W. Crispin Sheppard

“ Redfern glanced at the others, and they nodded.
“A great idea,” said Bob; “though it isn’t a very good night.”
“We can get flying glimpses between the flying clouds,” grinned Tom. “Come ahead.”
The “Gray Gull” was headed for shore. Jack Lyons took her in as far as he dared; then the anchor was put over, and the house-boat came to a rest for the night. The Palisades, dim and mysterious, loomed high above them. From the shore came the musical sighing of the trees, and faint rustlings, as the underbrush was swayed by the gentle breeze. ”

“ A huge white boat, standing out clearly against the dark background, rapidly approached, the smoke from its funnels floating backward in a long, bluish streak. Jack got his clumsy craft as far out of the way as possible, and the “Gray Gull” rode out the huge swells with many a lurch and wobble.
“Hooray!” cried Joe. “Never even touched the bottom.”
George took his hand off the support which had enabled him to remain erect, and said, “Guess I needn’t bother about Uncle Dan just now.”
“An automobile along here ought to make a hit,” said Aleck. ”

“ Keep your eyes open, fellows,—we don’t want to sink any steamers.”
“Keep a sharp watch for icebergs,” said Bob. “Remember the ‘Titanic.’”
“Look at the land skipping by,” cried Fred. “Bet we’re going all of three miles an hour.”
The blue water lapped and gurgled against the boat, and a gentle breeze tempered the heat. White clouds were slowly passing across the sky, and shadows chased each other over land and water. To their left rose Washington Heights, and to the right another ridge of hills was outlined against the sky. Houses dotted the landscape, and smoke stained and streaked the horizon. ”

“ The smell of the water was pleasant, and the boys, leaning comfortably against the side of the boat, sniffed the air with keen pleasure.
Straight ahead, a big, lumbering schooner slowly made its way down the river, the breeze being just sufficient to fill out her dingy gray sails. Shouts and commands reached their ears with astonishing clearness, even above the steady chug-chug of the motor.
[Pg 58]
“Nice mess we’d be in, if the engine should break down,” remarked Aleck.
“If anything is going to happen, now’s the time,” said Tom. “We’re just about in the middle of the river.” ”

“ Joe Preston laughed loudly at his own words, and the others, except Fred Winter, rewarded him by an appreciative smile.
“So, at the present moment,” went on George, with a sigh of satisfaction, “there is nothing to bother us. What are you doing with those pieces of board, Norman—going to make a rest for the telescope?”
“Yes—so that we can study the stars.”
“That’s a great idea,” said Fred Winter. “Joe, here, needs special instruction in most everything; and a bit of astronomy may help.” ”

“ The cry again caused their nerves to tingle, and all strained their eyes in the direction which Bob pointed out.
As a flood of pale moonlight once more streamed between the clouds, a dark object could be seen not more than a quarter of a mile away.
“That’s it, sure enough!” cried Aleck excitedly. “Looks like a rowboat. Somebody may be in a pretty bad pickle, and no boats near enough to help him. If our engine was only all right, we might get there in time ourselves. There, he hollered again.”
“What’s to be done?” asked Joe, blankly. ”

“ A big excursion steamer was passing astern. Many passengers, crowding to the rails, watched the house-boat with every evidence of interest. Several waved their hands and shouted, and the boys answered with yells and whistles and all the noise of which they were capable, until the boat began to rock and wobble on the heavy swells.
“Thunderation!” exclaimed Joe, loudly.
His stool had flown from under him; and Joe, wildly grasping at the empty air, sprawled full length on the deck, and but for Dave’s prompt assistance would have rolled into the river. ”

“ Gradually the “Dart” drew abreast, and, as the two motor boats raced side by side, Colonel Ellison and his chauffeur looked on in astonishment.
“Keep that boat away!” commanded the former, half rising in his seat.
“Ma foi, yes; it is one grand risk,” chimed in Pierre, with fear in his tone.
“Then make him stop his own engine!” shouted Bill Stiles. And he actually changed his course, so that the prow of the “Dart” began to swing slowly in toward the “Reindeer.”
The utter abandon and recklessness of the Ripley students brought forth a storm of stern protests from the now really alarmed Colonel. ”

