Harry Gordon

“ Jule said. “He’s been lost in about every city we’ve come to, and I think he ought to be locked in the cabin just as soon as we touch the pier. It isn’t safe to turn him loose at night.”
“All right,” Alex agreed, “you may lock me up any old night when I want to sleep. That will keep me from standing guard.”
The boys anchored in a cove that night, well out of the wash of passing steamers, and in the middle of the following afternoon, saw the spires of Montreal. They gazed at the great mountainous bluff which lies above and beyond the city with wondering eyes. ”

“ Jule replied, “but I can scent the danger of it. Say, boy,” he added, “We’re going to have trouble when we go back to dig up the Fontenelle charter.”
“We came out for adventure, didn’t we?” asked Clay.
“Oh, I’m not kicking,” Jule exclaimed. “If I get mine, you’ll get yours, too. The only way to have any fun in this world is to go where the fun is. You can’t meet with adventures by staying in bed at home.” ”

“ Clay finally succeeded in quieting the dog, and Jule pushed on up the gully. At the very end, where the depression terminated in a wall of rock, he saw a faint column of smoke. A closer approach revealed a small fire of dry sticks with something cooking in a tin pail over the coals.
Jule stopped and considered the situation seriously.
“Now, I wonder,” he thought, “why Teddy didn’t make a fool of himself by rushing right up to Alex. I don’t believe he’s scared of the men, and, to tell the truth, I don’t see any men to be frightened at. Alex seems to be there alone. Wonder why he doesn’t run.” ”

“ Teddy, the cub, arose from the place where he had been lying, sniffed at the gunwale of the boat for an instant, and walked into the cabin.
“What’s the matter with our menagerie to-night,” demanded Alex. “There seems to be something in the air.”
“What do you see, Captain Joe?” asked Clay. “If it’s a man, and he’s got a letter, you go get it. Some other fellow may be wanting us to go South, or East, or West.” ”

“ Captain Morgan took the crude map into his hands and pointed to an egg-shaped peninsula reaching out into the St. Lawrence between the mouths of two rivers.
“There is said to be a lost channel somewhere in that vicinity,” he said, “and tradition has it that the papers and the jewels were hidden on its shore. The searchers, for years, have been in the hope of finding this lost channel. They have never succeeded.”
“Then we’re almost on the ground,” cried Jule. “Where do we go to reach this peninsula? We might be lucky enough to find this channel.”
“It doesn’t exist,” smiled Captain Morgan. ”

“ Pressing into the interior of the forest, the level grassy plateau having long since disappeared, the boys finally came to a small cleared glade and discovered the cause of Captain Joe’s enthusiasm.
Teddy, the cub, was standing with his back to the hole of a giant tree inviting the dog to a boxing match. Captain Joe’s clamor indicated only delight at the meeting with his friend.
Before showing themselves in the glade, the boys looked in every direction for some indication of the outlaws, but there was no sign of human life anywhere near them. ”

“ We haven’t got any time to waste hunting for you. So you stay on board the boat.”
Alex did not exactly like the idea of going quietly to bed, but he was finally induced to do so.
“Now,” said Captain Joe, as he stood alone on deck with Clay, “suppose we shove over to the other shore. Those fellows are wreckers, there is no doubt of that, and there is no sense in our mixing with them. If we stay here, they’ll prowl around the Rambler all night, and the bulldog will bark and the bear will growl, and it will be like sleeping in a boiler shop. ”

“ CHAPTER V—TEDDY GIVES AN EXHIBITION
“There is one sure thing,” Clay said, as the boys listened, “and that is that we have got to watch the Rambler to-night. I propose that we take down the hammocks and go back to our bunks.”
“It’s a shame to sleep in that little cabin,” Alex protested, “when we’ve got the whole wide world to snore in. Suppose you boys remain here on shore, and let me stand guard on the boat.”
“That will be nice!” Jule laughed. “Alex always gets his soundest sleep when he’s on guard.” ”

“ A volley of oaths and river billingsgate followed the remark, and blows which fairly shook the cabin came upon the sturdy panels.
While Clay sat listening, half resolved to make his way over to the pier and fire a few shots over the heads of the ruffians, a figure dropped lightly on the deck at his side and Teddy’s soft muzzle was pressed against his face. He stroked the bear gently.
“I don’t blame you for getting out of there, Teddy,” he said. “They’ll wreck the boat if we don’t do something pretty soon. What would you advise, old chap?” ”

“ He had not had a good chance to observe the visitor who had cut the cable, thus bring about the meeting with the steamer people, but it was his opinion that the canoeist was none other than the boy who had given his name as Max Michel. He anxiously awaited the arrival of the craft.
“If that is Max,” he thought, “he certainly has a well-developed nerve to come back to the Rambler after doing what he did.”
In a short time the canoe, coming steadily upstream, touched the hull of the motor boat, and its occupant clambered alertly to the deck. ”

