Inland Waterways | Page 9

like this."
"Where are you bound?" Phil asked, as he gave the word to slow down, for the stranger was now forced to run at full speed in order to keep within speaking distance.
"To New York, where I count on getting work enough so's I can buy a railroad ticket to Watertown, in the northern part of the State, where my people live."
"Shall we do it?" Phil asked, as he signaled for Nat to stop the engine entirely.
"I don't fancy picking up any and everybody we may meet," Harry replied. "It seems rather fishy for him to be begging a passage on a canal if his parents live within reach of the postal service."
The stranger must have heard the last portion of Harry's remark, for he said earnestly:
"I know things look against me, and you are not to be blamed for believing I'm a regular tramp; but that isn't true. Six weeks ago I ran away from home rather than work on a farm, and I would walk every step of the way back rather than ask father for money with which to come back. When I do get there, though, you can bet I'll stay till I see a sure chance of earning a living in the city."
"How far have you traveled?" Phil asked.
"From Philadelphia. That was the place I struck for when I ran away, and during five weeks I've been hunting a job, but couldn't get one. When my money gave out there was nothing to be done but take a trip on Shank's mare, and I followed along the canal in the hope of getting a chance now and then on some of the boats; but so far I haven't had much luck. If you only take me as far as New Brunswick it will be a big favor, and perhaps I can scrub the decks or the cabin to pay for the passage."
"Oh, take the poor fellow in," Nat said in a low tone. "He surely can't do us any harm, and it seems selfish to say no when it's only a question of giving him a chance to sit down."
Harry had nothing to say. He was more suspicious than the others but no less generous, and construing his silence as consent, Phil said, passing a line ashore:
"Pull her bow in till you can jump aboard, and we'll land you in New York if nothing breaks."
There was no delay on the part of the stranger; it seemed as if Phil had hardly ceased speaking before he obeyed, and once more the Restless glided on towards her rather vague destination.
The stranger introduced himself as "Jim Powell," and, this formality over, was about to make his promise good by scrubbing the floor of the standing room when Phil checked him by saying:
"There's no necessity of doing that until we get into port. Have you seen three tramps anywhere around here!"
"Three? I've seen fifty," was the laughing reply. "There are places where it seems as if the tow path was actually crowded with them. It is -- say, can it be that you are the ones I heard a party of men talking about last night?"
"I shouldn't wonder; we had a visit from some Saturday night while lying at Baker's Basin."
"Then I can tell you something interesting. There are five who count on doing considerable damage to your craft about three miles further down. They were laying plans to pelt the yacht with rocks, and if any of you were hurt there might be a chance to get on board."
"Do you have any idea of where they will be?"
"None, except that it was at a point below here where there are plenty of trees to shelter them. By dropping the windows and running at full speed whenever we come to such a place there couldn't be a very great amount of damage done."
"You're right. Harry, pull one of the mattresses aft to cover you on the port side, and stand by the engine in case it should be necessary to stop suddenly. Nat, you and Jim lower the windows, and then bring anything here which will shield me."
These orders were obeyed in the shortest possible space of time, and the yacht had a vague resemblance to a blockade runner as she dashed on with a quantity of bedding and the tent shielding the wheel on the port bow, and a similar barricade aft. Every window was open, and such things in the cabin as might be broken, were placed on the floor under the lee of the lockers. The engine was running at full speed, and Harry lay close beside the rail, protected by a mattress.
"We are coming to a piece of woods!" Phil shouted as the Restless began to turn a slight bend in the canal. "Nat, you