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 CAPTAIN 
 CHUB 
 
 RALPH HENRY BARBOUR 
 
CORNELL 
 
 UNIVERSITY 
 
 LIBRARY 
 
arV1039 
 Captain Chub 
 
 Cornell University Library 
 
 „ 3 1924 031 172 392 
 olin.anx 
 
The original of tliis book is in 
 tlie Cornell University Library. 
 
 There are no known copyright restrictions in 
 the United States on the use of the text. 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924031172392 
 
Captain Chub 
 
The boys entertain Mr. Ewing 
 
Captain Chub 
 
 By 
 Ralph Henry Barbour 
 
 Author of " The Crimson Sweater," " Tom, Dick, and Harriett," 
 " Harry's Island," etc. 
 
 With Illustrations 
 By C. M. Relyea 
 
 New York 
 
 The Century Co. 
 
 1909 
 
Copyright, 1908, 1909, by 
 The Century Co. 
 
 Published 
 
 J. f . TAPLEY CO. 
 
To J. P. M. 
 
 WITH THE AtTTHOR'S REGARDS 
 AND BEST WISHES 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 CHAPTER PAGE 
 
 I. The Stolen Run 3 
 
 II. Letters and Plans 19 
 
 III. An Invitation to Miss Emery 30 
 
 IV. Leasing a House-boat 47 
 
 V. A Trip op Inspection 61 
 
 VI. The Jolly Roger 74 
 
 VII. The Cruise Begins 96 
 
 VIII. Driven to Cover 114 
 
 IX. Prisoners 125 
 
 X. A New Acquaintance 139 
 
 XI. Mr. Ewing is Outwitted 163 
 
 XII. The Tables Turned 167 
 
 XIII. Chub Tries a New Bait 180 
 
 XIV. The Crew Enters Society 198 
 
 XV. Harry Goes to Sea 217 
 
 XVI. Under the Awning 234 
 
 XVII. Mrs. Uriah Peel 249 
 
 XVIII. Keeping Store 263 
 
 XIX. A Midnight Alajrm 282 
 
 XX. "Gasoline and Supplies" 306 
 
 XXI. The Burglary 323 
 
 XXII. Clues 336 
 
 XXIII. In the Gipsy Camp 349 
 
 XXIV. An Old Acquaintance Appears 362 
 
 XXV. Mr. Ewing is Suspicious 373 
 
 XXVI. Chub's Adventure 382 
 
 XXVII. Gifts and Farewells 397 
 
 vii 
 
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 
 
 PAGE 
 
 The boys entertain Mr. Ewing Frontispiece 
 
 Chub Eaton was lying in a cloud of dust 15 
 
 Writing the invitation to Harry 37 
 
 In a great studio 49 
 
 Roy 59 
 
 Chub descended at the Porter's bag and baggage 71 
 
 The boys arrive at the wharf 83 
 
 The "Jolly Roger" begins her cruise up the Hudson River. 99 
 
 Roy stared silently, with open mouth 123 
 
 Dick and Roy slumbering 153 
 
 But Mister Trout did n't want to come 193 
 
 They had dressed in their best clothes 207 
 
 The next moment they were all shaking hands 223 
 
 Before noon camp was made at the edge of the grove 245 
 
 She tied together the strings of a quaint little black bonnet . 251 
 
 The figure disappeared noiselessly into the night 291 
 
 "A Uttle more of the hegg, ma'am?" 299 
 
 "I want the key of the store" 309 
 
 The till was empty 333 
 
 Two men entered the tent 359 
 
 "You stay where you are" 369 
 
 They waved back to her and went on 405 
 
 The doctor was called on for a speech 409 
 
CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 CHAPTER I 
 
 THE STOLiEN EITN 
 
 "rr^HAT settles that," groaned the captain of the 
 _L Crimson nine as the long fly settled gracefully 
 into the hands of the Blue's left-fielder. The run- 
 ner who, at the sound of bat meeting ball, had shot 
 away from second base, slowed his pace and 
 dropped his head disconsolately as he left the 
 path to 'the plate and turned toward the bench. 
 
 "Come on, fellows," said the captain cheer- 
 fully. "We 've got to hold 'em tight. Not a man 
 sees first, Tom; don't lose 'em." 
 
 Pritchett, the Crimson pitcher, nodded silently 
 as he drew on his glove and walked across to the 
 box. He didn't mean to lose them. So far, at 
 the beginning of the ninth inning, it was any- 
 body's game. The score was 3 to 3. Pritchett 
 had pitched a grand game: had eight strike-outs 
 
 3 
 
4 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 to his credit, had given but one base on balls, and 
 had been hit but three times for a total of four 
 bases. For five innings, for the scoring on both 
 sides had been done in the first part of the game, 
 he had held the Blue well in hand, and he didn't 
 mean to lose control of the situation now. The 
 cheering from the stands occupied by the sup- 
 porters of the Crimson team, which had died away 
 as the unlucky hit to left-fielder had retired 
 the side, began again, and continued until the 
 first of the blue-stockinged batsmen stepped to 
 the plate. 
 
 It was the beginning of the year, the final game 
 and the deciding one. The stands, which started 
 far beyond third base and continued around be- 
 hind first, were filled with a gaily-hued throng, 
 every member of which claimed allegiance to 
 Crimson or Blue. Fully eight thousand persons 
 were awaiting with fast-beating hearts the out- 
 come of this last inning. The June sun shone 
 hotly down, and the little breeze which came 
 across the green field from the direction of the 
 glinting river did little to mitigate the intolera- 
 ble heat. Score-cards waved in front of red, per- 
 spiring faces, straw hats did like duty, and pocket- 
 
THE STOLEN EUN 5 
 
 handkerchiefs were tucked inside wilting collars. 
 
 Half-way up the cheering section sat a little 
 group of freshmen, hot and excited, hoarse and 
 heroic. At every fresh demand from the cheer- 
 leader they strained their tired lungs to new ex- 
 cesses of sound. Now, panting and laughing, 
 they fell against each other in simulated exhaus- 
 tion. 
 
 "I wish a thunder-storm would come along," 
 said one of the group, weakly. 
 
 "Why?" asked another. 
 
 "So they 'd call the game and I wouldn't have 
 to cheer any more," he sighed. 
 
 "Why don't you do the way Chick does?" 
 asked a third. "Chick just opens his mouth and 
 goes through the motions and doesn't let out a 
 single yip." 
 
 "I like that!" exclaimed the maligned one. 
 "I 've been making more noise than all the rest of 
 you put together. The leader 's been casting 
 grateful looks at me for an hour. ' ' 
 
 There was a howl of derision from the others. 
 
 "Well," said a tall, broad-shouldered fellow, 
 "I don't intend to yell any more until something 
 happens, and — " 
 
6 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 "Yell now, then, Porter," said Chick gloomily 
 as the first of the opponents' batsmen beat the 
 ball to first by a bare inch. But instead of yelling 
 Eoy Porter merely looked bored, and for a while 
 there was silence in that particular part of the 
 stand. 
 
 The next Blue batsman bunted toward third, 
 and although he went out himself, he had 
 placed the first man on second. The Blue's best 
 batters were coming up, and the outlook wasn't 
 encouraging. The sharp, short cheer of the Blue's 
 adherents rattled forth triumphantly. But 
 Pritchett wasn't dismayed. Instead, he settled 
 down and struck out the next man ignominiously. 
 Then, with two strikes and two balls called by 
 the umpire, the succeeding batsman rolled a slow 
 one toward short-stop and that player, pausing 
 to hold the runner on second, threw wide of first. 
 The batsman streaked for second and the man 
 ahead darted to third and made the turn toward 
 home. But right-fielder had been prompt in back- 
 ing up and the foremost runner was satisfied to 
 scuttle back to third. The Blue's first-baseman 
 came to bat. He was the best hitter on the team, 
 and, with men on second and third, it seemed that 
 
THE STOLEN RUN 7 
 
 the Blue was destined to wave trmmpliaiitly that 
 day. 
 
 "Two down!" called the Crimson captain en- 
 couragingly. "Now for the next one, fellows! 
 Don't lose him, Tom!" 
 
 "Two out!" bawled the coachers back of first 
 and third. "Eun on anything! "Well, I guess 
 we Ve got them going now! I guess we 've got 
 them going ! He 's sort of worried, Bill ! He 's 
 sort of worried! Look out!" For the "sort of 
 worried" one had turned quickly and sped the 
 ball to third. 
 
 "That 's all right!" cried the irrepressible 
 coacher. "He won't do that again. Take a 
 lead; take a lead! Steady!" 
 
 Pritchett glanced grimly at the two on bases 
 and turned to the batsman. He was in a bad 
 place, and he realized it. A hit would bring in 
 two runs. The man who faced him was a veteran 
 player, and couldn't be fooled easily. He con- 
 sidered the advisability of giving him his base, 
 knowing that the next man up would be easier to 
 dispose of. It was risky, but he decided to do it. 
 He shook his head at the catcher's signal and 
 sent a wide one. 
 
8 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 "Ball!" droned the umpire, and the blue flags 
 waved gleefully. 
 
 The next was also a ball, and the next, and the 
 next, and — 
 
 "Take your base," said the umpire. 
 
 "Thunder!" muttered Chick nervously as the 
 man trotted leisurely down the line and the sharp 
 cheers rattled forth like musketry. ' ' Bases full ! ' ' 
 
 "He did it on purpose," said Boy Porter. 
 "Burton 's a hard-hitter and a clever one, and 
 Pritchett didn't want to risk it." 
 
 "Well, a hit now won't mean a thing!" grieved 
 Chick. 
 
 "It '11 mean two runs; just what it meant be- 
 fore," answered Roy. "Who 's this at baf?" 
 
 "Kneeland," answered his neighbor on the 
 other side, referring to his score-card. 
 
 "What 'she done?" 
 
 ' ' Nothing. Got his base twice, once on fielder 's 
 choice and once on balls. ' ' 
 
 "That 's good. Watch Pritchett fool him." 
 
 They watched, breathlessly, in an agony of sus- 
 pense. One ball; one strike; two strikes; two 
 balls; a foul; another foul. 
 
 "He 's spoiling 'em," muttered Chick uneasily. 
 
THE STOLE]^ RUN 9 
 
 But the next moment he was on his feet with 
 every one else on that side of the field, yelling 
 wildly, frantically. Pritchett had one more strike- 
 out to his credit, and three blue-stockinged players 
 turned ruefully from their captured bases and 
 sought their places in the field. 
 
 The Crimson players came flocking back to the 
 bench, panting and smiling, and threw themselves 
 under the grateful shade of the little strip of awn- 
 ing. 
 
 "Easy with the water," cautioned the trainer 
 as the tin cup clattered against the mouth of the 
 big water-bottle. 
 
 "Who 's up?" asked some one. The coach was 
 studying the score-book silently. Pritchett was 
 up, but Pritchett, like most pitchers, was a poor 
 batsman. The coach's glance turned and wan- 
 dered down the farther bench where the substi- 
 tutes sat. 
 
 "Eaton up!" he called, and turning to the 
 scorer: "Eaton in place of Pritchett," he said. 
 
 The youngster who stood before him awaiting 
 instructions was a rather stockily-built chap, with 
 brown hair and eyes and a merry, good-natured 
 face. But there was something besides good 
 
10 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 nature on his face at this moment ; something be- 
 sides freckles, too; it was an expression that 
 mingled gratification, anxiety, and determination. 
 Tom Eaton had been a substitute on the varsity- 
 nine only since the disbanding of the freshman 
 team, of which he had been captain, and during 
 that scant fortnight he had not succeeded in get- 
 ting into a game. 
 
 "You Ve got to get to first, Eaton," said the 
 coach softly. "Try and get your base on balls; 
 make him think you 're anxious to hit, see? But 
 keep your wits about you and see if you can't 
 walk. If he gets two strikes on you, why, do the 
 best you can; hit it down toward third. Under- 
 stand ? Once on first I expect you to get around. 
 Take all the risk you want; we 've got to score." 
 
 "Batter up!" called the umpire, impatiently. 
 
 Eaton selected a bat carefully from the rack 
 and walked out to the plate. The head cheer- 
 leader, looking over his shoulder, ready to sum- 
 mon a "short cheer" for the batsman, hesitated 
 and ran across to the bench. 
 
 "Who 's batting?" he asked. 
 
 "Eaton," he was told. "Batting for Pritch- 
 ett." 
 
THE STOLEN EUN 11 
 
 "A short cheer for Eaton, fellows, and make it 
 good!" 
 
 It was good, and as the freshman captain faced 
 the Blue's pitcher the cheer swept across to him 
 and sent a thrill along his spine. Perhaps he 
 needed it, for there is no denying that he was feel- 
 ing pretty nervous, although he succeeded in dis- 
 guising that fact from either catcher or pitcher. 
 
 Up in the cheering section there was joy among 
 the group of freshmen. 
 
 "Look who's here!" shrieked Chick. "It's 
 Chub!" 
 
 "Chub Eaton!" cried another. "What do you 
 think of that?" 
 
 "Batting for Pritchett! Say, can he bat much, 
 Roy?" 
 
 "Yes; but I don't know what he can do against 
 
 this fellow. He has n't been in a game since they 
 
 took him on. But I guess the coach knows he 
 
 ' can run the bases ; If he gets to first I '11 bet he '11 
 
 steal the rest!" 
 
 And then the cheer came, and the way those 
 classmates of Chub's worked their lungs was a 
 caution. 
 
 In the last inning of a game it is customary to 
 
12 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 replace the weak batsman with players who can 
 hit the ball, and when Chub Eaton stepped to the 
 plate the Blue's catcher and pitcher assumed that 
 they had a difficult person to contend with. The 
 catcher signaled for a drop, for from the way 
 Chub handled his bat it seemed that he would, in 
 baseball slang, "bite at it," and Chub seemed to 
 want to badly. He almost swung at it, but he 
 didn't quite, and the umpire called "Ball!" 
 Well, reflected the catcher, it was easy to see that 
 he was anxious to hit, and so he signaled for a 
 nice slow ball that looked for all the world like 
 an easy one until it almost reached the plate ; then 
 it "broke" in a surprising way and went off to 
 the left. Chub almost reached for it, but, again, 
 not quite. And "Two balls!" said the umpire. 
 Chub swung his bat back and forth impatiently, 
 just begging the Blue pitcher to give him a fair 
 chance. The pitcher did. He sent a nice drop 
 that cleared the plate knee-high. "Strike!" an- 
 nounced the umpire. Chub turned on him in sur- 
 prise and shook Ms head. Then he settled back 
 and worked his bat in a way that said : ' ' Just try 
 that again ! I dare you to ! " 
 
 The pitcher did try it again ; at least, he seemed 
 
THE STOLEN RUN 13 
 
 to, but the ball dropped so low this time that it 
 failed of being a strike by several inches. Chub 
 looked pained. On the bench the coach was smil- 
 ing dryly. The Blue pitcher awoke to the fact 
 that he had been fooled. He sent a high ball 
 straight over the plate and Chub let it go by. 
 "Strike two!" called the umpire. The Blue 
 stands cheered mightily. Two strikes and three 
 balls! Chub gripped his bat hard. Again the 
 pitcher shot the ball forward. It came straight 
 and true for the plate, broke when a few feet away 
 and came down at a weird tangent. Chub swung 
 desperately and the ball glanced off the bat and 
 went arching back into the stand. "Foul!" 
 growled the umpire. Chub drew a deep breath of 
 relief. Once more the pitcher poised himself and 
 threw. The ball whirled by him and Chub 
 dropped his bat and started across the plate, his 
 heart in his mouth. 
 
 "Four balls! Take your base!" 
 
 The umpire's voice was drowned by the sudden 
 burst of wild acclaim from the Crimson stands, 
 and Chub trotted to first, to be enthusiastically 
 patted and thumped on the back by the coacher 
 stationed there. Up in the cheering section five 
 
14 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 freshmen were hugging each other ecstatically. 
 The head of the Crimson's batting list was com- 
 ing up, and things looked bright. The cheering 
 became incessant. The coach shouted and bawled. 
 But the Blue's pitcher refused to be rattled. He 
 settled down, held Chub close on first and, before 
 any one quite realized what was happening, had 
 struck out the next man. 
 
 But Chub had made up his mind to go on, and 
 he went. He made his steal on the first ball 
 thrown to the new batter and, although catcher 
 threw straight and fast to second-baseman, Chub 
 slid around the latter and reached the bag. Then, 
 while the cheers broke forth again, he got up, 
 patted the dust out of his clothes, and took a fresh 
 lead. The pitcher eyed him darkly for a moment 
 and then gave his attention to the batsman. 
 Crack! Ball and bat met and the short-stop ran 
 in to field a fast grounder, and as he ran Chub 
 flashed behind him. Gathering up the ball, short- 
 stop turned toward third, saw that he was too 
 late, and threw to first, putting the batsman out 
 by the narrowest of margins. ' ' Two out ! ' ' 
 
 The Crimson captain stepped to the plate, look- 
 ing determined, and hit the first delivery safely. 
 
Chub Eaton was lying in a cloud of dust 
 
THE STOLEN EUN 17 
 
 But it was a bunt near the plate and, although 
 Chub was ready to run in, he had no chance. The 
 captain stole second and Chub looked for a chance 
 to get home ; but they were watching him. The 
 Crimson supporters were on their feet, their 
 shouts imploring victory. The next man up was 
 an erratic batsman, one who had made home runs 
 before this in time of stress and who had, quite as 
 often, failed to "make good." Amid the wildest 
 excitement, the Blue pitcher pulled down his cap, 
 calmly studied the signal, and sped the ball 
 toward the plate. 
 
 ' ' Strike ! ' ' Again, and the batsman swung and 
 the ball glanced back against the netting. 
 
 "Foul! Strike two!" 
 
 Then came a ball. The batsman was plainly 
 discouraged, plainly nervous. Chub, dancing 
 around at third, worrying the pitcher to the best 
 of his ability, decided that it was now or never 
 for him. Taking a long lead, he waited poised 
 on his toes. As the ball left the pitcher's hand 
 he raced for home. 
 
 "Hit it! Hit it!" shrieked the men on the 
 bench. The batsman, awakening suddenly to the 
 demands, struck wildly as the ball came to him. 
 
18 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 struck without hitting. But the catcher, with 
 that red-stockinged figure racing toward him, 
 made his one error of the game. The ball glanced 
 from his mitt and rolled back of the plate, and 
 although he had thrown off his mask and was 
 after it like a cat after a mouse, he was too late. 
 Chub Eaton was lying in a cloud of dust with one 
 hand on the plate, and the crowd was streaming, 
 shouting and dancing, onto the field. 
 
CHAPTEE II 
 
 LETTERS AND PLANS 
 
 THAT 4 to 3 victory took place on a Thursday, 
 in the third week of June. 
 Some two hours later the hero of the conflict 
 lay stretched at full length on a window-seat in the 
 front room of a house within sound of the college 
 bell. His hands were under his head, one foot 
 nestled inelegantly amidst the cushions at the far 
 end of the seat and the other was sprawled upon 
 the floor. The window beside him was wide open 
 and through it came the soft, warm air, redolent 
 of things growing, of moist pavements, of freshly- 
 sprinkled lawns. The sounds of passing foot- 
 steps and voices entered, too; and from across 
 the shaded street came the tinkle of a banjo. The 
 voices were joyous and care-free. To-morrow 
 was Class-Day ; the year 's work was over ; books 
 had been tossed aside, and already the exodus 
 from college had begun. The twilight deepened 
 and the long June day came unwillingly to its end. 
 2 19 
 
20 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 The shadows darkened under the elms and here 
 and there a light glared out from an open win- 
 dow. But in the room the twilight held undis- 
 puted sway, hiding the half -packed trunks and the 
 untidy disorder of the study. 
 
 Chub lay on the window-seat and a few feet 
 away, where he could look through the wide open 
 casement, Roy Porter was stretched out in a 
 morris chair. We have already caught a brief 
 glimpse of Eoy in the cheering section during the 
 game, but in the excitement we did not, I fancy, 
 observe him very closely. He is a good-looking, 
 even handsome, boy, with light, curly hair and 
 very blue eyes. He is tall and well developed, 
 with broad shoulders and wide hips. Eoy and 
 Chub have been firm friends for three years: for 
 two years at Ferry Hill School and for one at 
 college. In age there is but a month or two of 
 difference between them. Both are freshmen, 
 having come up together from Ferry Hill last 
 September, since which time they have led a very 
 interesting and, withal, happy existence in the 
 quarters, in which we now find them. And they 
 have each had their successes. Chub has made 
 
LETTERS AND PLANS 21 
 
 the captaincy of the freshman Nine, they have 
 both played on the freshman foot-ball team, and 
 each has been recently taken into one of the so- 
 cieties. In studies Roy has accomplished rather 
 more than his friend, having finished the year 
 well up in his class. But Chub has kept his end 
 up and has passed the finals, if not in triumph, 
 at least without disgrace. 
 
 "Another big day for you, Chub," said Roy. 
 Chub stretched himself luxuriously and yawned. 
 
 "Yes. There have been quite a few 'big days,' 
 Roy, since we met at school, haven't there? 
 There was the day when you lammed out that 
 home run and won us the game from Hammond, 
 two years ago. That was one of your 'big days,' 
 old chap, but it was mine, too. Then, last year, 
 when we won on the track. That was Dick's 'big 
 day,' but we all shared in it, especially since it 
 brought that check from Kearney and brought the 
 affairs of the Ferry Hill School Improvement So- 
 ciety to a glorious close. And then there was the 
 baseball game last year — " 
 
 "That was your day. Chub, and none other's." 
 
 "Well, if I recollect rightly, there was a little 
 
22 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 old two-bagger by one Eoy Porter wbicb bad 
 
 something to do with the result," returned Chub, . 
 
 dryly. 
 
 ' ' Oh, we 'd have won without that. Say, do 
 
 you remember Harry after the game?" 
 
 "Do I! Shall I ever forget her? She was 
 just about half crazy, was n 't she ? And would n 't 
 she have loved to have been here to-day?" 
 
 They both chuckled at the idea. 
 
 "By the way," said Chub presently, "did we 
 get any mail this evening?" 
 
 "I don't think so," said Eoy; "but I didn't 
 look. Expecting a check?" 
 
 "Go to thunder ! We ought to hear from Dick 
 to-day or to-morrow. And Mr. Cole, too, about 
 the boat." 
 
 "That 's so. Maybe we '11 hear in the morn- 
 ing. ' ' 
 
 "Light the gas and have a look around," 
 begged Chub. "Sometimes Mrs. Moore picks the 
 letters up and puts them on the table, and we 
 don't find them for weeks and weeks." 
 
 "If you 'd keep the table picked up," said Roy, 
 severely, as he arose with a grunt and fum- 
 
LETTERS AND PLANS 23 
 
 bled for matches, "such things wouldn't occur." 
 
 "Listen to him!" murmured Chub, apparently 
 addressing the ceiling. "I 'd like to know which 
 of us is the neat little housekeeper ! I 'd like to 
 know — " 
 
 The study was suddenly illuminated with a 
 ghastly glow as Eoy applied the match to the 
 drop-light. Chub groaned and turned his face 
 away. 
 
 "I give you notice, Eoy, that next year we 're 
 going to have a different shade on that thing. 
 Green may be all very nice for the optic nerves, 
 but it 's extremely offensive to my — my sensibili- 
 ties. Besides, it doesn't suit my complexion. 
 I 've mentioned that before. Now a red shade — ' ' 
 
 "Here 's a whole bunch of mail," exclaimed 
 Eoy, mildly indignant. ' ' I wish she 'd let it alone. 
 Here 's two for you and one for me. This looks 
 like — yes, it 's from Dick. And I guess this one 
 — "he studied it under the light — "I guess this is 
 from the artist man. Anyway, the postmark 's 
 New York, and — " 
 
 "Well, hand 'em over, you idiot," said Chub. 
 
 "Come and get them. You can't see to read 
 
24 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 over there," replied Roy tranquilly. Chub hesi- 
 tated, groaned, and finally followed the sugges- 
 tion. 
 
 "Yes, this is from Dickums," he muttered as 
 he tore off the end of the envelop, "I hope he 
 can come. Who 's yours from?" 
 
 "Dad," answered Roy, settling into his chair 
 and beginning to read. But he wasn't destined 
 to finish his letter just then, for in a moment Chub 
 had rudely disturbed him. 
 
 "It 's all right!" he cried. "Listen, Eoy ; let me 
 read this to you." 
 
 "He 's coming?" asked Roy eagerly, abandon- 
 ing his own letter. 
 
 "Yes. Listen." Chub pulled up a chair, sat 
 down, and began to read : " ' Dear Chub : Yours 
 of no date — ' " 
 
 "Stung!" murmured Roy. Chub grinned and 
 went on. 
 
 — " 'received the day before yesterday. I 'd 
 have answered before, but things have been pretty 
 busy here. If we can get the house-boat, I'll go 
 along in a minute. It will be a fine lark. I'm 
 leaving here to-morrow for New York. My dad 's 
 there now, and we 're going to stay somewhere 
 
LETTEES AND PLANS 25 
 
 around there for the summer, he says. You let me 
 know just as soon as you can. Send your letter to 
 the Waldorf. I can start any time. I have 
 n't written to Dad about it, but I know he will let 
 me go. I hope we can get the boat. I told Harry 
 about it yesterday, and read your letter to her, 
 and she 's wild to go along. Says we might wait 
 until she gets back from her Aunt Harriet's. I 
 told her there wouldn't be room but she says 
 she 'd sleep up on top ! So I had to tell her 
 I'd see what you fellows thought about it. Maybe 
 we might have her along for a little while. What 
 do you think? I suppose her father or mother 
 could come, too, as — ' " 
 
 "Chaperon," said Eoy. "Harry 's getting 
 'growed up,' you know." 
 
 "Well, we '11 see. Here, where 's that other let- 
 ter? Let 's find out what Mr. Cole says." He 
 opened the second epistle and glanced through 
 it quickly, his face lighting as he read. "It 's 
 all right!" he cried. "We can have her! 
 Only — " he looked through the brief note again — 
 "only he doesn't say anything about the price. 
 'When you get here we '11 talk over the matter of 
 terms.' That doesn't sound encouraging, does 
 
26 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 itf" Chub looked across at Eoy dubiously, and 
 Boy shook his head. 
 
 "Not very," he answered; "but you can't tell. 
 I guess he will let us down easy. He 's a good 
 sort, is the Floating Artist." 
 
 "Well — " Chub tossed the note aside and went 
 back to Dick Some's letter. " 'I suppose her 
 father or mother or some one would have to go 
 along, but that needn't make much difference. 
 She 's wild to know, so you 'd better drop her a 
 line pretty soon and tell her what you think about 
 it. If you don't she's likely to explode!' " 
 
 "And that 's so, too, I guess!" chuckled Eoy. 
 "Say, it would be awfully jolly if we four could 
 get together again this summer, wouldn't it?" 
 
 "Dandy!" answered Chub. "And we '11 do it, 
 too," he added stoutly. 
 
 "I don't believe so. Something will happen at 
 the last moment," said Eoy dejectedly. "You '11 
 see." 
 
 "My gentle croaker, let me finish this. . . . 
 'I got through exams 0. K. and got my diploma 
 to-day.' So I'll see you fellows in the fall if we 
 don't make it before. That is, if I can pass at 
 college. I wish you 'd speak a good word for me 
 
LETTEES AND PLANS 27 
 
 to the president. I suppose you know we won 
 the boat-race by almost three lengths. That 
 makes up for losing the ball-game. We missed 
 you on the team this year. They 've elected Sid 
 Welch captain for next year. Sid 's so pleased 
 he can't see straight. To-day was Class-Day and 
 we had a fine time. You ought to have heard 
 me orate. How 's old Eoy? He owes me a letter, 
 the scoundrel. Write as soon as you can to the 
 Waldorf. I '11 be there to-morrow evening. Tell 
 Eoy to come and see me as soon as he gets home. 
 You, too, if you stop over there. I 've got lots 
 of news for you that I can tell better than I can 
 write. Hope you fellows win your game to-mor- 
 row. They 'd ought to have taken you on, Chub. 
 But next year, when I get there, I '11 fix that for 
 you. So long. Don't forget to let me know 
 whether we can have the house-boat. Yours, 
 Dick.' " 
 
 "Good old Dickums," murmured Chub as he 
 folded the letter. "Well, it's all settled," he 
 went on animatedly. "We '11 take the midnight 
 train to-morrow, Eoy ; see Mr. Cole ; look up Dick, 
 and get ready for the cruise! Won't we have 
 fun, though?" 
 
28 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 "Did Mr. Cole say whether he 'd let the boat 
 to us furnished?" 
 
 "Yes." Chub referred to the note. " 'The 
 Jolly Roger is quite at your disposal as soon as 
 you want her. I 'm going abroad in August, and 
 won't want her at all this summer. She needs 
 paint, but you 'U have to attend to that if you 're 
 fussy. You '11 find her all ready for you. I won't 
 say anything about the engine, for you know that 
 engine yourself. Treat it kindly and perhaps it 
 will stand by you. When you get here we '11 talk 
 over the matter of terms. Eegards to your friend 
 and to you. Very truly yours, Forbes Cole.' 
 That 's all he says. I don't believe he will want 
 us to pay him much if he 's going abroad and 
 can't use the boat himself anyway, do you?" 
 
 "I hope not," answered Roy, "for it's going 
 to be rather an expensive trip, Chub." 
 
 "Nonsense! We can run her on ten dollars a 
 week, I '11 bet." 
 
 "You forget that we have to eat. You forget 
 your appetite, Chub." 
 
 "Well, if we have Harry along she can make 
 doughnuts for us!" 
 
 "Well, if she does," laughed Eoy, "I '11 see that 
 
LETTEES AND PLANS 29 
 
 there 's no almond flavoring aboard. Do you re- 
 member last summer when she put almond into 
 the doughnuts and^ — " 
 
 " Do I remember ! I thought I 'd never get that 
 taste out of my mouth ! ' ' Chub grinned reminis- 
 cently. Eoy arose determinedly and threw back 
 the lid of his steamer trunk. 
 
 "What are you going to do?" asked Chub. 
 
 "Finish my packing. There won't be any time 
 to-morrow, and — " 
 
 But alas for good resolutions! There was a 
 charge of feet outside on the brick walk, a ham- 
 mering at the door, and a covey of happy, ir- 
 responsible freshmen burst into the room. There 
 was no packing that night. But what did it mat- 
 ter? There was to-morrow and many, many other 
 to-morrows stretching away in a seemingly limit- 
 less vista of happy holidays, and the fact that 
 when the visitors finally took their departure the 
 few things that the roommates had already packed 
 had been seized upon by rude hands and strewn 
 about the study worried no one. Nothing mat- 
 ters when "finals" are over and summer beckons. 
 
CHAPTER III 
 
 AN INVITATION TO MISS EMERY 
 
 TWO days later three boys were seated about 
 an up-stairs room in a house in West 57th 
 Street, New York City. The room was large and 
 square and tastefully furnished, but you would 
 have guessed at once that it was a boy's room; 
 and the guess would have been correct. Eoy Por- 
 ter was the host, and his guests were Mr. Thomas 
 H. Eaton, otherwise known as Chub, and Mr. 
 Eichard Somes, better known as Dick. Dick, as 
 we have learned through his letter, has just grad- 
 uated from Ferry Hill School, and for the present 
 is staying with his father at a New York hotel. 
 While Roy lives in New York, and Chub hails 
 from Pittsburg, Dick claims the distinction of liv- 
 ing nowhere in particular. If you ask him he will 
 tell you that he lives "out West." As a matter 
 of fact, however, he is a nomad. Born in Ohio, 
 he has successively resided in Nebraska, Montana, 
 Colorado, Nevada, London, and one or two other 
 
 30 
 
AN INVITATION TO MISS EMERY 31 
 
 places. His father is a mining man whose busi- 
 ness of buying, selling, and operating mines takes 
 him to many places. Dick's mother has been dead 
 for three years. 
 
 Dick himself is big, blond, and seventeen. He 
 isn't exactly handsome, judged by accepted 
 standards of masculine beauty, but he has nice 
 gray eyes, a smile that wins you at once, and a 
 pleasant voice. Somehow, in spite of the fact 
 that nature has endowed him with a miscellaneous 
 lot of features he is rather attractive ; as Chub has 
 once remarked: "He 's just about as homely as 
 a mud fence, only somehow you forget all about 
 it." It is the crowning sorrow of Dick's young 
 life that, owing to his nomadic existence, his 
 schooling has been somewhat neglected, with the 
 result that he is a year behind his two friends 
 and that when he reaches college in the fall — 
 if he 's lucky enough to get in — ^he will be only a 
 freshman, while Eoy and Chub are dignified and 
 superior sophomores. Chub, however, tries to 
 console him by telling him not to worry, that like 
 as not he won't pass the exams! 
 
 Chub is staying with Eoy, as his guest, and 
 Dick has taken dinner with them this evening. 
 
32 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 And now, having left Mr. Porter to his paper in 
 the library and Mrs. Porter to her book, they 
 have scurried up to Koy's room for a good long 
 talk ; for there is much to be said. At the present 
 moment Eoy, sprawled on his bed, is doing the 
 talking. 
 
 "It was Chub's scheme in the first place, Dick. 
 He thought of it two months ago when we were 
 down by the river one day. There 's an old boat- 
 house on a raft down there, and Chub said it re- 
 minded him of the Jolly Roger. I said I didn't 
 see the resemblance, and he said all you had to do 
 was to turn it around and it would be just like 
 the Jolly Roger." 
 
 "Turn it around?" asked Dick, mystified. 
 
 "Sure," said Chub. "Turn a boat-house 
 around and you have a house-boat. See?" 
 
 "College hasn't taught you much sense, Chub, 
 has it?" laughed Dick. "Then what, Eoy?" 
 
 "Oh, then Chub got to talking about what fun 
 Mr. Cole must have in his house-boat and how 
 he 'd like to go knocking around in one. And then 
 we remembered that Mr. Cole had told us last 
 summer that the Jolly Roger was for sale. Of 
 course, we knew we could n't buy it, but we thought 
 
AN INVITATION TO MISS EMEEY 33 
 
 maybe he 'd be willing to rent it for the summer. 
 And, finally a week or so ago, we wrote him — " 
 
 "We9" queried Chub. 
 
