LYING IN WAIT
Fred, after some time, saw that Bristles was lingering nearby while he
chatted with Flo and some of the others. He fancied that the boy with
the mop of hair was trying to catch him alone, as though he wanted to
say something in private.
That caused Fred to remember that he knew something which Bristles
would give considerable to hear; and it also pained him to think that
his promise to Miss Muster would prevent him from telling, until she
gave the word.
But then perhaps it might be something not so personal that Bristles
wished to say to him. Fred had noticed the way the other looked, at the
time they were leaving Buck and his shipwrecked crew down the river.
And perhaps he had made the same discovery that Bristles had.
Flo Temple, about that time, declared she must be running home, and
left, accompanied by some of the other girls, her chum, Cissy Anderson,
whom Sid liked; and Mame Wells, the little hoyden sister of Sid, who
seemed to be more than, half boy, because she dearly loved to play
baseball, ice hockey, go fishing, and even aspired to go hunting when
she got older, and her father would buy her a gun.
Thus Fred saw no reason why he should any longer hold aloof from
Bristles, who immediately came bustling up to him, with a mysterious
wink, and drew him aside.
"I made up my mind I ought to say something to a few of the fellows,
Fred," he began, by remarking; "and you're one of the select. Colon and
Corney I've seen already, and they're of the same opinion as myself."
"Well, what's all this row about, Bristles?" asked Fred, somewhat
amused; and at the same time pleased because the other did not seem
about to put questions to him which he might find it difficult to
dodge, without arousing suspicion.
"Why, about Buck, to be sure," replied the other, confidentially.
"But since his boat has gone to flinders, isn't he out of the game
altogether?" demanded Fred.
"That's just it, Buck being out of business is the kind of a fellow who
can't bear to see anybody else prospering. He won't have a boat for the
whole summer; and we have. All the fun's going to come our way. That
makes Buck grit his teeth, and feel ugly. Are you following me, Fred?"
"Sure I am, and it might be I understand what you're going to say
better than you think I do," answered the one addressed, with a smile
on his face.
"Looky here, did you see how Buck glared at our boat when we started
off, and did you notice the cunning expression, almost like a grin,
that came over his face? Tell me that, Fred Fenton."
"Yes, I saw all that," answered Fred.
"And what did you think it stood for?" queried Bristles.
"Oh! I just kind of thought Buck was wishing we'd run on a snag, the
same way he did, and lost our boat, too, replied Fred, promptly; at
which Bristles chuckled.
"I see you're on, all right, Fred," he continued; "but as you don't
know Buck quite as well as some of the rest of us, you're not on to his
curves as much. Now, I'm willing to risk my reputation on it that when
Buck eyed our boat, and then let that half grin come on his black face,
he was thinking how easy it would be to make sure that something
_did_ happen to upset all our calculations."
"Do you mean he'd put a snag in the course, so that Brad would run on
it, never dreaming there was such a thing there?" asked the indignant
Fred.
"Huh! worse than that," pursued Bristles with vehemence; "Buck wouldn't
stop a minute to hack our boat to pieces, or even set fire to that old
shed, if he believed he could do it on the sly, and not be caught!"
Fred saw that his chum meant every word of what he said. The idea was
startling.
"That's a pleasant lookout then, we've got before us, Bristles," he
observed.
"All right, it's what I believe, just the same," the other went on,
firmly. "If we let things just slide along I give you my word some fine
night we'll be aroused by the fire whistle, and get down here in time
to find the boathouse ablaze, and our new shell ruined for keeps."
"If that seems to be the opinion of several of the boys, we ought to do
something to prevent it," Fred declared, positively.
"That just brings me to the point," ventured Bristles. "Are you in with
our little bunch--Colon, Corney, perhaps Sid, and me?"
"I'm ready and willing to do anything I can to defend the boat, if that
is what you mean," came the ready response.
"Shake on it, then. Wait here till I send the other fellers around.
Then we'll just have a little confab, and see what we can fix up. I'll
sound Sid while we're coming along; though if you're in, he's sure to
say yes, because he always sticks by you like a plaster."
A minute later Colon arrived, wearing a serious look; and then Corney
followed. The three had just got started talking when Bristles hove in
sight, bearing Sid along with him.