“ Even in their haste to reach the boat, the animals could not avoid snapping and striking at each other, playfully. No more shots were heard, but presently a great tramping in the undergrowth came at the point where Joe and Teddy had made their appearance, indicating human presence there. All on board the Rambler anxiously awaited the appearance of those who were struggling in the jungle.
“Would the menagerie run away and leave the boys in captivity?” asked Fontenelle, as the bulldog and the bear cub were assisted, streaming, to the deck. “They seem to have had a long run.” ”

“ Fontenelle went on, “that the men you term ‘river pirates’ are pirates only for the purpose of this occasion. We have always been opposed in our quest for what father calls the lost channel.”
“Opposed everywhere in your searches?” Case asked, “or opposed only when you come to this section?”
“Opposed only in this vicinity,” answered Fontenelle, gazing keenly at the boy. “I see what you mean,” he added. “At least, your inference is that those who are opposing us really know more about the location of the charter and the jewels than we know ourselves, and that they believe them to be here.” ”

“ Teddy, who was an especial favorite of Alex’s, and never lost an opportunity of following him about, appeared to know exactly where he was going, for he maintained a steady pace for half an hour or more, keeping to the south shore of the creek for a time and then crossing on a fallen tree to the opposite bank.
“Now,” said Clay, “we ought not to follow close behind the cub. He makes as much noise as a freight train going up a steep grade, and we’ll be sure to be seen if the outlaws are anywhere about.” ”

“ Alex swept the river with the glass for a time and then passed it to Clay.
“There he goes,” he said, “away up the river, heading for St. Luce! That’s the boy who disconnected the electricity and cut the cable. That’s the boy who we will even up with when we catch him, too.”
“And you’re the boy who’ll wash dishes for a week for talking slang!” Jule taunted.
“I’d wash dishes for a month if I could get hold of that rat,” answered Alex, angrily. “He came near wrecking the Rambler!”
“Well,” Clay said, “we may as well be getting the motors into shape. We can’t stay on this island long.” ”

“ There may be a creek running in at the other side, but if there is, I never found it.”
“You seem to understand that district pretty well,” Clay laughed.
“Didn’t I tell you I knew the whole St. Lawrence river south, north, and bottom?” demanded the captain. “Why, when I took that load of provisions in for the surveyors, there were Indians enough along the shore to give a city a population as large as Chicago’s. And there were bears, and wolves, and deer, and beaver, and all sorts of wild creatures in the woods—thick as berries in a swamp.” ”

“ Before darkness settled down over the scene, the boys drew the Rambler a little farther up the stream and prepared to pass a watchful and anxious night.
Alex proposed that he go ashore with the bulldog and make an effort to find Clay, but the proposition was instantly vetoed by the others.
“You’ll get lost yourself,” Case declared, “and we’d have two boys to look up instead of one. I think we’d better all stay on the boat.”
“And that’s good sense, too,” Captain Joe put in. “Clay knows where we are, and he’ll come to us if he can get away. ”

“ The boys were getting ready with their automatics when they heard his voice speaking in great excitement.
“Captain Joe!” he cried. “Captain Joe! Where the dickens did you come from? What are you doing at Ogdensburg?”
“I might ask the same question of you,” replied the hearty old ex-captain. “To tell you the truth, lad,” he went on, “I’ve been so lonesome ever since you boys left the South Branch that I’ve done quite a lot of traveling, for an old man. Several times I’ve been almost up with you but you always got away.” ”

“ Jule said winking at the Captain. “We’re going to take about two days to get down to the Lachine. We’ll loaf along the river to-morrow, making about one hundred miles, tie up for the night, and reach Lachine in the afternoon of the day after. What do you think of that for a program, boys?” he added, turning to Clay.
“That’s the way I figured it out,” Clay answered. “There is no use in being in a hurry. We’ve got all the time there is.”
Every person on the boat, except perhaps the dog and the bear, slept soundly that night. ”

“ Captain Morgan finally said, suppressing his laughter. “We heard firing as we came up the river, and wreckers are known to be about.”
“If you have any doubt as to the presence of wreckers,” Clay explained, “just send your ruffians over on the island. The men who did most of the shooting are there. They may also be able to find the ashes of the signal fire the outlaws lighted.”
“That will be good exercise for them,” Jule cut in, “and perhaps they won’t be so brave when they find they haven’t boys to deal with.” ”

“ The boy sat perfectly still, for the attack had come so suddenly that he could hardly comprehend the situation.
“Ain’t it the cute little child?” guffawed one of the men, slapping his knees and bending down to look the boy in the face.
“He’s all of that,” replied the other. “This is the little boy that’s come out here to find a hidden channel that no one else can find. ”