 "Well, then, you wrote him, Chuhbie my boy; 
 but I supplied the stamp. And yesterday — no, 
 the day before yesterday — we got his note; and 
 to-morrow we 're all going to call at his studio 
 and find out how much he wants for it for the 
 summer. ' ' 
 
 "Bully!" cried Dick enthusiastically. "And 
 where are we going in it ? " 
 
 "I thought it would be fun to go down Long 
 Island Sound, but Chub wants to go up the river. ' ' 
 
 "Up the Hudson? That would be great ! We 
 could gO' away up to — to Buffalo — " 
 
 "Yes, we 'd get there about November," 
 laughed Chub. "The Jolly Roger goes about as 
 fast as — as a mule walks ! ' ' 
 
 "Bet you Dick really thinks Buffalo is on the 
 Hudson," said Eoy. 
 
 "Isn't it?" asked Dick in surprise. "I did 
 think it was; honest. Where is it, then?" 
 
 ' ' It — it 's on — you tell him, Eoy. ' ' 
 
 "It 's on a lake." 
 
 "It 's on Niagara Falls," added Chub know- 
 
34 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 ingly. "Bounded on the north by Canada, onihe 
 east by the St. Lawrence River, on the south by the 
 United States of America and on the west by — 
 by water. Its principal exports are buffaloes 
 and — and — " 
 
 "Oh, dry up!" said Roy. "Anyhow, we could 
 go up as far as Troy — " 
 
 "And get our laundry done," suggested Chub. 
 
 "And we could stop for a while at Ferry Hill 
 and see the school and the Doctor and Mrs. Em 
 and Harry — " 
 
 "What I want to know — " began Dick. 
 
 "And we could stay at Fox Island a day or 
 two. It would be like old times." 
 
 "You mean Harry's Island," corrected Dick. 
 "What I want to know, though, is whether we can 
 take Harry along." 
 
 "Chub thinks we can," answered Roy; "but I 
 don't see how we could manage it." 
 
 "Easy enough," said Chub. "There 's three 
 rooms we can use for sleeping. Harry and her 
 mother, or whoever came along with her, could 
 have the big room up front or the little room at 
 the rear, the one Mr. Cole used as a studio." 
 
AN INVITATION TO MISS EMERY 35 
 
 "It 's only as big as a piece of cheese," said 
 Dick. 
 
 "Well, they 'd only want to sleep in it. They 
 could have that, and the rest of us could have the 
 bedroom and living-room. We 'd need some cot- 
 beds — there 's a bully bed in the bedroom now, 
 you know — and some sheets and blankets and 
 things. Pshaw, we could fix it up easy ! ' ' 
 
 ' ' Well, she 's crazy to go, ' ' said Dick ; ' ' and she 
 made me promise to ask you chaps." 
 
 "When does she go away to her aunt's?" asked 
 Roy. 
 
 "The day after to-morrow; and she 's going to 
 stay two weeks. That is, if she can come with us. 
 If not she '11 stay three, I believe. Did you write 
 to her, Roy?" 
 
 "Not yet," Roy answered. "I thought we 'd 
 get together and talk it over. If you fellows 
 think we can arrange it I 'd be mighty glad to 
 have her. She 's a whole lot of fun, Harry is." 
 
 ' ' Then let 's take her along, ' ' said Dick eagerly. 
 
 "Sure," said Chub. "Let 's write to her now. 
 Where 's your paper and things, Roy?" 
 
 They all had a hand in the composition of that 
 
36 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 letter, and when finished and signed it ran as fol- 
 lows; 
 
 Miss Harriet Emery, 
 Ferry Hill School, 
 Ferry Hill, N. Y. 
 Mt Dear Miss Emery: You are cordially invited to 
 join us in a cruise up the Hudson River in the good 
 ship Jolly Roger, which will call for you at Ferry Hill 
 in about three weeks, the exact date to be decided on 
 later. Please bring your doughnut recipe, and any one 
 else you want to. Come prepared for a good time. All 
 principal foreign ports will be visited, including Troy, 
 Athens, Cairo, and Schenectady. The catering will be 
 in the hands of that world-renowned chef, Mr. Dickums 
 Somes, formerly of Camp Torohadik, Harry's Island. 
 Kindly reply as soon as possible to address above. 
 Trusting that you will consent to grace the house-boat 
 with your charming presence, we subscribe ourselves 
 your devoted servants, 
 
 Chub, Master, 
 Rot, a. B., 
 Dick, Steward. 
 
 "What 's A.B. mean?" asked Roy, suspiciously. 
 
 "It means Able Seaman," replied Chub. "I 
 put it that way because it 's probably the only 
 chance you '11 ever have of getting your A.B." 
 
 "You don't suppose, do you," asked Dick anx- 
 

 o 
 
 O 
 
AN INVITATION TO MISS EMEEY 39 
 
 iously, "that she '11 take that literally: about 
 bringing any one else she wants to? She might 
 think we meant her to bring a crowd, a bunch 
 of girls from that school of hers." 
 
 "Maybe we 'd better change that a little," 
 agreed Roy. 
 
 "Well, we '11 say 'Bring your doughnut recipe 
 and any other one person you want to.' How 's 
 that?" 
 
 ' ' All right ; although, of course, a doughnut rec- 
 ipe isn't a person." 
 
 "Oh, that 's just a joke," laughed Chub. 
 
 "Hadn't you better label it?" asked Dick in- 
 nocently. "How is she going to know it 's a 
 joke?" 
 
 "She has more discernment than some others 
 I wot of," replied Chub loftily. 
 
 "Well, if she wots that that 's a joke," mut- 
 tered Dick, "she 's certainly a pretty good 
 wotter. ' ' 
 
 "Who 's got a stamp?" asked Chub as he fin- 
 ished scrawling the address on the envelop. 
 "Thanks. What a very nasty tasting one! I 
 wonder why the government doesn't flavor its 
 stamps better. It might turn them out in differ- 
 
40 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 ent flavors, you know; peppermint, vanilla, win- 
 tergreen, chocolate — " 
 
 "Almond," suggested Eoy. 
 
 "And then when you went to the post-office you 
 could say: 'I'd like ten twos, please; pepper- 
 mint, if you have it. ' " 
 
 ' ' You 're an awful idiot, ' ' laughed Dick. ' ' Give 
 me the letter and I '11 post it on the way to the 
 hotel. Now, let 's talk about what we '11 have to 
 buy. Let 's figure up and see what it '11 cost us." 
 
 "Go ahead," said Chub readily. "I 've got a 
 pencil. ' ' 
 
 "First of all, then, we '11 need a lot of pro- 
 visions." 
 
 ' ' Unless we can persuade Chub to stay behind, ' ' 
 suggested Roy. 
 
 "Who thought of this scheme?" asked Chub 
 indignantly. "I guess if any one stays behind 
 it won't be Chub. And likewise and moreover 
 if Chub does n 't have enough to eat he will 
 mutiny. ' ' 
 
 "Then you '11 have to put yourself in irons," 
 said Dick, "if you 're in command." 
 
 "I never thought of that!" Chub bit the end of 
 the pencil and frowned. "Maybe I 'd rather be 
 
AN INVITATION TO MISS EMERY 41 
 
 the crew than the captain. If you 're captain you 
 can't mutiny, and I 've always wanted to mutiny. 
 Say, wouldn't it he great if we could be pirates? 
 We could put up that skuU-and-cross-hones flag 
 and hoard one of the Day Line steamboats. Think 
 of the sport we could have ! We 'd swipe all the 
 gruh on hoard of her and make the officers walk 
 the plank ! Then — then we 'd scuttle her ! ' ' 
 
 "How do you scuttle a hoat?" asked Dick curi- 
 ously. 
 
 Chuh for a moment was at a loss, and glanced 
 doubtfully at Eoy. But finding no assistance 
 there he plunged bravely. 
 
 "Well, you first get a scuttle, just an ordinary 
 scuttle, you know; and I think you have to have 
 a coal-shovel, too, but I 'm not quite certain about 
 that. Armed with the scuttle you descend to 
 the — the cellar of the ship — " 
 
 "You bore holes in it," said Roy contemptu- 
 ously. ' ' Thunder ! I 'm not going to ship under 
 a captain who doesn't know the rudiments of 
 navigation. ' ' 
 
 "I'm not talking navigation," said Chub with 
 dignity. " I 'm talking piracy. Piracy is a much 
 more advanced study. Anybody can navigate, 
 
42 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 but good pirates are few and far between, tbese 
 days. ' ' 
 
 "Oh, come on and talk sense," begged Dick. 
 "How much will it cost us for grub?" 
 
 "Well, let me see," responded Chub, turning 
 to his paper. "I suppose about two cases of 
 eggs — But, look here, we haven't decided how 
 long we 're going to cruise." 
 
 ' ' A month, ' ' said Koy. 
 
 ' ' Two months, ' ' said Dick. ' ' Anyway, we can 't 
 buy enough eggs at the start to last us all the 
 time. Eggs should be fresh." 
 
 "We '11 get eggs and vegetables as we go 
 along," said Roy. "What we have to have to 
 start with are staples." 
 
 "Mighty hard eating," murmured Chub. 
 "Why not use plain nails?" 
 
 This was treated by the others with contemptu- 
 ous silence. 
 
 "We '11 need flour, coffee, tea, sr.lt, rice, 
 cheese — " 
 
 "Pepper," interpolated Dick. 
 
 "Baking-powder, sugar, flavoring extracts — " 
 
 "Mustard," proposed Chub, "for mustard plas- 
 ters, you know." 
 
AN INVITATION TO MISS EMERY 43 
 
 "And lots of things like that," ended Roy tri- 
 umphantly. 
 
 "What we need is a grocery," sighed Chub. 
 "Aren't we going to have any meat at all? I 
 have a very delicate stomach, fellows, and the 
 doctor insists on meat three times a day. Per- 
 sonally, I don't care for it much ; I 'm a vegetarian 
 by conviction and early training; but one can't 
 go against the doctor's orders, you know. Now, 
 for breakfast a small rasher of bacon — " 
 
 "What 's a rasher?" Roy demanded. 
 
 * ' For luncheon a — er — two or three simple little 
 chops, and for dinner a small roast of beef or 
 lamb or a friendly steak. Those, with a few vege- 
 tables and an occasional egg, suffice my simple 
 needs. I might mention, however, that a sugges- 
 tion of sweet, such as a plum-pudding, a mince- 
 pie or a dab of ice-cream, has always seemed to 
 me a proper topping off to a meal, if I may use the 
 expression." 
 
 "You may use any expression you like," an- 
 swered Roy cruelly, "but if you think we 're going 
 to have roasts you 've got another guess coming to 
 you. Why, that kitchen — " 
 
 "Galley," corrected Chub helpfully. 
 
44 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 — "is too small for anything bigger than a 
 French chop ! ' ' 
 
 "When Chub gets awfully hungry," observed 
 Dick, "we might tie up to the shore and cook him 
 something over the fire; have a barbecue, you 
 know." 
 
 ' ' Cook a whole ox for him, ' ' laughed Eoy. ' ' I 
 guess that 's the only way Chub will ever get 
 enough to eat." 
 
 "You quit bothering about me," said Chub 
 scornfully, "and study seamanship. Remember 
 you 're to be an able seaman and if you don't come 
 up to the standard for able seaman I '11 do things 
 to you with a belaying-pin. " 
 
 "Isn't he the cruel -hearted captain?" asked 
 Dick. "I don't believe I want to ship with him, 
 Eoy." 
 
 "Oh, you '11 be all right. Chub won't dare to 
 touch you for fear he won 't get his dinner. ' ' 
 
 "There you go again!" Chub groaned. "You 
 fellows simply talk a subject to death. Your con- 
 versation lacks — lacks variety, diversity. If you 
 are quite through vilifying me — " 
 
 "Doesn't he use lovely language?" murmured 
 Roy in an aside to Dick. 
 
AN INVITATION TO MISS EMEKY 45 
 
 ' ' We will now proceed with our estimate, ' ' con- 
 cluded Chub. "As I was saying, eggs — " 
 
 "I tell you what we might use," interrupted 
 Dick. ' ' Have you ever seen any of this powdered 
 egg?" 
 
 "Is this a joke?" asked Chub darkly. 
 
 ' ' No, really ! You buy it in cans. It 's eggs, 
 just the yolks, you know, with all the moisture 
 taken out of them. It 's a yellow powder. And 
 when you want an omelet you just mix some milk 
 with it and stir it up and there you are!" 
 
 But Chub was suspicious. 
 
 "And how do you make a fried egg out of it?" 
 he asked. 
 
 "You can't, of course, because the whites are n't 
 there; but — " 
 
 "Then we want none of it! An egg that you 
 can't fry is n't a respectable egg. If I can't have 
 real eggs I '11 starve like a gentleman. ' ' 
 
 "Well, let 's leave the eggs out of it for the 
 present, ' ' suggested Eoy. ' ' Let 's figure on the 
 other things." 
 
 "Let 's not," said Dick, rising. "I 'm going 
 home. We 've got lots of time to figure. Be- 
 sides, the best way to do is to buy the things and 
 
46 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 let the groceryman do the figuring. We 've got 
 to have them, no matter what they cost. What 
 time are we going around to see the Floating 
 Artist?" 
 
 "Eight after breakfast," answered Chub. 
 "You come up at about ten o'clock — " 
 
 ' ' What 's the matter with you fellows coming to 
 the hotel and having breakfast with me?" asked 
 Dick. 
 
 "All right, then, luncheon. I '11 be around at 
 ten in the morning. See if you can at least get 
 him up by that time, Eoy. ' ' 
 
 "With a glance of scathing contempt," mur- 
 mured Chub, "our hero turned upon his heel and 
 strode rapidly away into the fast-gathering dark- 
 ness." 
 
 But where he really strode was down the stairs, 
 with one arm over Dick's shoulder, while Eoy 
 brought up the rear and gently prodded them 
 with the toe of his shoe. 
 
CHAPTER IV 
 
 LEASING A HOUSE-BOAT 
 
 THE preceding summer, while camping out on 
 Fox Island — or Harry's Island, as they 
 called it now — the boys had made the acquaint- 
 ance of the Floating Artist. He had appeared 
 one day in his house-boat, the Jolly Roger, in 
 which he was cruising down the Hudson, sketch- 
 ing as he went. His real name was Forbes Cole, 
 a name of much importance in the art world, as 
 the boys discovered later on. He had proved an 
 agreeable acquaintance, and when camp had been 
 broken the three boys, together with Harry 
 Emery, the daughter of the school principal, had 
 voyaged with him as far as New York. 
 
 Mr. Cole lived in a rather imposing white stone 
 house within sight of the Park. The entrance 
 was on the level with the sidewalk. Bay-trees in 
 green tubs flanked the door which was guarded 
 by a bronze grilling. The three boys were ad- 
 mitted by a uniformed butler and conducted into 
 
 47 
 
48 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 a tiny white-and-gold reception-room. As the 
 heavy curtain fell again at the doorway after the 
 retreating servant the visitors gazed at each 
 other with awed surprise. Chub pretended to be 
 fearful of trusting his weight to the slender 
 chairs, and all three were grinning and giggling 
 when the man appeared again, suddenly and noise- 
 lessly. Down a marble-tiled hall carpeted with 
 narrow Oriental rugs in dull colors they were led 
 to an elevator. When they were inside, the butler 
 touched a button and the tiny car, white-and-gold 
 like the reception-room, shot up past two floors 
 and stopped, apparently of its own volition, at the 
 third, and the boys emerged to find themselves in 
 a great studio that evidently occupied the whole 
 fourth floor of the house. 
 
 ' ' Talk about your Arabian Nights ! ' ' murmured 
 Chub in Eoy's ear. 
 
 The grating closed quietly behind them, the car 
 disappeared and they stood looking about 
 them in bewilderment and pleasure. So far as 
 they could see the big apartment was empty of 
 any persons save themselves, but they couldn't 
 be certain of that for there were shadowy recesses 
 where the white light from the big skylights 
 
Ill a great studio 
 
LEASING A HOUSE-BOAT 51 
 
 didn't penetrate, and a balcony of dark, richly 
 carved oak, screened and curtained, stretched 
 across the front end of the studio. 
 
 At the other end a broad fireplace was flanked 
 by a tall screen of Spanish leather which glowed 
 warmly where the light found it. A white bear- 
 skin was laid in front of it. Other rugs were 
 scattered here and there, queer, low-toned prayer 
 rugs many of them, with tattered borders and 
 silky sheen. The walls were hung with tapestries 
 against which was the dull glitter of armor. 
 Strange vessels of pottery and copper and brass 
 stood about, and two big, black oak chests, elab- 
 orately carved, half hidden by silken cushions and 
 embroideries, guarded the fireplace. There was a 
 dais under the skylight, and on it was a chair. At 
 a little distance was a big easel holding a canvas, 
 and beside it a cabinet for paints and brushes. 
 There were few pictures in sight, but over the 
 room hung a faint and not unpleasant odor of 
 paint and oil and turpentine. 
 
 At one of the broad, low windows — there were 
 only two and both were wide open — was a great 
 jar of yellow roses. Under the window was a 
 wide seat upholstered in green leather and piled 
 
52 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 with cushions. And amidst the cushions, a fact 
 only now discerned by the visitors, lay a red set- 
 ter viewing them calmly with big brown eyes. 
 
 "It 's Jack," Chub whispered. "I 've met him 
 before. He 's sure to chew holes in us if we stir. 
 Little Chub stays right here until help comes. ' ' 
 
 But evidently Jack had become interested, for 
 he slowly descended from the window-seat and 
 came across the room, his tail wagging slowly. 
 
 "We 'd better run," counseled Chub in pre- 
 tended terror. 
 
 But the red setter's intentions were apparently 
 friendly. He sniffed at Roy and allowed himself 
 to be patted. Then he walked around to Dick and 
 Chub and completed his investigations, finally be- 
 coming quite enthusiastic in his welcome and dig- 
 ging his nose into Chub's hand. 
 
 "Bet you he knows us!" cried Chub, softly and 
 delightedly. ' ' The rascal forgets that the first time 
 we met he made a face at me and growled. Well, 
 all is forgiven, Jack. Where 's your master, sir?" 
 
 "I suppose we might as well sit down," said 
 Eoy, "instead of standing here like a lot of nin- 
 nies." 
 
 "Did you ever see such a place in your life?" 
 
LEASING A HOUSE-BOAT 53 
 
 asked Dick. "It looks like a museum and a pal- 
 ace all rolled into one!" 
 
 "Gee, but I wish I was an artist!" sighed Chub. 
 "I wonder what 's on the easel. Do you think we 
 could look?" 
 
 "No, I think we '11 go over there and sit down 
 and not snoop," answered Eoy severely. "Come 
 on." 
 
 But at that moment the elevator door rolled 
 softly open and with a start the boys turned to 
 see their host step out of the car. Forbes Cole 
 was one of the biggest men they had ever seen. 
 He was well over six feet high and, it seemed, 
 more than proportionately broad. He was a fine, 
 handsome looking man with a big head of wavy 
 brown hair, kindly, twinkling blue eyes, and a 
 brown beard trimmed to a point under a strong 
 chin. 
 
 "Sorry to keep you waiting," he said as he 
 shook hands all around. "I was just finishing 
 breakfast. And how are you all? Let me see, 
 this is Eoy, isn't it? I remember every one of 
 you perfectly, but I have a bad memory for 
 names. Chub, though, I recollect very well; that 
 name happens to stick. And this is Dick Somes. 
 
54 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 Yes, yes, now I 've got you all. Jack seems to 
 have remembered you, too. Come over here and 
 sit down and tell me what great things have hap- 
 pened to you since we parted last year. I suppose 
 each one of you has done something fine for your 
 school or college. Dear, dear, what a beautiful 
 thing it is to be young ! We never realize it until 
 it 's too late. Now what 's the news?" 
 
 They perched themselves side by side on the 
 broad window-seat and the artist lifted the heavy 
 chair from the dais with one hand as though it 
 weighed but an ounce and sprawled his great 
 body in it. Jack settled back amongst the cush- 
 ions with his head on Dick's knee. 
 
 "I guess there isn't much to tell," said Eoy. 
 ' ' Chub and I have been at college and Dick here is 
 coming up in the fall. ' ' 
 
 " If I can pass, ' ' muttered Dick. 
 
 "And Miss Harry? How is she?" asked Mr. 
 Cole. 
 
 "Fine," said Dick. "I saw her the other 
 day. We often talk about you, sir, and the good 
 times we had on the Jolly Roger." 
 
 "And so you think you 'd like to have more 
 
LEASING A HOUSE-BOAT 55 
 
 good times orf it, eh!" laughed the artist in his 
 jovial roar. "I wish I could go along, if you 'd 
 have me ; but I 'm going across after awhile. But 
 the boat 's yours when you want it, and I hope 
 you '11 have the joUiest sort of a time, boys." 
 
 "It 's mighty nice of you to want us to have 
 it," said Roy. "We '11 take very good care of it, 
 Mr. Cole, and — " 
 
 "Oh, don't bother about that," laughed the 
 painter. "You know I 've got tired of it, boys. 
 Besides, it 's well insured and if it happens to go 
 to the bottom, why, I sha'n't mind a bit — as long 
 as you get out first! She 's at Loving's Landing, 
 if you know where that is ; about fifteen miles up 
 the river. You '11 find her in good condition, I 
 guess. I wrote the man day before yesterday to 
 open her up and get her in shape. She needs 
 paint, as I wrote you; but I don't believe I want 
 to go to the expense of having her done over But 
 if you think you 'd rather have her freshened up 
 it won't cost much to have Higgins put on one 
 coat for you. ' ' 
 
 "I guess she 's all right as she is," said Chub. 
 He looked at Eoy and that youth took the hint. 
 
56 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 "We were wondering," he began, "how much 
 you 'd want for her for a couple of months, Mr. 
 Cole." 
 
 "You can have her all summer for the same 
 price," answered the painter with his eyes twink- 
 ling. 
 
 "Well, I suppose we couldn't stay in her more 
 than two months, sir; but of course we realize 
 that if we took her we ought to pay for the whole 
 time, because it would be too late to rent her 
 again after we were through with her, I guess. 
 About how much would she be, sir?" 
 
 Mr. Cole looked at them thoughtfully for a mo- 
 ment. Finally, 
 
 "Well, I was going to ask you to take her and 
 use her rent free," he answered, "but there 's 
 something in Eoy's expression that tells me I 'd 
 get sat on if I did. " He laughed merrily. "Am 
 I right?" 
 
 "We wouldn't sit on you," answered Chub, 
 "but we 'd feel — feel better about it if we 
 rented it regularly from you. It 's mighty good 
 of you, though." 
 
 "No, it isn't. Chub. It isn't mighty good for 
 anyone to be generous when it doesn't cost him 
 
LEASING A HOUSE-BOAT 57 
 
 anything. The boat 's of no use to me this sum- 
 mer and I should n 't rent it under any conditions 
 — except to you boys. But if you 'd rather not 
 take it as a gift, why, I '11 have to put a price on 
 it." He thought a moment. "Suppose we say 
 fifty dollars for the summer?" 
 
 Chub eyed Eoy doubtfully and Koy eyed Dick. 
 
 "That sounds like an awful little bit," said Eoy 
 at last. 
 
 "I don't think so," replied their host. "I 
 doubt if the Jolly Roger 's worth much more, fel- 
 lows. I 'm satisfied and I don't see why you 
 shouldn't be. You won't let me do you a favor, 
 although I thought we were pretty good friends 
 last summer, but, on the other hand, I don't think 
 you ought to insist on my driving a hard bargain 
 with you. Fifty dollars is my valuation, and 
 there you are ; I refuse to go up another cent ! ' ' 
 
 "In that case," laughed Eoy, "I guess we 'd 
 better accept your terms, sir. And we 're very 
 much obliged." 
 
 ' ' That 's all right then. I '11 give you a note to 
 Higgins ; the boat 's in his yard up there ; and you 
 can take her over as soon as you like and keep her 
 as long as you wish. That 's settled. Now tell 
 
58 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 me what you Ve been doing the three of you. 
 How do you like your college?" 
 
 The boys stayed for another hour and talked 
 and were shown over the studio and were invited 
 to luncheon. But although Chub frowned and 
 nodded his head emphatically Eoy politely de- 
 clined. They finally left with the lease of the 
 house-boat Jolly Roger in Roy's pocket, promis- 
 ing to call again after they had looked over the 
 craft. Then they shook hands, entered the ele- 
 vator car and were dropped to the street floor. 
 
 On the sidewalk Roy turned to the others. 
 
 "Let 's go up and see the boat this afternoon," 
 he said. 
 
 "Let 's go now!" exclaimed Chub with enthusi- 
 asm. 
 
 ' ' Can 't ; after making up that fifty dollars there 
 isn't enough money in the crowd to pay the car- 
 fares. No, we 'U go along with Dick and have 
 luncheon. When we get to the hotel we '11 find 
 out how to get to Loving's Landing, and then 
 we '11 start out right after luncheon. What do 
 you say?" 
 
 Chub and Dick agreed to the plan and the three 
 strode off toward Dick's hostelry. 
 
Roy 
 
CHAPTER V 
 
 A TRIP OF INSPECTION 
 
 IT turned out when they got there that the real 
 host was not Dick, but Dick 's father. Neither 
 Eoy nor Chub had met Mr. Somes before. 
 Like Mr. Cole he was a large man, but his size was 
 rather a matter of breadth and thickness than 
 height. He had a round, clean-shaven, jovial 
 face lighted by a pair of keen steel-gray eyes, and 
 a deep, rumbly voice that seemed to come from 
 the heavy-soled shoes he affected. But he was 
 kindness itself, and by the time they had gathered 
 about the table beside the open window in the big 
 hotel dining-room Eoy and Chub were quite cap- 
 tivated. And that luncheon ! Chub talks of it yet ! 
 There was ice-cold canteloupe to start with, and 
 then cold bouillon, and tiny clams lying on shells 
 no larger than half-dollars, and chops not much 
 larger than the clams — so small, in fact, that 
 Chub viewed them with dismay until he discov- 
 ered that there were many, many of them, — and 
 
 61 
 
62 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 potato croquettes, and pease no larger than bird- 
 shot, and Eomaine salad, and — but, dear me, 
 no one save Chub can give the entire program at 
 this late day ! I know there were lemon tarts and 
 strawberry ice-cream and all sorts of astonishing 
 cakes at the end, though; and I know that Chub 
 was never much more miserable in his life than 
 when he was obliged to stop eating with half 
 his portion of ice-cream unconsumed! Of course 
 such a repast took time, and after it was over no 
 one seemed in any very great hurry to leave the 
 table. So they sat there contentedly while Mr. 
 Somes, craftily led on by Dick, told marvelous 
 stories of mines and discoveries, until Chub was 
 for abandoning the cruise in the Jolly Roger and 
 starting west to prospect for gold. It was almost 
 the middle of the afternoon when they finally left 
 the dining-room, and then a hasty consultation 
 of the time-table showed them that to reach Lov- 
 ing's Landing that day and return in time for din- 
 ner was quite out of the question. Eoy and Dick 
 were a little disappointed, but Chub took it philo- 
 sophically. 
 
 "We can go up in the morning just as well," 
 he said. "We can go any day, but it is n't every 
 
A TEIP OF INSPECTION 63 
 
 day a chap gets the chance of a feed like that. 
 It 's all right for you fellows to make fun, but you 
 haven't been in training for two months, living 
 on beef and potatoes and rice puddings ! I 'm not 
 kicking though," he added softly and reverently, 
 "for that luncheon pretty nearly made up for it 
 all!" 
 
 So instead of going to Loving's Landing they 
 ambled downtown, feeling very contented and 
 peaceful, and obtained a price-list from one of the 
 big grocery houses. Armed with this they re- 
 turned to Dick's room and made out a long list 
 of purchases. There is no use in setting it down 
 here, for when they reckoned up they found that 
 it came to over ninety dollars! In disgust Koy 
 crumpled it up and threw it into the waste-basket. 
 
 "We 're awful idiots," he said. "What 's the 
 good of wasting our time up here when we might 
 be out of doors ? Let 's go and have a walk in the 
 Park." 
 
 Chub, reclining at full length on Dick's bed, 
 groaned dismally. 
 
 " 'Strenuous' is a much over- worked word, 
 Eoy," he said, "but it certainly applies to you. 
 Just when I 'm beginning to feel comfortable you 
 
64 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 ask me to get up and walk ! Walk! If you 'd said 
 ride, now — " 
 
 "Well, let 's," said Dick. "Let 's get on the 
 top of one of those silly Fifth Avenue stages and 
 bump uptown. It 's lots of fun, honest ; you think 
 every minute that the fool thing 's going to topple 
 over ! ' ' 
 
 "What joy!" murmured Chub. "Let us go. 
 I 'm the neat little toppler. Besides, maybe it will 
 help settle my luncheon and give me an appetite 
 for dinner." 
 
 "Great Scott!" exclaimed Roy. "You 're not 
 thinking about dinner already are you?" 
 
 "I 'm thinking of nothing else," responded 
 Chub. "Hang it, you fellows don't seem to re- 
 alize that I 've got two months of starvation to 
 make up for ! Come on and let us topple. ' ' 
 
 But although they went to the end of the route 
 in both directions the coach failed to turn over, 
 but there were several occasions when Chub 
 screamed with delight and told the others that the 
 moment was at hand. 
 
 "Now we 're going!" Chub cried. "Stand 
 back, men! Women and children first!" And 
 
A TEIP OF INSPECTION 65 
 
 when the danger was over he shook his head dis- 
 appointedly. "I shall ask for my money back," 
 he declared warmly. "What kind of service do 
 you call this, anyway 1 Here I am out for a pleas- 
 ant afternoon topple and nothing doing! I be- 
 lieve I could have some one arrested for this." 
 He looked darkly about him in search of a victim. 
 ' ' The first policeman I see I shall make complaint 
 to. It 's an outrage, a perfect outrage ! ' ' 
 
 But when they reached Eoy's house the pros- 
 pect of dinner had restored his good-humor. Dick 
 dined with them, and in the evening they went to 
 the theater. 
 
 Theoretically it is a simple matter to journey 
 from New York to Loving's Landing. Actually 
 it is much more difficult, especially when you mis- 
 take the train as the three did the next forenoon 
 and find yourself hurrying off in quite the wrong 
 direction. By the time they were able to get out 
 of that train they had wasted fourteen miles. By 
 the time they were back in the station, ready to 
 start over again, they had squandered nearly 
 three quarters of an hour. Eoy was inclined to 
 be angry, laying the blame, by some remarkable 
 
66 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 method of reasoning-, on the railroad company. 
 
 "What did that fellow tell us Track 12 for?" he 
 asked irascibly. 
 
 "There, there," said Chub soothingly, "don't 
 waste your time trying to find out why anybody 
 does anything in a railroad station. They have 
 laws of their own, Roy, laws that you and I will 
 never comprehend. It was our fault. We ought 
 to know by this time that no one in a station ever 
 tells the truth on any subject. I '11 just bet you 
 that if I go over there and ask that gateman how 
 to get to Loving's Landing he will tell me all 
 wrong. ' ' 
 
 "Well, we 've got to ask someone," said Dick, 
 "and it might as well be him. He looks as intelli- 
 gent as most of them I 've seen." 
 
 ' ' Then I '11 ask him, but of course he will lie to 
 me." Chub was back in a minute shaking his 
 head dismally. "He says Track 8, and that 
 there 's a train in about four minutes, but of 
 course—" 
 
 "Come on," said Roy impatiently, "don't 
 let 's lose another." 
 
 They sought Track 8, Chub expostulating 
 against the folly of believing the gateman. But 
 
A TEIP OF INSPECTION 67 
 
 both the conductor and the brakeman assured them 
 earnestly that the train did go to Loving's Land- 
 ing, and after some persuasion Chub allowed him- 
 self to be dragged aboard. 
 
 "Have your own way," he sighed. "But when 
 you get out in Chicago or Cincinnati or New Or- 
 leans don't blame me, don't blame me! I wash 
 my hands of the whole undertaking. ' ' 
 
 "I guess it won't hurt them," answered Dick 
 cruelly, 
 
 Loving's Landing, at first sight, didn't appear 
 to be worth the trouble they had taken to find it. 
 It was largely composed of lumberyards, ma- 
 chine-shops and wharves in front of which dirty 
 little canal-boats were lying. Higgin's Boat Yard 
 was difficult to discover, each informant directing 
 them differently, but at last they found it 
 tucked away between the railroad and the 
 river and hidden by a lumberyard. They pre- 
 sented their credentials at the office and were di- 
 rected to where the Jolly Roger lay ready for 
 launching. By that time Chub was speculating on 
 the chances of obtaining luncheon in such a ' ' one- 
 horse metropolis." 
 
 The Jolly Roger lay at the top of the way, one 
 
68 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 end tilted high in air. It was something of a 
 feat to board her and more of a feat to move 
 around after they were there. The doors and 
 windows had been opened but the interior still 
 had a musty odor that caused Eoy to sniff in 
 displeasure. For the next half-hour they roamed 
 around in and out, planning and making mem- 
 oranda of things to buy. The boat was fur- 
 nished just as when they had last seen it, although 
 the hauling out had seriously displaced many of 
 the articles. In the forward cabin, — or living- 
 room, just as you had a mind to call it, — chairs 
 and table had congregated against one wall as 
 though holding a conference. 
 
 "Seems to me," said Chub, "we 're going to 
 need a lot of things. We ought to have new cur- 
 tains all over the shop, cot-beds, bedding, some 
 more chairs — " 
 
 "Well, we 've got those all down," answered 
 Eoy shortly. "What is most important, I fancy, 
 is to have someone go over the engine. ' ' 
 
 "You bet," Dick agreed. "We can do without 
 new curtains better than we can do without an en- 
 gine. I 've been looking at the batteries and wir- 
 
A TBIP OF INSPECTION 69 
 
 ing and they 're all out of kilter. We 'd better 
 consult Higgins and find some one who can fix up 
 that part of it. ' ' 
 
 "She doesn't look much as she did last sum- 
 mer," said Chub disappointedly. 
 