“ Captain Jack navigated the craft skilfully, while Joe, with a piece of lead, kept sounding. Within easy jumping distance of the shelving shore they finally came to a stop, and the anchor rattled overboard.
“Now, what’s the program, Jack?” asked Aleck.
“We’ll explore a bit, while Norman visits the Colonel.”
“And if you hear loud calls for help, lend me a hand,” remarked Norman, with a faint smile. “The Colonel is a man of a more certain than uncertain temper, and, like the Colonel, it rises rapidly and eclipses all competitors. Well, boys, wish me luck.”
“You bet we do!” cried Jack. ”

“ Gradually the buildings of the town became visible; then the ferry-boat entered her slip, and the red touring car slowly followed the farmer’s wagon into the street, and up the hill.
Main Street is a wide, pleasant thoroughfare lined on either side with good-sized buildings, and, in spite of the stormy weather, presented a busy appearance.
George kept to the side of the car track.
“Garage isn’t far,” he said. “And won’t I be glad to get there? If Pierre knew about our trip, he’d have the laugh on us.”
“Yes, he would,” said Aleck, dismally. ”

“ The disastrous end of his first engagement as a tutor, the subsequent loss of another post upon which he had set his heart and the discouraging search for a position, all served to increase his tendency to shrink from the hard knocks which the world sometimes deals out. Self-effacing, and with an almost over-developed sense for the rights of others, the game of life was a much more serious matter to him than to one like the lively, courageous Bob Somers. ”

“ And they did; and the result, while not especially harmonious, proved that their hearts were as light as the glancing beams which traveled across the hills and valleys.
“Fellows,” said Bob Somers, at length, “I move that to-night we do the Nimrod act; camping out will be good for a change.”
“Agreed!” answered Jack. “Plenty of good places around. It will be great; build a fire and cook our grub like you Rambler chaps used to do.”
“And afterward, we can take a look at the stars,” said Fred, with his usual solemnity.
Miles and miles were traversed, and still the Highlands continued. ”

“ None had ever seen such a weird and startling effect before.
“Great Scott!” cried Jack.
As Aleck slowly swung his lantern from side to side, a crowd of shadowy giants hovered menacingly above them. Each movement sent them springing about, to dance and flitter on the restless, eddying vapor.
As arms uplifted, great images with giant bands waved threateningly, and then flashed downward, as if to pluck them up and disperse them through the whitish haze. ”

“ A noisily-puffing tug, towing a flotilla of empty barges, was approaching, and, as a hoarse blast came over the silent air and was answered by the whistle of another boat, the stout boy gave unmistakable evidence of a desire to hold up the crowd for the double purpose of rest and observation. ”

“ Isn’t it a picturesque sight, with those dingy gray sails?”
“Looks great,” admitted Jack. “Funny life—guess the captain’s an old, wrinkled chap with a voice like a fog-horn.”
“Most of ’em are,” said Joe. “But look at that dandy steam yacht. Isn’t she just scooting along?”
“I’ve been on her several times,” put in George, with his eye to the telescope. “Belongs to a Wall street broker, a friend of Uncle Dan’s. But there’s lots more fun on a house-boat.” ”

“ President Mosley, accompanied by Uncle Dan, Redfern and Pierre Dufour, entered the Academy building, while the boys wandered off to the athletic field. The events, rapid and unexpected, and the happy termination of the house-boat trip, had put everybody in the best of humor.
The Ripley flag still floated proudly from the top of the pole. Bill Stiles and his followers, hot, victorious, husky-voiced and tired, marched around the field. They had won the second event, and Ripley was crowned with glory.
Owen Andrews picked up his tin horn. It was now a battered and twisted wreck. ”

“ Say! There’s an auto coming along to beat the band.”
“Let it come,” said Joe, absently; he was looking for a chance to tickle Jack on the back of the neck with a blade of grass.
Nearer and nearer the car approached, until its red color was faintly distinguished; the two acetylene lamps threw a dazzling glare, to pierce the gathering gloom.
To the surprise of both boys, it suddenly slackened speed, and just as it came abreast, halted. A stern-looking man, leaning forward, stared down at them.
“Great Scott!” thought Jack, with something like a start; “it’s George Clayton’s Uncle Dan!” ”

