A SURPRISE ON THE ROAD.
When Nelson struck the water he was all of fifty feet away from the
sloop. Down he went over his head, but quickly reappeared and struck out
boldly.
"Hullo, somebody's overboard from the ship!" cried a young man, who sat
at the bow of the sloop. "Port your helm, Bob, or you'll run into him!"
The helm was thrown over, and the sloop veered around. Then Nelson set
up a shout.
"Help! Pick me up!" he cried. "On board the sloop! Help!"
"We'll pick you up, don't fear!" cried the young fellow at the bow, and
the sloop came around and the mainsail was lowered. The two young men on
the craft were skillful sailors, and soon came within reach of Nelson.
One held out a boathook, and presently our hero was hauled on board.
"It's a lucky thing we were near by, or you might have been drowned,"
said the young man called Bob. "Isn't that so, Clarence?"
"That's true," answered Clarence Bell. "I see your ship isn't stopping
for you."
"She isn't my ship, and I don't want her to stop," answered Nelson,
shaking the water from him.
"Oh! Then you jumped overboard on purpose."
"I did, and I am thankful you picked me up. The captain who runs that
boat was going to carry me to the West Indies against my will."
"Great Cæsar! Bob, do you hear that?"
"I do," returned Bob Chalmer. "Was it a case of kidnaping?"
"Hardly that," replied Nelson. "I'll tell you the whole story, if you'd
like to hear it. Only I want to be sure that that boat doesn't put back
after me," he continued.
He watched the _Victory_ for fully five minutes but nothing was done
toward turning back, and at last he gave a great sigh of relief.
"I guess I'm safe," he remarked.
"You are, lad. But you had better take off those wet clothes, or you'll
take cold. You'll find a dry suit in the cuddy."
This was sensible advice, and Nelson followed it. As soon as he had
donned the other suit he sat down and told how he had chased Billy
Darnley on board the _Victory_, and of what had followed.
"Humph! that captain is pretty hard-hearted," remarked Clarence Bell.
"He ought to be arrested," put in Bob Chalmer. "You were lucky to get
away. I guess that thief is out of your reach now."
"Well, anyway, I left him as sick as he could be," said Nelson, and
could not help but laugh over Darnley's woe-begone appearance. "He'll
have enough of the sea by the time he gets back."
From the young men he learned that they had been out for two days on a
fishing trip. They had had good luck, as the mess on board proved, and
they were now sailing for Manasquan Inlet, where they were boarding for
a few weeks.
"We belong in New York," said Bob Chalmer later. "And I guess we can see
you through all right."
"I'll be much obliged, if you would," said Nelson. "I'll pay you back as
soon as I reach the city." And then he told of the news stand, and the
business he and Van Pelt were doing.
The breeze was as brisk as ever, and it veered around, so that the sloop
made the Inlet without difficulty. They ran up the river to a small
collection of cottages and boathouses known as Reefer's. Here they tied
up, and Nelson went ashore, wearing the old fishing suit he had
borrowed.
"You can't get home to-night, so you shall stay with us," said Bob
Chalmer, and procured a room at one of the cottages for Nelson. Tired
out, our hero slept well. But he arose early, and by that time his own
clothes were dry, and he put them on.
"I've got a railroad ticket in my pocket good from Lakewood to New
York," said Chalmer, while they were having breakfast. "It's a limited
ticket and runs out to-morrow. Why can't you use that? You can have it
at half price."
"How far is Lakewood from here?"
"Not over six or seven miles. The stage will take you over for fifteen
cents."
"That will suit me," answered our hero. "I've got half a dollar left."
"Oh, I'll lend you some money, Nelson!"
"No; I won't need it."
The matter was talked over, and our hero took the ticket. Quarter of an
hour later he was on the stage, bound for Lakewood.
It was a clear day, and the ride among the smooth roads was thoroughly
enjoyable. Yet Nelson thought but little of the journey. His mind was
filled with his personal affairs. He wondered what Van Pelt thought of
his continued disappearance.
