The Heroes of the School Part 23

The supplies were purchased and, in a little while the other boys arriving took Bart and Fenn aboard. Then the trip up the river was resumed. They kept on until late in the afternoon, as their double breakfast did away with the necessity for dinner. On the way they pa.s.sed a number of steamers and barges bound for Lake Erie. Some of them were loaded with lumber and other commodities, while several were going up the river empty, to get freight.

The boys found a fine place to camp that night and liked it so well they remained there three days. They had pleasant weather and thoroughly enjoyed themselves, paddling about, fis.h.i.+ng and going in swimming.

They decided they would go no further up the stream, and, having camped out at their last stop for another day they packed up for the return trip. The weather, which had been fine, seemed threatening, and they had not brought along clothing or blankets which would serve in case of rain.

"We'll make it in two stages," said Bart, referring to the home journey.

"One night's camp will fix it so's we'll not be all tired out when we get home."

They started early in the morning, and planned to camp just above Woodport. It was nearly dusk when they neared the town.

"Hark!" exclaimed Ned, as the boats were gliding along close to sh.o.r.e.

"Do you fellows hear anything?"

They all listened.

"Sounds like some one paddling a canoe behind us," spoke Bart.

"That's what I think. I've been hearing it for the last ten minutes,"

Ned went on. "Some one is following us."

"Maybe it's that tramp," suggested Fenn.

"I'm going to find out," Ned remarked. "You and Frank row along slowly, Bart, and I'll surprise whoever it is."

It was now quite dark. The noise made by the oars drowned the sound of the paddles, if the unknown was still following the chums.

Ned was busy in the stern of the boat. He twisted a torch from papers and then soaked the end in kerosene oil from the lantern they had.

"Stop rowing," he whispered to his chums, "but keep the oars in motion so they'll make a noise as if we were still going. He'll think we're are on the move and keep after us."

Frank and Bart did as Ned suggested. They could not hear the sound of the paddle but Ned could. Suddenly there was a little glow of light as Ned struck a match. Then there was a burst of flame as the oil-soaked paper caught. Ned tossed it away from the boat. It blazed up brightly and in the glare, as it floated on the water, the boys saw a canoe just behind them.

But the greatest surprise was occasioned by a sight of the paddler. As the light gleamed on him the chums saw he was Sandy Merton.

"Sandy!" exclaimed Ned.

Then the light went out, making the darkness blacker than before.

CHAPTER XXI

AT THE FAIR

"Quick! Hand me some more paper!" exclaimed Ned.

Bart pa.s.sed him a wad. Without stopping to put oil on it Ned lighted the twisted torch. As the flame grew in brightness he held it above his head to cast a glow over the water. But there was no canoe in sight save the one trailing behind their own boat.

"He's gone!" exclaimed Fenn.

"Well, we found out who it was," remarked Ned, "and that's something."

"It would be more to find out why he was following us," came from Frank.

"Maybe he's camping around here," suggested Bart.

"If he is, he was quite a way from camp," put in Ned. "I'd been hearing soft paddling behind us for the last two miles and I determined to see who it was."

"Guess he didn't want to be seen, by the way he disappeared in such a hurry," Fenn remarked.

"We'll have to keep watch to-night," said Bart. "We don't want Sandy or any of his friends sneaking around."

"That's right," a.s.sented Ned.

They lighted the lantern and, by the gleam of it, and by that from a fire they kindled on sh.o.r.e, they made their camp. A hasty meal was prepared and then the shelter tent was put up. A big pile of brushwood was collected for the fire and, dividing the night into four watches, of which Bart took the first, they spread out the blankets and the other three prepared to sleep.

But the weather, which had favored them all their trip, turned against them now. It began to rain about ten o'clock and from then, until morning, there was a steady downpour.

However they made the best of it, though the tent did leak, and the fire refused to do anything more than smoulder. It was rather a cheerless breakfast they had, for the coffee was only lukewarm and the bacon half done. But they made jokes about it and soon were on their way down the river.

"Guess it was too wet for Sandy," observed Bart, as he tilted his hat so the rain would not drip down his neck.

They left the canoe at Riverton and made the best time possible to Darewell. Wet through, but happy in spite of it all they reached their homes, fully satisfied with their trip.

The next morning as Fenn was taking a short cut across lots to get to Frank's house, he heard a noise as though two birds were calling to one another in a little clump of bushes. The notes came clear and sweet and Fenn paused to catch a sight of the songsters. As he did so something in the bushes moved, a robin flew out and John Newton came into view. As he did so Fenn realized that John was one of the "birds."

"What were you doing?" asked Fenn, who was once more on friendly, if not intimate terms with John.

"Practicing that robin call."

"What for?"

"I'm learning to imitate all kinds of birds," replied John.

"Thought you were working as special delivery messenger at the postoffice?"

"I was but I gave it up. Too much inside. I want to get out where I can hear the birds. I can imitate twenty different kinds now."

"What good is it?"

"Maybe I can get a job on the stage some day, and it will come in handy.

I heard a fellow in a theater orchestra try to imitate a bird once, and it wasn't anything as good as I can do."

"If you get on the stage I'll come and see you," said Fenn, little thinking that his promise was some day to come true.

"Thanks," replied John, as he walked off across the field, looking for more birds to practice with, while Fenn went on to Frank's house.