 "Oh, she will when she gets in the water and 
 we have her fixed up, ' ' Dick replied. ' ' How about 
 painting her outside?" 
 
 They climbed down and had a look at her from 
 the wharf, finally agreeing that a coat of white on 
 the house was necessary. Then they found the 
 boat builder and talked it all over with him. As 
 soon as he found that there was a prospect of 
 work to be done he was all attention. He agreed 
 to take charge of the matter, paint her as di- 
 rected, have the engine and batteries thoroughly 
 gone over and deliver her at a certain dock in the 
 North Eiver, New York, in one week's time. 
 
 "Of course he 's lying, too," said Chub gloomily 
 as they made their way out of the yard, "but it 's 
 a sweet lie. I don't suppose he will have her ready 
 before the middle of July. Some one of us will 
 have to come up here every day or so and get 
 after him." 
 
70 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 "Don't you worry," answered Dick, "Roy and 
 I will camp on his trail, and by the time yon come 
 back she '11 be all ready." 
 
 Chub allowed himself to be comforted, and they 
 set forth in search of luncheon. They found it, 
 but the least said of it the better. The next morn- 
 ing Chub left for Pittsburg, having bound him- 
 self as one condition of the agreement with his 
 father to spend a week at home before beginning 
 the cruise in the house-boat. While he was away 
 Roy and Dick fulfilled their promise to keep after 
 Mr. Higgins, and that worthy responded finely to 
 encouragement. The boys went to Loving's Land- 
 ing three times during the week, the last time bear- 
 ing with them the new curtains which had been 
 purchased by Mrs. Porter and made under her di- 
 rections. There were other purchases, too; cot- 
 beds that folded into almost nothing when not in 
 use, blankets, sheets, mattresses, and pillows, 
 dishes and a few extra cooking utensils, new rec- 
 ords for Mr. Cole's talking machine, two brightly- 
 hued and inexpensive Japanese rugs for the upper 
 deck and numerous lesser things. The provisions 
 were left to the last. They kept up an incessant 
 and animated correspondence with Chub who 
 
Chub descended at the Porter's bag and baggage 
 
A TRIP OF INSPECTION 73 
 
 hated to have anything done without getting a 
 finger in it, and altogether that was a busy week. 
 At the end of it, strange to say, the Jolly Roger 
 actually appeared in her berth in the river, and 
 the next afternoon Chub descended at the Porter's 
 bag and baggage. 
 
CHAPTER VI 
 
 THE JOLLY EOGEE 
 
 WHEN I say that Chub arrived "bag and bag- 
 gage, ' ' I mean every word of it. 
 
 It was a delightful afternoon — July was almost 
 a week old — and Eoy, pausing before his front 
 door and fumbling for his latch-key, looked west- 
 ward along the street into a golden haze of sun- 
 light. And as he looked, suddenly there appeared, 
 huge and formless in the sunset glow, something 
 that arrested his attention. For a moment he 
 couldn't make it out, but presently, with a rattle 
 of wheels, it drew near and resolved into a "four- 
 wheeler" piled high with luggage. It pulled up 
 at the curb before the door, and Chub leaped out, 
 bringing with him numerous packages. 
 
 "Hello," greeted Roy; "come to spend the rest 
 of your days with us? Why did n't you bring the 
 grand piano? Or is it in the big trunk there?" 
 
 Chub grinned and directed the transfer of his 
 74 
 
THE JOLLY EOGER 75 
 
 belongings from cab to bouse. Tbere was a small 
 steamer trunk, a wbopping wicker trunk, a suit 
 case, a case containing fisbing rods, a case con- 
 taining a sbot-gun, tbree brown paper parcels, an 
 umbrella, and a rain coat. Tbe largest trunk was 
 placed in tbe rear ball down-stairs, but tbe otber 
 tbings were carried up to Cbub's room. And 
 wben tbe confusion was over and tbe cabman, lib- 
 erally rewarded, bad rattled away, Cbub deigned 
 to explain. 
 
 "Is n't tbat a raft of stuff?" be asked, tbrowing 
 bimself into a cbair. "You see, Eoy, after I 'd 
 got all packed up I came across two or tbree 
 tbings I tbougbt would be nice for tbe boat, and 
 as tbere wasn't time to do anytbing else, I just 
 wrapped tbem up and brougbt tbem along. Tbat 
 big bundle is a corn and asparagus boiler, and — " 
 
 "A whatr' 
 
 "Corn and asparagus boiler. It 's a great 
 tbing. I found it in tbe kitcben cupboard. It 's 
 sort of oblong, you know, and tbere 's a tray tbat 
 lifts out witb tbe corn on it wben it 's done. You 
 see, we 're likely to bave a lot of green corn and 
 I was pretty sure we didn't bave anytbing big 
 
76 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 enough to cook it in. Good idea, wasn't it?" 
 
 "Splendid!" said Eoy. "Did they know you 
 were taking it I " 
 
 "They do by this time," laughed Chub, "I 
 forget whether I made any special mention of it. 
 There were so many things at the last moment, 
 you see. That littlest bundle is a barometer. 
 Every boat ought to have a barometer, so I bor- 
 rowed it from the front porch. And the other — " 
 
 "Oh, you needn't tell me," sighed Roy. "I 
 know what 's in that. It 's a sewing machine. ' ' 
 
 "You run away and play! It 's a pair of white 
 canvas shoes. I found them after the trunks had 
 gone and there was n't room for them in the bag." 
 
 "And, without wishing to appear unduly in- 
 quisitive," said Eoy, "may I ask what the large 
 trunk down-stairs contains? You said it wasn't 
 the piano, I believe?" 
 
 "I '11 show you after dinner," answered Chub. 
 "I 've got a lot of useful things in there. What 
 time is it? After six? Then I must wash off 
 some of this dust. My! it was a grimy old trip." 
 
 ' ' It must have been. How are the folks ? ' ' 
 
 ' ' Splendid ! They 're getting ready to go to the 
 Water Gap. My, but I 'm glad I don't have to go 
 
THE JOLLY ROGER 77 
 
 too! I suppose, though, I '11 have to go there 
 for a while in September. Is the boat done yet? 
 Have you seen it?" 
 
 After dinner Dick appeared and Chub solved 
 the mystery of the wicker trunk. The entire 
 household gathered in the back hall while he dis- 
 played his treasures. 
 
 "What do you say to those?" asked Chub, pull- 
 ing four sofa cushions out. "They 'U be just the 
 thing for the window-seat in the forward cabin, 
 eh?" 
 
 "We 've got pillows for that window-seat," 
 said Dick. 
 
 "How many?" asked Chub, scathingly. 
 ' ' About six ! We need a lot. Mother said I could 
 have these just as well as not for the summer, so 
 I bagged them. And look here! Camp-stools, 
 don't you see? You open them out like — ^like this 
 — no, like this ! — ^yes, this must be the way they go 
 — how the dickens? — there we are! See? When 
 we don't need them they fold up out of the way 
 — ouch!" Chub had folded one of his fingers in 
 the operation. 
 
 "They 're fine!" laughed Roy. "We can use 
 them on the roof." 
 
78 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 "Upper deck, please," Dick requested. 
 "What 's the red blanket. Chub?" 
 
 "That 's a steamer rug, and it 's a fine one. 
 Feel the warmth of it. I thought maybe we 'd 
 want extra covers some time. And there 's an old 
 foot-ball—" 
 
 "What 's that for?" asked Eoy. 
 
 "Oh, we may want to kick it around some time 
 when we 're ashore. It '11 be something to do. 
 And this is an old sweater ; I thought I 'd just 
 bring it along. And here 's a small ice-cream 
 freezer. It only makes a quart, but that '11 be 
 enough, I guess. And that 's a bag of salt. 
 Mother thought I might as well bring it as buy 
 new. ' ' 
 
 By this time the audience was frankly hilarious. 
 
 "But do you know how to make ice-cream, 
 Chub?" asked Mrs. Porter. 
 
 "Oh, anybody can make ice-cream," he an- 
 swered carelessly. "You just mix some cream 
 and sugar and flavoring stuff up and freeze it. 
 I 've seen our cook do it lots of times. Here 's 
 my electric torch. That '11 be handy, you '11 admit. 
 And here 's a collapsible bucket. It 's great! I 
 saw it in a store window one day. See how it 
 
THE JOLLY ROGER 79 
 
 folds up when you aren't using it? That 's a 
 box of soap ; I knew you fellows would forget to 
 put soap on your list." 
 
 Neither Dick nor Roy had anything to say; 
 they had forgotten. 
 
 "Those are some books I want to read. Have 
 you read that one, Roy? It 's a thriller ! Take it 
 along with you. It '11 keep you awake half the 
 night. These old trousers I thought might come 
 in handy in case anyone ffeU in the water." 
 
 "Dear me!" exclaimed Roy's mother. "You 
 don't expect to fall overboard do you?" 
 
 "No, Mrs. Porter, but you never can tell what 
 will happen," replied Chub, wisely. "Those are 
 shells for the shot-gun and that 's my fly-book. 
 I should think we might find some good fishing, 
 eh? Here 's a "first aid" case. Mother insisted 
 on my bringing that. I don't know what 's in it, 
 but I suppose there 's no harm having it along. 
 Here are some curtains; I used to have them in 
 my room until they got faded. I thought maybe 
 we 'd find a place for them. And this is an extra 
 blanket. I just put it in so that the bottom of the 
 trunk would be soft. And a hair pillow; it 's 
 rather soiled, but that 's just shoe-dressing I 
 
80 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 spilled on it once. The laundress couldn't get 
 it all out. And I guess that 's all except this 
 thermometer. Oh, the mischief! The plaguey 
 thing 's broken! Throw it away. It was just a 
 cheap one, anyhow. There, that 's the lot. What 
 do you say?" 
 
 "I don't know how we 'd have got along with- 
 out those things, Chub," said Roy, very, very 
 earnestly. "How we could have expected to go 
 on a cruise without a foot-ball and a hair pillow 
 and a collapsible bucket — " 
 
 "And a pair of old trousers and a thermome- 
 ter," added Dick. 
 
 "I don't see. Do you Dick?" Dick shook his 
 head gravely. 
 
 ' ' We must have been crazy, ' ' he said, sadly. 
 
 "Oh, you say what you like!" responded Chub. 
 "You '11 find that all these things will come in 
 mighty handy before we get back. ' ' 
 
 "Of course," said Roy, "even if we have to 
 load them in another boat and tow it along be- 
 hind." 
 
 "Oh, get out; there 's plenty of room for this 
 truck. You fellows are just jealous because you 
 did n 't think of them. ' ' 
 
THE JOLLY ROGER 81 
 
 "I quite approve of the ice-cream freezer," 
 remarked Mr. Porter, "but I don't just see how 
 you 're going to work it without the dasher." 
 
 "What!" exclaimed Chub. "Did n't I put that 
 in?" 
 
 "Well, I don't see it anywhere; do you?" 
 Then followed a wild search for the dasher. 
 At last Chub gave it up and looked a trifle 
 foolish. 
 
 "I remember now," he muttered. "I took it 
 out of the can so that it wouldn't rattle around. 
 I — I must have forgotten to pack it." 
 
 He joined good-naturedly in the laugh that 
 arose. 
 
 "Anyhow," he said presently, "I dare say we 
 can get along without ice-cream. It 's a bother 
 to have to freeze it. And maybe we can use the 
 tub as a bucket and keep something in the can; 
 we could keep our milk in it." 
 
 "I imagine that most of the milk we '11 have 
 will come in cans," said Roy. "You don't expect 
 fresh milk, do you?" 
 
 "I surely do. We can buy it at the farm- 
 houses. ' ' 
 
 "Condensed milk is cheaper, though," said 
 
82 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 Dick, "because you don't have to use much sugar 
 with it." 
 
 "Listen to Dickums!" jeered Chub. "He's 
 getting economical!" 
 
 It was finally decided to leave the ice-cream 
 freezer behind, and the bag of salt was donated to 
 Mrs. Porter "as a slight testimonial of esteem 
 from the master and crew of the Jolly Roger." 
 Then the boys went up to Roy's room and sat 
 there very late, planning and discussing. 
 
 The next morning found them at the wharf 
 bright and early, even Chub disdaining for once 
 what he called his "beauty sleep." The wharf 
 belonged to a company in which Mr. Porter was 
 interested and accommodations for the Jolly 
 Roger had been gladly accorded. She lay in the 
 slip looking very clean and neat. The new coat 
 of paint had worked wonders in her appearance. 
 Each of the boys had brought a suit case filled 
 with things, and Chub carried besides the two 
 camp-stools and a large crimson pillow. And 
 while they are aboard unloading let us look over 
 the house-boat. 
 
 At first glance* the Jolly Roger looked like a 
 scow with a little one-story white cottage on top, 
 
THE JOLLY EOGER S5 
 
 and a tiny cupola at one end of that. The hull 
 was thirty-three feet long and thirteen feet wide 
 and drew about four feet. There was a bluntly 
 curving bow and the merest suggestion of a 
 stern, but had it not been for the white cupola on 
 top, which was in reality a tiny wheel-house, it 
 would have been difficult to decide which was the 
 bow end and which the stem end of the craft. 
 The hull was painted pea-green to a point just 
 above the water-line. Beyond that there was a 
 strip of faded rose-pink, and then a narrow mar- 
 gin of white. The decks were gray, or had been 
 at one time, the house and railings were white 
 and the window and door trimming was green. 
 So she didn't lack for color. 
 
 Small as the boat was she was well built and, in 
 spite of having been in use for several years, was 
 in first-rate condition. It was nothing short of a 
 miracle that so many rooms and passages and 
 cubbyholes were to be found on her. Chub, in 
 commenting on this feature, had said once ; 
 
 "If you gave this hull to a regular carpenter 
 and told him to build one room and a closet on it 
 he 'd be distracted. And if he did do it he 'd have 
 the closet sticking out over the water somewhere. 
 
86 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 But just look what a boat-builder does ! He makes 
 three rooms, a kitchen, and an engine compart- 
 ment, all sorts of closets and cupboards, puts a 
 roof garden and a pilot-house on top and runs a 
 piazza all around it! Why, a fellow I know at 
 home has a little old launch about twenty feet 
 long and six feet wide and I 'm blessed if he has n't 
 pretty nearly everything inside of her except a 
 ball-room! I 'm blamed if I see how they do it!" 
 On the Jolly Roger, beginning forward, there 
 was a living-room nine feet by ten. There were 
 five one-sash windows in it, two on each side and 
 one in front. Under the front window and run- 
 ning from side to side was a broad window-seat 
 comfortably upholstered and supplied with pil- 
 lows." Between two of the windows was a book- 
 case, in one corner was a cabinet holding a talk- 
 ing-machine and records, in the center of the room 
 was a three-foot round table, and three wicker 
 chairs were distributed about. Forward, in front 
 of the window, a tiny spiral stairway of iron led 
 up into the wheel-house above. It had been de- 
 cided that if Harry, and her father or mother 
 joined them, a cot-bed was to be placed in this 
 room, which, with the window-seat, would give 
 
THE JOLLY ROGER 87 
 
 accommodations for two persons. The living 
 room gave into a narrow passage wMch traversed 
 the boat. Across the passage at the other end 
 was a door leading into a little bedroom, nine 
 feet by five. This held a three-foot brass bed- 
 stead, one chair, and a lavatory. Above the bed 
 drawers and shelves and a mirror had been built. 
 Back of the bedroom, opening from the deck, 
 was the engine-room. The engine was of six 
 horse-power and a very good one, in spite of Mr. 
 Cole's aspersions. The gasolene tank was on the 
 roof above. The Jolly Roger had a guaranteed 
 speed of five miles an hour, but the boys soon dis- 
 covered that the guaranteed speed and the actual 
 speed didn't agree by a whole mile. The engine- 
 room had no window but was lighted by a dead- 
 light set in the roof. Beyond the engine-room, 
 on the other side of the boat, was a tiny kitchen, 
 or, as the boys preferred to call it, galley. This 
 opened into the after cabin and was so small that 
 one person entirely filled it. But in spite of its 
 size it was a model of convenience. There was an 
 oil-stove, a sink — ^you forced water from a tank 
 under the deck by means of a little nickel-plated 
 pump — an ice-chest, shelves for dishes, hooks 
 
88 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 overhead for pots and kettles, cupboards tin- 
 derneath for supplies and a dozen other con- 
 veniences. As Dick said, all you had to do 
 was to stand in front of the sink and reach for 
 anything you wanted. There was a window above 
 the sink and Dick discovered that it was very 
 handy to throw potato peelings and such things 
 out of. 
 
 The remaining apartment was a room nine by 
 seven which the owner had used principally to 
 store his painting materials in. Previously it 
 had contained only a cupboard, table, chair, and 
 a small, green chest. But now two cot-beds were 
 established on opposite sides. There wasn't 
 much room left, but it was quite possible to move 
 around and to reach the galley. This after cabin 
 opened on to the rear deck, about five feet broad, 
 from whence a flight of steps led up to the roof, 
 or, again quoting the boys, the upper deck. 
 
 This was one of the best features of the little 
 craft. It was covered with canvas save where 
 panes of thick glass gave light to the rooms below, 
 and was railed all around. Outside the railing 
 were green wooden boxes for flowers. Last sum- 
 
THE JOLLY EOGER 89 
 
 mer these had heen filled with geraniums and peri- 
 winkle and had made a brave showing. And the 
 hoys had decided that they would have them so 
 again. Stanchions held a striped awning which 
 covered the entire deck. At the forward end was 
 the wheel-house, a little six by four compartment 
 glassed on all sides, in which was a steering 
 wheel — the boat could also be steered from the 
 engine-room — ^various pulls for controlling the 
 engine, a rack for charts, a clock, and a comforta- 
 ble swivel chair. Near the stairs there was a little 
 cedar tender, but this was usually towed astern. 
 Stowed away below were some inexpensive rugs 
 which belonged up here, and three willow chairs 
 and a willow table. A side ladder led from the 
 upper deck to the lower so that one could get 
 quickly from engine-room to wheel-house. Top- 
 ping the latter was a short pole for a flag. Such 
 was the house-boat Jolly Roger, Eaton, master. 
 
 "Tell you what I 'm going to do," said Dick, 
 when they had unloaded their bags and distrib- 
 uted the contents, "I 'm going to try the en- 
 gine. We 'd better find out as soon as we can 
 whether she 's going to run." 
 
90 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 "What do you mean?" asked Boy, anxiously. 
 "Go monkeying around here among all these 
 ferry-boats and things?" 
 
 But Dick explained that his idea was to keep 
 the boat tied up. So they looked to their two 
 lines which ran from bow and stern and Dick 
 slipped into the engine-room. Presently there 
 was a mild commotion at the stern of the boat 
 which gradually increased as Dick advanced the 
 spark. The lines tightened, but held, and Roy 
 and Chub joined the engineer. 
 
 "How does she go?" asked Chub. 
 
 "All right," Dick answered, cheerfully. The 
 engine was chugging away busily and Dick was 
 moving about it with his oil -can. "I did n't have 
 any trouble starting it. I don't believe Mr. Cole 
 knows much about engines." There was a tone 
 of superiority in Dick's voice that caused the 
 others to smile, recalling, as they did, his own 
 vast ignorance of the subject less than a year ago. 
 The summer before Dick had purchased a small 
 launch and what he now knew of gas engines had 
 been learned in the short space of a few months' 
 experience chugging about Ferry Hill in the Pup. 
 
 "Oh, Mr. Cole always said he didn't under- 
 
THE JOLLY ROGER 91 
 
 stand that engine," answered Eoy. "Turn her 
 off, Dick, or we '11 break away from the dock. ' ' 
 
 "Wait till I see how she reverses," said Dick. 
 
 "Well, start her back easy," Chub cautioned, 
 glancing anxiously at the lines which held them 
 to the wharf. So Dick slowed the engine down 
 and then threw back the clutch. The Jolly Roger 
 obeyed beautifully, and Dick was finally per- 
 suaded to bring the trial to an end. Then they 
 went over the boat again. 
 
 "If Harry brings her mother with her," said 
 Eoy, "they '11 have to have this room." They 
 were in the forward cabin or living room. "We 
 can put up a cot along here for Mrs. Emery and 
 Harry can have the window-seat ! ' ' 
 
 "That 's all right," said Chub, "but the only 
 place to wash is in the bedroom. We '11 have to 
 put a bowl and pitcher in here, and a looking- 
 glass, too; ladies can't get along without a look- 
 ing-glass." 
 
 "If her father comes with her," said Dick, 
 ' ' Harry can have the bedroom, Doctor Emery can 
 sleep in here on the cot and one of us fellows can 
 have the window-seat. Then the other two can 
 sleep in the after cabin." 
 
92 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 "Where '11 we eat our meals?" Eoy asked. 
 They looked at each other in perplexity. 
 
 "Mr. Cole ate in the after cabin," said Chub, 
 finally, "but there isn't room there with those 
 two cots set up." 
 
 "I tell you," said Dick. "While we 're alone 
 we '11 take the cots out of the after cabin and use 
 it for a dining-room. Eoy can have the cot in 
 here and I '11 sleep on the window-seat. Chub 
 can have the bedroom; he 's captain, you know." 
 
 "That 's a good scheme," answered Eoy, "but 
 how about when the others come?" 
 
 "Oh, we '11 fix it somehow. Besides, maybe 
 they won't come. We haven't heard a word 
 from Harry yet." 
 
 "Well, the letter had to be forwarded from 
 Ferry Hill to her aunt's, I suppose," explained 
 Eoy. "We '11 probably hear from her to-day or 
 to-morrow. Half the time we '11 be tied up to the 
 shore, any way, and we can easily enough set 
 that little table on the ground." 
 
 "Maybe there 'd be room for it on the rear 
 deck," suggested Dick. "Kind of under the 
 stairs, you know. Let 's go and see." 
 
 A survey of the space showed that the plan was 
 
THE JOLLY ROGER 93 
 
 quite feasible, especially as Dick volunteered to 
 sit on the railing. 
 
 "There 's another thing we '11 have to have," 
 said Chub, "and that 's a place to wash when 
 Harry 's with us. Suppose we haul that little 
 green chest out here and put a tin basin on it. 
 We could bring water from the kitch — the gal- 
 ley." 
 
 "That 's all right," laughed Roy, "but why not 
 use your precious folding bucket and dip the water 
 out of the river?" 
 
 "I hadn't thought of that," Chub responded. 
 ' ' That 's a good scheme. We '11 hang it on a nail, 
 over the basin." 
 
 "Where the mischief are we going to keep 
 those extra cots when we 're not using them?" 
 Dick asked. 
 
 "I found just the place for them," Chub re- 
 plied. "We '11 lean them up in the passage be- 
 yond the bedroom door and keep the outside door 
 at that end closed. We don't need to use it any- 
 way. ' ' 
 
 Other problems were solved, and then luncheon, 
 which they had brought with them, was spread on 
 the table in the forward cabin and they set to with 
 
94 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 a will. Before they had finished the florist ap- 
 peared on the scene with geraniums and peri- 
 winkle for the flower boxes. By the time he had 
 transferred the plants from pots to the boxes 
 along the edge of the upper deck, he had managed 
 to mess the new white paint up pretty badly and 
 the boys spent the better part of half an hour 
 cleaning up with water and brushes. By that 
 time it was well toward the middle of the 
 afternoon and they were quite ready to go 
 home. 
 
 "If we can get the rest of the supplies in to- 
 morrow morning," observed Chub as he locked 
 the last door and slipped the key in his pocket, 
 "I don't see why we shouldn't start to-morrow 
 after luncheon instead of waiting until the next 
 morning. We could easily get up the river far 
 enough to spend the night. What do you 
 think?" 
 
 Both Roy and Dick were quite as eager to get 
 off as he was, and it was agreed that if the 
 groceries arrived in time they would begin their 
 cruise at one o'clock on the morrow. When they 
 reached Roy's house they found a letter from 
 Harry. Roy read it aloud. 
 
THE JOLLY ,EOGER 95 
 
 Miss Emery accepts with pleasure the kind invitation 
 of Messrs. Chub, Roy, and Dick, and will be ready to 
 embark on the Jolly Roger at Ferry Hill at the time 
 appointed. 
 
 P. S. Is n 't it lovely ? Mama says I can come home 
 the 20th and papa will go with me, although he says we 
 can't stay with you more than two weeks. But perhaps 
 you did n 't want us for more than that. Did you ? Do 
 you think I might take Snip along? He will behave 
 beautifully. Aunt Harriet says I 'm certain to be 
 drowned and wants me to carry a life preserver around 
 in my hand all the time. Is n 't that funny ? She 's 
 taught me to make pie-crust and so I '11 make you all 
 the pies you want. Won't that be fine? I can make 
 three kinds : apple, cherry, rhubarb. I can make mince, 
 too, if I have the mincemeat. Don't forget to write at 
 once and let me know when you will get to Ferry Hill. 
 Remembrances to Chub and Dick. 
 
 Yours truly, Haeet. 
 
 "Well, I 'm rather glad it 's the Doctor that 's 
 coming and not Mrs. Emery," said Dick. "Mrs. 
 Emery is charming and kind, but a man will be 
 less trouble. Hello, what 's the matter with you, 
 Chub!" 
 
 Chub was gazing into space with an ecstatic 
 smile on his face. 
 
 "Me'"" he asked, coming out of his trance. 
 "Nothing! I was just thinking of those pies!" 
 
CHAPTEE VII 
 
 THE CRUISE BEGINS 
 
 BEHOLD, then, the Jolly Roger proceeding, as 
 Chub phrased it, "under her own sail" up 
 the Hudson River in the middle of a glorious July 
 afternoon. There was a fresh little breeze quar- 
 tering down the river and the surface of the 
 broad stream was merry with whitecaps. The 
 long, blue pennant which Dick had discovered in 
 the wheel-house snapped and waved from the 
 pole. Chub said he didn't know what a blue 
 pennant meant, but that since it looked mighty 
 well they 'd fly it. Roy hoped it wasn't a de- 
 mand for assistance or a token of sickness on 
 board. They wanted to dip it as they passed 
 Grant's tomb, white and stately on the crest of 
 the hill, but the halyards had got twisted, and 
 by the time they were righted there was nothing 
 to salute but a dingy little tugboat. 
 With both tide and wind against her the house- 
 
 96 
 
THE CRUISE BEGINS 97 
 
 boat made slow progress, and Chub was inclined 
 to be impatient. 
 
 "We '11 never get to Ferry Hill this side of 
 Christmas!" he declared. "I vote we name her 
 over, and call her the Slow Poke." 
 
 Dick and Eoy applauded instantly. Chub was 
 at the wheel and the others were standing be- 
 hind him at the open door of the wheel-house, 
 ready with suggestions and assistance, Dick hav- 
 ing been dragged away from the engine almost 
 by main force. 
 
 "Fine!" said Dick. "Only she's got Jolly 
 Roger painted on her bow." 
 
 "That 's all right," said Chub. "Mr. Cole 
 said we could do anything we liked with her. 
 When we get to a town we '11 buy some paint and 
 rename her." 
 
 "It 's a good name," laughed Eoy. "I wonder 
 Mr. Cole never thought of it himself. ' ' 
 
 "Maybe he did; she 's had all sorts of names; 
 he said so. Now what 's that little sail-boat try- 
 ing to do? If she does n't look out she '11 get run 
 over." Chub blew the whistle warningly. 
 
 < ' We 've got to get out of her way, ' ' said Dick. 
 
98 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 "What for?" asked Chub, haughtily. "Let 
 her get out of our way." 
 
 "Law requires sailing craft to give way to 
 dories and such and steamboats to give way to 
 sail-boats," responded Dick, knowingly. 
 
 "Listen to the Ancient Mariner," jeered Chub. 
 But he pulled a lever that slowed down the engine, 
 and so allowed the sail-boat to bob out of harm's 
 way. Chub had a chart spread out in front of 
 him, and now and then he pointed out the places 
 along the way with the manner of a discoverer, 
 though Roy said it seemed more like a ride in 
 a sight-seeing automobile. 
 
 " Manhattanville on our right, gentlemen. On 
 the left historic Fort Lee. ' ' 
 
 "What happened there?" asked Dick. 
 
 "I don't know." 
 
 "Then how do you know it 's historic?" 
 
 "All forts are historic," answered Chub, loftily. 
 "Across the river are historic Fort Washington 
 and historic Fort George." 
 
 "I suppose the next fort is historic Fort Cherry- 
 tree," muttered Dick, skeptically. "I don't see 
 any forts, anyhow. I 'm going down again — '' 
 
 "To throw more oil on that poor old engine," 
 
H 
 
 o 
 
 5' 
 
 c 
 
 O 
 
THE CRUISE BEGINS 101 
 
 mourned Roy. ' ' Dick, let me remind you that oil 
 costs money. You 've already squandered about 
 a gallon." 
 
 ' ' Get out ! We only had a quart to begin with. 
 I 'm not going to put any more oil on, anyway; 
 I just want to see how she 's working." 
 
 "Dick thinks that if he is n't sitting beside that 
 engine holding its hand it '11 get mad and quit 
 work," laughed Chub. "Let him go, Roy, for 
 goodness' sake!" So Dick climbed over the side 
 and disappeared into the tiny engine-room to sit 
 on a camp-stool with a bunch of dirty waste in 
 his hand and watch the engine fascinatedly. 
 
 The departure of the house-boat had been quite 
 devoid of brilliant features. The groceries and 
 supplies had been delivered early, suit cases and 
 other luggage had been brought across town in 
 a cab, and by noon all was in readiness. The 
 boys had returned to the house for an early lunch- 
 eon and afterward, accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. 
 Porter and Mr. Somes, had come down to the 
 sea in two bright red taxicabs. The older folks 
 had been shown over the boat and had then stood 
 on the end of the wharf and waved good-by while 
 the Jolly — pardon me, the Slow Poke had been 
 
102 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 warped out of the slip and had started up the 
 river. But Eoy's parents and Dick's father had 
 not been the only spectators, and many and sar- 
 castic had been the comments from the assembled 
 wharf hands and loiterers. But the boys hadn't 
 cared. They had been far too excited and busy. 
 The Slow Poke didn't answer very readily to her 
 helm, and as a result Chub, gallantly assisted by 
 Eoy, had run into the end of a pier and narrowly 
 escaped colliding with a lighter. 
 
 At four o'clock Chub announced that the Slow 
 Poke had accomplished about four miles. They 
 were then off what Chub called "picturesque 
 Tubby Hook." Eoy had to see the name on the 
 chart before he would believe in the existence of 
 any such place. 
 
 "What I want to know," said Dick, who had 
 again momentarily separated himself from the 
 engine, "is where we 're going to lie up for the 
 night." 
 
 "Well, there 's no hurry," said Eoy. "By six 
 we ought to be — where. Chub?" Chub did some 
 lightning calculating. 
 
 "At Yonkers." 
 
THE CEUISE BEGINS 103 
 
 "The mischief! That 's no place to spend the 
 night," said Dick, disgustedly. 
 
 "Why not?" Roy asked. "Some folks have 
 to live there all the year round ! ' ' 
 
 "We don't have to stop there," said Chub. 
 "We '11 cross the river and find a nice, quiet spot 
 along the Palisades." 
 
 "And as we '11 have to have some dinner — " 
 
 "Supper," corrected Chub. 
 
 "You 'd better start about now to get your 
 hands clean, Dick. I never cared for the flavor 
 of cylinder oil." 
 
 "Seems to me," said Dick, "I 'm in for a lot 
 of work. When I signed for this trip I didn't 
 know I was to be engineer and cook, too." 
 
 "Oh, yes, you did, Dickums. You knew it, but 
 you didn't realize it." 
 
 "Well, then, you fellows needn't complain if 
 you don't get all your meals on time," answered 
 Dick, morosely. 
 
 "No, we won't complain; we '11 simply throw 
 you overboard. But I think Roy had better take 
 lessons in engineering so that you can have your 
 Thursday afternoons off. Dickums, take him 
 
104 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 down with you now and give Mm his first lesson." 
 
 "I want to steer for a while," said Roy. But 
 Chub shook his head. 
 
 "I don't feel that I can trust you," he answered. 
 "With all these young lives depending on care- 
 ful navigation — " 
 
 The others howled. 
 
 "Considering that you hit everything in sight 
 when we started out," said Roy, "you 'd better 
 — " Chub viewed them scowlingly. 
 
 "This sounds to me like mutiny," he muttered. 
 "Kindly put yourselves in irons." 
 
 Roy spent the next half hour studying ' ' Somes 
 on the Gas-Engine. ' ' Toward six o 'clock the Slow 
 Pohe chugged across to the Jersey shore and 
 after some discussion a place was selected for 
 anchorage. There was a break here in the rocky 
 wall of the Palisades and a little stream mean- 
 dered down through a tiny valley. The woods 
 came closely to the river's edge, and after getting 
 the Slow Poke as near shore as her draft would 
 permit, they carried lines from stern and bow 
 and made them fast to trees. Then all hands set 
 to to prepare supper. Chub established himself 
 on the railing of the after deck and pared potatoes, 
 
THE CRUISE BEGINS 105 
 
 pausing in his task whenever a boat went up or 
 down the river. 
 
 "Say, Dick," he called, "you ought to bestir 
 yourself to-morrow and clean that oil stove. I 
 can smell it out here." 
 
 "Oil stoves always smell," answered Dick from 
 the galley. 
 
 "Not if you keep them clean. Maybe it needs 
 new wicks." 
 
 ' ' Maybe it does. And maybe if you don't finish 
 paring those potatoes in the next hour or two 
 we '11 have them for breakfast instead of supper. ' ' 
 
 "I like your cheek," murmured Chub resuming 
 his task with a sigh. "I 'm fairly working my 
 hands off out here. "What 's that loafer Roy 
 doing anyhow? Why don't you put him at 
 work!" 
 
 "Don't you worry about him. I 've got him 
 busy all right," was the reply. "Say, did we 
 order any salt. Chub? If we did I can't find it." 
 
 ' ' Send Roy out here to pare these potatoes and 
 I '11 look for it," responded Chub insinuatingly. 
 
 "We 've found it," called Dick. "Aren't you 
 nearly done?" 
 