"He'll think I've captured Darnley sure," he reasoned. "Well, what's
happened can't be helped, and I'm lucky to escape, I suppose."
On and on went the stage, making good time, for the team was fresh.
When about two miles from Lakewood they reached a bend, where the road
was being repaired.
A steam roller was at work, and at this one of the horses grew
frightened and started to run away. His mate went with him, and in a
twinkle the stage was bumping along at a high rate of speed.
"Stop! stop!" shrieked a lady sitting near Nelson. "Stop, or we'll all
be killed!"
"Whoa! whoa!" roared the stage-driver, and tried to pull the horses in.
But his lines were old, and suddenly one snapped, and then the horses
went along faster than ever.
Not far down the road were several heaps of stone, to be used in
repairing the highway, and the team headed directly for the first of
these heaps. The driver tried to sheer them around, but with one line
gone was nearly helpless, and in a second more the stage struck the
pile and went over with a crash. Then the horses came to a halt.
No one was seriously injured by the mishap, although the lady who had
cried out was much shaken up. Soon all gathered around, to learn the
extent of the damage to the stage.
It was found that one of the front wheels was knocked to pieces. The
driver was much downcast, and knew not what to do.
"I'll have to leave the turnout here and go back to Berry's shop for a
new wheel, I suppose," he said. He could not state how soon he would
return, or how soon the stage would be ready to start forward once more.
"How far is it to the Lakewood railroad station from here?" questioned
Nelson.
"Not over a mile and a half."
"Then I'll walk it, if you'll show me the shortest road."
"The shortest road is that over yonder," answered the stage-driver. "It
aint no good for driving, but it's plenty good enough for hoofing it."
"Thanks," said Nelson, and without waiting he started off to walk the
remainder of the journey.
He had still an hour and a half before the train would be due at
Lakewood, so he took his time and often stopped to look at the dense
woods and the beautiful green fields.
"What a difference between this and New York streets!" he said to
himself. "And how quiet it is! I don't believe I could sleep here at
night, it would be so still!"
At length he came within sight of an old cottage, where a woman was
hanging up a small wash on a line. Feeling thirsty, he resolved to go
into the yard and ask her for a drink of water.
But no sooner had he set foot in the weedy garden than the woman came
running toward him, waving him away.
"Don't want to buy anything!" she cried shrilly. "Don't want to buy! Go
away!"
"I haven't anything to sell," answered Nelson, with a smile. "I was
going to ask for a drink of water."
"Oh!" The woman eyed him suspiciously. "Water, did you say?"
"Yes; I'd like a drink."
"The well is mighty poor here. You can get a drink up to the next
house."
"Very well," returned Nelson, and started to leave the garden. As he did
so he heard a sudden crash of glass and, looking up, saw some panes
from a window in an upper room of the cottage fall to the ground.
"Nelson! Nelson! Help me!" came the unexpected cry.
"My gracious!" burst out our hero, in bewilderment. "Gertrude! What does
this mean?"
"I am held a prisoner," answered Gertrude. "Save me!"
"A prisoner?"
"Yes, Nelson. You will help me, won't you?"
"To be sure I'll help you. But--but who did this?"
"My cousin, Mr. Bulson."
"The scoundrel! Is he here now?"
"I think not. But he may come back at any moment."
"Go away from here!" shrieked Sarah Higgins, in alarm. "Go away! That
girl is crazy!"
"I guess you are crazy!" returned Nelson hotly. "Stand aside and let me
get into the house."
"No, no! You must go away!" went on Sarah Higgins.
Then of a sudden she leaped back and ran for the cottage with might and
main. Reaching it, she closed the door and locked it. Then she appeared
at a near-by window, armed with a rolling-pin.
"Don't you dast come in!" she shrieked. "If you do, you'll have to take
the consequences!" And she flourished the rolling-pin defiantly.