It was in this happy frame of mind that they came in to the little float that had been made by using a number of empty water-tight oil barrels; and from which the boat was to be launched, as well as taken from the water.
Every one of them felt thankful it had not been their craft that had met with disaster on this sunny afternoon.
Of course, when the startling news was told to the crowd that lingered around the boat shed, it created a big sensation. As Buck really had no admirers present, few felt very sorry for him. He had long been the terror of the town, and every decent boy and girl went in his company as little as possible.
CHAPTER XVIII
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 sh.e.l.l 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.