Part 16 (1/2)

Frank hurried outside upon hearing what his comrade said. More than a few times before this they had been hailed from the bank; but it was always some fun-loving boy, or a tramp who wanted them to take him aboard, so that they paid little attention to the calls.

”Looks like there's something familiar about that fellow!” Bluff was saying, as the others joined him at the sweep.

”And as sure as you live, he called out Frank's name just then!”

e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Jerry.

”Tell you what, boys, it's that Luther Snow again, as plain as the nose on my face!” cried Bluff.

Frank had discovered this strange fact for himself; and once more the old feeling of suspicion flashed into his mind. Who was this Luther Snow; and why should he come upon them again, when they thought he had gone for good?

The day was well spent, and even then Jerry and Bluff had been trying to select a landing spot.

”Shall we pull in, Frank?” asked the former; ”seems like a good camping place just this side of that point; and the water's deep, too, I reckon.”

”And the old man seems to want to see us mighty bad,” Bluff added.

”He's limping like he'd been hurt,” added the sympathetic Will.

Frank hardly knew what to do. If the other were really in deep trouble they would never forgive themselves if they deserted him; because just here the locality seemed lonely, with not a house in sight.

”All right, set her in to the sh.o.r.e,” he said, making up his mind without any unnecessary mental discussion; for he believed that four stout and healthy lads ought to be equal to one decrepit old man, no matter how cunning he might prove; and after all they did not know a single thing against the truth of the sad story Luther Snow had told them.

They had tied up, and were busily engaged in the various tasks that had been apportioned to each as his daily program, when Luther came along.

Just as Will had remarked, he was limping badly, and looked most wretched. Frank thought that if this was put on instead of being real, then old Luther deserved credit for his extraordinary ability as an actor.

He seemed greatly overjoyed at meeting them again, and between groans went around shaking hands with each one.

”How do you happen to be here, Mr. Snow, and looking so miserable?”

Frank asked, after the old man had been made comfortable by Will and Bluff; while Jerry actually hastened his preparations for supper, because he saw that the wretched carpenter was weak from fasting.

”I went just as far as my money would carry me, and then the captain of the packet put me off at a little wood landing above,” came the reply.

”Then I started to walk down to the next town, hoping to get some sort of work there; but I was weak from hunger; and I managed to slip, and sprain my ankle, so I was about ready to give it all up, and die right there, when I discovered your boat. It was like the coming of an angel to me, my friends, for you have been so kind to a wretched old man.”

Will secretly dabbed at his eyes; and even Bluff winked several times, as if he felt keenly for a desolate old man, left alone in the world, and suffering. Only Frank, usually one of the first to lend a helping hand to anyone in distress, did not speak up, and a.s.sure Luther that he could still count on them to help him. Frank was watching him when he had the chance, trying to read the other; for he still hardly knew what to believe.

During the progress of the supper, which they had aboard the _Pot Luck_, Luther was very quiet. He even seemed sick, in truth, and Frank knew he would not have the heart to put him ash.o.r.e. If they carried an old and weak man some distance on his journey, that could hardly interfere with the directions given by the owner of the houseboat; who, Will had admitted, was something of a queer character himself, and hardly to be taken seriously.

And so, after a consultation among themselves out on the deck, while Luther dozed in his chair in the cabin, the boys decided to give him a lift part of the way down to New Orleans. When they grew tired of having him along, they could make up a purse perhaps, and gather sufficient funds to buy him a railroad ticket, say from Memphis to his intended destination.

When they came in later he looked up eagerly, as though he must have guessed that they had been talking over what should be done about him.

And so Frank considered it good policy to let him know the decision they had reached.

”We're going to carry you part way down the river, Mr. Snow,” he remarked; ”and when we put you ash.o.r.e, perhaps at Memphis, we'll try and scare up enough money in the bunch to see you through by railroad to New Orleans. That's the best we can do; and even then we're stretching the orders of the party who owns the boat, and who was mighty particular that we harbor no strangers aboard on the trip, for some reason or other, which we do not understand.”

Frank thought he caught a peculiar twinkle of the shrewd eyes, as he said this; but immediately Luther Snow showed evidence of considerable feeling as he insisted on shaking hands with each one of the chums in order.

”You are a n.o.ble lot of boys,” he said, his voice trembling with real emotion; ”and it was a lucky day for me when I met with you. I'll never forget you; never!”