"Here we are, now, the whole big five," Bristles said, loftily, as he
came up. "Now, let's go all over this thing, and see if we agree."
He again told what he had seemed to read upon the malignant face of
Buck at the time they left him standing knee-deep in the river.
Afterwards he called on Fred to describe what he had seen, and the
impression it made on him at the time.
"You see!" Bristles cried, triumphantly, in conclusion; "both of us
thought about the same thing. Buck is up to some meanness. He would be
just delighted if we lost our boat, because he doesn't like to see
anybody having a good time when he can't be doing the same. And as it
isn't likely we'll hit a snag, or set fire to the old shanty ourselves,
why, he might think to save us the trouble."
"Then there's only one thing to be done," said Colon, with set lips.
"We five must guard the boat each night!" declared Bristles.
"Right along?" exclaimed Corney, with something like dismay in his
voice; "sure I'm willing to do all I can, but I must sleep once in a
while!"
At that the others laughed.
"Don't be silly, Corney!" burst out Bristles. "Of course we'll take the
job by relays. We can draw for to-night, the two getting the short
straws bunking out in the house. After it gets dark blankets can be
smuggled down here. Don't say a single word to anybody, not even Brad
just now. Fred, you've got the key to the door; haven't you?"
"Yes, Brad asked me to keep it at our house for the present," replied
Fred.
"Now, let's draw, and see who has the honor of keeping the first
watch," and as he spoke Bristles hunted around until he had found five
straws, which he broke off until they were all different lengths.
Each of the other four drew, after Bristles had concealed one end in
the palm of his hand.
"Now measure and see. Oh! slush!" he continued, eagerly; "you left me
the longest, after all, when I was hoping it'd be me. And it turns out
to be Colon and Fred. Well, fellows, here's wishing you luck. To-morrow
night I'm just bound to do the camping-out act, anyhow."
When Fred got home he explained to his folks the necessity of some of
the crew guarding the boat. His father quite agreed with him, and
readily gave permission that he spend the night out.
So, a little later, Fred bundled up a blanket, and made his way down
along the river bank unseen. In due time he came to where the old
building, squatty and dilapidated, stood under the bank.
A dark figure arose in front of him. He heard the low whistle that he
and Colon had agreed upon as a signal each might recognize in the dark.
"Glad you came along," Colon declared; "was just getting tired waiting;
been here half an hour, 'cause I heard the church clock strike; but it
seemed like five times as long."
Fred opened the door carefully, and they entered the shed. A lantern
hung on a hook nearby, ready for use. They would need its light so as
to get things in readiness for passing the night. Besides, Colon had a
little idea of his own he wanted to put into practice; and which had
been suggested by the sight of a big empty hogshead that stood outside
the door, on the shelving beach.
"I'm going to lay a neat little trap, and see what luck I have," he
chuckled as Fred asked why he wanted the lantern, after they had fixed
their blankets and made ready for taking things easy.
Colon was gone quite some little time. Fred could hear him working away
like a beaver at something. And as a rope seemed to figure in the
affair he felt a little curiosity to know what sort of a trap the
ingenious fellow could be constructing, all by himself.
Finally tall Colon came in again.
"It's all fixed, and the door locked once more, Fred," he said.
"Then the quicker you blow that glim out the better," remarked the
other; "for you see, one of those fellows might come around to spy out
the land, and noticing a light in here, he'd be suspicious."
Colon took the hint, and put out the lantern, which, however, was kept
near, so that in case of a sudden alarm it could be quickly brought
into use again.
After that the two lads made themselves fairly comfortable, though they
did not remove their shoes. In case of trouble they wanted to be in
condition for active and immediate work.
Fred had filled several old buckets, so as to be ready to fight fire.
And for a little while they lay there, occasionally whispering to one
another.
Finally Colon went to sleep. Fred knew this from his steady breathing;
and since he was feeling more or less tired himself, after the
strenuous labor of rowing in the afternoon just passed, he too allowed
his senses to be lulled into the land of Nod.
How time passed Fred had not the remotest idea, when he was suddenly
awakened by a terrific clamor, that, to his excited imagination,
sounded like a railroad train running off the track, and smashing into
a kitchen, where the walls were lined with all manner of tinware.
Both he and Colon sat up suddenly.