BUSTER TAKES HOPE.
"Hello!" called Jack, as he discovered George standing ashore near his
speed boat, waving a hand at him. "What's all this mean? Had another
breakdown already, after that dandy job done to your motor?"
"Shucks! No. Engine seems to be working to beat the band. But the
fact is, Jack, I'm getting tired of camping with only a cemetery for
company. Nick can't think of anything but eating; and those plagued
old wings he misplaced somewhere just before we started on this run.
So I made up my mind I'd hold up at this fine camping site, and spend a
night with you fellows."
"Yes," cried Nick, as he came bustling along, "and you'll be glad we
held up, too, when you set eyes on the bully little smoked ham I bought
from a coon this afternoon. I told George it was a shame some of the
others couldn't be along to enjoy a slice; and do you know, he took me
up like a flash, saying he'd been thinking the same thing. So when we
ran across this place we drew in."
"What time was that, Nick?" asked Jack, smiling.
"I asked George, and he said half-past one," replied the fat boy,
hastening to get out his prize smoked pork and exhibit the same to the
admiration of Jimmie.
"That so? Well, you did make fast time of it," remarked the skipper of
the _Tramp_. "No use talking, George, that engine of yours does the
trick; if you can only depend on it from now on, the cup is going to be
yours for a dead certainty."
"Barring some accident, such as being upset in the big waves from
steamboats," remarked Nick, shaking his head dubiously at several
recollections that did not seem to give him much happiness. "My! you
don't know just how we wallow, and nearly flop over on our beam ends at
such times. I think I lose six ounces of flesh every narrow escape we
have from swamping; and I keep wishing I had----"
"Stop right there!" shouted George. "Didn't I say I'd jump you if you
ever gave another peep about those blessed things. Use the wings
nature gave you the right way, and you'll swim like a goose. Why, you
just _couldn't_ go under. You'd be like an empty bottle with a cork in
the neck, floating around."
Jack and Jimmie were laughing heartily at this little passage between
the nervous skipper of the speed boat and his plump crew. But Nick
made no answer, only looked reproachfully at George, as though
wondering to what lengths his ingratitude would take him.
A short time later the others were astonished to see Nick come forth
from the interior of the _Wireless_, upon which the tent had been
erected, disrobed, but still wearing the cork life preserver about his
body.
The air was none too warm, for it was now about the start of November;
but evidently Nick had made up his mind to put into practice the idea
Jack had advanced, and over which he had evidently been brooding the
live-long day.
He stepped into the water, drew his foot up as if its coldness chilled
him; then with a firm look on his fat face, pushed on until he was
waist deep. Then he turned an appealing look toward Jack, which the
other could not find it in his heart to resist.
"All right, Buster," he called out, waving his hand encouragingly.
"Just wait five minutes, and I'll be with you. Perhaps a little
ducking may be a good tonic, and make us enjoy that fine home-smoked
ham you grabbed."
Jimmie was ready to follow suit, but George declared he did not feel
any too warm as it was, and for one, hardly cared to take a bath. So
he busied himself in getting various things ready against supper time.
Jack was an obliging fellow at all times. He realized that this notion
of learning how to swim had become the one dominant idea in the
obstinate mind of the fat boy; and that the sooner he started to take
lessons the quicker they would have peace.
Besides, now that the motor boat boys had organized a regular club, and
expected to take numerous excursions on the water, it was only right
that every member of the organization should know how to save himself
in case of a spill.
And so he willingly started to show Nick how easy it was to float in
the still waters of the lagoon; also what little effort it required to
kick his feet and swing his arms in a way to make forward progress.
George occasionally stepped to the bank to watch operations, and call
out various things, sometimes sarcastic and again complimentary.
"Bully boy!" he yelled after seeing Nick actually keep himself afloat a
whole minute amid the greatest splashing ever known. "You're getting
it down fine, old chap! Keep going next time. Never mind if you use
up all the water in the lagoon. Plenty more in the river, you know!"
Nick felt much encouraged, and that was half the battle.
