Part 8 (1/2)

”Worst thing about it,” declared Bluff, good-naturedly, when the others were standing around, grinning at his forlorn appearance, ”is that I lost that nice wedge of ham. Somebody make me up another sandwich; won't you, while I get out of these soggy duds, and into some dry ones?”

”But the first thing we ought to do is to swing the boat free from that snag,” remarked Frank, ”I don't fancy being held up here like this. It must be a grounded log, with one end pointing up-stream; and we're stuck on that like a pivot, by the way the boat swings around, first this way, then that.”

He took an observation, and found out just where the point of the snag seemed to be pressing into the bottom planks of the houseboat.

”By good luck it's over on one side,” Frank remarked, after a while; ”and if we all throw our weight over to starboard, perhaps the boat may list enough to let her slip off. Come along, and try it, anyhow. If that fails, we may have to start something else moving.”

But it did not fail, fortunately. Just as Frank had said, the nose of the submerged log happened to be against the slippery bottom of the houseboat near the edge, and a very small list started the craft to sliding. They heard a grating noise, and then the boat once more came to an even keel, starting to glide along with the current.

Of course it was easy enough, after that, to work her head around, so that it again pointed down the river.

”I'll keep a better lookout after this, Frank,” Jerry a.s.serted, knowing that the fault was princ.i.p.ally his, since he had been left in charge as pilot of the expedition.

Will had meanwhile obligingly made up another ”snack” for the swimmer; and Bluff ate it with the utmost unconcern, just as though falling overboard from a snagged houseboat were an every-day occurrence in his experience.

During the afternoon they sighted the first real shantyboat seen on the cruise. A savage dog aboard barked at them as long as they were pa.s.sing; for the boat happened to be tied up to the sh.o.r.e at the time. A rough-looking man was filing a saw, and Frank gave it as his opinion that he followed this trade; dropping down the river, a mile or so at a time, as business permitted, and possibly following the profession of sewing-machine agent as well.

Late that afternoon it began to look bl.u.s.tery, and Frank was more or less concerned as to where they might find a suitable place at which to tie up for the coming night.

They had pa.s.sed several good spots, but it was too early to stop drifting for the day; and now that they wanted a shelter, and a stout post for the cable, both seemed absent.

”Looks like something ahead there, Frank,” announced Jerry, who still stuck to the heavy sweep, as though he wanted to make amends for his carelessness earlier in the day.

”Yes, you're right,” the other answered; ”and unless my eyes tell me wrong, seems as if there might be several boats collected there. I can see a shantyboat; there are some small row-boats, and another big craft moored to the sh.o.r.e that must be a rich man's pleasure craft.”

”Ought we take chances by joining them?” asked cautious Will.

Frank swept a look around at the darkening sky ahead.

”The way things look,” he observed, reluctantly, ”I'm afraid we'll have to chance it for once, though we were warned to keep away from other boats all we could. But there is some bad weather coming, and perhaps these fellows know it, and have put in here to avoid being caught below in the open.”

”Then shall I swing her in toward the sh.o.r.e now?” asked Jerry.

”I'll give you a helping hand,” volunteered Frank, who knew the sensitive nature of his chum, and understood how, in all probability, Jerry must have been repenting of his carelessness all the afternoon.

Between them they easily managed to get the c.u.mbersome houseboat into the cove where the others lay snugly. It was a good harbor, at any rate, in case of a blow; and Frank would have been greatly pleased did the _Pot Luck_ lie there all alone.

”Say, that's a fine affair there,” remarked Bluff, as he stood at the side, and looked toward the large craft that snuggled against the sh.o.r.e, being held by strong cables both above and below; ”and some rich fellow's pleasure boat, too, because she can go up or down the river, having a gasolene engine. I'd like to see what she might be like inside.

There's a young fellow standing watching us, Frank; would you mind if I stepped over, and struck up an acquaintance with him?”

”Sure not, Bluff; and I'll go you one better by keeping you company.”

”Fine,” remarked Bluff; ”just wait a minute, and I'll join you. I want to get my gun.”

”Hold on,” laughed Frank; ”what do you think you're going to run up against here? Ten to one these people are all honest chaps. Why, I can see a sign right now, on one of the shantyboats, and it tells us that the man aboard is a locksmith.”

”That's just it,” spoke up Bluff, as he dived into the cabin, and came out again bearing his repeater; ”don't you see that he's got what's meant to be a picture of a gun on his sign? That means he mends them; and I've a notion my pump-gun needs a little attention.”

”Same old story, eh?” remarked Frank; ”I remember that long ago it used to be getting out of order every little while, and made you lots of trouble.”