 ' ' Sure ; all done ; been done for hours. ' ' Chub 
 
106 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 slid off the railing and bore the potatoes indoors 
 and watched them disappear into the pot of boil- 
 ing water. Then he and Boy set the table. As 
 each of them had his own convictions regarding 
 the arrangement of knives, forks and spoons there 
 was some confusion for a while. But half an 
 hour later, all differences of opinion were for- 
 gotten. Sitting about the table in the tiny after- 
 cabin, they had their first meal on board. Through 
 the open windows wandered a little evening 
 breeze which, as Chub poetically remarked, "ca- 
 ressed their cheeks, flushed with the toil of the 
 long day." On one side the shadowed woods 
 showed, on the other the broad expanse of the 
 river, deeply golden in the late sunlight. 
 
 "It 's a perfect shame, ' ' sighed Chub, ' ' to spoil 
 such an appetite as this. I feel as though I ought 
 to keep it and treasure it as something valuable. 
 Pass the ham, Dick." 
 
 "I guess there 's no doubt about our being in 
 New Jersey," muttered Roy, slapping the back 
 of his neck. "The place is full of mosquitoes." 
 
 "That 's so," said Chub. "I 've been wonder- 
 ing what was getting after me so. I thought it 
 was the bite of hunger. ' ' 
 
THE CRUISE BEGINS 107 
 
 "I guess it is," laughed Dick. "The bite of 
 hungry mosquitoes. Say, they won't do a thing 
 to us to-night. Let 's move on." 
 
 "Pshaw, we 've got to get used to them some- 
 time and we might as well start now. Mosquitoes 
 don't pay any attention to you after a while. 
 Where 's the bread gone to?" 
 
 "You ought to know. Chub," replied Dick, ris- 
 ing to cut a fresh supply. 
 
 "It 's a funny thing about mosquitoes," con- 
 tinued Chub, helping himself to half a slice of 
 bread which Eoy had left unguarded. ' ' Just you 
 let them bite you a day or two and they get tired 
 of you. I suppose they like a change of diet the 
 same as the rest of us. Is there any more of 
 the excellent tea, Dickums?" 
 
 Presently Chub pushed back his chair with a 
 sigh of contentment. 
 
 "Come on, Eoy," he said. "Let us go up and 
 sit on deck and watch the pageant of Nature while 
 the hireling cleans up the dishes." 
 
 "No you don't!" retorted the hireling. "You 
 and Eoy will stay right here and help. You 
 needn't think I 'm going to do everything on this 
 blooming boat!" 
 
108 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 "That smacks of mutiny, methinks," said Chub. 
 "What do you say, Roy? Still, I '11 stay and add 
 my feeble assistance. I choose to wipe the 
 dishes. ' ' 
 
 Half an hour later they were sitting on the 
 upper deck, their feet on the railing, feeling very 
 much at peace with the world. To be sure, the 
 mosquitoes were somewhat troublesome, but they 
 strove to take Chub's advice and bear the annoy- 
 ance philosophically. A white light hung from 
 the flag-pole above the wheel-house and from the 
 after cabin a feeble glow spread itself over the 
 water. They had left a lighted lamp there to fool 
 the mosquitoes. 
 
 "They '11 think we 're going to sleep in there," 
 explained Chub. ' ' And after they 're all on hand, 
 sharpening their bills, we '11 sneak down and 
 close the door." 
 
 "And lock it," counseled Eoy. 
 
 "And stuff up the keyhole," added Dick. 
 ' ' Only thing I 'm afraid of, though, is that they '11 
 eat up all the provisions." 
 
 But after a while Chub was obliged to ac- 
 knowledge that his plan wasn't proving entirely 
 successful. 
 
THE CRUISE BEGINS 109 
 
 "I guess some of these mosquitoes have n't seen 
 that light," he muttered, waving his hands about 
 his head. "Suppose you run down and turn up 
 the lamp, Dick." 
 
 "I wouldn't venture in there among all those 
 angry mosquitoes for the world ! ' ' answered Dick. 
 ' ' They 'd just simply tear me to pieces. I wish I 
 had some pennyroyal." 
 
 "I wish you had," Roy agreed. "I 'd borrow 
 some. I wonder why mosquitoes always go for 
 a fellow's ankles." 
 
 "They go for the biggest things they see," ex- 
 plained Chub, "which, of course, are your feet. 
 As they can't bite through leather they tackle 
 your ankles. They never trouble my ankles." 
 
 "No, I suppose they go for your cheek," re- 
 torted Roy. "What are you rubbing your ankles 
 together for, if they don't bite them?" 
 
 "Er — one of my feet is asleep." 
 
 "So am I — almost," said Dick, drowsily. 
 "What time is it?" 
 
 "About half past eight," said Roy. "What 
 time do we have breakfast?" 
 
 "At eight, sharp," answered Dick, yawning. 
 
 "That means getting up at seven," murmured 
 
110 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 Chub. ' ' Then I must go to bed at once or I shan 't 
 have half enough sleep." 
 
 "Being on the river certainly does make a fel- 
 low sleepy," laughed Eoy. "I suppose we '11 get 
 used to it after a day or two, though." 
 
 "Like the mosquitoes," said Dick. "I wish I 
 could believe that tale of Chub's; it would help 
 me to bear my present troubles with more — 
 more — " 
 
 "Equanimity," said Chub, helpfully. "It 's a 
 scientific fact, though, Dickums. Why, after a 
 week or so — " 
 
 "You said a day or two!" 
 
 "Or thereabouts, the mosquitoes simply won't 
 look at you. They won't touch you even if you 
 go down on your knees and beg 'em to!" 
 
 "I have a funny picture of myself doing it!" 
 growled Dick. 
 
 "I don't approve of these low expressions you 
 use," said Chub regretfully. "I suppose you 
 learn them at school. You should choose your 
 companions very carefully, Dickums." 
 
 "I have since you fellows left," answered Dick 
 with a grin. 
 
 For a while the conversation turned to Ferry 
 
THE CEUISE BEGINS 111 
 
 Hill and the fellows there, but as each of the 
 three evinced an inclination to fall asleep in the 
 middle of a sentence, the talk was n 't very bril- 
 liant or interesting. Finally, Eoy dropped his 
 feet with a thud from the railing and stood up. 
 
 "There," he said, calmly. 
 
 "Eh? What?" asked Chub, with a start. 
 
 "They 've completed the circuit." 
 
 "Circuit? What circuit? Who 's completed 
 )> 
 
 "The mosquitoes have completed the circuit of 
 my ankles. They have been around both and I 
 am now going to bed. I 've done my duty by 
 them." Eoy stood on one foot and rubbed busily 
 with the other. 
 
 "How nice," murmured Chub. "Something 
 accomplished, something done to earn a night's 
 repose. That 's me too. Let us go quietly and 
 leave Dick to slumber peacefully on. ' ' 
 
 " 'The yawning youth, scarce half awake, essays 
 His lazy limbs and dozy head to raise, ' ' ' 
 
 observed Dick. 
 
 "Hello! I thought you were asleep!" said 
 Chub. 
 
 7 
 
112 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 "I was until some noisy brute awoke me," 
 complained Dick. 
 
 "Where 'd you get the poetry!" Roy asked, 
 
 "That? I don't just recall," replied Dick 
 sleepily. "I think I composed it myself. It was 
 either I or Dryden. ' ' 
 
 They stumbled down the steps to the lower 
 deck, Chub begging them to go softly so as not 
 to attract the attention of the mosquitoes in the 
 after cabin, and sought their beds. Chub had the 
 bedroom and the others shared the living-room, 
 Eoy using a cot and Dick the window-seat. 
 
 "Is everything all right for the night?" yawned 
 Roy. 
 
 "I think so," replied Chub from across the 
 little passage. "I don't know just what you do 
 on a house-boat when you go to bed." 
 
 "You lock the front door, fix the furnace, and 
 turn down the gas in the front hall," murmured 
 Dick. 
 
 Sleepy as they were, slumber didn't come to 
 them at once. It was all rather new as yet. 
 
 "How 's your divan, Dickums?" asked Chub. 
 
 "Fine! I like a hard bed. How 's yours!" 
 
 "Great! Good-night." 
 
THE CEUISE BEGINS 113 
 
 "Good-night. Oh, I say!" 
 
 "Well?" 
 
 "Got any mosquitoes where you are?" 
 
 "Havel. Plenty! Want some?" 
 
 "No, thanks." A few minutes later, 
 
 "For goodness' sake, you fellows," called Chub, 
 "what 's all that squeaking in there?" 
 
 "It's my bed," answered Roy. "It squeaks 
 every time I turn oVer." 
 
 "Well, don't turn over then," grumbled Chub. 
 
 And finally, just when Dick and Roy were on 
 the borderland of slumber, Chub's voice floated 
 across again. 
 
 "Say, Dick!" 
 
 "What?" 
 
 "Did you let the cat in?" 
 
 Then there was peace and silence save for the 
 contented, humming of the mosquitoes. 
 
CHAPTER VIII 
 
 DRIVEN TO COVER 
 
 THE next day after breakfast was over the Slow 
 Poke took up lier journey again. It had 
 been decided that the proper thing to do was to 
 get up the river to the neighborhood of Peekskill 
 where, according to Roy, there was fishing to 
 be had. "Besides," said Chub, "we want to get 
 away from all these towns. Civilization is weary- 
 ing. I pine for the virgin foi'est." 
 
 "I don't believe you '11 find much of that around 
 Peekskill," responded Dick. "Look at the 
 map ! ' ' 
 
 "Oh, you mustn't believe all you see on the 
 map," answered Chub, cheerfully. "Something 
 tells me — " placing a finger on the chart — "that 
 here I shall find virgin forest. Also trout. Let 
 us up and away." 
 
 They chugged unhurriedly up the river all the 
 
 morning, the engine much to Dick's delight, work- 
 
 114 
 
DRIVEN TO COVER 115 
 
 ing beautifully. At noon they tied up near Os- 
 sining and had dinner. 
 
 "I 'd hate to travel on that," said Chub, point- 
 ing with his fork to a steamer which was gliding 
 by out in the river. "It goes so fast those people 
 can't begin to see the beauties of the country. 
 Now with us it 's different. We catch sight of 
 an object of interest at ten in the morning. At 
 eleven we approach it. At twelve we reach it. 
 At one we are by but still have it in plain sight. 
 It fades from view at four in the afternoon. 
 That 's something like. We have time to study 
 and — er — assimilate, you see. Why, every fea- 
 ture of the landscape we have passed is indelibly 
 engraven on my memory." 
 
 "Oh, come now," laughed Roy, "the Slow Poke 
 hasn't done so badly. We 've come a good thir- 
 teen miles since breakfast." 
 
 "What I 'm afraid of," said Dick, "is that if 
 we keep on going like this we '11 be at the end of 
 the river before we know it. How much more 
 is there?" 
 
 "Only about two hundred and twenty-five 
 miles," replied Roy, dryly. "If we keep on at 
 
116 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 the present rate of progress we '11 reacli the end 
 of it in about eleven days — if we don't stop on the 
 way." Dick looked relieved. 
 
 "Oh, that 's all right, then. Because we are 
 going to stop, of course." 
 
 "We 're going to do more stopping than any- 
 thing else," said Chub. "House-boats are in- 
 tended primarily to stop in. As — as vehicles of 
 travel they are not to be taken seriously." 
 
 ' ' My ! ' ' murmured Dick, ' ' what a college educa- 
 tion does do for a fellow!" 
 
 "English A is a great course," agreed Eoy, 
 smilingly. "You '11 be so happy next year with 
 your little daily themes, Dick!" 
 
 Dick groaned. 
 
 They wandered on again in the afternoon, Eoy 
 taking another lesson on the gas-engine, and 
 stopped for the night in a little cove on the east 
 side near Cortlandt. As it still lacked almost an 
 hour of supper-time, they left the boat to stretch 
 their legs on shore. They found a road and 
 tramped along it for a quarter of an hour with- 
 out finding anything more interesting than a farm- 
 house. But the farm-house put an idea into 
 
DRIVEN TO COVER 117 
 
 Chub's head. He stopped at the gate and 
 pointed. 
 
 "Milk," he ejaculated. 
 
 "Yes, but we didn't bring anything to put it 
 in," Roy objected. 
 
 "It doesn't matter. They'll lend us a can, 
 maybe. Come on." 
 
 So they trudged up the long lane and knocked 
 on the front door. Receiving no answer after 
 a decent interval of waiting, they proceeded 
 around back. At a little distance stood a big 
 barn. Near-by was a well with a number of big 
 milk cans beside it. 
 
 "There you are," said Chub. "Maybe they '11 
 lend us one of those. Come on." 
 
 The back door was open and from the little 
 covered porch they had a glimpse of a very clean 
 and tidy kitchen. Chub knocked. There was no 
 answer. 
 
 "All out, it seems," he muttered. He knocked 
 again and then raised his voice. "Any one at 
 home?" he asked. 
 
 There was. A big, rough-coated yellow dog 
 bounded across the yard, the hair along his back 
 
118 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 bristling unpleasantly. His onslaugM was so 
 sudden and fierce that Dick, who saw Mm first, 
 was the first one inside the door. But Chub and 
 Eoy were tied for second place, and the dog — 
 well, the dog would have made a good third if 
 Eoy hadn't had the presence of mind to slam the 
 door a few inches in front of his nose. 
 
 "I say!" gasped Chub. "Did you see him? 
 Is n't he an ugly brute?" 
 
 "He certainly is," agreed Dick, with an uneasy 
 laugh. "Hear him, will you?" 
 
 The dog was growling savagely and sniffing 
 along the bottom of the door. 
 
 "Nice doggie," called Chub, soothingly. "Nice 
 doggie! Go away, Eover!" 
 
 "Try 'Prince,' " Eoy suggested. 
 
 "Try it yourself! I wonder if there 's any one 
 in here. You fellows look after the door and I '11 
 go and see." 
 
 Chub walked through the kitchen into a little 
 narrow entry and called loudly. But there was 
 no answer. 
 
 He returned to the others. 
 
 "Still there?" he asked, in a whisper. 
 
 "I don't know," muttered Eoy. "I don't hear 
 
DRIVEN TO COVER 119 
 
 anything. Maybe he 's gone. Can you see from 
 the window?" 
 
 Chub walked over to the nearest casement and 
 looked out. 
 
 "He 's lying on the porch with his nose about 
 half an inch from the door," he reported, dis- 
 gustedly. "He 's a Saint Bernard, I guess." 
 
 "I don't care what he is," said Roy. "He 's a 
 nuisance. What shall we do?" 
 
 "Put your head out of the window and yell," 
 suggested Dick. "They 're probably in the 
 barn. ' ' 
 
 "All right, but not that window," Chub 
 answered. He went to the farther side of the 
 kitchen, raised the window there and yelled loudly. 
 
 "Hello! You in the barn! Call off your dog! 
 Hello! Hello!" 
 
 But the dog started such a barking that Chub's 
 efforts were quite wasted. 
 
 "I suppose we '11 just have to make ourselves 
 comfortable and wait for Mr. Farmer to come 
 back," he said, closing the window again. 
 
 "I tell you what," said Dick, in a hoarse whis- 
 per. "We '11 get out the front door. If we close 
 it quietly he won't hear us." 
 
120 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 They looked at each other doubtfully. The 
 plan did n 't seem to awaken much enthusiasm. 
 
 "That 's all right," said Eoy, "but if he did 
 hear us — " 
 
 ' ' I don 't believe he 'd actually attack us, ' ' said 
 Dick. 
 
 "It didn't look like it, did it I" asked Chub, 
 sarcastically. "Oh, no, he 's a nice little playful 
 pet, he is." 
 
 "Well, we can't stay here all night," said Dick. 
 "And for all we know there may not be any- 
 body in the barn. ' ' 
 
 ' ' Of course there is ! Do you think they 'd go 
 away and leave the back of the house all open 
 like this?" 
 
 "Well, with that animal out there I guess 
 they 'd be safe to put the family silver on the 
 front piazza," retorted Roy. "But I guess 
 there 's some one around somewhere. There 's 
 a fire in the stove and that looks as though they 
 meant to get supper." The mention of supper 
 brought back Chub 's valor. 
 
 "Well, come on, and let 's try the front-door 
 trick. Go easy, fellows." 
 
 They tiptoed across the kitchen, through the 
 
DRIVEN TO COVER 121 
 
 entry, and readied the front door only to find 
 that it was locked and that there was no key in 
 sight. 
 
 "Sometimes they hang it on a nail alongside 
 the door," muttered Chub, running his hand 
 around the frame. 
 
 ' ' Or put it under the mat, ' ' said Roy. 
 
 "There isn't any mat. Let 's try a window. 
 Come on in here." 
 
 He led the way into a dim and deserted parlor, 
 a stuffy, uncanny apartment in which the curtains 
 were closely drawn at the three windows. 
 
 "See if you can see Fido," counseled Chub. 
 Roy raised the shade at one of the windows on the 
 front of the house and looked out. Beneath was 
 a bed of purple phlox and beyond was a walk and 
 a little space of grass. At the right was the 
 lane — and safety. 
 
 "He is n't in sight," Roy answered in whispers. 
 "But he may come." 
 
 "That doesn't matter," answered Chub, reck- 
 lessly. ' ' I want to go home to supper. Push up 
 the window." 
 
 Roy obeyed. The sash creaked and screamed 
 as he forced it up and they paused and held their 
 
122 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 breath, expecting to see the dog come bounding 
 into sight. But nothing happened. 
 
 "You go first, Roy," said Chub. "Dick and 
 I can run faster than you. ' ' 
 
 "Want me to have the first bite, eh!" laughed 
 Eoy, as he put a knee over the sill. 
 
 "Be quiet! Don't make so much noise," said 
 Chub. "Get on out." 
 
 Eoy was sitting on the sill, his feet dangling 
 above the flower bed. 
 
 "That 's all right," he muttered, "but — say, 
 Dick, go back and take a peek out of the window 
 and see if he 's still there." 
 
 "All right." Dick tiptoed back to the kitchen. 
 
 "I don't know," said Chub, "that I should want 
 the family to walk in now and discover us. We 
 might have some difficulty in — Hello!" 
 
 He darted away from the window, leaving Roy 
 blankly confronting a very tall man with a tangled 
 black beard, who had suddenly and noiselessly 
 come around the corner of the house. He wore 
 dirty brown jumpers, carried a single barreled 
 shot-gun, and wasn't at all prepossessing. And 
 beside him, still growling and bristling, was the 
 yellow dog. Roy stared silently with open mouth. 
 
Roy stared silently, with open mouth 
 
CHAPTER IX 
 
 PBISONEES 
 
 THE farmer smiled, but it wasn't a pleasant 
 smile, and it exposed half a dozen yellow 
 fanglike teeth that made Eoy wonder whether 
 there could be any relationship between the dog 
 and his master. 
 
 "Tell the other feller to come back," said the 
 farmer. "I seen him." 
 
 "You mean you saw me," murmured Chub, 
 stepping into sight behind Eoy. 
 
 "What 's that?" asked the farmer, suspiciously. 
 
 "How do you do?" asked Chub, affably. 
 
 "You '11 see how I do and ivhat I do," was the 
 grim reply. "What you doing in my house?" 
 
 "We — ^we were just getting out," answered 
 Eoy, with a sickly smile which was intended to be 
 propitiating. 
 
 "With your pockets full, I guess. You stay 
 where you are, understand?" He brought the 
 shot-gun up and laid it over his arm in a sug- 
 
 125 
 
126 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 gestive way that made Eoy wish his legs were 
 inside the window rather than out. 
 
 "If you mean that we 've been stealing any- 
 thing," said Chub tartly, "you 're making a mis- 
 take. We came up here to buy some milk and 
 your fool dog ran at us and drove us into the 
 house. And here we are. If you '11 take him out 
 of the way we '11 get out." 
 
 "Guess you will," chuckled the farmer. 
 "Guess you 'd be pretty glad to. But you won't, 
 understand? You get on back into that room." 
 This to Roy in a threatening growl that fairly 
 lifted the boy's legs over the sill and deposited 
 them on the parlor carpet. ' ' And you stay there 
 till I come, understand? Watch 'em, Carlo!" 
 
 Carlo growled and looked longingly at the boys. 
 The farmer tucked the shot-gun under his arm 
 and disappeared around the corner of the house, 
 Eoy and Chub looked at each other in comical 
 dismay. 
 
 "Doesn't this beat the Dutch?" asked Chub. 
 "Say, where 's Dick? I '11 wager he heard the 
 old codger coming and has hidden. What are we 
 going to do, Roy?" 
 
 "Tell the truth. He hasn't any business to 
 
PRISONERS 127 
 
 keep us in here. If it hadn't heen for his old 
 dog — " 
 
 The farmer's footsteps sounded in the entry 
 and he entered the room, his shot-gun still under 
 his arm. He looked around suspiciously, as 
 though expecting to find the marble-topped center 
 table and the cottage organ missing, and cast 
 shrewd glances at the boy's pockets. 
 
 "Well, you see we haven't stolen anything," 
 said Chub. 
 
 "Well, I ain't taking your word for it," said 
 the farmer, dryly, "Maybe if I hadn't come 
 when I did — " 
 
 "Now, don't be unreasonable," begged Chub. 
 "I 've told you how we came to be here. We 
 were passing along the road and wanted some 
 milk—" 
 
 "Thought you 'd find it in the parlor, did ye?" 
 
 "No, but your dog chased us in the back door 
 and we couldn't make any one hear by shout- 
 ing—" * 
 
 "You shouted pretty loud, didn't ye I" 
 
 "Yes, I did," answered Chub, defiantly, "but 
 that idiotic dog made such a row with his bark- 
 ing that you could n't hear me. So then we came 
 
128 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 in here to get out the window, because the front 
 door was locked. Now you know; and as we 're 
 already late for supper, perhaps you '11 call off 
 that fool dog and let us go home. ' ' 
 
 "Want to go, do ye?" asked their captor with 
 a leer. 
 
 "Yes, we do," replied Chub, shortly. 
 
 "Live right round here, I suppose?" 
 
 "You can suppose anything you want to," 
 broke in Eoy, hotly. "But we won't tell you 
 where we live. It 's none of your business and 
 if you don't let us out of here this minute we '11 
 make trouble for you." 
 
 ' ' 'Course you will, ' ' said the farmer with a 
 chuckle. "Go to town, likely, and swear out a 
 warrant for me, eh? How 'd you know I was 
 alone here? How 'd you know my wife was 
 away ? ' ' 
 
 "We don't know anything about your wife!" 
 
 "Some one told you, eh?" 
 
 "I tell you we never heard of you before — " 
 
 ' ' And don 't want to again, ' ' murmured Chub. 
 
 "But you didn't know about Carlo, did ye? I 
 bought Carlo after you was here last month. 
 He 's a good dog and — " 
 
PKISONEES 129 
 
 "After we were here last month?" repeated 
 Chub. "Great Scott, we 've never seen your old 
 farm before in our lives. We got here an hour 
 ago in our boat — " 
 
 "Travel in your private yacht, do ye? Left it 
 down at the gate, I suppose?" The farmer chuc- 
 kled en joy ably. 
 
 "She 's tied up in the cove about a half mile 
 below here," said Chub, angrily. "If you don't 
 believe it, you can come along and see her for 
 yourself." 
 
 "Dare say, dare say. What you got in your 
 pockets?" 
 
 "Nothing that belongs to you!" 
 
 "I haven't seen anything worth stealing/' 
 added Koy wrathfuUy. 
 
 "You haven't, eh?" snarled the man. "Took 
 it all last time, eh ? Looking for more silverware, 
 I guess. Wan't satisfied with what you had. 
 Should have been, eh? Made a mistake, didn't 
 ye? Made a mistake coming back to the same 
 place, eh? Thought Jim Ewing was fool enough 
 to be caught twice at the same game, eh? Hub!" 
 he paused and looked at them triumphantly. 
 "More fools you, then. And you look sharp 
 
130 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 enough, too. Would n't have thought you 'd have 
 been such fools." 
 
 "Oh, what 's the matter with you," growled 
 Chub, exasperatedly. 
 
 "Well, you march along up-stairs now, and 
 you '11 see. Go along, and don 't make any trouble 
 or — " he patted the shot-gun— " this thing might 
 go off. That 'd be a clear case of justifiable hom- 
 icide, eh?" 
 
 "If you '11 just put that down a minute," said 
 Chub, yearningly, "I '11— I '11—" 
 
 "No, you don't; I 'm a peaceable citizen, I am. 
 Don't say it would n't be some satisfaction to wal- 
 lop you, but I '11 leave it to the law. Go on up, 
 now." 
 
 "Look here," said Eoy, choking his anger, 
 "what do you intend to do with us?" 
 
 "Want to know, do you? You walk up-stairs, 
 or — " he brought the ancient shot-gun to the po- 
 sition of "charge." Chub and Roy cast anxious 
 glances at each other. Then, with a shrug. Chub 
 turned, crossed the room, and mounted the stair- 
 case, followed by Roy and Mr. Ewing. 
 
 "Turn to the left at the top," called the latter. 
 "You '11 be real comfortable while I 'm gone, and 
 
PEISONEES 131 
 
 you won't find anything to tempt you to steal. 
 That 's it. Sit down, boys, and make yourselves 
 to home. I won't be gone more 'n an hour if I can 
 help it. Don't be lonesome." He closed the door 
 and turned the key in the lock, and they heard him 
 go off down-stairs chuckling. 
 
 "I 'd like to — to — !" But words failed him, 
 and Eoy dropped on the old-fashioned bed and 
 stared savagely about the little room. 
 
 "So would I," said Chub, grimly, thrusting his 
 hands in his pockets and walking across to the 
 single narrow window through which the late sun- 
 light slanted. When he turned again to Eoy, 
 there was a smile on his face. "Isn't this the 
 greatest pickle, Eoy? He thinks we 're a couple 
 of hardened criminals ; thinks we have been here 
 before." He laughed softly. "I 've never been 
 in jail yet. I wonder how it feels. " 
 
 "I don't see where the fun comes in," answered 
 Eoy. "We may have a dickens of a time convinc- 
 ing folks that we didn't come here to steal his 
 things. Where do you suppose Dick got to ? " 
 
 "Blest if I know. Maybe he saw the old chap 
 coming across from the barn and hid himself. 
 Maybe he managed to get out the back door while 
 
132 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 the old fellow was round front. If he did — " 
 
 "He 's coming back," muttered Eoy. "And 
 he 's bringing that beast of a dog." 
 
 "You stay here and watch, Carlo," said the 
 farmer outside the door. "Don't let 'em out, 
 sir!" 
 
 "Mr. Ewing!" called Eoy. 
 
 "Well? I hear ye." 
 
 "Won't you believe what we tell you? That 
 we had no intention of robbing your house. ' ' 
 
 "Don't you waste your breath on me, young 
 man. Keep them yarns for the police. I won't 
 keep you waiting longer 'n I can help. You 'd 
 better not try to get out ; it would n 't be good for 
 you ; Carlo 's got a sort of a mean disposition, he 
 has." 
 
 "So have you," cried Chub. "You 've got the 
 upperhand now, but just you wait till I get out of 
 here ! I '11 make you wish you had a grain or two 
 of coromon-sensie ; hear?" 
 
 "I hear ye," muttered the farmer, "I hear ye. 
 I guess what you fellers need is a few years in 
 jail, and, by gum, you 're going to get it! Watch 
 'em, Carlo!" 
 
 They heard him go stumping down-stairs and 
 
PEISONEES 133 
 
 out of the house at the back. Eoy went to the win- 
 dow and after much grunting, managed to open 
 the lower sash. Chub joined him. 
 
 "We can't get out here, that 's certain," he 
 said. "It 's thirty feet to the ground if it 's an 
 inch. Look at the old fool ! ' ' 
 
 Mr. Ewing was in plain sight in front of the 
 barn. He had run a rickety side-bar buggy out of 
 the carriage shed, and now he entered the barn 
 again. 
 
 "He 's going to town for a constable," mused 
 Roy. "I wonder how far it is." 
 
 "He said he wouldn't be more than an hour." 
 
 "Then we 've got an hour to find a way out of 
 here." Eoy turned and looked frowningly about 
 the room. It was some twelve by fifteen feet in 
 size, with one door into the hall, and one window. 
 The walls were kalsomined a streaky white. The 
 furnishings consisted of a bed and a mattress, a 
 yellow bureau, a chair, and a wash-stand with 
 bowl and pitcher and a square of rag carpet. 
 
 "If we only had some bedclothes," muttered 
 Eoy. 
 
 "Or a ladder," added Chub with a grin. "I 
 guess we 're here to stay unless — " 
 
134 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 "What?" 
 
 "Unless Dick turns up. I don't believe he 's 
 gone off very far, do you?" Eoy's reply was in- 
 terrupted by the clatter of wheels and they went 
 back to the window in time to see Mr. Ewing rat- 
 tle by in the buggy. He looked up and grinned 
 malevolently at the faces in the window. 
 
 Eoy waved down to him airily. "Good-by, 
 Pop ! " he called. 
 
 The farmer cut the horse savagely with the 
 whip and was out of sight around the corner of 
 the house. 
 
 "I don't suppose it does any good to sass him," 
 said Chub, "but it gives me a lot of satisfaction." 
 He went over and kicked the door and was re- 
 warded with a deep growl from Carlo. "Dear 
 little doggie is still at his post," he said. He bent 
 and put his mouth to the key -hole. "Carlo," he 
 called softly, ' ' dear little dogums ! I 'd like to 
 wring your blooming neck, do you hear? You do 
 hear? Well, think about it, will you?" He 
 walked back to the window, whistling cheerfully. 
 Eoy, seated on the edge of the bed, scowled. 
 
 "Don't be an ass," he said, grumpily. 
 
 "Why not? What 's the use of making a trag- 
 
PRISONERS 135 
 
 edy out of it ? Let us dance, sing, and be merry ! 
 'We 're liere because we 're here, because we 're 
 here, because we 're here ! ' " Chub sang the 
 words to the tune of Auld Lang Syne. 
 
 Roy smiled faintly. 
 
 "Let us play we 're Monte Cristos," said Chub. 
 "What was it he did when he was shut up in the 
 Castle of Thingamabob? Dug his way through 
 the wall, didn't he? Well, let 's do the same!" 
 Chub drew out his pocket-knife and began to hack 
 at the plaster. 
 
 "If you do that," observed Roy, "they '11 give 
 us ten days in jail for destroying property, or 
 vandalism, or disturbing the peace, or some- 
 thing." 
 
 "That 's so! I don't see but they 've got us 
 anyway," said Chub. "We might as well be hung 
 for a lamb as a — no, for a sheep as a lamb, as the 
 old saying goes. What 's that?" He stopped 
 and listened. Then he ran to the window and 
 looked cautiously out. Below, at the edge of the 
 lane, stood Dick, his hands in his pockets, grinning 
 up at the window. 
 
 ' ' Hello, Chub ! " he called. ' ' Come on out ! " 
 
 "Mother won't let me," answered Chub, with 
 
136 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 a grin. "Where were you Dickuias, when the 
 storm broke?" 
 
 "In the preserves." 
 
 "In the what?" 
 
 "Preserve closet under the stairs. I heard 
 everything nicely. I thought I 'd die!" 
 
 "Did, did you?" asked Roy, sarcastically. 
 "You always did have a crazy sense of humor. 
 What are you going to do ? " 
 
 "Me? Gro back to the boat and have supper, 
 of course," replied Dick, with a wicked grin. 
 "It 's a fine night, is n't it? See the new moon?" 
 
 "Don't be a ninny," said Eoy, impatiently. 
 "Do something! He may be back any moment." 
 
 "Oh, no, he 's good for an hour; he said so. 
 What '11 I do — shoot the dog or burn the house 
 down?" 
 
 "Find a ladder, you blathering idiot," Chub 
 laughed. "There ought to be one at the barn." 
 
 "There is. Hooked." 
 
 "Well, why didn't you bring it?" 
 
 "It's too short." 
 
 There was silence after this for a moment. 
 Then, 
 
 "How much too short?" asked Eoy. 
 
PEISONEES 137 
 
 "About ten feet, I guess." 
 
 "You guess! Well, go get it and let's find 
 out!" 
 
 "Instantly, your Majesty!" Dick went off to- 
 ward the barn unhurriedly, whistling softly. 
 
 "Isn't he exasperating?" asked Eoy. 
 
 "We '11 square up with him when we get 
 down," answered Chub with a grim smile of an- 
 ticipation. In two or three minutes Dick was 
 back, dragging the ladder after him. He placed 
 it against the house under the window and they 
 viewed the result. It lacked at least ten feet of 
 reaching the sill. 
 
 "That 's no good," said Chub. "Isn't there a 
 longer one anywhere? Have you looked?" 
 
 "Yes, Exalted One." 
 
 "I say, don't be so funny! Do you think we 
 want to be arrested for burglary and have to 
 spend the night in jail? Can't you think of any- 
 thing?" 
 
 "Certainly." 
 
 "Well, what is it? Now, don't you crack any 
 more funny jokes or we '11 make you sorry when 
 we get down. ' ' 
 
 Dick looked up speculatingly. 
 
138 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 "Maybe you have some such idea in your head 
 already?" he asked. "I believe you have. Now 
 before I go on with this heroic rescue you 've got 
 to agree, both of you, to let me laugh as much as I 
 like. Do you agree ? ' ' 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 "Honest Injun?" 
 
 "Honest Injun, Dickums. Go ahead, like a 
 good fellow, and get us out of here. ' ' 
 
 "All right. I 've got a piece of rope here; 
 see?" He took it from under his coat and held 
 it up. "I '11 tie this to the top of the ladder and 
 throw it up to you. Then you haul the ladder up 
 and make the rope fast to something in the room. 
 That '11 leave the ladder only about ten feet from 
 the ground. You can drop that distance easily." 
 
 "Good old Dickums! You 're the right sort." 
 
CHAPTEE X 
 
 A NEW ACQUAINTANCE 
 
 IT was a beautiful evening. In the west the sun- 
 set glow still hung above the hills. Eastward 
 the full moon 's great, golden disk was poised 
 against the darkening blue of the summer sky. 
 It was very still and quiet, and the only sounds 
 that came to them were the soft pat-pat of their 
 shoes on the dusty road. When half the distance 
 to the house-boat had been covered they slowed 
 down to a walk, panting and puffing. 
 
