"I see him," he whispered close to Jack"s ear. "He"s lying on the ground over by that stump of a tree."
Guided by these directions Jack was enabled to also place Clarence.
There was certainly a figure lying there, and it must be the companion of Joe; for the latter had said there were only two of the scoundrels.
Jack bobbed his head back in a hurry, after he had made this little survey of the enemy"s camp. For the big man had arisen to his feet, and started toward the very place where Clarence lay.
"Be ready!" muttered Jack, seeming to understand that the crisis must now be very close upon them.
Arriving at the spot, the giant bent over, and they could hear his growl as he spoke harshly:
"Made up yer mind yet, younker? Will ye write thet letter jest as we tell ye, and let a couple o" honest though unfortunit men have a square chanct to rake in a leetle pile? Speak up, now, d"ye hear?"
He accompanied his words by a brutal kick that gave Jack and George a spasm of anger.
"No! no! no!" shouted the obstinate Clarence, still undismayed; for his pluck was the best part of him, and had always been.
At that the big brute raised his heavy boot with ugly words. It was doubtless his full intention to dash it against the side of the helpless boy, regardless as to what the consequences might be. But he changed his mind.
"I wouldn"t do that if I were you, mister!" said Jack, in an even, clear voice, as he and George suddenly stood up in full sight.
He had covered the giant with his gun, and George was ready to do the same for the man with the pipe the instant he bounded to his feet.
"Stand still, both of you, or we"ll shoot!" George shouted.
This was a signal for the other three who were behind, and they suddenly made their appearance, waving their crude weapons menacingly.
The two men were apparently taken completely by surprise. They saw that the tables had been suddenly turned. And somehow, although these were only boys who confronted them, there was a grim air of business about those unwavering guns that neither of the cowards fancied at all.
Jack had not known what the result was going to be. He hardly antic.i.p.ated that the men would dare attack them in the face of those weapons. And he had arranged with George that should they show signs of flight, no one was to raise a hand to prevent them.
When therefore the giant gave vent to a whoop and turning, galloped toward the water"s edge, neither of the boys pulled trigger; though Josh let out a shout as though he might be chasing after; which he was not, all the same, for he did not fancy the looks of either of the rascals.
The second man took to his heels also, dodging to the right and left in a ridiculous manner, as if expecting every second to hear the crash of Jack"s gun, and feel himself being peppered with bird shot.
They could be seen tumbling madly into their rowboat, and pushing out on the lake with all possible speed.
"Let "em go!" said Josh, grandly, as he replaced his bread knife in the leather scabbard he had made for it, so as to avoid any chance of cutting his fingers by coming in contact with its keen edge, when rummaging in the locker aboard the _Wireless_, where the cooking things were kept.
Jack was already stooping over Clarence, and in a jiffy had severed the cords that bound him hand and foot.
"I"m awful glad you came, Jack!" said the other weakly. "I believe that coward would have killed me if I didn"t give in to him."
"Here, work your arms and legs as fast as you can, Clarence!" said George. "We"ve got to get out of this in a hurry now, or they might even find the _Comfort_, and run away with her. You"re going back with us, you know. Joe got in and told us."
The two men having put what they thought a safe distance between themselves and the boys, began to shout insulting remarks, and make the most terrible threats. Although they could not be seen out on the lake, it was not so difficult to know in what quarter they chanced to be at the time.
Angered by the insults, as well as the cruel manner in which they had treated Clarence and Joe, George picked up the shot gun which Jack had lain down for a minute, and before any one could stop him had discharged it.
That some of the many little lead pellets in that sh.e.l.l had stung the profane scoundrels in the rowboat, the boys understood from the howl that arose, followed by the splashing of oars, telling that they were pulling madly away before a second shot added to their troubles.
"Now come with us, Clarence," said Jack.
They did not have to be so careful making their way back to where they had left the steady going old _Comfort_. And once aboard, the return trip was quickly accomplished. In camp Clarence was soon given all the food and coffee he could manage; and he professed himself as very grateful for all the motor boat boys had done for him.
Since his speed boat had met with so tragic an end, Clarence declared that he had had enough of cruising, and would start straight home as soon as they reached the Soo, if the boys would lend them enough money to buy tickets--which programme he and Joe carried out; nor were our six friends at all sorry to see them vanish from view.
Leaving the Soo, Jack and his chums spent almost two weeks upon the crooked St. Mary"s river, camping, fishing and enjoying themselves to the utmost. But never did they touch on Canadian soil but that poor Buster seemed to be dreadfully uneasy, sticking close to the fire, and breathing a sigh of genuine relief when once more afloat, with no unpleasant reminders wafted after them.
Jack and Nick had made up a little programme for themselves, which they sprung upon their comrades later, when leaving the three boats at Milwaukee to be sent by rail to the home town on the Upper Mississippi.
This was nothing more nor less than saying good-bye to the rest of the boys in Milwaukee, and taking a little run down to Chicago, "to see the sights, you know," as Nick cleverly put it. But everybody guessed that the greatest attraction which all Chicago could boast for the deserters would be found within the borders of Oak Park, and under the roof of the banker, Mr. Roland Andrews.
And so the great cruise had finally come to an end. Looking back the boys found no reason to regret their course. True, there might be a number of incidents that would stand out for a long time with a bit of harshness; but time mellows all such things; and even Buster would laugh just as heartily as any of his chums when his adventure with the bull, or the pretty Canada p.u.s.s.y-cat, were mentioned.
They had had such a glorious time of it that undoubtedly other trips must be talked over during the coming winter; and with the coming of the holiday season once again the motor boat boys would be found ready to set out again on their search for new adventures.
Jocko went home with George and was a source of considerable costly amus.e.m.e.nt in the Rollins" home.
We shall surely hope and expect to continue the pleasant acquaintance formed in the pages of the several books already published; and in new fields accompany Jack Stormways and his chums, with their gallant little boats, through other scenes, where true American pluck and endurance, such as they have always shown, must carry them through all perils to success.
THE END