“ Captain Joe remonstrated, “I’ve had a good many restaurant meals along the South Branch since you boys deserted me, and a chef has been cooking for me on the Rutland boat, so I propose that we get breakfast right here, on the Rambler. It will be a novelty for me, anyway.”
“What would you like, Captain?” asked Alex.
“Well,” said Captain Joe almost smacking his lips, “you know the kind of pancakes they serve at the Bismark, Chicago? They’re half an inch thick, you know, and as large as the bottom of a milk pan. Cost a quarter apiece, and a fellow doesn’t want anything more to eat all day! ”

“ Clay’s reply elicited a volley of epithets from the shore, and directly a great blaze sprang up not many feet distant from the water.
“Wreckers!” cried Captain Joe.
“Surest thing you know!” answered Clay. “The only wonder is that they didn’t set their beacon going before.”
“And this,” Jule suggested, “seems to be more like real life. Things are livening up. They’ll be going good by the time we get to St. Luce.” ”

“ The sailors continued to question the boys, resorting now and then to insulting epithets, but the lads sat dumbly in the cabin until the arrival of Captain Morgan, in charge of the steamer Sybil. To express it mildly, they were all very much elated at the appearance of Captain Morgan, who unlocked the cabin door, called them out on deck and greeted them pleasantly. They all wanted to shake hands with him.
“It seems,” Clay said to the captain, as the latter motioned to the sailors to move up to the prow, “that your men have captured a band of bold, bad men. ”

“ Alex wondered, “and I just believe I could sneak out and learn something about it. It makes me nervous, waiting here for them to get in the first blow.”
“If I had a house and lot for every time you’ve been lost on our river trips,” Case grinned, “I’d own the biggest city in the world. You go back to bed, or I’ll get Clay out here to tie you up.”
Teddy now came sniffing where the two boys stood, and, lifting his paws to the gunwale, looked over in the forest.
“See that!” Alex exclaimed. “Even the bear knows there is something wrong on! ”

“ The policeman went down the street, swinging his club, and the boys turned and faced each other with questions in their eyes.
“What’s coming off here?” Jule asked.
“Seems to me like a game of tag,” Clay replied. “From the moment we left the deck of the Sybil, across the river from the egg-shaped peninsula near St. Luce, we have been It. Some one has been after us night and day. Now, what are we going to do about it?”
“I could tell you better if we knew whether the men referred to by the officers are the enemies of the Fontenelles or just plain river pirates seeking to seize the Rambler. ”

“ The rowers still seemed to object to the plan the leader seemed to be urging, and finally the boat was allowed to drift down with the current.
“This old world is a pretty small place after all,” Clay remarked as the stern of the rowboat disappeared around a little bend. “If you don’t believe it, just consider the events of this trip. We meet Max on the river and he laps over on us at Quebec. We meet outlaws on a rocky island three hundred miles away, and they show themselves at the mouth of the Jacques Cartier river.” ”

“ Alex protested. “I’m going to put this steak in that cute little cold air refrigerator of ours and when wet get down to Cartier island, I’m going to cook a beefsteak a la brigand. If you eat a steak cooked in that way once, you’ll never want one cooked any other way. It’s simply great!”
“It’s a new one on me,” replied Captain Joe.
“Oh, well,” Alex said, “I’ll show you all about cooking it when the time comes. When we get back to the South Branch, you can have one every day if you want it. We can get pretty good porterhouse in Chicago.” ”

“ He seemed to be in a whirlpool. The force of the water drew at his arms and his legs and clutched him about the chest. Around and around he whirled, until he grew dizzy with the motion and his lungs seemed bursting for want of air. ”

“ Are you boys from the Rambler? If so, where is the boat?”
“We’re from the Rambler all right,” Clay replied, “and it looks as if some of our friends from down stream are still after us. Can you describe the men you saw following us? What do they look like?”
“Just tough riverside characters,” answered the officer. “That is how I came to notice them closely. Such people are rarely seen as far up in the city as this. They prefer the lower dives.”
“We had trouble with some men from a raft back here a little ways,” Jule explained, “and these may be the fellows. ”

“ The boys had no idea of remaining on board that night, so they built a roaring campfire on shore and stretched hammocks from the trees.
“Right here,” Clay said as the moon rose, “right about where we are sitting, there may be a lost channel!”
“That’s all right,” grinned Alex, “but I don’t see myself getting very wet sitting on it.”
“I don’t blame any old channel for getting lost in this wild country,” Case contributed. “We’ll be lucky if we don’t get lost ourselves. Hear the owls laughing at us!”
“I’ve been listening to the owls,” Clay said, “and I have concluded that they are fake owls. ”