 "What — are we going — to do — ^when we get 
 —there?" asked Dick. 
 
 "Have some supper," said Chub, decisively. 
 
 "But we can't stay where we are. When he 
 finds that we 've skipped out, he will be as mad 
 as a hornet and will come down here looking for 
 us." 
 
 "Pshaw, I don't think he believed a word we 
 
 said about being in a boat," said Chub. "Be- 
 
 139 
 
140 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 sides, he 's just as likely to look up the river as 
 down. ' ' 
 
 "And just as likely to look down as up," re- 
 plied Eoy. "I guess Dick's right we 'd better 
 move on. ' ' 
 
 "All right, then, we will; just as soon as we 've 
 had something to eat," agreed Chub. 
 
 "If we wait for that our supper is likely to con- 
 sist of bread and water," answered Roy, dryly. 
 "What we want to do is to get across to the other 
 side of the river. I never thought I 'd be glad to 
 get to New Jersey, but the time has come. ' ' 
 
 "That isn't Jersey over there, it's New 
 York," said Chub. 
 
 "Anyway, it 's a heap better than the cala- 
 boose," laughed Dick. "Was that wheels I 
 heard?" 
 
 They stopped and listened, but the only sound 
 that reached them was the distant barking of a 
 dog. 
 
 "Carlo!" said Chub. 
 
 "Get out! It 's the wrong direction. Come on 
 and let 's get back. I had no idea we 'd gone as 
 far as we have." 
 
A NEW ACQUAINTANCE 141 
 
 " Nor I, " said Dick. ' ' And what 's more I don 't 
 believe we have ! ' ' 
 
 "What do you mean?" asked Chub, anxiously. 
 
 ' ' I mean that we 've gone by the boat. ' ' They 
 stopped and looked about them in the twilight. 
 Chub thrust his cap back and rubbed his forehead 
 reflectively. 
 
 "I guess you 're right," he said. "AH I re- 
 member is that we came through a strip of woods, 
 and it 's woods all along on this side. We 'd bet- 
 ter strike through them here and see if we can 
 see the boat." 
 
 Much subdued they followed him between the 
 trees and bushes. After a minute or two of slow 
 progress they came to a narrow field. 
 
 "I never saw this before," growled Eoy. 
 
 "There wasn't any field here an hour ago," 
 agreed Dick. 
 
 "I 'd just like to know," muttered Chub, "how 
 it got here. Someone 's been taking liberties with 
 the landscape. ' ' 
 
 "It strikes me," remarked Roy, "that we 're 
 just lost." 
 
 "Well come on. The river 's down here some- 
 
142 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 where. Once we get to that all we 've got to do is 
 to follow it till we find the Jolly — find the SIouj 
 Poke," said Dick, encouragingly. 
 
 "And which way shall we walk, upstream or 
 down?" Chub inquired. Dick looked a trifle crest- 
 fallen for an instant. Then, 
 
 "We can decide that when we get there," he 
 said. "Anyhow, don't let 's spend the night here. 
 I 'm as hungry as a bear." 
 
 "Hungry!" muttered Chub, bitterly. "So am 
 I! Well, come along." 
 
 They crossed the field, a particularly moist and 
 "squashy" one, and entered more woods. By this 
 time, although it was still light enough in the 
 open, it was difficult to see much in the forest, and 
 they stumbled over stumps and wandered into 
 blackberry thickets every few steps. 
 
 "A chap needs a suit of chain armor for this 
 sort of thing," said Roy. 
 
 " 'This is the forest primeval,' " murmured 
 Chub, picking himself out of a bush. "It 's evil, 
 anyhow. ' ' 
 
 "Here it is," cried Dick, who had found fewer 
 pitfalls and had taken the lead. "Here it isl" 
 
 "The boat?" asked Roy, eagerly. 
 
A NEW ACQUAINTANCE 143 
 
 "No, the river." 
 
 "Oil!" they joined him and found themselves 
 on the shore of a little cove, but it was shallower 
 than the one they had left the boat in and was 
 quite empty of craft. Chub sat down on a rock 
 and sighed. 
 
 ' ' How beautiful is Nature ! " he murmured. 
 
 "I '11 swap my interest in it for a cup of coffee 
 and a slice of bread," answered Dick, morosely. 
 " I 'm going to see if I can find the boat. ' ' 
 
 "Don't go," begged Chub. "Sit here beside 
 me on this downy couch and let us view the pros- 
 pect o'er." 
 
 "I '11 wager we 're too far down the river," 
 said Roy, inattentively. "Let 's go that way. 
 From that point there we ought to be able to see 
 the boat." 
 
 "Lead on," cried Chub. "We place ourselves 
 in your hands." 
 
 They skirted the cove and reached the point, 
 but although from there they could see several 
 hundred yards up the shore, there was no sight of 
 either another cove or the Slow Poke. 
 
 "I guess we 're too far upstream, after all," 
 said Roy, "Let 's look the other way." 
 
144 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 "I 'm thankful the river doesn't run east and 
 west as well," said Chub. " 'T is a merry life we 
 lead." 
 
 Back they went to the cove and around that to 
 another point. But below there the shore wound 
 in and out confusedly, and, even had the Sloiv 
 Poke lain fifty yards away from them, it was now 
 so dark that it is doubtful if they could have dis- 
 cerned her. 
 
 "Let us lie down here quietly and die," sug- 
 gested Chub. 
 
 ' ' Oh, don 't fool, ' ' said Eoy. ' ' Come on. ' ' 
 
 "Wait a minute, fellows!" this from Dick. 
 "Come to think of it, when we got out onto the 
 road this afternoon there was a sign on the fence, 
 don't you remember?" 
 
 "Sure!" cried Chub. " 'Noble's Chill and Fe- 
 ver Compound;' we spoke of it! That 's easy; 
 all we 've got to do is to get back to the road and 
 find the sign." 
 
 "For all we know there may be one every fifty 
 feet," said Eoy, pessimistically. "However, 
 we'll try it." 
 
 Getting back to the road was no simple matter, 
 though. The woods were pitch dark now, and the 
 
A NEW ACQUAINTANCE 145 
 
 field beyond was not much lighter, while to make 
 matters worse they crossed the latter where it 
 was little better than a swamp, and at every step 
 their shoes went squash, squash in the yielding 
 turf. But they were soon across it and in the 
 gloom of the farther woods. 
 
 "Courage, mon braves," said Chub. "It is 
 soon over." 
 
 But Chub was wrong, for they stumbled on and 
 on, through bushes and briars, and still no road 
 appeared out of the darkness. 
 
 "This is funny," panted Dick, pausing to dis- 
 entangle himself from the affectionate embrace 
 of a vine. "We ought to have reached the road 
 long ago." 
 
 "It is the enchanted forest," replied Chub. 
 "Have you never read of the enchanted forest?" 
 
 "We 've been keeping too far to the right," 
 said Eoy, thoughtfully. "Let 's try it off this 
 way. ' ' 
 
 "By all means!" Chub bumped into a tree, 
 drew back to murmur politely, "I beg your par- 
 don, madam, ' ' and followed. 
 
 "If I ever find that road," said Dick, savagely, 
 "you can be sure I 'm going to stay on it!" 
 
146 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 "I don't believe there is a road," said Chub. 
 
 "I 'm going to find one if I have to walk all 
 night," said Eoy. 
 
 "That 's what you think," replied Chub, sadly. 
 "But you 're in the enchanted forest, I tell you. 
 "We 're Little Nemos, that 's what we are!" 
 
 But the next moment the darkness gave place 
 to twilight and they stumbled down a little bank 
 to the dusty road. With one accord they threw 
 themselves down on the grass. 
 
 "Here 's where I stay until morning," sighed 
 Dick. 
 
 "Isn't that a sign over there?" Eoy asked. 
 
 "Maybe," muttered Chub, "but I 've got so I 
 don't believe in signs." Eoy, however, had 
 crossed the road and was trying to decipher the 
 words on the panel nailed to the fence. Finally 
 he lighted a match and, 
 
 " 'Noble's Chill and Fever Compound,' " he 
 read, " 'safe and certain. Ask your druggist.' " 
 
 " 'Ask your druggist,' " sneered Dick. "I 'd 
 like to have the chance to ask a druggist! I 
 would n 't ask for that, though ; I 'd ask for a choc- 
 olate, or an egg-and-milk. " 
 
 "I suppose those things are stuck all along the 
 
A NEW ACQUAINTANCE 147 
 
 road," said Roy, throwing himself down again 
 on the bank. "We know that that one isn't the 
 one we saw before. ' ' 
 
 "Maybe if we sit here much longer," said 
 Chub, "we '11 be glad to know of a good remedy 
 for chills and fever. I 'm going on." 
 
 "Where?" asked Roy. 
 
 "Anywhere! What matters it? If we walk 
 long enough we '11 come to a village. And once 
 in a village if I don 't get my hands on a sandwich 
 and a cup of coffee it 's a wonder!" 
 
 "Well," sighed Dick, "which way shall we 
 go?" 
 
 "South," answered Chub. "I saw a sort of a 
 village a mile or so before we stopped this after- 
 noon. Come on, fellows; never say die!" 
 
 "Maybe we will come across a house pretty 
 soon," said Roy. "If we do let 's ask for some- 
 thing to eat and a bed in the barn." 
 
 "I don't think they have beds in the barns 
 around here," replied Chub, flippantly. "How- 
 ever, whatever we do let us not — remark the em- 
 phasis, please — let us NOT ask for milk!" 
 
 They trudged southward along the winding 
 road. At intervals they came t'O advertisements 
 
148 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 of "Noble's Chill and Fever Compound" nailed to 
 fence-rails and trees. For a while Dick reli- 
 giously bowed and saluted each one, but at last his 
 anger wore itself out and he only growled when 
 he saw one. They had been walking for perhaps 
 a quarter of an hour when a turn in the road dis- 
 closed what, at first sight, appeared to be a light 
 in the window of a house, but their murmurs of 
 satisfaction were quickly ended, for, as they ap- 
 proached they saw that the light was the tail lamp 
 of an automobile standing by the side of the road. 
 
 "Wait!" whispered Dick, seizing Eoy by the 
 arm. ' ' Maybe it 's old Ewing and the constable. ' ' 
 
 "And where would they get an automobile?" 
 asked Roy. 
 
 "They might; you can't tell. Better let me go 
 ahead and have a look first." But the others 
 laughed him to scorn. Just then a second light 
 came into sight, and, as they were now close to 
 the car, they saw that some one had been leaning 
 with it over the engine. 
 
 "She 's broken down," said Chub. As they 
 drew near, the man with the lantern held it up 
 until its rays shone on them, when, as though he 
 bad hoped for better things, he turned indiffer- 
 
A NEW ACQUAINTANCE 149 
 
 ently away and began to pull things from under 
 the rear seat. It was a large car, seating seven, 
 and was painted gray with trimming of some 
 darker color. 
 
 "Having trouble?" asked Chub, sympatheti- 
 cally. 
 
 "No, I 'm just spending the night here from 
 choice," was the answer. 
 
 "Well, it 's a pretty spot," laughed Chub, 
 ' ' Anything we can do for you ? ' ' The man turned 
 and regarded Chub, disgustedly. 
 
 "Yes, get out!" 
 
 "Of course!" said Chub. "That's easy. I 
 asked you a civil question, though. Good night." 
 
 "Hold on!" called the other. "I didn't mean 
 to be haughty. But I 've been stuck here since 
 six o'clock and I don't know yet what the trouble 
 is. That 's enough to make a man rather peevish, 
 isn't it?" He laughed grudgingly. He was 
 about twenty-one or -two years old, with a good- 
 looking, if at present not over clean, face, and a 
 nice voice. 
 
 "I suppose so," answered Chub. "You 've had 
 your supper though, haven't you?" 
 
 "Yes, I 've had that." 
 
150 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 "Well, we haven't. And we 've been chasing 
 around the country for an hour and a half on foot. 
 And we 're tired and hungry. I imagine we 're 
 entitled to a little peevishness too, eh?" 
 
 "That 's so," said the other. "Where are you 
 going?" 
 
 "No one knows," said Chub. "We 're just 
 walking along this road in the hope that some 
 day we '11 come to a place where we can get some- 
 thing to eat. What do you think the chances 
 are?" 
 
 "Well, you 'd do better if you went the other 
 way. You won't find a hotel or a store nearer 
 than five miles in this direction." 
 
 Dick groaned. 
 
 "I wish this old thing would go," continued the 
 automobilist. "Then I 'd help you out. I sup- 
 pose you don't know anything about these 
 things?" His glance ranged over the three faces. 
 
 "Well I don't know that kind," answered 
 Chub, "but I 've had a little experience with a 
 four-cylinder Adams. May be, though, if we start 
 and go over her again together we '11 find the 
 trouble. Getting your spark all right, are you?" 
 
A NEW ACQUAINTANCE 151 
 
 "Yes, the trouble is somewhere in the engine, I 
 gness." 
 
 Chub took off his coat and hung it on a fence 
 post. 
 
 For a while Dick and Roy looked on, following 
 the others around the car in the glow of the lan- 
 tern. Then Dick asked permission to get in and 
 sit down and he and Roy sank onto the cushions 
 of the rear seats and stretched their tired legs 
 luxuriously. The minutes came and went. They 
 listened drowsily to the talk of Chub and the 
 owner of the machine, to the clink of tools, the 
 turning of the crank. The full moon worked 
 itself out of a cloud bank and cast a faint radi- 
 ance over the scene. A breeze came rustling 
 across a corn-field, and Roy reached down sleepily 
 and pulled a robe over him. By that time Dick was 
 frankly slumbering. A half-hour passed since 
 their arrival. Suddenly, there was a grunt of 
 satisfaction from the automobilist, an amused 
 laugh from Chub and a jarring that awoke the 
 boys in the tonneau. The engine was going. 
 
 "I don't believe I 'd ever have found that with- 
 out you," the owner was saying gaily as he slam- 
 
152 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 med the tool-chest shut. "Pile in now, and I '11 
 give you a lift. ' ' 
 
 "Is it all right?" asked Roy, drowsily. 
 
 "Yes, Siree; your friend here is a regular gen- 
 ius." 
 
 "Yes, that 's my middle name," answered 
 Chub as he climbed into the front seat. "Wake 
 up, Dick, we 're going to supper!" 
 
 "I am awake. Where are we going to get it?" 
 
 "By jove!" muttered their new acquaintance. 
 "I wonder, myself." He was silent a moment, but 
 when the car was rushing along smoothly into 
 the flood of white light thrown by the powerful 
 lamps, he turned his head. "Look here, you fel- 
 lows. My name 's Whiting, Joe Whiting, and I 
 live about seven miles down the road. All my 
 folks are away for the summer and I 'm going my- 
 self to-morrow, and so things are n't in very good 
 shape for guests. But if you chaps don't mind 
 bunking around on mattresses and couches I '11 
 be glad to put you up for the night. Any way, I 
 can give you plenty to eat. What do you say?" 
 
 "If you weren't steering," answered Chub, 
 "I 'd fall on your neck! We accept your kind in- 
 vitation, Mr. Whiting. We are too far gone to 
 
Dick and Roy slumbering 
 
A NEW ACQUAINTANCE 155 
 
 have any sense of decency left; we accept any- 
 thing and everything you want to offer." 
 
 "All right," laughed Whiting, jovially. 
 "That 's good. Do you fellows mind going a bit 
 fast?" 
 
 "Not a bit," answered Roy and Dick in a 
 breath. The big car shot forward and the wind 
 rushed by them. The road was fairly straight 
 and level and quite deserted, and the car tossed 
 the miles behind in a way that made the boys 
 stare. 
 
 "G-oing all right now!" bawled Whiting in 
 Chub's ear. 
 
 "None too fast for me — ^Whoa!" 
 
 "What 's the matter?" 
 
 "Cap 's gone. It doesn't matter, though." 
 
 "Lost your cap? I '11 stop and you can — " 
 
 "Don't do it," begged Chub. "I couldn't find 
 it in a week — besides I 'd rather lose a dozen caps 
 than have this stop!" 
 
 On they went into the white radiance. Trees 
 and fences and poles rushed toward them from 
 the glare ahead and disappeared into the black- 
 ness behind. The road was following the rail- 
 road now, and for an exciting minute or two they 
 
156 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 raced a train and gained on it, and would have 
 left it behind, perhaps, had the road not swerved 
 to the left and taken them out of sight. There 
 was a defiant shriek from the engine, a brief 
 glimpse of the lighted car windows through the 
 trees and they were once more alone, coasting 
 down a long hill with only the whirr of the fan 
 to be heard. A few minutes later the car swept 
 from the public road through a stone-pillared 
 gateway and circled up to a big house in which 
 a single light gleamed through the transom above 
 the front door. 
 
 "Doesn't look very gay, does it?" inquired 
 their host. "I don't doubt the servant has gone 
 to bed. We '11 run around and leave the machine, 
 if you don't mind." 
 
 They got out when the car had trundled itself 
 into the garage and stretched their cramped 
 limbs. 
 
 "I don't believe," said Dick, "that I changed 
 my position once all the way. I had a sort of a 
 notion that if I moved we 'd go flying off the road 
 into the next county. That was a dandy ride, Mr. 
 Whiting. ' ' 
 
A NEW ACQUAINTANCE 157 
 
 ' ' Glad you liked it. Come on now and let 's eat. 
 I had dinner at six, but can dally with a little sup- 
 per. I 'm afraid, though," he added as he locked 
 the doors, "I can't give you fellows anything hot 
 except coffee." 
 
 "Hot or cold, it 's all the same to us," said 
 Roy. 
 
 Mr. Whiting unlocked the front door and ad- 
 mitted them to a wide hall and from there con- 
 ducted them into a big library and flooded it 
 with light at the touch of a button. 
 
 ' ' Make yourselves at home now. If you want to 
 wash come on up-stairs. You needn't be afraid 
 of making a noise, the place is empty except for 
 Williams and he 's at the back of the house and 
 wouldn't hear a sound if he wasn't." 
 
 They trooped up after him to the bath-room 
 and washed the dust from hands and faces. Chub, 
 smoothing his hair with the silver-backed brushes 
 which their host provided, encountered in the 
 glass the gaze of Whiting fixed on him specu- 
 latively. 
 
 "Say, what 's your name?" asked Whiting. 
 
 "My name 's Eaton," answered Chub. "And 
 
158 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 my companions are Mr. Porter and Mr. Somes. I 
 beg your pardon, I 'm sure; we ought to have 
 introduced ourselves before." 
 
 "Oh, that 's all right; I only asked because it 
 seems to me I 've seen you before somewhere." 
 
 "It 's possible, I live in Pittsburg." 
 
 "You didn't have to tell," said Dick, reproach- 
 fully. 
 
 "I 've never been there," said Whiting, "but 
 all the same — Well, never mind. Let 's go down 
 and see what we can tind. ' ' 
 
 They found a good deal. Together they raided 
 the pantry and refrigerator and bore their booty 
 into the dining-room and spread it helter-skelter 
 on the big mahogany table. Then they made cof- 
 fee, about two quarts of it, and if it wasn't per- 
 fectly clear it at least tasted very, very good. 
 It was after nine o'clock when they sat down to 
 supper and it was well toward ten when they got 
 up. It takes some time to satisfy such hungers as 
 Chub and Roy and Dick had. But, of course, they 
 didn't spend quite all the time eating, for Whit- 
 ing's curiosity had to be satisfied and so it was 
 incumbent to narrate the adventure in search of 
 
A NEW ACQUAINTANCE 159 
 
 milk. Whiting thought that a fine joke and 
 wished he had been along. 
 
 ' ' I tell you what I '11 do, fellows, ' ' he said. ' ' In 
 the morning I '11 take you back in the car, if you 
 don't mind starting rather early, and you won't 
 have much difficulty finding your boat in broad 
 daylight. I hope no one has stolen anything out 
 of it, though. ' ' 
 
 Back in the library the boys stretched them- 
 selves out comfortably in the big leather chairs, 
 and Whiting turned to Chub with ; 
 
 "Say, Eaton, do you play ball?" 
 
 "Yes, some." 
 
 "Only some, eh? I thought that maybe I 'd 
 seen you on the ball field, but — " 
 
 "He 's a fibber," said Dick. "He was captain 
 of his freshman team this year and played on the 
 'varsity in the big game. ' ' 
 
 ' ' Jupiter ! ' ' cried Whiting. ' ' I remember now ! 
 You're the chap they put in for Pritchett at the 
 end of the game; you stole home and won the 
 game! That was all right, Eaton!" Whiting 
 beamed across at him. "Thunder, I 'm glad I 
 picked you fellows up! I 'm a junior next year. 
 
160 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 You must come and see me. Are you in college, 
 tool" 
 
 "Yes," answered Roy. "I 'm in the same class 
 with Chub, and Dick enters in the fall." 
 
 "That 's fine! It was good luck that I came 
 across you to-night. If I hadn't I 'd been stuck 
 back there in the road yet ! ' ' 
 
 After that there was plenty to talk about, you 
 may believe, and it was well toward midnight 
 when they climbed the stairs and distributed them- 
 selves around the empty bedrooms. 
 
 "I suppose I might find sheets and blankets and 
 things," said Whiting, apologetically, "but the 
 mater has them put away somewhere and I 
 wouldn't know where to look for them. But if 
 a couple of you chaps will only take my bed I '11 
 be perfectly comfortable in another room." 
 
 "So will we," said Chub. "Don't you bother. 
 A good hair mattress like this is all a fellow needs, 
 anyway ; and it 's too warm for covers if we had 
 them. We '11 be all right, thank you. But you '11 
 have to wake us up in the morning. I feel as 
 though I could sleep for a week!" 
 
 ' ' That 's all right ; you '11 be called early 
 enough. I told Williams to have breakfast at 
 
A NEW ACQUAINTANCE 161 
 
 seven. I 've got over a hundred miles to do in 
 the car to-morrow and want to get started early. 
 Good-night, fellows. I do hope you '11 be com- 
 fortable. ' ' 
 
 "If I felt any better," murmured Chub, 
 sprawled out on a big wide bed which he was to 
 have all to himself, "I 'd certainly yell. Good- 
 night, Whiting. May you be forever blest ! ' ' 
 
 They slept finely, were up at half past six, had 
 shower-baths, and were seated around the table 
 at a little after seven. Williams tried hard not 
 to show the astonishment he felt at finding the 
 family circle so suddenly and inexplicably en- 
 larged, but didn't altogether succeed. At eight 
 they were in the car again, retracing their path 
 of the night before. Chub attired in a plaid cap 
 which his host insisted on his accepting. It was 
 a wonderful golden morning with the bluest of 
 blue skies overhead and an innocent-looking pile 
 of fluffy white clouds in the west, which Whiting 
 declared meant a thunder-storm later on. But no 
 one was troubled about that. The big gray car 
 was on its best behavior, and in less than half an 
 hour they were back in the vicinity of the Slow 
 Poke. After some hesitation, they decided on a 
 
162 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 spot to be set down and bade tbeir new friend 
 good-by. 
 
 "Mind you look me up in the fall," he reiter- 
 ated. "I want to introduce you to some of the 
 fellows I know; you '11 like them. Good-by and 
 good luck. Hope you find your boat. ' ' 
 
 He was off again in a cloud of dust and tne 
 three turned and plunged into the woods. Their 
 judgment was not in error, for after a minute or 
 so they came out on the shore of the cove. 
 Twenty yards away lay the Slow Poke. 
 
 ' ' Thank goodness ! ' ' said Eoy, devoutly. ' ' I 
 thought — " 
 
 But he didn't tell what he thought. Instead, 
 he stopped suddenly in his tracks, and Chub and 
 Dick stopped with him. 
 
 Sitting on the rail of the Slow Poke, his gun 
 across his knees, was Farmer Ewing. 
 
CHAPTEE XI 
 
 MR. EWIN G IS OUTWITTED 
 
 WELL, what do you think of that?" gasped 
 Chub. 
 
 The boys stared at Mr. Ewing in vexation, and 
 Mr. Ewing regarded the boys with grim placidity. 
 
 "Just as though he had n't made trouble enough 
 for us,'" muttered Dick. 
 
 "Well," said Koy, starting on determinedly, 
 "I 'm not going to put up with any more of his 
 nonsense. ' ' 
 
 "That 's all right," cautioned Chub, "but re- 
 member, chum, that he has a gun there." 
 
 They walked along the bank until they were op- 
 posite the boat. Mr. Ewing watched them si- 
 lently, his gaze resting with interest on Dick. 
 Evidently he couldn't account for Dick. Chub 
 made the first overtures. 
 
 "Salutations," he called. 
 
 "Mornin'," responded the farmer. A silence 
 followed. 
 
 10 163 
 
164 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 ' ' Want to see us, did you ? ' ' asked Chub, cheer- 
 fully. 
 
 "Ye-es," drawled the farmer, "I wanted to 
 have a few words with ye." 
 
 "We are deeply honored, sir. Tell the gentle- 
 man how deeply honored we are, Roy. ' ' But Roy 
 only growled. The farmer sniffed. 
 
 ' ' What are you going to do '? " he asked. 
 
 "We 're coming aboard," replied Chub, mak- 
 ing ready to leap the yard of water that inter- 
 vened between shore and boat. 
 
 "You just stay where you are," said the 
 farmer, patting his gun stock significantly. 
 
 "But that 's our boat!" cried Roy, wrathfully. 
 
 "Maybe, maybe; chances are you stole it, 
 though," replied Mr. Ewing, calmly. 
 
 "Well, you 're the most suspicious man I ever 
 did see," declared Chub, disgustedly. "Suppose 
 we insist on going aboard; what 's going to hap- 
 pen?" 
 
 "I might have to put a load of buckshot in 
 your legs," answered the farmer, showing his 
 yellow fangs in a grim smile. "This boat is con- 
 fiscated." 
 
 "You don't say? What for?" 
 
ME. EWING IS OUTWITTED 165 
 
 "Pendin' the arrival of the constable. You 
 can talk to him when he gets here ; I guess he '11 
 answer all the questions you want to ask him." 
 The farmer chuckled. Roy appeared to be in 
 real danger of exploding with anger. 
 
 "Leave this to me," whispered Chub. Then, 
 "and about how long do you think we '11 have 
 to wait for the constable?" he inquired of Mr. 
 Ewing. The farmer cast an eye toward the sun. 
 
 "About half an hour, I guess," he replied. 
 ' ' He promised to be over about nine. ' ' 
 
 "As early as that, eh?" murmured Chub, re- 
 flectively. ' ' 1 hate to put him to so much trouble. 
 I do hope you and he didn't loose much time last 
 night looking for us. We were so sorry we 
 could 'nt stay until you returned, but we had an 
 engagement we just had to keep." 
 
 "Don't you bother about me," growled the 
 farmer. "Think you 're pretty smart, I guess, 
 don't ye? Maybe you did fool me last night, but 
 I sort o' guess I 've got ye this time, eh?" 
 
 "It does look like it," admitted Chub, reluc- 
 tantly. "But then you 're too smart for us, any- 
 way, I suppose." 
 
 "Huh," grunted the farmer, suspiciously. 
 
166 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 "We might as well sit down and take it easy 
 while we wait," said Chub to the others. "Me 
 for a nice spot in the shade." 
 
 He moved down the shore a little way and Roy 
 and Dick followed. When they sat down under 
 the shade of the trees they were out of hearing of 
 the farmer. 
 
CHAPTER XII 
 
 THE TABLES TURNED 
 
 ANYBODY got anything to suggest?" Chub asked 
 softly. 
 
 "If we rushed him all at once, the three of 
 us," said Dick, "we could get aboard all right. 
 You know very well he wouldn't dare shoot at 
 us." 
 
 But Chub shook his head. 
 
 "He 's such an old sour-face, he 's likely to do 
 anything. What do you say, Roy ? ' ' 
 
 "I '11 risk it if the rest of you will," he said, 
 angrily. " I 'd like to throw him into the water. ' ' 
 
 "A bath wouldn't do him any harm," said 
 Chub, "unless he caught cold from it. But I 've 
 got a better scheme, I think. We can't afford to 
 let the constable find us here. If he does it '11 
 take a week to convince him that we aren't rob- 
 bers. Now, listen. I '11 go back through the 
 woods as though I was going to the road. You 
 fellows stay here and if he asks where I 've gone 
 
 167 
 
168 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 tell him I 've gone to look for the constable. 
 When I get out of sight I '11 get some of my 
 things off and sneak down to the river again on 
 the other side of the point. Then I '11 swim back 
 quietly and get aboard on the other side. He 
 won't be able to see me and you fellows mustn't 
 look at me because he might catch on." 
 
 "But what are you going to do when you get 
 aboard?" asked Roy dubiously. Chub's brown 
 eyes twinkled merrily. 
 
 "You leave that to me," he said. "Come to 
 think of it, you fellows had better go back to 
 the boat in about a couple of minutes and when 
 you see me coming get him talking; see? Make 
 all the pow-wow you can, so he won't hear me. 
 If he should hear me and go around the other 
 side to see what 's up, you fellows jump on board 
 in a hurry. Got tliati" 
 
 "Yes," answered Roy, "but you — you be care- 
 ful, Chub." 
 
 "It '11 be a long swim, won't it?" asked Dick, 
 anxiously. 
 
 "I won't have to swim at all," said Chub. 
 "I '11 just float down with the current. I 'm 
 off." He got up and started aimlessly into the 
 
THE TABLES TURNED 169 
 
 ■woods in the direction of the road. They watched 
 him go. So did the farmer. 
 
 "Hey, where 's he going?" he called. 
 
 "Says he 's going to look for your friend, the 
 constable," answered Dick, carelessly. 
 
 "Ain't no use in you running away," said Mr. 
 Ewing. "We '11 get ye." 
 
 ' ' Well, you don 't see us running away, do you 1 ' ' 
 asked Roy, haughtily. "We haven't done any- 
 thing to run away for." 
 
 "Don't you suppose we might fix those ropes 
 so 's we can let go in a hurry?" asked Dick, 
 softly. 
 
 "We can try it," responded Roy, with a glance 
 toward the river beyond the point. "Wait a 
 minute longer. Then we '11 go down there. 
 Maybe we can loosen the knots a bit." He 
 looked anxiously at his watch. It showed the 
 hour to be ten minutes to nine. "I hope that 
 constable doesn't take it into his head to ap- 
 pear for a few minutes yet." 
 
 " So do I. Shall we go now ? ' ' 
 
 "Yes, come along." 
 
 They got up and sauntered back to where the 
 Slow Poke lay, Mr. Ewing eying them suspi- 
 
170 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 ciously. The boat was moored fore and aft to 
 two trees growing near the bank. When they 
 reached the first one Roy stopped and started to 
 undo the knot, while Dick kept on. 
 
 "Say, there 're chairs up there on the deck," 
 said Dick, pleasantly. "Why don't you get one? 
 You must be tired sitting on that railing." 
 
 "I 'm pretty tolerable easy, thanks," answered 
 the farmer. "Here, you there! What you doing 
 to that rope?" 
 
 "Me?" asked Eoy, innocently. "Just fix- 
 ing it." 
 
 "Well, leave it alone, do you hear?" The old 
 shot-gun was pointed in Roy's direction and Roy 
 thought it wise to obey, especially as he had prac- 
 tically accomplished hi^ purpose. Meanwhile 
 Dick had seized the occasion to give attention to 
 the second rope, but the farmer spied him before 
 he could loosen the knot. 
 
 "Come away from there or I '11 let ye have 
 this ! " he shouted, angrily. Dick came away and 
 he and Eoy sat down on the edge of the bank in 
 the sun, trying to look perfectly at ease. A swift 
 glance upstream showed them a dark object in 
 the water floating slowly down with the current. 
 
THE TABLES TURNED 171 
 
 The object was Chub's head. They didn't dare 
 look again until Chub was almost abreast of the 
 boat. Then, 
 
 ' ' That was a pretty easy place to get out of you 
 put us in," said Roy. The farmer blinked his 
 eyes and motioned at Dick with his chin. 
 
 "You 'd been there yet if it hadn't been for 
 him," he said. "If I hadn't been alone there I 
 guess it wouldn't have happened." 
 
 "You had Fido," said Dick. 
 
 "He means Carlo," explained Eoy, amiably. 
 "He 's a pretty smart dog, is n't he?" 
 
 "Guess you thought so," chuckled the farmer. 
 (Roy and Dick were straining their ears for evi- 
 dences of Chub's arrival at the other side of the 
 boat.) 
 
 "Yes, he 's a nice dog," said Roy, reflectively. 
 "Of course he isn't much to look at, but, then, 
 mongrels never are, I suppose." 
 
 "He ain't a mongrel," said the farmer, indig- 
 nantly. "He 's a pure-blooded Saint Bernard, 
 he is." (Still there was no sound!) 
 
 "You don't say?" asked Dick. "Funny how 
 folks will talk to you when they want to sell a 
 dog, is n't it? It just seems as though they did n't 
 
172 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 have any moral sense, doesn't it?'* '(There was 
 a sound now, just the faintest sound in the world ! 
 Roy and Dick both plunged desperately into con- 
 versation.) 
 
 "Dogs are funny things, anyway — " began 
 Dick. 
 
 "I used to know a dog that looked just like 
 Carlo, ' ' Roy declared with enthusiasm. ' ' He was 
 the knowingest thing — " 
 
 "Wasn't he!" asked Dick, loudly and eagerly. 
 
 "Why, that dog knew more than any farmer 
 I ever met ! ' ' almost shouted Eoy. ' ' Just to show 
 you how knowing he was, Mr. Ewing — !" 
 
 Then Eoy stopped with a grin on his face and 
 he and Dick looked past the farmer until that 
 worthy's curiosity got the better of him and he 
 turned likewise, turned to look into the twin muz- 
 zles of Chub's shot-gun, which the owner, damp 
 and cheerful in his scant attire, held a yard from 
 the farmer's head. 
 
 Mr. Ewing 's jaw dropped comically. 
 
 "Wh-wh-what — " he stammered. 
 
 "Kindly lean your gun against the railing, Mr. 
 Ewing," said Chub, softly. "Thank you. Now 
 get down and jump ashore, please." 
 
