continuing the journey was made; it required fully half an hour's hard work to get the little craft out of the basin, and then as Nat set about cooking breakfast the Restless darted down the canal, as if rejoiced at having her liberty.
Several times during a run of six miles did Harry fancy he saw their old enemies; but on each occasion the alarm proved to be without foundation, and after breakfast had been eaten in the standing room while Phil remained at the wheel, they congratulated themselves on having finally escaped from such unpleasant acquaintances.
"We are getting so near the end of the canal, and there are so many boats around that they don't dare to make any -- Hello! who's that?"
As he spoke he pointed toward the towpath, where a boy of seventeen or eighteen stood beckoning frantically for them to steer nearer the bank.
"To judge by his clothes he must be a tramp, too," Harry said in a whisper. "Perhaps he's one of the gang we've been watching for, and is trying to get us in where the others can jump aboard."
"They can't think we're such fools as to give them a chance to try that game, no matter how near they were to the path," Phil replied. "Let us find out what he wants."
"Don't do it. There's no sense in taking any risks, and, besides, we've shown all the charity we can afford to at this end of the trip."
Phil did not heed his friend's remonstrances. At this point the canal was unusually wide, and he gave the yacht a sheer which sent her within a few feet of the path, Harry standing with his gun raised expecting each instant to see the three men.
"It will serve us right if we get into a regular row," he muttered, and before any reply could be made to the remark the stranger asked, as he stood on the very edge of the bank:
"Won't you give a fellow a lift for a few miles? I'll do all I can to earn my passage. It's mighty hard, slow work tramping along the path on a hot day