MYSTERIOUS STRANGERS
Under the forward gates, and through openings in them, the water was
still bubbling and foaming, seeking to establish a level with that on
the other side of the barrier. Lower and lower sank the bow of the
barge, for it was held fast on the beam. The _Modoc_ heeled over more
and more.
"Shut off the water!" again cried the captain.
Then the attendants at the lock were made aware that something was
wrong. Orders were shouted; men ran to and fro. With immense levers they
shut the flood gates, and, slowly and sullenly, as though cheated of its
prey, the bubbling subsided.
"We must pull the barge back!" cried one of the lock men, running up
along the cement wall.
"No, don't do that," advised Captain Wiggs, as he stood on the bridge of
his vessel, while the boys, who were much alarmed by the impending
accident, had joined him, for they were permitted the run of the ship.
"Why not?" asked the man. "We've got to free her from that gate beam."
"Yes, but if you pull her out from under the edge of that beam suddenly,
she's sure to bound up, and then she'll come slap-bang against the side
of my craft. Besides, I think she's held so tight that you can't pull
her back."
"What shall we do?" asked the man, recognizing that Captain Wiggs knew
what he was about.
"Let the water out from the rear gate," was his suggestion. "That will
lower my vessel and the barge gradually. They'll assume their right
positions, and no damage will be done. Then you can raise us again, and
be sure no more ropes break. I don't want an accident like that again."
The captain's advice was followed. When the water ceased coming in the
forward gate, the men ran to the rear one and opened the valves there.
Out rushed the imprisoned fluid, boiling and bubbling at a great rate.
Slowly the two big vessels began to sink. The barge swung away from the
_Modoc_ and then, a little later, when the water had fallen sufficiently,
the bow was released from the projecting beam. The two crafts were now
in the same positions they had been in when they first entered the lock.
Men hastily fastened heavier ropes to the barge, and took several turns
about strong bitts, so the ship could not again drift into danger. Then
the flood was once more allowed to enter the lock.
Again the vessels rose, and this time, without mishap, they were floated
to the higher level of the canal. The forward gates were opened and out
toward Lake Superior steamed the _Modoc_, followed by the slower grain
barge. The boys looked around them, being able to get a better view now,
as they were some distance higher, being on a level with the top of the
falls, off to their right. They saw a long string of vessels, some
waiting to enter the locks to proceed east, while others were coming
west.
"That was a narrow escape," remarked Bart, when the ship was again
proceeding along.
"Yes, we seem to be sort of up against lots of hard luck this trip,"
remarked the captain. "I think you boys must be responsible."
"How?" asked Fenn, for the captain looked serious.
"Why, you're regular Jonahs. If there were any whales in these waters
I'd try the experiment of throwing one of you overboard, to see if I
couldn't change my luck."
"I'd be willing to jump over and take a swim," volunteer Ned. "It looks
nice and cool in there, and it's hot up here."
It was a warm July day, and the weather was humid and unpleasant.
"Maybe when we get further out on Lake Superior, and come to some good
place to tie up, I'll give you a chance to take a dip," responded the
commander. "I'd like one myself."
"Ned must take care not to go to sleep, or he'll be carried under by a
big fish," suggested Fenn, taking precautions to get beyond the reach of
his chum's arm.
The _Modoc_ touched at a port of call that afternoon, and Captain Wiggs
found awaiting him a message which changed matters so that he did not
have to be in any hurry to conclude his voyage.
"This will give us a chance to lay-to, and go ashore," he said to the
boys. "You might as well have a good time while you are on this cruise.
No telling when you'll get another."
It was a day after this, one of the hottest that the boys ever
remembered, that the _Modoc_ came to anchor off shore, near a little
bay, on the edge of which, and about three miles away from where they
laid-to, was a good-sized town.
"Now for a swim!" exclaimed Ned. "Can we take the boat and go ashore,
captain?"
The desired permission being given, the four chums were soon rowing
toward where they saw a sandy beach, that seemed to be put there on
purpose for bathing. They hauled the boat up on shore and soon were
disporting themselves in the water.
"Oh, this is something like!" exclaimed Fenn, as he proceeded to float
with nothing but his face out of the water.
"Yes, you look just like a baby crocodile," replied Frank.
"I do, eh?" asked Fenn, diving suddenly and coming up under Frank, whom
he ducked unceremoniously.
"Here! Quit-erurgle-gurgle!" called the luckless one, as he sank out of
sight.
Then the boys began to play tricks on each other, had impromptu races
and diving contests, and enjoyed themselves to the limit in the cool
water.
"Let's dress and go on a little exploring trip," proposed Fenn, after
they had spent an hour in the lake. "We've got time enough before we
have to go aboard."
His suggestion was well received, and soon the four chums were strolling
back from the lake, through the dense woods that bordered it. They had
not gone far before Frank, who was in advance, suddenly halted. He
motioned to the others to approach silently, and they joined him on
tip-toe.
"What is it?" asked Ned.
Frank pointed through the bushes. Beyond the screen of the underbrush
the boys could see a road. It did not seem to be much traveled, but what
attracted their attention was a big automobile, drawn back, and almost
hidden in the thicket.
"The machine's been abandoned," was Bart's opinion. "It is probably
broken."
"Hush!" cautioned Frank, and not a moment too soon, for, at that instant
two men stepped cautiously out of the bushes near the auto. One of them
produced a telescope, and pointed it at the lake, which was just visible
through the trees.
The boys looked at the man. He seemed a rough sort of fellow, with an
unpleasant face. He was poorly dressed, and the lads noticed that,
standing against a tree near him, was a rifle.
But it was a sight of the man's companion which caused the boys to stare
again and wonder. For the second man was a Chinese, though he wore
American clothes. Under his hat, however, could be seen the tell-tale
queue.
The white man handed his Celestial companion the telescope, and murmured
something to him, evidently in Chinese. The other replied and applied
the glass to his eye. No sooner had he done so that he uttered an
exclamation, and began jumping about.
The other man snatched the glass and took a look. Then they both talked
very excitedly, pointing to the lake and then at the auto.
"I wonder what they can be up to?" whispered Fenn.
At that moment he stepped on a loose branch. It broke with a sharp
report, and the Chinaman and the white man glanced to where the boys
were hidden.
"Come on!" exclaimed Frank. "They may come after us!"