THE TABLES TURNED 173 
 
 "I — I '11 have you fellers put in prison for 
 this !" growled the farmer. But he was far more 
 subdued than they 'd ever seen him, and he swung 
 his long legs over the railing and strode to the 
 gangway at the rear. "What you going to do 
 with my gun?" he demanded. 
 
 "Never you mind about your gun," said Chub. 
 "You git!" 
 
 Mr. Ewing "got." 
 
 "Throw off those ropes, fellows," said Chub, 
 "and bring them aboard." He picked up the 
 farmer's gun, unloaded it, and tossed it onto the 
 bank. "Nothing but birdshot, after all," he 
 scoffed as he glanced at the shells. 
 
 Mr. Ewing only grunted as he picked up his 
 gun. Then, 
 
 "You 're a pretty cute lot, you are, but you 
 wait until the nest time, by gum ! ' ' 
 
 "There won't be any next time, by gum," 
 laughed Chub. 
 
 Dick and Eoy, keeping watchful glances on the 
 farmer, brought the ropes aboard. 
 
 "Start her up," said Chub to Dick. Then he 
 handed his shot-gun to Eoy. "See that he 
 doesn't try any tricks," he said. "I'll go up 
 
174 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 and take the wheel. I want to get out of here 
 before the constable comes." 
 
 The farmer stood a little way off observing 
 them sourly. The propeller began to churn and 
 the Slow Poke waddled off into deep water. 
 Chub threw the wheel hard over and the boat 
 swung its nose around until it pointed down- 
 stream. Then he called for full speed and the 
 Slow Poke made off in a hurry. 
 
 ' ' My love to Carlo ! ' ' cried Chub from the wheel- 
 house. 
 
 "Tell him I hope he chokes!" added Roy vin- 
 dictively. 
 
 At that moment a man in a faded blue coat with 
 brass buttons came out of the woods and hurried 
 toward the farmer. Hasty explanations fol- 
 lowed on the part of the latter. 
 
 Chub put his lips to the speaking-tube. 
 
 "Got her full speed, Dick?" he called. 
 
 "Yes," was the answer. 
 
 "All right. Our friend, the constable, has ar- 
 rived. Keep her going." The Slow Poke was 
 now far out of the cove and making good time 
 down the river. Eoy waved a polite farewell to 
 the two figures on shore ; the whistle croaked, and 
 
THE TABLES TURNED 175 
 
 tlie next minute the wooded point had shut them 
 from view. Roy hurried up to Chub. 
 
 "What are you going down the river for?" he 
 asked. 
 
 "Because they may send out warrants for us," 
 answered Chub. "I want them to think we 're 
 going this way. After a while we '11 turn around, 
 go over toward the other shore and come back. 
 I 've got to get rid of these wet clothes. ' ' 
 
 When he came back, once more in conventional 
 attire, he headed the boat across to the opposite 
 shore, turned her and crept upstream again. Roy 
 brought his field-glasses up and they searched the 
 shore of the cove as they went by. But there was 
 no one in sight. 
 
 "I wonder if he 's had enough?" pondered Roy. 
 
 "I '11 bet he hasn't. I '11 bet if we came back 
 here fifty years from now we 'd find him sitting 
 on the fence outside his gate with that old pop- 
 gun in his lap, waiting for us. You don't know 
 the — the indomitable will of our dear friend. Job 
 Ewing." 
 
 "Jim," corrected Roy. 
 
 "Pardon me; I meant to say James. No, Jim 
 won't forget us in a hurry, and I think it will be 
 
176 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 wiser to keep on this side of the river for a while. 
 That 's Westchester County over there and this 
 is Eockland. I don't know much about such 
 things, I 'm pleased to say, but it seems to me 
 that if that old farmer gets out a warrant for us 
 we '11 be better off in some other county. ' ' 
 
 "What are you going to do about your coat 
 and things, though T' Koy asked. 
 
 ' ' Get 'em this evening, ' ' answered Chub, ' ' when 
 the shades of night have fallen over hill and vale. 
 Let 's put in around that point there and stay 
 until then, shall we? I don't believe they can 
 see us from the other shore." 
 
 Dick joined them and they talked it over and 
 finally agreed to Chub's plan. The Slow Poke 
 was steered around the point and anchored — 
 since a shallow beach made it inadvisable to 
 stretch lines ashore — near a little village. The 
 railroad ran along within a few yards and a tiny 
 station was in sight. But the point of land cut 
 them off from sight of Farmer Swing's neigh- 
 borhood and they believed that they could spend 
 the day there safely. They went ashore and made 
 a few purchases and learned that the nearest 
 ferry was four miles up the river. 
 
THE TABLES TURNED 177 
 
 "That would mean a good five miles upstream 
 and four miles back if they tried to get us that 
 way," said Chub. "And I don't believe they 'd 
 go to that trouble. Besides, it 's safe that they 
 think we 're still going down the river." 
 
 "Just the same," said Dick, "one of us had 
 better keep a lookout all the time so that if they 
 did try to get us we could skip out. ' ' 
 
 "Eight you are, Dickums. Yours is the wis- 
 dom of the owl and the cunning of the serpent. ' ' 
 
 They spent a quiet day. They would have liked 
 to go ashore and tramp, but didn't dare leave 
 the boat lest the relentless Mr. Ewing should de- 
 scend upon it in their absence. So, instead, they 
 read and wrote letters on the upper deck under 
 the awning, which was stretched for the first time. 
 To be sure, they had been away from home only 
 two days, but, as Eoy pointed out, more had hap- 
 pened to write about during those two days than 
 was likely to happen in the next two weeks, and 
 they might as well make the most of it. The quiet 
 lasted until about four o'clock when Whiting's 
 thunder-storm, which had been growling menac- 
 ingly for an hour or more, descended upon them 
 in full fury. There was a busy time getting the 
 
178 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 awning down again, and then, somewhat damp, 
 they retreated to the forward cabin and watched 
 the rain lash the river and listened to the roar- 
 ing of the storm. It was all over in half an hour, 
 leaving the air cool and refreshing. They had 
 a good supper and afterward, at about eight, 
 pulled up anchor and headed the Slow Poke diago- 
 nally down the river until it was opposite the 
 place where Chub had undressed and left his coat. 
 There Chub jumped into the tender and rowed 
 ashore. The others watched anxiously while the 
 Slow Poke sauntered along with the current but 
 in five minutes Chub was back again, his clothes 
 in a bundle in the bottom of the tender. 
 
 "Didn't see a soul," he answered in response 
 to the questions of the others. "Start her up, 
 Dick, and we '11 go back. ' ' 
 
 "It wasn't so easy to sleep that night, for 
 the trains went rushing by on an average of every 
 half hour, shrieking and clattering. But they 
 managed to doze off at intervals until well toward 
 morning when, having become inured to the racket, 
 they slept soundly until the alarm-clock in Chub's 
 bedroom went off. 
 
 "I move you," said Chub at breakfast, "that 
 
THE TABLES TURNED 179 
 
 we get out of this vicinity as soon as we can. 
 I 've had enough excitement to last me for a 
 month, I 'm for the silent reaches and the sim- 
 ple life!" 
 
 11 
 
CHAPTER XIII 
 
 CHUB TKIES A NEW BAIT 
 
 I COULD write in detail of the next three days, 
 but the narrative would only bore you, for 
 nothing of special interest happened. In brief, 
 then, they made an early start the morning after 
 the escape from Mr. Ewing and the arm of the law, 
 and were soon rounding the bend in the river 
 opposite Peekskill. By one o'clock they were in 
 sight of West Point and so kept on until they 
 found a mooring at the steamboat pier. There 
 they ate dinner and afterward spent two hours 
 "doing" the Military Academy. Dick declared 
 that if they didn't see another thing, that alone 
 was worth the whole trip, and the rest agreed 
 with him. At twilight, they sidled the Slow Poke 
 across to shore almost under the frowning face 
 of Storm King. There was deep water there, 
 and when the mooring ropes were made fast they 
 could step from the deck of the house-boat right 
 
 onto the bank. The map showed dozens of 
 
 180 
 
CHUB TRIES A NEW BAIT 181 
 
 streams and several small ponds, and it was de- 
 cided that they would remain there for a while and 
 try the fishing. They slept on board that night, 
 but the next afternoon they rigged the little shel- 
 ter tent which they had brought between the 
 trees at a little distance from shore, and made 
 camp. Dick and Roy fashioned a fireplace of 
 stones and when the weather was fair the meals 
 were prepared over a wood fire. Chub declared 
 that he preferred the flavor of wood smoke to 
 kerosine. For two days they tramped around 
 the neighboring country and fished to their hearts ' 
 content, finding several good trout pools. It was 
 on the second day that Chub caught his "two- 
 pounder." To be sure, Dick and Roy declared 
 that it didn't weigh over a pound and a quarter, 
 but Chub retorted that that was only their jeal- 
 ousy and that if there was a scales on board 
 he would soon prove his estimate correct. But 
 there wasn't a scales to be found and so Chub's 
 claim was never disproved. He held the trout 
 out at arm's-length while Roy photographed it, 
 and when the picture developed the fish looked 
 like a salmon rather than a trout. 
 
 "You might as well call it a ten-pounder as 
 
182 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 a two," said Dick. "Anyone would believe yon. 
 Why, that fish is half as big as you — in the pic- 
 ture!" 
 
 Chub viewed him sorrowfully and shook his 
 head. 
 
 "That," he replied, "would not be the truth, 
 Dickums. When you know me better you '11 find 
 that not even a fish can tempt me from the path 
 of honesty. Perhaps, however, there wouldn't 
 be any harm in calling it a three-pounder; what 
 do you think?" 
 
 Eoy and Dick had good luck, too, although their 
 trout were smaller than Chub's "two-pounder," 
 and during their stay at Camp Storm King, as 
 they called it, they had all the fresh fish they 
 could eat. 
 
 The day after Chub's famous catch he informed 
 the others that he was going back to the scene of 
 his victory for another try. 
 
 "We '11 all go," said Roy, pleasantly, with a 
 wink at Dick. ' ' It must be a dandy place. ' ' 
 
 ' ' You '11 do nothing of the sort, ' ' replied Chub, 
 shortly. "That pool is my discovery." 
 
 "Pshaw," said Eoy, "if I found a good place 
 like that I 'd want you to try it." 
 
CHUB TRIES A NEW BAIT 183 
 
 "Me, too," said Dick. Chub viewed them 
 scornfully. 
 
 "Of course you would," he replied with deep 
 sarcasm. 
 
 "Well, I would," insisted Eoy. "I 'd be gen- 
 erous. Now — " 
 
 "I guess you 're like the Irishman," said Chub. 
 ' ' His name was Pat. ' ' 
 
 "It always is in a story," murmured Dick. 
 
 "One day his friend Mike met him and said: 
 'Pat, they tell me you 're a Socialist.' 'I am,' 
 says Pat. 'Well, now, tell me, Pat, what is a So- 
 cialist?' 'A Socialist,' says Pat, 'is a feller that 
 divides his property equally. 'T is like this, do 
 you see : if I had two million dollars I 'd give you 
 one million and I 'd keep one million myself.' 
 "T is a grand idea, ' says Mike. ' And if you had 
 two farms would you give me one, Pat?' 'Sure 
 would I, ' says Pat. ' 'T is an elegant thing, this 
 Socialism,' says Mike. 'But, tell me, Pat, if you 
 had two pigs would you give me one?' 'Go 
 'long, now!' says Pat. 'You know I 've got two 
 pigs!' " 
 
 "It 's a funny story," said Eoy, mournfully, 
 "but I miss the application. Chub." 
 
184 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 "You do, eh? Well, it just shows how easy it 
 is to be generous with something you haven't 
 got." Whereupon Chub picked up his rod and 
 stepped ashore. 
 
 "You won't get a bite!" called Dick. 
 
 Haughty silence from Chub as he walked away. 
 
 "You won't bring home a thing!" This shot 
 told. 
 
 "If I don't bring home something as big as I 
 did yesterday," announced Chub, grandly "I '11 
 — I '11 wash up the dishes ! ' ' 
 
 "That 's a go," cried Dick. "Bad luck to 
 you!" 
 
 They watched him disappear between the trees. 
 Then Eoy turned to Dick with a grin. "Let 's 
 follow him," he said. 
 
 An instant later, carrying their rods, they were 
 on Chub's trail. They went quickly and quietly, 
 and soon had their quarry in sight. Chub was 
 ambling along very leisurely, whistling as he 
 went. Presently they were out of the woods and 
 on a narrow road that was scarcely more than a 
 path. It wound along the bottom of the mountain 
 for a half a mile or so, running very straight and 
 rendering it necessary for the pursuers to keep 
 
CHUB TRIES A NEW BAIT 185 
 
 in among the trees lest Chub should glance back. 
 But it was apparent that he had no suspicion. 
 The road ran over or through several small 
 streams which came gurgling down the hill and 
 at each of them Roy and Dick expected to see 
 Chub leave the road. But he kept on and pres- 
 ently Dick gave signs of discouragement. 
 
 "Thunder," he said, "I don't believe he 's ever 
 going to stop. This is n't much fun, Roy. Let 's 
 quit. I 'm all scratched up with these branches. ' ' 
 
 "Stop nothing!" answered Roy. "He can't 
 be going much further. Anyway, the road curves 
 pretty soon and then we can take it easy." 
 
 Presently the road did curve. Chub was out of 
 sight, and they left the underbrush with sighs of 
 relief. 
 
 ' ' Have you any idea where this pool of his is ? " 
 asked Dick. 
 
 ' ' Not the slightest. He and I started out together 
 but he left me about three o'clock and went down 
 toward the river. We were fishing that stream 
 that comes down near the fork of the roads, you 
 know; where we were the first day. That 's about 
 half a mile further, but I don't see why Chub has 
 to go that far unless he can't find his old pool 
 
186 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 any other way. Here 's the turn. Careful, or he 
 may see us." 
 
 It was an abrupt curve and they went very 
 slowly and softly until they could see the stretch 
 of road ahead. It was quite deserted! 
 
 "Shucks!" said Koy. "He 's got away from 
 us, after all. Come on!" 
 
 They broke into a trot and hurried along, look- 
 ing sharply to left and to right as they ran. A 
 moment or two later there was a rustling in the 
 woods near the turn of the road and Chub came 
 cautiously out, a broad smile on his face. Re- 
 maining in concealment, he watched his pursuers 
 until another turn of the road hid them. Then 
 he cut a branch from a small tree, sharpened one 
 end of it, slit the other, and stuck it in the mid- 
 dle of the road. Searching his pockets he, at 
 length, brought forth a crumpled piece of paper. 
 Smoothing it out, he traced a single word on it 
 and stuck it in the cleft of the stick. Then, chuck- 
 ling aloud, he crossed the road and disappeared 
 into the woods on the lower side. 
 
 Some two hours later Roy and Dick came trudg- 
 ing back. They had five trout between them, but 
 they were all small ones. They were very hun- 
 
CHUB TRIES A NEW BAIT 187 
 
 gry and somewhat tired, and Roy almost walked 
 into the stick in the road before he saw the piece 
 of paper. When he had read it he laughed and 
 handed it to Dick. 
 
 " ' Stung r " read Dick. He grinned, crumpled 
 it up, and tossed it aside, and they went on for a 
 moment without a word. Then, 
 
 "You have to get up pretty early to get ahead 
 of Chub," said Roy, admiringly. 
 
 "Get up early!" quoth Dick. "You have to 
 stay up all night!" 
 
 They trudged on home to the camp and dinner. 
 
 Meanwhile Chub was having hard luck. Fully 
 a mile away, where a stream rushed down a hill 
 and paused for a while in a broad black pool 
 lined with rocks and alders, he had been fishing 
 diligently for over an hour with no success. He 
 had tried almost every one of his brand-new as- 
 sortment of flies, but, to use his own expression, 
 he hadn't even got a bid. It was getting along 
 toward dinner-time, as his hunger emphatically 
 informed him, and he recollected his agreement 
 with regret. It was n't that he so much disliked 
 to wash the dishes for once — although as a matter 
 of principle he always schemed to avoid that 
 
188 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 task — but he hated to have Eoy and Dick crow 
 over him. And after the way in which he had 
 fooled them that morning, he had no doubt but 
 that they would crow long and loud ! 
 
 He sat down on a convenient flat-topped stone 
 and spread his fly-book open beside him. It was 
 a sunny day, but the pool was well shadowed 
 and perhaps, after all, a real brilliant fly 
 wouldn't be out of the way. So he selected a 
 handsome arrangement of vermilion and yellow 
 and gray — a most gaudy little fly it was — and sub- 
 stituted it for the more somber one on his line. 
 Then he cast again to the farther side of the 
 pool. For a while there was no reply to his ap- 
 peal, and then the fly disappeared and a moment 
 later a gleaming trout was flapping about under 
 the bushes. It wasn't such a bad little trout; 
 Chub guessed three quarters of a pound as its 
 weight; and more hopefully now, he flicked the 
 pool here and there. But nothing else happened. 
 At last, discouraged, he reeled in his line and 
 looked at his watch. The time was a quarter 
 past twelve. Even if he started back to the boat 
 now, he would arrive very late for dinner. Be- 
 sides, he couldn't face Roy and Dick with only 
 
CHUB TRIES A NEW BAIT 189 
 
 that insignificant trophy to show. If only he had 
 brought a luncheon with him ! His eyes fell again 
 on the trout and his face lighted. Dropping 
 his fly-book into his pocket and picking up rod 
 and fish, he turned his back on the pool and fol- 
 lowed the stream as best he could, winding in 
 and out of the thickets and clambering over the 
 rocks that strewed the little vale. 
 
 Presently he was out of the thicket and before 
 him lay a small clearing in which waist-high 
 bushes and trailing briars ran riot. The brook 
 spread itself out into a shallow stream and mean- 
 dered off toward the river, its course marked by 
 small willows, alders, and rushes. Chub found a 
 clear spot in the shade of a viburnum and built 
 a fire of dry grass and twigs, adding dead branches 
 as the flames grew. Fuel was n't very easy to find, 
 but by prospecting around he eventually had a 
 good-sized blaze. Then, warm and panting, he 
 sat down out of the range of the heat and pre- 
 pared his trout. By the time it was ready the 
 fire had subsided to a bed of glowing coals. 
 Wrapping the fish in leaves he laid it on the 
 embers and watched it carefully, turning it over 
 and over and raking the hot coals about it. After 
 
190 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 fifteen minutes of cooking he took it off and laid 
 it on a stone which he had meanwhile washed in 
 the brook. Then, with a couple of sharpened 
 sticks he scraped away the ashes and coals, and 
 began his luncheon. Trout without any other 
 seasoning than wood smoke isn't awfully appe- 
 tizing, as Chub speedily discovered, and he would 
 have given a whole lot for a pinch or two of salt. 
 But it partly satisfied his hunger, and after he 
 had taken a drink of cold water from the brook 
 he felt good for another two or three hours' fish- 
 ing. He was determined not to go home until he 
 had something to show. He stretched himself 
 out in the shade for a while and rested. Then, 
 picking up his rod once more, he returned to the 
 stream and sought a likely spot. 
 
 His search led him across the clearing and into 
 a dense woods beyond. Here the stream nar- 
 rowed again and deepened, and he put another 
 fly on and tried his luck, wandering along from 
 place to place. Twice, inquiring fish nibbled at 
 his fly, and once he hooked a small trout only to 
 lose it from the hook in landing. Then a full 
 hour passed without any results. It was almost 
 three o'clock. The woods were very warm and 
 
CHUB TRIES A NEW BAIT 191 
 
 very still, only the ripple and plash of the brook 
 breaking the mid-afternoon silence. Even the 
 birds were hushed. But the mosquitoes, at least, 
 were active, and Chub, hot and discouraged, 
 brushed them away and sighed for a breeze. 
 Finally he sat down on the ground and for the 
 twentieth time viewed the contents of his fly -book 
 in perplexity. It seemed as though it contained 
 every sort of fly that the heart of trout could de- 
 sire. 
 
 "Finiky things," muttered Chub. "I 'd just 
 like to know what they do want. ' ' He picked out 
 a pretty brown and gray fly tentatively. "That 
 ought to please any one. Maybe, though, they 
 don't like the taste of them. I suppose, when you 
 come to think of it, steel and feathers and silk 
 thread aren't very appetizing — except to look 
 at. If I was a trout I 'd much rather have a 
 good worm or a nice, juicy grasshopper." 
 
 He paused and stared thoughtfully at the flies. 
 Then, 
 
 "Plagued if I don't try it !" he murmured. 
 
 He got up and retraced his steps to the clear- 
 ing. Ordinarily it 's the easiest thing in the 
 world to catch a grasshopper. All you have to 
 
192 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 do is to stand still and the silly things will jnmp 
 onto you; especially if you happen to have on 
 something white. But to-day Chub found the 
 grasshopper the most illusive of game, almost as 
 illusive as trout ! With cap in hand, he crouched 
 and jumped and ran and waited, missing his prey 
 time after time, and getting hotter and hotter 
 and madder and madder, until the perspiration 
 streamed down his face and he was mentally call- 
 ing the grasshoppers all the mean names he could 
 think of. But perseverance is bound to win in 
 the long run — and Chub had plenty of long runs ! 
 And so, finally, he was trudging back, tired but 
 triumphant, with two hoppers firmly clasped in 
 his hand. But it seemed as though he was hav- 
 ing more than his share of trouble to-day, for al- 
 though he had left rod and fly -book not more than 
 fifty or sixty yards from the edge of the clearing, 
 he could n 't find them for a long while, and when 
 he did he was so tuckered out that he had to lie 
 on his back for ten minutes before he could com- 
 mand sufficient energy to go on with his experi- 
 ment. 
 
 He sacrificed the most bedraggled of his flies, 
 plucking off feathers and silk, and then placed one 
 
td 
 
CHUB TRIES A NEW BAIT 195 
 
 of the grasshoppers on the hook. Looking for a 
 likely spot, he found it a few yards further down 
 the stream where the uprooted trunk of a big 
 tree lay across the brook and made a sort of dam. 
 The bushes grew close to the bank and it was nec- 
 essary to make a short cast. The first attempt 
 wasn't a success, and he had to wade into the 
 pool and disentangle his leader from a stump. 
 Then he crawled out and tried again, assuring 
 himself that he had already scared every denizen 
 of the pool into conniption fits and that, of course, 
 he would n't get a bite. But the grasshopper had 
 no sooner lit on the surface than there was a 
 sudden flash and the line spun out. 
 
 "Huh!" gasped Chub, his thumb on the reel. 
 "That pleased you, didn't it? Come on, now." 
 
 But Mister Trout did n't want to come on. In- 
 stead, he had hidden himself amongst the sub- 
 merged roots of the trees. Chub wound in a foot 
 or two of line very gingerly, trying to coax the 
 trout into deep water, and the ruse succeeded. 
 With a rush the fish darted from concealment 
 and sped upstream. But Chub brought him up 
 with a turn that made the line sing. Then he 
 began to reel in. The trout fought valiantly and 
 
 12 
 
196 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 made a good deal of trouble considering his size, 
 and there were one or two anxious moments for 
 Chub. But in the end the victory was his, and 
 back among the stones lay the speckled beauty. 
 It was a good ten inches long and Chub beamed 
 with delight. Now he could go home! 
 
 When he had secured his prize on a forked 
 branch he released the other grasshopper from 
 the pocket of his fly-book. 
 
 "You Ve had a narrow escape," he said, as 
 the hopper flounced bewildered away, "and con- 
 sidering the chase you led me I ought to feed you 
 to the fishes, too. But I won't. Go on home, 
 and don't bat your silly brains out against the 
 rocks like that." 
 
 At five o'clock Eoy and Dick, who were be- 
 ginning to get anxious about Chub, beheld that 
 young gentleman approaching camp. He had his 
 rod in hand, but no fish were in sight. 
 
 "Thunder!" said Dick. "I'll wager he's 
 mad ! ' ' 
 
 "Had any dinner?" shouted Eoy. 
 
 "Sure." 
 
 "Where 'd you get it?" 
 
CHUB TRIES A NEW BAIT 197 
 
 "Caught it and cooked it, of course. Say, he 
 was a dandy! He was as long — " 
 
 ' ' Never mind about that, ' ' laughed Roy. ' ' You 
 wash the dishes just the same. You were to bring 
 the fish home, you know." 
 
 "Well, but I had to have something to eat, 
 didn't I?" asked Chub, with a grin. 
 
 ' * That was n 't in the bargain, ' ' answered Dick. 
 "You 're dish-washer to-night." Chub stepped 
 aboard, reached under his coat, and laid his trout 
 on the railing. 
 
 "Is that so, Dickums?" he asked quickly. The 
 others stared a moment. Then, 
 
 "Great Scott!" murmured Dick. 
 
 "You win," sighed Roy. 
 
 12 
 
CHAPTER XIV 
 
 THE CREW ENTERS SOCIETY 
 
 "ir^THAT day of the month is this?" demanded 
 W Eoy. 
 
 "Fourteenth," hazarded Chub. 
 
 "Fifteenth," answered Dick, doubtfully. 
 
 "We need a calendar," said Roy, looking 
 vaguely about the cabin. "But whether it's the 
 fourteenth or fifteenth, fellows, we ought to write 
 to Harry. She's going home the twentieth and 
 we promised to be there in three weeks. That 
 would be the twenty-first." 
 
 "That's so," said Chub. "We've only got 
 seven more days. You write, Roy, like a good 
 chap." 
 
 "What shall I say?" 
 
 "Just tell her we'll be along the twenty-first. 
 Of course, we don't have to start right off after 
 we get there. I think it would be fun to stay 
 there a while, don't you?" 
 
 198 
 
THE CEEW ENTEES SOCIETY 199 
 
 "Yes." Roy left the window-seat on whicli he 
 had been stretched and went over to the table 
 to write. "Let me take your fountain-pen, Dick, 
 will you? Mine's dry." 
 
 "You can take it if you can find it," answered 
 Dick, looking up from his book. "I have n't seen 
 it since I loaned it to Chub yesterday." 
 
 "Dickums, I gave it back to you," responded 
 Chub, gravely. "I remember the circumstances 
 perfectly; the whole thing comes back to me as 
 though it were but yesterday." 
 
 "It was but yesterday," said Dick. "Look in 
 your pocket." 
 
 "Merely as a matter of form," murmured 
 Chub. "Why, here it is! How strange! Some 
 one must have put it there. Catch, Eoy." 
 
 Eoy caught, opened the pen, and then gazed 
 disgustedly from his fingers to Dick. 
 
 "I should think you'd have a decent pen, Dick. 
 This is the limit!" 
 
 "Never look a gift pen in the nib," laughed 
 Chub. "It is a pretty bad one, though, and 
 that's a fact. Let's serve notice on Dick that 
 unless he buys a good one we won't borrow it any 
 
200 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 It was the second day after Chub's success with 
 the grasshopper bait, and the second day of rain. 
 Yesterday, it had merely showered at intervals, 
 and the three had half a day of good fishing, but 
 since about dawn it had been pouring torrents 
 and they had been forced to remain indoors save 
 when, at about eleven, they had gone 'in bathing. 
 That had been good fun; there is a certain ex- 
 citement about bathing iri a heavy downpour of 
 rain that is missing under other conditions. Chub 
 had pretended to be disgruntled. "What's the 
 use of bathing," he had asked, "when you're sop- 
 ping wet before you get into the water?" But 
 he had enjoyed it as much as any of them. 
 
 The Slow Poke stood the deluge well, all things 
 considered. The rain managed to get under the 
 door of the after cabin until they spread towels 
 along the sill, and there was a small leak in the 
 bedroom. But Chub declared that he didn't 
 mind as long as it was n't over the bed. 
 
 "I think," remarked Dick a few minutes later, 
 laying down his book with a yawn and glancing 
 disapprovingly out of the rain-streaked windows, 
 "that we've had enough of this place. Let's go 
 on. What do you say, Eoy?" 
 
THE CEEW ENTERS SOCIETY 201 
 
 "Ask the captain," said Roy, sealing Ms note 
 to Harry. 
 
 "Sounds like mutiny to me," said Chub. 
 
 "For goodness' sake, Dick, let's mutiny and 
 stop his talking about it!" 
 
 "Yes, why don't you?" asked Chub, eagerly. 
 "I've been looking forward all along for a mu- 
 tiny. I wish to put some one in irons and confine 
 him in the lazaret." 
 
 "Lazaret nothing!" protested Dick. "The 
 lazaret is where they put sick folks. ' ' 
 
 "Dickums," responded Chub, superiorly, 
 "without wishing to hurt your feelings I'd like 
 to say that you show a lamentable ignorance re- 
 garding things — er — nautical. Let me prescribe 
 for you a short course of Clark Russell, W. H. Gr. 
 Kingston, and Marryat." 
 
 "I've read as many of Marryat 's as you have," 
 replied Dick, in injured tones. "And I know that 
 a lazaret is a hospital." 
 
 "On some ships maybe, Dickums," answered 
 Chub, amiably, "but not on the Slow Poke. And 
 speaking of that, fellows, we have n't changed her 
 name yet. I thought we were going to get some 
 paint and fix it." 
 
202 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 "Well, you're captain," answered Roy. 
 
 "If I am not in error," responded Chub, with 
 dignity, "it is the able seaman that does the paint- 
 ing, and not the captain. ' ' 
 
 "The original question," said Dick, "was, do 
 we go on or do we stay here ? ' ' 
 
 "We go on," answered Chub. "If it stops 
 raining before five o'clock we'll go on to-day. 
 I, too, would visit new scenes. Besides, we must 
 get somewhere where we can post that note to 
 Harry. Also, I shall buy a newspaper and find 
 out what the date is. Why, for all we know, to- 
 day may be yesterday or to-morrow. Think of 
 eating yesterday's supper to-day!" 
 
 "I don't want to kick," said Dick, "but I think 
 it would be jolly nice to stop somewhere and get 
 a good meal. It's all right for you fellows, be- 
 cause you don't have to cook everything we have, 
 but I 'm getting tired of eating my own cooking. ' ' 
 
 Chub bounded out of his chair and pointed 
 dramatically at Dick. ' ' Mutiny ! " he cried. ' ' Mu- 
 tiny at last! Put him in irons, Eoy; put him in 
 irons! Happy I am that I've lived to see this 
 da^!" 
 
 "Who'll cook supper?" asked Eoy. 
 
THE CREW ENTERS SOCIETY 203 
 
 "Oh, we'll let him go before it's time to cook 
 supper. Get the irons, Roy." 
 
 "Where are they?" 
 
 Chub struck his forehead in despair, and sank 
 back into his seat. "Lost! lost! all is lost! We 
 forgot to bring any irons!" 
 
 "We might keel-haul him or hang him from 
 the yardstick," suggested Roy, hopefully. 
 
 "You mean yardarm, of course," said Dick. 
 ' ' But there is n 't any, and I don 't believe we 've 
 got a keel that deserves the name. So you'll have 
 to think of something else. Meanwhile, I'm go- 
 ing to get this chap out of trouble." And he took 
 up his book again. 
 
 "If he only showed the least bit of remorse," 
 sighed Chub, observing him sadly, "I might be 
 merciful. But this — this shameless effrontery 
 pains me. I tell you what, Roy, we'll sentence 
 him to make an omelet for supper. ' ' 
 
 "We haven't any eggs," said Dick, without 
 looking up from his book. Chub cast his eyes 
 to heaven and groaned tragically. 
 
 "No eggs ! no irons ! Ye gods ! haven't we any 
 of the necessities of life on this ship? What have 
 we got, Dick?" 
 
204 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 "Beans, bacon, potatoes, bread, condensed milk, 
 coffee, tea, butter, canned peas and tomatoes, 
 stewed apricots — " 
 
 Chub groaned. 
 
 "No more, I beg of you! I'm going to look 
 at the map, fellows, and if there's a place we can 
 reach by seven o'clock where we can buy a good 
 meal, we'll go there, rain or no rain! What my 
 soul demands is a course dinner, with clams, soup, 
 fish, roast, game, salad — " The rest was lost, 
 for he had disappeared up the iron stairway to 
 the wheel-house. Dick laid down his book again. 
 
 "I think I could stand a few of those things 
 myself," he said wistfully. 
 
 ' ' So could I, ' ' said Eoy. ' ' You 've done mighty 
 well, old chap, with what you've had to cook, but 
 there's nothing like an occasional change. It 
 would be jolly if we could find a hotel, wouldn't 
 it? One of those swell summer resort places 
 where they have ten courses and four kinds of 
 dessert. What about it. Chub?" 
 
 "All aboard for The Overlook," answered 
 Chub gayly as he came down the steps. "It's 
 only seven miles up on the other shore. Shall 
 we stai't now?" 
 
THE CEEW ENTEES SOCIETY 205 
 
 "What is it, a hotel?" asked Dick. 
 
 "Yes, a big one, too. I've heard of it often. 
 It's where the swells go in summer." 
 
 "That's the place for me, then," replied Eoy. 
 "I don't think it's raining as hard as it was. Let's 
 go out and have a look." 
 
 Not only had the rain somewhat abated, but 
 there were signs of clearing. Twenty minutes 
 later the Slow Poke was on her way again. 
 
 That evening the captain and crew of the 
 Slow Poke "re-entered society," as Chub put it. 
 They made a landing before six, finding a con- 
 venient place a few hundred yards from a big 
 hotel which stood on a bluff almost overhanging 
 the river, and at seven were seated at a table in 
 the great dining-room, fairly reveling ia the feast. 
 They had dressed in their best clothes, and made 
 a very presentable appearance. 
 
 "This," observed Chub, as he spread a yard- 
 square napkin over his knees and looked at the 
 menu, "is about what the doctor ordered. Shall 
 we dally with a little of the caviar, Eoy, or 
 descend at once upon the cherrystone clams. Let 
 us bear in mind that we have all the evening to 
 do justice to this meal, and not be hasty. The 
 
206 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 French, Dickums, draw a fine distinction between 
 a gourmand and a gourmet. The former is 
 merely a glutton, while the latter is a connoisseur, 
 an epicure. For me, a few of the clams, a little of 
 the consomme — with radishes and cucumbers, 
 some of the bluefish, a wee portion of the boiled 
 fowl, a slice of beef, some potatoes, cauliflower, 
 beets, and — yes, macaroni au gratin, a taste of 
 the raspberry sherbet, a bit of the salad — " 
 
 "Oh, let up, for goodness' sake!" begged Koy. 
 "You make me feel as though I had already had 
 a big dinner. Let's cut the clams out and get 
 down to business; I'm hungry. I want soup and 
 lots of it. Pass the bread, Dick." 
 
