Inland Waterways | Page 6

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 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