CHAPTER x.x.x
A SWIM FOR LIFE
The shock came so suddenly that for the moment poor Randy scarcely realized what was happening. He went down and down and swallowed not a little of the river water.
When he came up, blowing and spluttering, he could see but little around him. Fortunately, he had gone off to the rear of the steamboat, thus escaping the danger of being struck by a paddle-wheel. All was so dark and the rain was so thick he could not make out the sh.o.r.e line.
"I"ve got to swim for it," he reasoned and struck out bravely.
It was no easy matter to keep afloat with so much clothing on. He listened, thinking he might hear the steamboat, but the roaring of the wind and rain drowned out every other sound.
Presently came another flash of lightning and then he saw the boat far ahead of him. No one but Peter Polk had witnessed his fall from the deck and n.o.body appeared to be coming to his a.s.sistance.
He kept his head well above water and at the next flash of lightning caught a glimpse of one of the river banks. Without further hesitation he struck out in that direction.
It was a long and exhausting swim and poor Randy thought he would never reach the sh.o.r.e. The current carried him far down the river, to where there was a small cove, lined with rocks on one side and bushes and trees on the other. He caught at some of the bushes desperately and at last pulled himself to a place of temporary safety.
For the time being our hero did nothing but try to get back his breath and his strength. In a general way he had an idea that he was some distance below the town of Catskill. What to do next he hardly knew.
"The first thing to do is to get out of this storm, I suppose," he told himself. "But that won"t do a great deal of good, since I can"t get any wetter than I already am."
Feeling a little bit rested, he presently got up and walked around the edge of the cove. Then he began to climb the river bank proper. It was hard work, but soon he came out on a river roadway and saw at a distance a hotel and half a dozen fashionable cottages.
"This looks familiar," he told himself. "Well, I declare, that place yonder must be the house at which Bob Bangs and his mother are stopping!"
Back of the house was a big barn and further to the rear was another building, used as a summerhouse and a place where oars and other things for small boats might be stored.
The summer storm was now letting up a bit. It was still raining, but the thunder and lightning had ceased and the wind had gone down. To get out of the rain and rest, Randy took himself to the summerhouse.
He was busy emptying the water from his shoes, when he heard somebody utter an exclamation and turning saw Bob Bangs standing near, umbrella in hand. The rich youth was staring at him in astonishment.
"Where did you come from?" he demanded, as he entered the summerhouse.
"From the river."
"You look pretty wet."
"I have been in the water quite some time."
"Oh! Did you fall overboard from the steamboat?"
"I did."
"You must be pretty careless," went on Bob, with a sneer.
"I certainly didn"t fall overboard because I wanted to," answered Randy as lightly as he could.
"Say, I understand you are trying to get my father into trouble,"
pursued the rich boy, throwing himself on a bench.
"Who told you that?"
"Never mind. You are hand-in-glove with the Bartlett crowd."
"Well, why shouldn"t I be, Bob Bangs? Jack is my dearest friend."
"Humph! I shouldn"t care for him for a friend."
"And he wouldn"t pick you for a chum," added Jack, quickly.
"I consider myself better than Jack Bartlett."
To this our hero did not answer.
"My dad is going to make it hot for old Bartlett," went on Bob. "He is going to sue him for defamation of character."
"When?"
"Oh, before a great while. Bartlett had no right to search our house and break open the safe."
"He had the law on his side."
"No, he didn"t. Just you wait till my dad brings suit. It will ruin the Bartletts."
"I hope not."
"How do you like being a steamboat deckhand?" went on the rich youth, to change the subject.
"Very well."
"It must be a dirty job," and Bob Bangs tilted his nose in the air.
"It might be worse."
"When I leave school I am going to be a lawyer."
"I hope you make a success of it."
"I shall--I am going to be one of the greatest lawyers in this country," added the rich boy, boastfully.
"Are your folks here?"
"My mother is. Dad is at the iron works."
"They tell me he isn"t doing very well there," said Randy.
"He is doing fine. He discharged some of the good-for-nothing hands, that"s all. Bartlett used to hire a lot of sticks."