 "You talk like a gourmand," said Chub sor- 
 rowfully. "I beg of you not to spoil your ap- 
 petite with bread. Just cast your eye over the 
 list of things to come, Eoy, and hesitate." 
 
 "Don't you worry," answered Eoy, his mouth 
 full of bread and butter, "I won't let much get 
 by me ! ' ' 
 
 An hour later, they were sipping their after- 
 dinner coffee and dallying with cheese and crack- 
 ers. Then Chub settled a little lower in his chair 
 

 
THE CEEW ENTERS SOCIETY 209 
 
 with a sigh of blissful satisfaction, and gazed 
 benevolently about him. 
 
 "I feel better," he murmured, "much better." 
 
 Dick took a long and careful breath. 
 
 "I'm not sure," he said cautiously, "that I 
 feel actually better, but I'm sure I feel different. 
 And I'd rather die of indigestion than starvation 
 any day!" Eoy looked speculatively at the din- 
 ing-room door. 
 
 "If you think we can walk that far," he sug- 
 gested, "let's get out of here." 
 
 On the broad piazza they ran into a group of 
 college friends of Eoy and Chub's, and the rest of 
 the evening was hilarious enough. By ten o'clock, 
 at which time they went back to the Slow Poke, 
 they had enlarged their circle of acquaintances 
 until it included most of the young folks at the 
 hotel. The next morning they had breakfast 
 aboard, but didn't linger long over it, for all 
 sorts of delightful things had been arranged. In 
 the first place, there was tennis on the smooth 
 clay courts, Eoy and Chub engaging in doubles 
 with a pair of ambitious friends who rather 
 prided themselves on their prowess with racket 
 
210 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 and ball. After four sets, Koy and Chub had 
 induced a certain amount of modesty in their 
 opponents, having won three out of the four. 
 Dick, meanwhile, went down in defeat before a 
 curly-haired sub-freshman. They had luncheon 
 at the hotel and went sailing afterward in some 
 one's sloop. (It was at no time apparent whose 
 boat it was, for out of the sixteen fellows who 
 had crowded aboard, only one hesitated to give 
 orders, and that one only because he became sea- 
 sick as soon as the yacht left her moorings.) 
 There was more tennis after the cruise was com- 
 pleted, in which Dick found a foe he could tri- 
 umph over. Then they went back to the neglected 
 Slow Poke and "brushed up" for dinner. 
 
 "This social life is truly exciting," observed 
 Chub, strolling into the forward cabin with a 
 whisk broom in his hand. "Has anyone a nice 
 red tie to lend me?" 
 
 No one had, it seemed. Dick ventured the opin- 
 ion that a red tie was not a proper adjunct to a 
 dinner costume, and that precipitated a discussion 
 that lasted until they were ready to climb the hill 
 to the hotel. Chub asserting that with a blue serge 
 
THE CREW ENTEES SOCIETY 211 
 
 suit nothing was more chaste and recherche than 
 a nice bright red scarf. 
 
 "And, anyway, yon wild Westerner," he 
 shouted from across the passage, "it's not for the 
 likes of you to be setting up as an authority on 
 masculine attire. If you had your way you'd go 
 to dinner in chaps and a sombrero ! ' ' When they 
 had reached the table. Chub glanced over the 
 menu with a disappointed expression, and shook 
 his head. ' ' That 's the trouble with these hotels, ' ' 
 he said. "There's no variety. This bill's just 
 about the same as last night's. The only differ- 
 ence is that they've called the soups by different 
 names and substituted flounder — which they call 
 sole — for bluefish." 
 
 "The ice-cream's different," said Dick cheer- 
 fully. But Chub refused to be placated. 
 
 "It has another name," he said darkly, "but 
 you wait until you try it. It will taste the same 
 as last night 's ! " 
 
 But he recovered his equanimity as the meal 
 progressed. He heroically denied himself a sec- 
 ond helping of cream pie, recalling the fact that 
 there was to be a hop that evening, "It's hard 
 
212 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 enough for me to hop anyway," he said," and if 
 I ate any more pie, I wouldn't be able to move 
 out of my chair." But thanks to his self-denial 
 Chub was able to do his full duty on the ball-room 
 floor, and was ably assisted by Roy. Dick, how- 
 ever, preferred to sit on the piazza and swap 
 yarns with the curly-haired sub-freshman, and it 
 was not until he had been forcibly assisted through 
 a window onto the dancing floor, that he consented 
 to uphold the honor of the Slow Poke, as Chub 
 eloquently put it. 
 
 The next day, the second of their stay, they 
 gave a luncheon on board the house-boat. Dick 
 cooked the viands and they were served under 
 the awning on the upper deck. The menu was 
 neither varied nor extensive, but each of the ia- 
 vited guests vowed that they had never tasted 
 anything better. And, of course, it was lots of 
 fun. Even when Dick spilled the chops all up 
 and down the steps and had to wipe them off be- 
 fore he could serve them no one grumbled. In 
 fact you'd have thought that the party preferred 
 their chops that way! After luncheon the Slow 
 Poke was persuaded to sidle out into the stream, 
 and for an hour she waddled up or down the river. 
 
THE CEEW ENTEES SOCIETY 213 
 
 Every one of the guests insisted on signing ar- 
 ticles with Captain Chub at once, and it required 
 all of the latter 's tact and diplomacy to ward them 
 off. 
 
 "I wish you fellows could come along," he said, 
 "but you see how it is. We've got to go on up 
 to Ferry Hill and get Doctor Emery and his 
 daughter, so there won 't be much room. ' ' 
 
 Whereupon one of the more enthusiastic fel- 
 lows declared that he 'd ask nothing better than to 
 sleep on deck, and the other seven echoed him. 
 It required a deal of argument to persuade them 
 of the impracticability of the plan. There was 
 another jolly evening at the big hotel, and then the 
 three bade good-by to their old friends and new, 
 for the Slow Poke was to go on her way agaia ia 
 the morning. But when morning came, they 
 found that they were not to leave unattended, for 
 half a dozen of the fellows had gathered on the 
 landing to see them off and wish them good luck. 
 
 "See you in September," they shouted as the 
 Slow Poke ambled away. "Don't get arrested 
 for exceeding the speed limit." 
 
 "Stop when you come back, fellows! Don't 
 forget!" 
 
214 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 "I'm going to practise serving, Somes! I'll 
 beat you this Fall ! ' ' (This from the curly-haired 
 sub-freshman. ) 
 
 Chub tooted the whistle frenziedly, there was 
 much waving of caps, and the landing fell away 
 astern. 
 
 The Slow Poke made good time that day. 
 They stopped above Poughkeepsie for dinner and 
 in the afternoon went on up against a stiff tide 
 as far as Kingston. It was a day of alternate 
 sun and cloud and the scenery on both sides of 
 the broad stream merited all the attention they 
 gave it. For the most part, when not busy with 
 navigation, they sat under the awning and were 
 beautifully lazy. Just before sunset, they tied up 
 to the bank and prepared supper. Their three 
 days of hotel living had quite restored their ap- 
 petite for the plainer fare which Dick provided, 
 and they went at their meals with keen apprecia- 
 tion. They went early to bed, for it was the 
 evening of the eighteenth and they were due at 
 Ferry Hill on the twenty-first, and there remained 
 a full forty miles to be covered. There was an 
 early start the next morning, and that day and 
 the next the Sloiv Pole attended strictly to bus- 
 
THE CEEW ENTEES SOCIETY 215 
 
 iness, and climbed the river slowly but surely. 
 The only incident of moment occurred on the 
 twentieth when, having stopped for dinner at a 
 little village and moored to the side of a ferry 
 slip, the sign on a neighboring building caught 
 Roy's eye. 
 
 "Paint, Varnish, Wall Paper," announced the 
 sign. He pointed it out to the others, and after 
 dinner they delayed the voyage for the better 
 part of an hour while the name on the bow of the 
 boat was changed from Jolly Roger to Slow Pohe. 
 Dick did the new lettering, and if it wasn't ex- 
 actly perfect it, at least, answered its purpose. 
 In the course of the afternoon they were forced to 
 stop and take on gasolene, and Dick improved the 
 opportunity to lay in a new store of cylinder oil. 
 For the rest of that day, whenever he disappeared 
 they had only to peek in at the door of the engine- 
 room to find him spattering oil lovingly and en- 
 thusiastically over the engine and adjacent terri- 
 tory. 
 
 "It isn't that I mind the expense so much," 
 muttered Chub, "but I hate to think what would 
 happen if any one carelessly dropped a match in 
 this part of the boat. She's so saturated with 
 
 13 
 
216 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 that smelly oil that she'd simply go up in a burst 
 of flame. ' ' 
 
 "No engine will run smoothly without plenty of 
 oil," grumbled Dick. 
 
 ' ' I don 't expect it to, Dickums, but there 's such 
 a thing as being overkind. Some morning you'll 
 wake up and find that poor engine floating life- 
 lessly on a sea of cylinder oil. You're simply 
 drowning it ! " 
 
 The morning of the twenty-first found them 
 still some twenty miles below Ferry Hill and the 
 Sloiv Poke was put at her best pace in the hope 
 of reaching her destination by luncheon-time. 
 And she responded nobly to the demand, nosing 
 her way up to the boat-house landing at Ferry 
 Hill shortly before one o 'clock. 
 
CHAPTER XV 
 
 HAEBY GOES TO SEA 
 
 " " T-)ACK to the old home," murmured Chub, as he 
 J3 leaned over the railing of the upper deck 
 and let his gaze travel over the scene before him. 
 Beside the landing at the right was the boat- 
 house ; to the left, the little stretch of white beach ; 
 before him, the winding path leading upward 
 through a thick grove of rustling trees. Afar 
 up on the hill, the tower of School Hall showed 
 above the tree-tops. Eoy, on the float, took a 
 final hitch in the bow line, straightened himself, 
 and looked about. 
 
 "Things haven't changed much, have they?" 
 he asked. 
 
 "Can't expect them to, in less than a year," an- 
 swered Chub. 
 
 ' ' There 's Hammond over there, ' ' muttered Roy, 
 shading his eyes and looking across the glittering 
 river. 
 
 217 
 
218 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 "Well, that's just where we left it," laughed 
 Chub. "And Harry's Island is in the same place, 
 too, strange as it may seem. And the river still 
 flows to the south, and — " 
 
 * ' Oh, yes, ' ' said Eoy. ' ' But I don 't think much 
 of the welcome they've provided, do you?" 
 
 "I do not," answered Chub, with emphasis. 
 "I expected at least a brass band and a colla- 
 tion." 
 
 "Bother the brass band," said Dick, appearing 
 from the engine-room wiping his oil-stained hands 
 on a piece of waste. "But a collation has a cheer- 
 ful sound." 
 
 "I thought surely that Harry would be here," 
 said Eoy, with a trace of disappointment. "I 
 wonder if she 's back. ' ' He looked up the path. 
 
 "Maybe she didn't get that letter," suggested 
 Dick. "If she didn't she wouldn't know when 
 to look for us. And here we have invited our- 
 selves to luncheon!" 
 
 "Let me see," inquired Chub, "we posted that 
 letter at the hotel, didn't we?" 
 
 "Of course," answered Dick. "Eoy wrote it 
 that afternoon ; don 't you remember ? ' ' 
 
 "I remember his writing it," said Chub, "but 
 
HAEEY GOES TO SEA 219 
 
 I never saw it afterward. Did you mail it at the 
 office, Roy?" 
 
 ''Yes — er — I guess so. I put it in my pocket 
 when we went to dinner. ' ' 
 
 "Ten to one, you didn't mail it!" exclaimed 
 Dick. 
 
 "Suppose you look in your pocket," Chub sug- 
 gested. Eoy walked into the forward cabin with 
 a frown on his face. Chub and Dick grinned 
 across at each other. In a moment Eoy returned 
 with the letter in his hand and looking very 
 sheepish. 
 
 "It was in the pocket of my blue serge," he 
 announced. The others looked disgusted. 
 
 "You're a nice one!" exclaimed Chub. "Here 
 we are with nothing on board for luncheon and no 
 one to invite us to the Cottage." 
 
 "I'm awfully sorry," muttered Eoy. "I don't 
 know how I came to forget it." 
 
 "Well, there's bacon and potatoes, isn't 
 there?" he added with an attempt at cheerful- 
 ness. 
 
 "Bacon and potatoes!" growled Chub. "I'm 
 sick of bacon and potatoes ! ' ' 
 
 "And I'm sick of cooking 'em!" added Dick. 
 
220 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 "I thougLt we were going to get a good lunclieon 
 at the Cottage." 
 
 "Well, why not go up and call on the Doctor 
 and Mrs. Emery 1 ' ' asked Chub. ' ' They '11 be cer- 
 tain to ask us to lunch. ' ' 
 
 "It looks too cheeky," said Eoy. 
 
 "Think of your minding that!" murmured 
 Chub. Then, "I know!" he exclaimed. "We'll 
 blow the whistle and maybe some one will come!" 
 
 "Good idea!" Dick cried. He darted into the 
 wheel-house and in a moment the whistle was 
 screeching loudly. "That ought to fetch some 
 one," said he. 
 
 Toot-toot-! Toot-toot-toot! said the whistle. 
 Dick kept up the racket for a full minute, and then 
 they awaited results. Several more minutes 
 passed. 
 
 "What time is it?" asked Dick. Chub looked 
 at his watch. 
 
 "Almost a quarter past one," he replied. 
 "And they have luncheon at one." 
 
 Dick groaned. 
 
 "Listen!" exclaimed Eoy. From up the hill 
 came a faint shrill cry. 
 
HAERY GOES TO SEA 221 
 
 "It's Harry!" Chub exclaimed. He scrambled 
 down to the landing just as a white-clad figure 
 came into sight up the path. 
 
 "Ship ahoy!" she called, gleefully, using her 
 hands as a megaphone, and there was an answer- 
 ing shout of joy in chorus from the boat. The 
 next moment they were all shaking hands on the 
 landing, laughing and talking together in a babel 
 of sound. 
 
 "I thought you weren't coming!" cried Harry. 
 "You promised to write and you never did it!" 
 
 Harriet Emery, or Harry, as she preferred to 
 be called, was the daughter of Doctor Emery, the 
 Principal of Ferry Hill School. She was sixteen 
 years of age, or would be very shortly, and a 
 charming girl. She had pronouncedly red hair 
 of a very pretty shade, a pair of sparkling blue 
 eyes, a somewhat pert, little, uptilted nose, and a 
 complexion which, in spite of the coat of tan which 
 was beginning to overspread it was very attract- 
 ive. 
 
 "Well, you certainly have grown!" exclaimed 
 Chub, backing off that he might get the full effect 
 of the graceful figure in its white dress. ' ' Skirts 
 
222 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 down and hair up," he added with a shake of his 
 head. "Harry, you must come to Class Day next 
 year. Will you?" 
 
 "Do you really think I've grown?" she asked, 
 eagerly. 
 
 "Grown!" echoed Eoy. "You look a whole 
 foot taller!" 
 
 "That's because she wears her hair that way," 
 said Dick. 
 
 "Dick Somes, it is not!" Harry turned upon 
 him indignantly. 
 
 ' ' Dick Somes, you ought to be ashamed of your- 
 self!" mimicked Chub. "Don't you mind him, 
 Harry. He never did have any manners in spite 
 of my careful training. We were beginning to 
 think you weren't here, Harry." 
 
 "I didn't know when you were coming, silly! 
 Why didn't you write? I 've been awfully anx- 
 ious." 
 
 "Write? Oh, but we did write," said Chub. 
 ' ' Did n 't you get Eoy 's letter ? ' ' 
 
 "Of course I didn't," replied Harry, suspi- 
 ciously, glancing around her at the preternatur- 
 ally sober countenances. "I don't believe you 
 wrote." 
 
The next moment they were all shaking hands 
 
HARRY GOES TO SEA 225 
 
 "How passing strange!" murmnred Chub. 
 "Roy, hand the lady her letter. She appears to 
 doubt my word." 
 
 Roy laughed, and fished the missive from his 
 pocket. 
 
 ' ' You did n 't send it ! " Harry exclaimed. Chub 
 shook his head. 
 
 "No, we feared it might alarm you. We 
 thought it better to bring it along with us. You 
 will see that we agreed to be here the twenty-first. 
 It is now the twenty-first. And here we are, right 
 on time. Punctuality is one of our principal vir- 
 tues. Tell her some of the others, Dick." 
 
 "The fact is," owned Roy, "that I forgot to 
 mail it, Harry. I 'm awfully sorry, really. ' ' 
 
 "Well, it doesn't matter now that you're here, 
 does it ? " asked Harry, beamingly. ' ' And does n 't 
 the Jolly Roger look beautiful?" 
 
 "She is no longer the Jolly Roger," corrected 
 Chub. "We have changed the name to Blow 
 Poke. After you've been on her awhile you'll 
 know why. But she does pretty well. I take 
 very good care of her. Of course, if I had a capa- 
 ble, intelligent crew, I might do much better, 
 but—" 
 
226 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 "Chub, you're just as silly as ever!" said 
 Harry, severely. "I should think that going to 
 college would make you more sensible." 
 
 "It will take more than a year to affect him 
 that way, ' ' said Dick. 
 
 "Oh, I'm so glad to see you all!" exclaimed 
 Harry, beaming from one to another of the trio. 
 "But we must hurry back because luncheon is on 
 the table and I told mama I 'd bring you right up. ' ' 
 
 The boys gazed at each other and smiled cov- 
 ertly. Chub shook his head regretfully. 
 
 "It's very nice of you, Miss Emery, and we ap- 
 preciate your thoughtfulness, but the fact is that 
 Dick had just announced dinner when you ap- 
 peared. So I think we had better decline your 
 invitation. ' ' 
 
 "Now that's perfectly horrid!" cried Harry in 
 disappointment. "Please come, Chub!" 
 
 Chub hesitated, frowning tensely. Dick and 
 Eoy grinned. At length — 
 
 "Very well, if you put it that way," acceded 
 Chub. "I never could refuse a lady. We will 
 go, even against our inclinations. Dick, clear the 
 viands from the board." 
 
 Dick and Eoy burst into laughter, while Harry 
 
HAERY GOES TO SEA 227 
 
 looked perplexedly from them to Chub's grave 
 countenance. 
 
 "There aren't any viands," blurted Dick. 
 "We haven't anything but bacon and potatoes." 
 
 "Oh!" said Harry. "Chub Eaton, you're a 
 dreadful fibber! It would just serve you right 
 if I — if I recalled my invitation." 
 
 "Jehoshaphat!" shrieked Chub, leaping up the 
 path. "I won't give you a chance! I'll tell your 
 mother you'll be right up." They heard him 
 scrambling up through the grove ahead of them. 
 But when they reached the gate in the hedge which 
 divided the school grounds from the woods Chub 
 was awaiting them. ' ' We will all go in together, ' ' 
 he announced with dignity. "It will look much 
 better." 
 
 So they went across to the doctor's residence, 
 mounted the steps, and found themselves in the 
 little parlor shaking hands with Doctor and Mrs. 
 Emery and the latter 's sister, who was to remain 
 at the Cottage during the absence of Harry and 
 her father. 
 
 Chub and Roy and Dick had been quite intimate 
 with the doctor and his wife during their school 
 years, and the latter were unmistakably glad to 
 
228 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 see them again. Luncheon was ready and they 
 all trooped into the dining-room. Of course, 
 there was much to tell and the doctor asked a good 
 many questions of Chub and Eoy regarding their 
 college experience. Afterward the conversation 
 worked around to the cruise, and Chub recounted 
 their adventures up to date, winning more than 
 one hearty laugh from his audience. Mrs. Emery 
 wanted them to bring their luggage ashore and 
 occupy beds in one of the dormitories during their 
 stay at Ferry Hill, but they declined the invita- 
 tion, electing to stand by their ship. It was 
 agreed that the Slow Poke was to remain at Ferry 
 Hill two days. Then the Doctor and Harry were 
 to go aboard, and the cruise was to continue up 
 the river. There was only one dissenting voice, 
 and that was Dick's. 
 
 "Seems to me," he said, "we ought to turn 
 around and go down stream a while. The Slow 
 Poke's been tussling with the current ever since 
 we started. We ought to give her a rest and let 
 her float with the tide for a while." 
 
 "Oh, shucks," Chub objected, "put some more 
 oil on the engine, Dickums. What's the good of 
 going over the same ground — I mean the same 
 
HARRY GOES TO SEA 229 
 
 water — twice? Let's discover new worlds." 
 
 So the majority had its way, as it usually does, 
 and the Slow Poke was slated for a fortnight's 
 trip up the river and back again. 
 
 After dinner every one went down to the land- 
 ing and inspected the house-boat, Roy murmuring 
 excuses for the untidiness of the rooms. Mrs. 
 Emery, however, declared that everything looked 
 very neat, and that she rather wished she were 
 going, too. Whereupon Chub gallantly offered to 
 sleep on deck. 
 
 "What a dear little room!" Harry exclaimed 
 when her room on the boat was shown her. "It's 
 perfectly lovely !" Her father's room adjoined it 
 and he, too, was delighted. The three boys 
 "bimked" together in the rear room. 
 
 Roy hurried in to summon Dick to his duties 
 as engineer, as the ladies wanted to go for a sail. 
 The Slow Poke meandered up the river for a 
 couple of miles and the guests sat on the upper 
 deck and said all sorts of nice things about her 
 and her crew. Harry was allowed to take the 
 wheel for a while, under Chub's tutelage, and was 
 highly pleased. 
 
 The boys remained at the school two days, dur- 
 
230 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 ing which time they went to all their old haunts, 
 played a good deal of tennis, and had a thoroughly 
 enjoyable time of it. They spent an afternoon on 
 Harry's Island, which lay in the river just above 
 the school, and talked over the fun they had had 
 the summer before while camping out there. The 
 island had been a birthday present to Harry from 
 her father, and she was very proud of it. 
 
 "When I get through college," she declared, 
 "I'm going to build a house here and live in it 
 all my days. Won't that be jolly!" 
 
 "Pshaw," said Dick, "you'll get married and 
 maybe live a thousand miles from here." 
 
 "I shan't," answered Harry, seriously. "I've 
 decided not to be married, ever. I told Aunt Har- 
 riet so the other day and she said I was very sen- 
 sible." 
 
 They visited Harry's menagerie in the barn 
 and renewed acquaintances with Methuselah, the 
 parrot, several Angora cats and kittens, squirrels, 
 guinea-pigs, rabbits, white mice and pigeons. 
 [Snip, Harry's fox-terrier had long since wel- 
 comed them.] Methuselah looked not a whit dif- 
 ferent from what he did when they had last seen 
 him, and, although it is doubtful if he remembered 
 
HAEEY GOES TO SEA 231 
 
 even Dick, lie acted quite cordially and nipped 
 Roy's finger in quite an intimate manner. 
 
 "Do you think," asked Harry, anxiously, "that 
 Snip would be in the way on the boat?" 
 
 "Of course not," answered Chub. "We're go- 
 ing to take him along, aren't we, Snip?" And 
 Snip wagged his stump of a tail in enthusiastic 
 affirmation. 
 
 They were to leave in the morning, and Harry 
 spent most of that afternoon in the kitchen making 
 pies and doughnuts, Mrs. Emery assisting. Chub, 
 being missed from the tennis court, was discov- 
 ered sitting on the kitchen doorsteps sampling 
 the baking. 
 
 "How many has he had, Mrs. Emery?" Eoy 
 demanded. 
 
 "Only one or two, haven't I, Mrs. Emery?" 
 cried Chub. 
 
 "Well, not very many," responded that lady 
 smilingly. 
 
 "Chub Eaton, you've had four to my certain 
 knowledge!" exclaimed Harry, who, with a blue- 
 checked apron tied under her chin and very 
 flushed cheeks, was superintending the frying of 
 a new batch of doughnuts. 
 
232 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 "Then you've had quite enough," said Roy 
 firmly. "And it's back to tennis court for you, 
 Chub." 
 
 However, they postponed the carrying out of 
 the verdict long enough to do some sampling them- 
 selves. "They're perfect," was Dick's verdict, 
 "but I miss the almond flavor, Harry." Where- 
 upon Harry grew very much redder and it was 
 discovered that her mother had never learned of 
 her experiment in adding almond extract to the 
 doughnut recipe the summer before. So Chub 
 told about it and Harry declared that he was too 
 mean for words and shouldn't have another bite 
 of anything. 
 
 The nest morning after breakfast the luggage 
 was taken aboard, the doctor's being largely com- 
 posed of books and papers, and at ten o'clock all 
 hands were at the landing. Snip being so excited 
 that he was obliged to bark every instant. Doctor 
 Emery pretended that the voyage was to last for 
 months at least and was very solicitous as to the 
 state of the larder. Mrs. Emery, her sister, and 
 John, the gardener and general factotum, were on 
 hand to witness the departure and to wave good- 
 by as the Slow Poke nosed her way free of the 
 
HAEEY GOES TO SEA 233 
 
 landing and started off on the second stage of her 
 voyage. 
 
 "Good-by, mama!" called Harry from the up- 
 per deck, waving a wisp of a handkerchief fran- 
 tically. 
 
 "Good-by!" called Mrs. Emery. "Don't fall 
 overboard ! ' ' 
 
 "I won't," promised Harry, earnestly. 
 
 And then caps and handkerchiefs waved busily 
 until the Slow Poke passed around the end of 
 Harry's Island and the landing disappeared from 
 view. 
 
 "And now," cried Harry, ecstatically, "we're 
 
 really at sea ! ' ' 
 u 
 
CHAPTER XVI 
 
 UNDER THE AWNING 
 
 THEEE idyllic days followed during which the 
 Slow Poke, her white paint freshly gleam- 
 ing in the sunlight, bobbed and courtesied her way 
 up the long reaches of the river. It was wonder- 
 ful weather for July, pleasantly cool in the morn- 
 ings and evenings and languorously hot in the 
 middle of the day. Chub still remained nominally 
 master of the ship, but to all intents and purposes 
 the management of affairs had passed into the 
 small, sun-browned hands of Miss Harriet Emery. 
 It was Harry who ordered the lines cast off as 
 soon as breakfast was finished in the morning and 
 who refused to allow them to remain at anchor 
 for more than the barest two hours at dinner- 
 time. Chub predicted sunstrokes for the whole 
 party, but Harry was without mercy. She was 
 on a cruise and her idea of cruising was to keep 
 going. On the second evening she even insisted 
 
 234 
 
UNDER THE AWNING 235 
 
 that they should leave a very comfortable berth 
 and put in two hours of sailing by moonlight. It 
 proved a very pleasant experience, and every one 
 enjoyed it until it became necessary to find a place 
 to spend the night. Then, as the shore was in 
 deep shadow, they had their own troubles with 
 jutting rocks and submerged tree-trunks. 
 
 Doctor Emery spent most of his time on the 
 upper deck, reading in the numerous books he 
 had brought; writing on square sheets of paper, 
 and, sometimes, sitting idly in his chair and watch- 
 ing the shore slip by. But he always had a ready 
 smile for whoever happened by, and, on the whole, 
 was quite the cheeriest and most contented of 
 any. The upper deck was a mighty comfortable 
 place in the middle of the day when, moored or 
 anchored by the river bank, they ate dinner and 
 indulged afterward in what they called a "siesta." 
 The table was set up there, and, while it was 
 somewhat of a trouble to bring the things up the 
 stairs, it made a fine dining-room. The striped 
 awning fluttered in the breeze, the geraniums were 
 masses of scarlet bloom and the gaily-hued rugs 
 added their quota of color. There were wicker 
 chairs for all, although Dick preferred to lie 
 
236 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 stretched out on the deck with a cushion under 
 his head. Sometimes during siesta the Doctor 
 fell frankly asleep and snored gently, and the 
 others talked in whispers for fear of awaking 
 him. But Harry was impatient of idleness, and 
 as soon as the two hours were up she insisted 
 on weighing anchor. 
 
 Snip would scamper ashore whenever they 
 touched the bank and he had the most wonderfully 
 exciting times of his life. He explored every foot 
 of the ground, pursued real and imaginary scents, 
 and treed mythical bears. Those three days were 
 jolly ones, even if nothing really happened. 
 There was so much to talk about, so many things 
 to relate, that the conversation never languished 
 for a minute. Harry learned to steer after a fash- 
 ion, learned to tell time by the ship 's clock in the 
 wheel-house, and helped Dick prepare the meals. 
 She made the beds, too, and went religiously 
 around the rooms with a dustcloth every morning 
 in a vain endeavor to find dust. 
 
 But on the fourth day Harry's mania for prog- 
 ress palled. It was a gray morning, foggy and 
 damp. Oddly enough it was the Doctor who first 
 voiced a desire for change. 
 
UNDEE THE AWNING 237 
 
 "I wonder," he remarked, looking at the un- 
 broken margin of forest which stretched along 
 the shore, "if there is any fishing to be found 
 about here?" 
 
 "I think we could catch something from the 
 tender, sir," replied Roy. 
 
 "I was thinking of trout," murmured the Doc- 
 tor. Chub went into the wheel-house and con- 
 sulted his map. 
 
 "There 's a good-sized stream about a mile up," 
 he announced. "Let's go and try it." 
 
 "Oh, let 's!" cried Harry. "I never caught a 
 trout." 
 
 ' ' You should have seen the one I caught, ' ' said 
 Chub. "It was a regular whopper. It was as 
 long — " 
 
 Roy and Dick groaned. 
 
 "I 've got a picture of it somewhere. I'll find 
 it." 
 
 "Never mind it now," said Roy gently. "Try 
 to think of something else, Chub. You see, sir," 
 addressing the Doctor, "he 's a little bit — er — 
 daffy on the subject of that fish. As a matter of 
 fact, it weighed about ten ounces and — " 
 
 "Ten ounces!" howled Chub. "It weighed 
 
238 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 two pounds ! Why, it was the biggest trout you 
 ever saw! I thought first it was a salmon." 
 
 "Suppose we see if we can find another," said 
 the Doctor with a smile. "I haven't fished for 
 trout in years. Could I borrow a line from some 
 one?" 
 
 ' ' Yes, sir : I 've lots of them, "said Chub. ' ' And 
 an extra pole. And Dick has a pole Harry can 
 use. Let's take luncheon with us and make a day 
 of it." 
 
 They did. The stream, which evaded them for 
 the better part of an hour, held plenty of small 
 trout and the Doctor was as excited as a boy over 
 his first catch. Harry did n't make a good fisher- 
 man, for she was too impatient. But they had a 
 good time, even when it drizzled for awhile, and 
 ate their luncheon at noon huddled together in 
 the lee of a big boulder. They returned to the 
 boat in the middle of the afternoon with seven- 
 teen small trout. The sun came out soon after- 
 ward and made a glorious ending to the day. 
 They fried the fish for supper and the Doctor, who 
 pretended to have personally caught all the largest 
 of the trout, declared that he had never tasted 
 anything finer. 
 
UNDER THE AWNING 239 
 
 "We might try again some day," he said ten- 
 tatively. 
 
 The result was that the next morning they 
 chugged four miles further up the river, crossed 
 to the west bank and made a mooring in a par- 
 ticularly attractive little cove. The stream which 
 they had come to fish in flowed into the cove under 
 a wooden bridge, and a few hundred yards below 
 was a small settlement consisting of a village 
 store and a half-dozen houses. Between the road 
 and the river was a small stretch of meadow on 
 one side and a grove of trees on the other. 
 
 "What an ideal place!" exclaimed Harry, as 
 she stepped ashore. 
 
 Strange to say, however, they appeared to have 
 alighted in a locality quite bare of streams and 
 lakes and nothing on the map looked enticing 
 nearer than a good-sized lake half a day's jour- 
 ney upstream and several miles back from the 
 river. They held a council and decided to try 
 their luck there, the Doctor declaring with enthu- 
 siasm that a lake like that ought to have plenty 
 of black bass in it. Chub and Dick had never 
 fished for bass, and that was enough incentive for 
 them. The Slow Poke was put at her best pace 
 
240 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 and they reached their destination that afternoon. 
 After supper the Doctor regaled them with stories 
 of bass fishing that made their hearts beat high 
 in anticipation of the morrow's sport. 
 
 They were up early to secure a full morning's 
 fishing. Everyone went, Snip showing more true 
 enthusiasm than any other member of the ex- 
 pedition. The lake proved a long way off, the 
 road was very hot and very dusty, and after the 
 first mile Harry was trailing along in the rear, 
 with Chub gallantly bearing her company. They 
 were all tired out when they reached the lake 
 and the sight which greeted them there was far 
 from cheering. The lake was large enough, but 
 for fully half a mile around where they stood it 
 was so shallow that rushes grew for hundreds of 
 feet out into the water. The Doctor shook his 
 head dubiously. 
 
 "It doesn't look much like a bass lake," he mut- 
 tered, "but we'll walk along around that point 
 and see what's there." 
 
 They walked around that point and two more 
 before they found a semblance of deep water. 
 There was nothing in sight in the way of a boat 
 or raft, and at last they tried a few casts from a 
 
UNDER THE AWNING 241 
 
 bank and in the course of half an hour caught five 
 small fish which the Doctor said were crappies. 
 Whatever they were they were not worth carry- 
 ing home. The only catch of any importance was 
 made by Snip. He found a turtle on the bank and 
 worried it until it closed on his paw. His yelps 
 brought prompt assistance from Chub who pried 
 the turtle's jaws apart and threw it into the lake. 
 Snip stood in the mud and barked for fully five 
 minutes at the place where the turtle had dis- 
 appeared. At noon they reeled in their lines, 
 packed their poles and went back to the boat, 
 reaching it just before two o'clock, too warm and 
 tired and disgusted to be hungry. They had a 
 cold luncheon instead of a dinner, and Harry 
 made some iced tea for which they sacrificed the 
 last piece of ice on board. After luncheon Chub 
 strode to the wheel-house and seized his chart 
 with an air of determination. 
 