"I'm going to keep at it every chance I get, till I've mastered all the
kinks," he declared enthusiastically a short time later, as he came out
and began to rub himself industriously with a towel. "Yes, siree,
before this cruise is over I'll know how to swim even if I did lose
them----"
"Beware!" thundered George. "It's as much as your life is worth to
breathe that name again. From this time on you talk about cork aids to
swimming. And I reckon that I'm just going to be pestered to death
after this with whines, because I won't stop the boat every few miles
to let this elephant disport himself in the water. Next trip we take,
my man, it's you to the _Comfort_, hear?"
"Oh! I'd made up my mind to that long ago," replied Nick, coolly;
"that is, if Herb will take me, and Josh wants to try balancing himself
on an apple seed. Somehow I just don't seem to fit aboard a speed
boat. I need elbow room."
The night coming on, they started supper. Of course, it was to be
cooked ashore, for even the ardent lover of the narrow-beam boat
admitted that cooking was a most serious problem aboard such a cranky
craft, and he would be only too glad to make use of the camp fire that
had been kindled.
Jimmie and Nick busied themselves, as they were supposed to be the
cooks of the two racing craft; but the others were not averse to
lending a hand at times. In this manner then, the meal was made ready;
and had a hungry wanderer come within fifty yards of that spot just
then he must have sniffed the fragrant odors of frying ham and boiling
Java coffee until he would be almost distracted.
The four lads sat around the fire while eating, and laughed as they
spoke of the many things connected with the cruise thus far.
"Wish the others could only happen along just now," remarked Jack.
"That would be nice," admitted George.
"Why, yes," came from Nick, always thinking of his pet subject; "it
wouldn't be very much trouble to cut a couple more slices off that ham,
and slap it in the frying pan. Kind of wish now, myself, I'd cooked a
teenty bit more. Just feel as if a few more mouthfuls would finish me."
The others looked at each other and roared; for certainly Nick had
devoured as much as any two of them; and seeing that Jimmie was a good
feeder that was surely "going some," as George put it.
It felt so "comfy," Nick remarked, sitting there by the fire, that none
of them seemed very anxious to go aboard and seek their beds. The sky
was still clouded over, and the moon, now in its first quarter, hidden
from view; which prospect of rain kept them from thinking of passing
the night ashore, as they might have done had the heavens been clear.
Finally, however, Nick himself began to yawn in a manner that told how
heavy his eyes were getting in the heat of the fire.
"I just hate to crawl in there, fellows," he grunted, as he slowly
arose to his knees, for it was always an effort for the fat boy to get
up, after sitting. "Makes me feel just like I'm in a coffin, to lie in
such narrow quarters. Why, I tell you, the skin's clean off my hips
and shoulders with rubbing against the sides of the boat. I'm going to
be a physical wreck yet, that's what."
"Well, if you get used to it now, you needn't worry when the time comes
to leave this old world," was all the satisfaction George gave him.
Jack lay there smiling, as he watched the fat boy heave, and finally
plant one foot on the ground preparatory to getting up. He was never
tired studying Nick, for he had an idea the other was not altogether so
stupid as he seemed; but that he carried on at times just to tease
George.
And as Jack continued to watch, he saw Nick give a sudden start, while
his hands shut in a nervous way. At the time he was apparently looking
beyond the fire, and toward the neighboring woods; for they were
camping in what seemed to be a lonely place, possibly miles from any
human habitation.
Apparently Nick had seen something, or he would not have given that
start. Jack immediately sat up and took notice.
"What's the matter, Buster?" as asked, quickly; and both the others,
hearing what he said, also started up.
The fat boy turned his head around. Signs of great excitement could be
seen in the working of his facial muscles, as well as in his staring
eyes.
"Good gracious!" he exclaimed, "it's a bear, fellows, as sure as you
live!"
"What?" ejaculated Jack, as he made a dive for the Marlin, which he
had, of course, taken ashore with him; while George also looked hastily
around to see where he had laid his rifle.
"Where did you see it?" demanded Jack, gaining his feet.
"It's right inside that big live oak yonder!" cried Nick, pointing a
trembling finger as he spoke. "It must be hollow, because I saw the
beast poke his old head out. He ducked back again like fun when he saw
me looking. A bear, fellows! Just think how many steaks he'd give us,
if we bagged him!"