“ Keeping close inshore, the “Gray Gull” was often rocked by the long swells from passing craft. The Harlem River presented quite a busy scene, although they were beyond the portion where the traffic is greatest.
Occasionally, they were hailed from the deck of some barge or schooner, and the occupants of a motor boat speeding swiftly by gave a series of derisive yells. But the boys only laughed, and waved their hands, feeling that they wouldn’t exchange the “Gray Gull” for all the gasoline launches in New York. ”

“ How strange and mysterious it seemed, with both shores lost in the gloom of night.
“Look alive there; it’s coming!”
A long roller was rushing shoreward, followed by a succession of others. Bob saw them looming dimly in the half-obscured moonlight. The foremost seemed to glimmer for an instant, then the dory was carried high over its foaming crest and plunged down on the other side, to meet another which sent it heeling almost to the gunwale, while drenching spray dashed over the skipper. ”

“ When about three hundred feet from shore, [Pg 60] Jack changed his course, heading up the river.
The “Gray Gull” attracted considerable attention; the campers-out gathered at the water’s edge, and their yells were answered with interest; the occupants of passing motor boats beamed upon them with kindly condescension.
“Those fellows think they’re the biggest things on the river,” grinned Joe; “but give me the ‘Gray Gull’ every time.”
“Me, too,” said Tom. “Plenty of room to move around in, and all the comforts of home.”
“Swell, eh?” said Aleck.
“That’s the word for it,” answered Joe. ”

“ Where in the world did you come from?”
“We—that is some fellows and myself—have a house-boat over there,” explained Bob, waving his hand. “See those lights over there? That’s it. Heard you shout, but couldn’t come over because the engine’s out of order.”
“In search of adventures,” laughed the young man, who seemed to have recovered from his scare.
“Yes, and this is number one,” grinned Bob. “Be careful when you climb aboard—this dory’s a cranky little boat—mighty easy to upset.”
“And we must look out for the swells from that steamer. Guess it’s one of the Albany boats.” ”

“ Colonel Ellison, George Clayton’s guardian, had none of these traits. He was a large [Pg 138] man, with a big voice; aggressive, strictly honest, stubborn—one of that type who rises superior to any situation, and who has very little sense of the rights of others.
So Norman’s heart misgave him; but his lively companions served to encourage and cheer him, and keep alive his reawakened determination to assert his rights.
“Jolly curious to meet the millionaire boy,” remarked Jack. ”

“ When the “Gray Gull,” Jack Lyons, Master, is close to Yonkers Bob Somers is the means of aiding a young man in distress. Formerly he had been the tutor of a boy residing at Nyack; but, for a reason which reflects no discredit upon him, he lost his position.
[Pg 4]
A friendship springs up all around. The lads on the house-boat meet the Nyack boy, who is enthusiastic over the idea of such a trip, and decides to join.
Misunderstandings arise, and for a while the trip of the “Gray Gull” promises to be the means of causing much trouble. ”

“ Soon they reached the white-pillared pergola, heavy in the scent of grape-vines, with the thick masses of leaves flashing green and gold, and the graveled walk beneath streaked with purple shadows. On either side of a broad flight of steps leading to the terrace [Pg 147] around the mansion were Greek vases mounted on high pedestals.
For several moments, the boys surveyed the handsome façade, with its six columns and sculptured reliefs in the tympanum above, and wondered how it must feel to live in such a place.
Then George Clayton, with undignified haste, appeared around a corner. ”

“ After lunch, it was decided to visit Ripley Academy at once.
Norman Redfern explained that the schools were separated by only half a mile, and that Ripley, the nearer, was about a mile from town.
The day was pleasant, with a sky full of flying clouds, the country charming, and the [Pg 298] boys, in spite of the thought of meeting the fiery Colonel, were in high spirits.
Ripley was an older institution than its rival. The building was a plain, almost austere structure, with a columned entrance and a portico from which the Hudson was seen between stately elms. ”

“ With Jim’s aid, the heavy block and tackle was rigged to the tree, the rope passed around the house-boat, and the five took hold.
[Pg 37]
“A long pull, a strong pull, an’ a pull all together,” commanded Jim. “Let ’er go!”
They tugged and pulled, while the perspiration poured from them in streams, and, after long and earnest efforts, the stern of the “Gray Gull” was drawn up upon the beach.
“Now, what’s to be done?” cried Jack. ”