 "I don't like this place," he said. "Let's get 
 out of here as soon as we can. ' ' 
 
 That evening they tied up to a little deserted 
 wharf a few miles below Albany, and in the morn- 
 ing chugged on to the capital. They spent that 
 day ashore, shopping and sightseeing, and had 
 
242 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 dinaer at a hotel. They bought gasolene and ice 
 and fresh meat and fruit and vegetables and what 
 Chub called "real milk". They spent a very hot 
 night there, anchored in the river, and in the 
 morning went on northward until noon. 
 
 ' ' I don 't think much of the river up here, ' ' said 
 Dick. 
 
 ''Well, it isn't anything to boast of," Chub re- 
 plied. "If every one else is willing I say let's 
 turn and go back. ' ' 
 
 Everyone was quite willing and so after dinner 
 was over the boat was headed down-stream. The 
 nest day found them moored at the foot of a 
 sloping pasture which ran back and up to a thick 
 forest. The pasture looked as though it might 
 contain berries, and Harry mentioned the fact. 
 Chub pointed out that whether there were berries 
 there or not there were certainly cows. But 
 Harry declared that she was n 't afraid of any 
 number of cows and so, leaving the Doctor to keep 
 house, they took pails and buckets and set forth. 
 Harry had guessed right and they had no difficulty 
 in filling their pails with blackberries. There 
 were a few blueberries, too, and Eoy had a bril- 
 liant idea. 
 
UNDEE THE AWNING 243 
 
 "Harry!" lie called, "would you like to distin- 
 guish yourself? I've enough blueberries here for 
 a nice big pie. What do you say?" 
 
 "She says yes!" cried Chub. 
 
 "I haven't said anything," Harry demurred. 
 
 "But you 're going to, aren't you?" he asked 
 anxiously. 
 
 "Do you really want a pie?" 
 
 "Want it! My soul craves a blueberry pie, 
 Harry ! ' ' 
 
 "All right; but if I'm to make it in time for 
 dinner we must go back at once. I do hope it 
 will be a success. I never tried baking in a tin 
 oven," she added loftily. 
 
 "That 's all right," said Dick. "After you've 
 tried it once you '11 use no other. Isn't it lucky 
 dinner is our midday meal ! ' ' 
 
 So they had blueberry pie that day, a good big 
 fat one it was, too. After a short siesta they 
 walked over to the pasture which afforded a fairly 
 good place for kicking and catching, and the boys 
 found the foot-ball which Chub had brought along 
 and had a good hour of fun with it. Snip, too, 
 enjoyed it, chasing the pigskin like a veteran and 
 trying to bite holes in it when he had run it down. 
 
2U CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 Harry's pie was such, a success that there was 
 a loud and insistent demand for more. So she 
 tried one of blackberries and, while it was n't quite 
 as good as the blueberry, it did n't go begging. 
 
 Two days of rain tried their patience, for the 
 upper deck was quite uninhabitable, and staying 
 indoors became dull work after the first few hours. 
 The evenings weren't so bad, for Harry took 
 things in hand then. They had dancing to music 
 supplied by the talking-machine, they played 
 games and told stories, the Doctor proving a ver- 
 itable mine of romance. The Slow Poke made a 
 few miles each day, but most of the time it re- 
 mained huddled against a bank as much as pos- 
 sible out of the way of the storm. 
 
 The next day the storm passed over, but the 
 weather remained gloomy and chill. The Slow 
 Poke put thirty miles behind her between break- 
 fast and supper and life became more cheerful. 
 Just before sunset the clouds broke and a vivid 
 red glow in the northwest promised a fair day on 
 the morrow. That evening the Doctor began to 
 talk of trout again, and Chub brought his map 
 down to the table in the forward cabin and they 
 searched it for likely fishing places. The result 
 
UNDER THE AWNING 247 
 
 was tliat in the morning they chugged four miles 
 down stream, crossed over to the west shore, and 
 found a mooring in a charming little sandy cove. 
 The sky was blue again, the river like a great 
 mirror, and the sun shone hot and comforting. 
 The Slow Poke lay nestled right up to the bank 
 and a few yards away the stream which they had 
 come to fish in flowed into the cove under an old 
 rickety wooden bridge. Between the road and the 
 water was a grove of trees and a little clearing in 
 which the grass grew knee-deep. Some four hun- 
 dred yards down-stream huddled a small settle- 
 ment consisting of a store and a half-dozen white 
 and drab houses under a group of giant elms. 
 
 "What a lovely place for a camp," mused 
 Harry, as the boat was made fast. 
 
 "Great!" Chub agreed. "Let's pitch the tent, 
 fellows, and live ashore for a day or two. Doctor 
 Emery and Harry can stay aboard at night and 
 guard the boat." 
 
 The proposition was received with enthusiasm, 
 and before noon camp was made at the edge of 
 the grove and Dick was cooking dinner over an 
 open fire. They ate the last of the doughnuts 
 at that meal and Chub was inconsolable until 
 
248 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 Harry promised to make some more as soon as she 
 could secure the necessary ingredients and a ket- 
 tle big enough in which to fry them. 
 
 "Maybe we can get things at the store down 
 there," said Chub. "I'll go and see presently." 
 
CHAPTEE XVn 
 
 MES. TJKIAH PEEL 
 
 THE Doctor, Eoy, and Dick went up the stream 
 in search of trout, Snip accompanying them, 
 but Chub and Harry elected to stay behind and 
 go shopping. And after the others had taken their 
 departure with poles and tackle they set off for 
 the store. The road ambled across the old wooden 
 bridge, climbed a little hill between high thickets 
 of sumac, and dipped again toward the settlement. 
 From the slope, as they trudged along, they had 
 a view of a wide expanse of farms and orchards 
 with here and there a snug farm-house nestling 
 imder its grove of trees. The village, if it really 
 deserved the name, consisted by actual count of 
 seven dwelling-houses and the store. The road 
 they were on continued along the river, while a 
 second road turned from it at right angle in front 
 of the store and wound inland. It was a sleepy 
 little hamlet and the only persons in sight as they 
 
 249 
 
250 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 reached the corner were an old man half asleep 
 on the tiny porch of a neighboring house and an 
 elderly woman pottering about the garden of 
 another. There was a watering-trough at the 
 edge of the street and three big elms threw a 
 grateful shade over the place. 
 
 The store was a one-story affair and at some 
 time in its history had been painted white. At 
 the back a small ell with a side door was evidently 
 the residence of the storekeeper. A brick path 
 led to it between a bed of sweet-william and a row 
 of tall lilac bushes, to which still clung the brown 
 and withered flower spikes. The elms bathed the 
 red brick sidewalk, broken and uneven, and the 
 front of the store in cool green shadow. Above 
 the narrow doorway, was an ancient sign which 
 proclaimed that "Uriah Peel" dealt in " General 
 Merchandise." On each side of the door was a 
 shallow bay-window fitted with shelves on which 
 was displayed as heterogeneous a collection of ar- 
 ticles as ever came together : pickles, cough syrup, 
 carpet tacks, a jar of stick candy, flatirons, horse 
 liniment, toys, a few paper-covered books, a box 
 of files, women's shoes, a manicure set in a purple 
 plush case, straw hats, an assortment of ribbons. 
 
^-■^^ 
 
 She tied together the strings of a quaint little black bonnet 
 
MES. URIAH PEEL 253 
 
 tin stew-pans and dippers, and a host of other 
 things. 
 
 "We won't find anything here that we want," 
 muttered Chub at the door. 
 
 As the door swung open there was a distant 
 tinkling of a bell. The store was empty when they 
 entered, empty and dim and cool after the sunny 
 road; but in response to the summons of the bell 
 a little woman appeared at the back, entering ap- 
 parently from the ell. She was one of the tiniest 
 women they had ever seen, and as she hurried to- 
 ward them she tied together the strings of a quaint 
 little black bonnet. 
 
 "How do you do," said Harry. "We want to 
 buy an iron kettle if you have one." 
 
 "An iron kettle," mused the little woman, tak- 
 ing her chin in her hand and looking anxiously 
 about her. "Did you want a very large one?" 
 
 She seemed to be about fifty years of age, with 
 a thin comely face and a pleasant voice. Her 
 expression, however, was so troubled and excited 
 that Chub wondered, and Harry hurriedly assured 
 her that just a medium-sized one would do and 
 that if she didu't have it it didn't really matter 
 one bit. 
 
 15 
 
254 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 "I have some kettles somewliere, " answered 
 the little woman in a flurry, "only I don't just re- 
 member — " 
 
 Then she darted behind one of the counters and 
 disappeared from sight while a rattling sound told 
 of frantic search. Harry turned bewilderedly to 
 Chub, and the latter grinned and tapped his fore- 
 head eloquently. 
 
 ' ' I thought so ! " The storekeeper was beaming 
 triumphantly at them across the counter and hold- 
 ing out a very dusty and somewhat rusty iron 
 kettle. It was just what they wanted, Harry de- 
 clared. 
 
 "How much is it, please?" 
 
 The little woman turned it bottom up and 
 squinted closely, at last holding it out for their 
 inspection. 
 
 "Can you see any figures there?" she asked. 
 "I left my spectacles in the kitchen." 
 
 "Looks like $7.00," replied Chub dubiously. 
 
 "Oh, then it's seventy cents," was the reply. 
 "Uriah always made a cent mark like an ought. 
 Was there anything else. Miss?" 
 
 "Well," said Harry, hesitatingly, "we did want 
 some lard and flour, but — " 
 
MRS. UEIAIi PEEL 255 
 
 "How much lard?" 
 
 "Have you a small pail of it?" 
 
 "No'm, I haven't; but I can give you any 
 amount you want. Three or four pounds, Miss?" 
 
 ' ' About five, I guess. And have you flour ? ' ' 
 
 "Yes, indeed." 
 
 And she had sugar, too, and the purchasers be- 
 gan to entertain a new respect for the dingy little 
 store. 
 
 "I suppose you don't live around here," asked 
 the storekeeper as she bustled excitedly about. 
 
 "No, we 're on a boat," replied Chub. 
 
 "I want to know!" was the response. "There 
 was a man in here only last week who came in a 
 boat. He bought a good deal, too, but there was 
 some things he wanted I didn't have. Would 
 you mind just looking out and seeing if there 's 
 a buggy outside?" 
 
 Chub obeyed and reported no buggy in sight. 
 The woman looked' anxiously at an old clock and 
 sighed. 
 
 "I don't quite know whether I'm on my head 
 or my heels," she said with a little apologetic 
 laugh. "I'm just upset to-day." 
 
 They murmured inarticulate sympathy. 
 
256 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 "I got a telegraph message from my brother- 
 in-law down to Myersville this morning saying 
 that my sister is real sick and asking me to come 
 down there. And so I'm going to take the four 
 o'clock train." She glanced again at the clock 
 which said a few minutes before three. "Millie 
 never was very strong and I'm real worried about 
 her. Seems as though he wouldn't have sent a 
 telegraph message if things wasn't pretty bad, 
 don't it? I packed my bag right up and wrote a 
 letter to my niece over in Byers to come and look 
 after the store while I 'm gone, but I have n 't 
 seen sight of her yet. I thought she 'd be along 
 on that two-twenty train and I sent the Hooper 
 boy down to the station to meet her, and he ain't 
 back yet. And if he don't come pretty soon he 
 won't be in time to take me to the station. Though 
 I don't know as I 'd ought to leave the store 
 until Jennie comes." 
 
 "Is your husband away?" ventured Chub sym- 
 pathetically. 
 
 "He died a year ago last April." 
 
 "Oh!" murmured Chub. "I 'm very sorry. 
 I didn't know — " 
 
 "Course you didn't. I ain't never had the 
 
MES. URIAH PEEL 257 
 
 sign changed yet. Don't know as I ever will. If 
 business don't pick up pretty soon I guess I '11 
 have to close up. Uriah used to do pretty well 
 here when he was alive, but there 's a new store 
 opened down to Washington Hills and folks 
 mostly goes there to buy their things. Is that the 
 buggy?" 
 
 "No," Chub reported. "It hasn't come yet." 
 
 She looked again at the clock and heaved an 
 audible sigh of relief. 
 
 "Well, everything 's all ready when it does 
 come," she said. "I suppose you young folks 
 travel a good deal on the trains, but I never have, 
 and I'm always pretty nigh scared to death at the 
 thought of it. There 's always so many acci- 
 dents in the papers." 
 
 ' ' Have you far to go ? " asked Harry. The pur- 
 chases were all ready and paid for by this time, 
 but neither Harry nor Chub seemed in any hurry 
 to depart. 
 
 " 'Bout seventy miles it is. I have to take the 
 train to Jones Point and then the ferry across to 
 Peekskill. I guess I '11 find a carriage waiting 
 for me at the other side. Yes, it 's a good deal 
 of a journey. When Millie was first married it 
 
258 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 did seem like she was just going right out of the 
 world. But she 's been to see me plenty of times 
 since and I 've been down to Myersville twice. 
 Millie was visiting me only a little while ago; 
 must be two weeks since she left. Maybe the 
 trip was too much for her. She ain't as strong 
 as she used to be, and there 's a lot of work about 
 a farm. I guess James is a real good husband 
 to her, but he don't seem to realize what a sight 
 of work she has to do. Men are like that — 
 mostly. I do wonder why that trifling boy don't 
 come back?" 
 
 She hurried to the front door, opened it, and 
 looked anxiously out. 
 
 "Well, I suppose he '11 get back when he 's good 
 and ready. I do hope Jennie can come. If she 
 does n 't I '11 just have to shut up the store. 
 'T won 't make much difference, though, I guess ; 
 what 's sold here in two days wouldn't pay Jen- 
 nie 's fare across. But I got everything ready if 
 she should come. I marked things plain so 's she 
 can tell how much to ask. I spent about three 
 hours doing it, too." 
 
 She looked proudly about the store and Chub 
 and Harry, their gazes following hers, saw that 
 
MRS. UEIAH PEEL 259 
 
 almost everything in sight had been labeled in 
 some way with the price. Usually small paper 
 bags had been laid upon the article and the fig- 
 ures printed on the bag. 
 
 "It must have been a lot of trouble," murmured 
 Harry. 
 
 "So it was, but Jennie has n't got enough sense 
 to look after the place if things aren't marked 
 right out plain. There he is, ain't he!" 
 
 A buggy containing a small, freckled-faced boy 
 drew slowly up at the edge of the sidewalk in 
 front of the store. Mrs. Peel's face fell. 
 
 ' ' Jennie did n 't come ! ' ' she exclaimed. ' ' What- 
 ever shall I do? I ought to be starting for the 
 station this very instant. I suppose she 's com- 
 ing on the next train, but I can't wait for her. 
 I do think she might have come when I told her, 
 after all the things I 've done for that girl ! But 
 that 's the way of human nature, I suppose ! Ben- 
 nie Hooper, did n't you see anything of her?" 
 
 "No 'm," answered the boy. 
 
 "You sure she didn't get off and you didn't 
 see her?" 
 
 "Didn't nobody get off," answered Benny re- 
 sentfully. 
 
260 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 "Well — " Mrs. Peel's eyes wavered back and 
 forth from the clock to the buggy. "I suppose 
 I '11 just have to shut up the store and leave the 
 key with Martha Hooper. Mrs. Benson was com- 
 ing in for some onions, but I suppose she '11 have 
 to wait." 
 
 "When does the next train come?" asked Harry 
 solicitously. 
 
 "About six. She's bound to come on that, 
 but—" 
 
 "Then you let us watch the store until she 
 comes," cried Harry. "We '11 be very careful, 
 Mrs. Peel. That is, if you think you 'd care to 
 trust us!" 
 
 Mrs. Peel's face had lighted at once. 
 
 ' ' You — ^you would n 't mind ? ' ' she faltered anx- 
 iously. "Jennie 's bound to come on the six 
 'clock train and I '11 have Bennie wait over there 
 and bring her back. She ought to be here by half- 
 past six. It 's a good deal to ask, especially as 
 you 're strangers to me." 
 
 "We '11 be glad to," answered Harry promptly. 
 "Won't we, Chub?" Chub agreed readily. 
 
 "Well, I don't know how to thank you," flut- 
 tered Mrs. Peel. "I just don't, and that 's a fact. 
 
MES. UEIAH PEEL 261 
 
 But I 'm going to take you at your word. All 
 you '11 have to do is to stay here until she comes 
 and tell her everything 's marked with the price, 
 and that I 'U be back just as so.on as I can and 
 will write to-morrow and tell her how Millie is. 
 Now I '11 get my things. You turn that buggy 
 around, Bennie; you know I don't like to be in 
 it when it 's turned." 
 
 Mrs. Peel shot a rapid look at the clock and hur- 
 ried away to the little door leading to the living- 
 rooms. When she came back Chub took the old 
 black leather bag from her and put it in the buggy. 
 By this time the little woman's excitement was 
 intense. 
 
 "Tell Jennie the house door is locked on the 
 inside and that she 's to be careful to look out 
 for sparks when she goes to bed because the in- 
 surance has run out and I haven't had time to 
 renew it again. And if Mrs. Benson comes for 
 the onions you see that she pays for 'em, because 
 she owes me two dollars and eighteen cents al- 
 ready. I didn't leave any money in the till be- 
 cause I had to have it to buy my ticket, but I 
 guess she '11 have the right change. I 'm very 
 much obliged to you, young lady, and you, sir. 
 
262 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 And I hope you '11 be here when I get back. Ben- 
 ny, you 've got your reins crossed; I do wish 
 you 'd be a little careful when you know how 
 nervous I am about horses. Did I get my specta- 
 cles? Yes, here they are. Go ahead, Bennie, and 
 drive careful. Good-by, Miss! Good-by, sir! 
 Tell Jennie I '11 write to-morrow surely. If you 
 like candy there 's some in the jars on the shelf 
 back of the counter on the left. Help yourself. 
 Miss. Good-by! Bennie, I guess you '11 have to 
 hurry a little." 
 
 "Got most forty minutes," growled Bennie. 
 
 "Well, I like to be in plenty of time." 
 
 "It don't take but fifteen minutes," said Ben- 
 nie. ' ' Get ap, Csesar ! ' ' 
 
 The buggy wobbled around the corner, Mrs. 
 Peel waving an excited black-mittened hand to 
 the two on the sidewalk, and disappeared. Chub 
 and Harry looked at each other and laughed. 
 
 "Isn't she a dear?" gasped Harry. 
 
 "Funniest ever. Let 's go in and look around 
 the shop." 
 
CHAPTER XVIII 
 
 KEEPING STOEE 
 
 IT was a queer little store. There was a win- 
 dow on each side of the front door, a window 
 which peeped out onto the tiny side yard and the 
 brick walk, and the sweet-williams, and a window 
 directly opposite which, had the shutters been 
 open, would have given a view of the houses 
 across the road and the river beyond. At the 
 back of the store was a door which led into a 
 good-sized yard extending along the backs of the 
 store and the living house. There were a few 
 bedraggled shrubs here and a row of hollyhocks 
 nodded along a stretch of the high board fence 
 which inclosed the space. A door in the fence, 
 securely padlocked, led onto the road. For the 
 most part the back yard was given over to barrels 
 and packing cases, but in one corner a tiny shed 
 housed two green tanks labeled respectively 
 "Gasolene" and "Kerosine." 
 
 263 
 
264 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 From the store to the dwelling-house the way 
 led up a step and through a door near the back 
 of the store. This door was open and Chub and 
 Harry allowed themselves a glimpse of a narrow 
 and dim hallway with a door at the far end. But 
 this was not their territory and they didn't in- 
 trude. Besides, there was plenty to see in the 
 shop part. 
 
 There was a wooden counter along each side 
 on which rested here and there funny old-fash- 
 ioned show-cases with mirrors at their backs. 
 One case held pocket-knives sitting enticingly on 
 their little green boxes, fish-hooks, lead sinkers, 
 a solitary pair of pruning-shears, a horn-handled 
 carving-knife and fork, scissors, thimbles, and 
 knitting-needles. Another case showed ribbons, 
 lace, edgings, and similar goods. Back of the 
 counters there were narrow aisles, and beyond the 
 aisles were shelves. On these were dry goods, 
 groceries, patent medicines, cheap straw hats and 
 woolen caps, overalls and jumpers, tinware, wood- 
 enware, and crockery. Down the center of the 
 store, between the two counters, leaving an aisle 
 on either side, stood barrels and boxes, tubs and 
 pails, plowshares and bags of fertilizer, rakes and 
 
KEEPING STORE 265 
 
 hoes and shovels and brooms, bristling from oth- 
 erwise empty barrels, and potatoes and onions. 
 There were jars of striped pink and white candy 
 on the shelves and in the window, a few toys — 
 paper kites, marbles, and tops scattered around in 
 various places and — oh, heaps of other things 
 besides. 
 
 "Talk about your department stores!" ex- 
 claimed Chub. "Isn't this palatial!" 
 
 "She said we might have some candy," said 
 Harry, standing on tiptoe and looking dubiously 
 into one of the jars, "but I don't believe it is 
 very nice, do you?" 
 
 "I do not!" replied Chub decisively. "But, I 
 think I '11 buy a pair of these beautiful brown 
 overalls for Dick. He 's got oil and grease on 
 every pair of trousers he has with him. He 'd 
 look perfectly swell in them, would n 't he ? " And 
 Chub held up the garments in question. They 
 looked at least six feet long and correspondingly 
 broad, and Harry giggled as she mentally pic- 
 tured Dick in them. 
 
 "Chub, you must fold them up nicely again," 
 she commanded, "and put them back just where 
 you found them." 
 
266 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 "Don't you worry," Chub responded. "I 'm 
 the neat Uttle storekeeper, I am." He continued 
 his investigations, peering into boxes and barrels 
 and having a thoroughly enjoyable time. "Har- 
 ry, here 's some real old-style brown sugar like 
 grandmother used to have; remember it? It's 
 great! Have some?" 
 
 Harry had some, nibbling it out of the little tin 
 scoop. 
 
 "But we must pay for it. Chub," she said anx- 
 iously. 
 
 "Oh, we '11 take this instead of the candy," 
 Chub replied. "And look here, here 's some dried 
 apricots. My, but I 'm glad I came ! ' ' 
 
 "Chub, you mustn't take things!" cried 
 Harry. 
 
 "What, just a few old apricots?" 
 
 "No, not unless you pay for them." 
 
 ' ' How much ? ' ' asked Chub with a grin. Harry 
 examined the end of the box. 
 
 "Well, they 're fifteen cents a pound. How 
 many did you take?" 
 
 "Sis." 
 
 "Then I should think you ought to pay about a 
 cent. ' ' 
 
KEEPING STORE 267 
 
 "Very well." Chub fished in his pocket and 
 found the required sum. "What do I do with 
 itl" 
 
 "Put it in the till. And we '11 keep a record 
 of everything that 's sold." Harry found a pa- 
 per bag and a pencil and wrote: 
 
 "Six Dried Apricots $ .01" 
 
 "There now, that's very businesslike, isn't 
 it?" she asked. "We '11 put down everything we 
 sell." 
 
 "I think it won't be much trouble," Chub an- 
 swered as he pulled open the little till drawer 
 under the counter and dropped his penny in. 
 "We may be the only ones to buy anything. I 
 wonder if she has any prunes." 
 
 He went on with his investigation and Harry 
 wandered back to the front of the store. When 
 Chub joined her a few minutes later she was 
 seated in one of the two old arm-chairs which 
 stood by the open door deeply immersed in a 
 book. 
 
 "What you got?" asked Chub, looking over 
 her shoulder. "My! 'Little Goldie's Vow I' 
 Where 'd you get it ? Is it good ? " 
 
268 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 "Fine! I found it in the window. There are 
 some more there. It 's awfully exciting." 
 
 "I dare say," replied Chub, "but I don't be- 
 lieve I ought to let you read such things, Harry. 
 That's just trash." 
 
 "You haven't read it," answered Harry re- 
 belliously. 
 
 "I don't need to; the title's enough. You 
 know your mother wouldn't want you to read 
 such things." 
 
 "Well," sighed Harry. "But please mayn't 
 I just finish this chapter. Chub? It 's all about a 
 beautiful girl named Jessica and — " 
 
 ' ' Thought her name was Little Goldie, ' ' sniffed 
 Chub. 
 
 "Oh, that's just a nickname that the hero gave 
 her on account of her wonderful golden tresses. 
 And there 's another girl in it named Alice ; she 's 
 the villain — no, villainess — and a perfectly fas- 
 cinating man with beautiful gray eyes and — " 
 
 "What 's his name? Tom?" 
 
 "Of course not!" exclaimed Harry contemptu- 
 ously. "His name is Reginald Forrest. At least, 
 that 's what he calls himself, but of course he 's 
 an earl or a lord or something in disguise." 
 
KEEPING STORE 269 
 
 "How do you know?" asked Chub. 
 
 "Oh, they always are." 
 
 "Huh! Seems to me you know a good deal 
 about novels, young lady ! ' ' 
 
 Harry looked a trifle embarrassed. 
 
 "Well, sometimes — at school — the girls would 
 bring them to read at recess," she explained, 
 "and I borrowed one once — " 
 
 "Once?" demanded Chub sternly. 
 
 "Once or twice," laughed Harry. 
 
 " I 'm afraid you have a very bad taste for lit- 
 erature," said Chub severely. "And I don't 
 believe I ought to let you go on. I '11 have an- 
 other look for the prunes." But his search was 
 unsuccessful and presently he was back at the 
 doorway. Harry was still deeply absorbed, and 
 so for awhile Chub studied the landscape. But 
 there wasn't much to see until, after awhile, a 
 woman in a brown calico dress turned the corner 
 and came toward him. 
 
 "Look out, Harry!" he whispered. "Here 's 
 a customer!" 
 
 The woman, who had a very unattractive aspect, 
 glanced at Chub curiously and walked past him 
 into the store. 
 
 16 
 
270 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 "Where 's Mrs. Peel?" she demanded of 
 Harry. 
 
 "She 's gone away to visit her sister, who is ill 
 at — at somewhere down the river. She 's left us 
 in charge of the store until her niece comes. Can 
 I do anything for you?" 
 
 ' ' Humph ! ' ' said the woman. ' * She always was 
 crazy. Well, I want two quarts of onions, but I 
 guess I can get them myself, young lady." 
 
 "Oh, Chub will serve you," said Harry, sweet- 
 ly. "Chub, please measure two quarts of onions 
 for this lady." 
 
 "Yes, ma'am," replied Chub. He got a paper 
 sack and found the wooden measure. "Two 
 quarts, madam?" 
 
 "That 's what I said," replied the woman, 
 sourly. "And I don't want all the little runts 
 there are, either. Mr. Benson said last week that 
 he never seen meaner-lookin' onions than what I 
 got here." 
 
 "Oh, I think these will suit you," said Chub, 
 filling the measure. "Let me see now." Chub 
 studied the figures on the paper bag which lay on 
 top of the basket. "Two quarts will be sixty 
 cents, madam." 
 
KEEPING STOEE 271 
 
 "Sixty cents!" almost shrieked the woman. 
 "You must be crazy. I never paid more than 
 five cents a quart in all my born days !" 
 
 Chub looked inquiringly at Harry. 
 
 "What is the price on them, Chub?" she asked. 
 
 "It says thirty cents, and two quarts at thirty 
 cents — " 
 
 "Thirty cents a peck, you stupid!" said the 
 woman. 
 
 "It doesn't say so," Chub demurred doubt- 
 fully. 
 
 "It doesn't say whether they 're thirty cents 
 a pint or thirty cents a bushel," answered the 
 customer, acidly, "but onions are always sold by 
 the peck." 
 
 "Well, maybe you 're right," said Chub. "So 
 if you '11 take a peck we '11 call it thirty cents — " 
 
 "I don't want a peck. Who ever heard of any 
 one buying a whole peck of onions at once?" 
 
 "But you just said that they are always sold 
 by the peck, and if that 's so — " 
 
 ' ' I meant they were always priced by the peck, 
 and if you had the sense of a goose you 'd know 
 something about it!" 
 
 "I think she must be right. Chub," observed 
 
272 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 Harry. "Thirty cents sounds an awful lot for 
 onions." 
 
 "Well, all right," answered Chub, cheerfully. 
 "Thirty cents a peck it is, Mrs. Bronson." 
 
 "My name 's Benson," replied the woman, 
 tartly. "I hope for Mrs. Peel's sake that her 
 niece will come soon." She held out her hand 
 for the onions. "These go down to my account." 
 
 "Sorry," returned Chub, "but Mrs. Peel told 
 us explicitly to sell only for cash." 
 
 "But I tell you I have my things charged!" 
 said the customer, warmly. 
 
 "I don't doubt it, madam, but as Mrs. Peel 
 would prefer to have the money, I '11 have to do 
 it." 
 
 "Well, I never heard of anything so idiotic! 
 You give me those onions, or I '11 send Mr. Ben- 
 son over here to talk to you, you young jack- 
 anapes." 
 
 "I shall be very glad to hear Mr. Benson if 
 he talks interestingly," replied Chub, sweetly. 
 ' ' But if he wants the onions he will have to bring 
 eight cents with him." 
 
 Mrs. Benson looked wrathfuUy from Chub to 
 
KEEPING STOEE 273 
 
 the bag of onions and wrathfuUy from the bag of 
 onions to Harry. 
 
 "You ain't going to let me have them?" she de- 
 manded. 
 
 "I shall be glad to, if you '11 pay cash," replied 
 Chub. "But Mrs. Peel, I am sure — " 
 
 ' ' She '11 rue the day she left you young ninnies 
 in charge here," interrupted Mrs. Benson, as she 
 flung herself out of the store. "I was never so 
 insulted in all my born days! You wait until 
 Mr. Benson hears of this! You just wait!" 
 
 "Phew!" breathed Chub, as he set the bag of 
 onions down. "She has a horrid disposition, 
 hasn't she?" 
 
 "Maybe," said Harry, uneasily, "we ought to 
 have let her have them. We wouldn't want Mrs. 
 Peel to lose a customer, would we?" 
 
 "The loss of that sort of a customer wouldn't 
 hurt much," returned Chub. "Too bad we 
 could n 't make a sale, though. That cash drawer 
 looks mighty empty. Hello ! there goes an auto- 
 mobile. Did you see it?" 
 
 "Yes. Do you — do you suppose she '11 send 
 her husband over?" 
 
274 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 "Can't say," answered Chub, carelessly. 
 
 "But he might be angry and make trouble." 
 
 "Let him try it," said Chub, grimly. "I'll 
 take care of him if he tries to make a fuss." 
 
 At that moment a form appeared at the door. 
 
 "Maybe it 's Mr. Benson," muttered Chub, as 
 he strolled to meet him. 
 
 The newcomer was a little wisp of a man, with a 
 nervous smile and a diffident manner and a thin, 
 high-pitched voice. 
 
 "Good afternoon," said Chub, affably. 
 
 "Good afternoon, sir, good afternoon," 
 squeaked Mr. Benson. "Nice weather for the 
 time of year. ' ' 
 
 ' ' Some of the best, ' ' answered Chub, cheerfully. 
 "Can I do anything for you, sir?" 
 
 "Er — if you please. My wife sent me over 
 for — for two quarts of onions. She — she was 
 over awhile back and did n 't have the money with 
 her." He placed eight cents on the counter and 
 smiled ingratiatingly, rubbing his hands nervous- 
 ly together. 
 
 "Eight here," said Chub, handing him the bag. 
 "Eight cents; quite correct, thank you. Nothing 
 else to-day?" 
 
KEEPING STOEE 275 
 
 "N-no thing else, thank you. Good afternoon." 
 
 "Good afternoon, Mr. Benson." 
 
 When he had gone, Chub sank into a chair and 
 burst out laughing. 
 
 "He leads a merry life, Harry," he gasped. 
 "Wouldn't I just love to be Mrs. Benson's hus- 
 band!" 
 
 "It 's too bad to laugh at him," replied Harry, 
 suppressing her own smiles. "He looked like a 
 very nice old man." 
 
 "Yes, but I would n't be in his boots for a for- 
 tune. Let 's put the money away. That 's sale 
 number two. At this rate we '11 make Mrs. Peel 
 rich before Jennie comes." 
 
 Harry deposited the coins in the till and made 
 another entry on her record : 
 
 2 quarts of onions 08 
 
 Then she went back to her book, and Chub took 
 the chair at the other side of the open door and 
 watched her a while. Presently, "I say, Harry," 
 he asked, "what 's the price of that book?" 
 
 "Ten cents," she answered, glancing at the 
 cover. 
 
 "Are you going to read it through?" 
 
276 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 "I — I don't know. Do you think I oughtn't 
 to, Chub?" 
 
 "Suit yourself," answered Chub, with a shrug 
 of his shoulders. ' ' I was just wondering whether 
 you could afford to read it. ' ' 
 
 "Afford to?" asked Harry. "What do you 
 mean ? ' ' 
 
 "Well, it 's a ten-cent book, is n't it?" 
 
 "Oh!" she exclaimed. "Do you think I ought 
 to pay for it?" 
 
 "Why not? You 're getting the use of it, 
 aren't you? It 's just the same as though you 
 took it away with you." 
 
 "Why, no, because I '11 put it back in the win- 
 dow and Mrs. Peel can sell it again. ' ' 
 
 "Yes, but if you took it you 'd throw it away 
 after you were through with it. It isn't any 
 good to you after you 've read it, you see. How 
 much have you read so far?" 
 
 "Pretty nearly a third." 
 
 "Well, we will call it three cents' worth if you 
 stop now." 
 
 ' ' But — -but I have n 't any money with me. 
 Chub!" 
 
 "That 's all right. I '11 lend it to you." 
 
KEEPING STORE 277 
 
 "Well, couldn't you — couldn't you lend me 
 ten cents just as well?" 
 
 "No." Chub shook his head. "I couldn't 
 trust you for so much. If you read any more 
 you '11 have to go and get the money before Jennie 
 comes. ' ' 
 
 "Chub, I think you 're just horrid!" cried Har- 
 ry, vexedly. 
 
 Chub only grinned. Harry looked hesitatingly 
 at the book for a moment, and then closed it re- 
 gretfully and placed it back in the window. Chub 
 counted out three coppers and dropped them into 
 her hand, and she placed them in the till. Then 
 she made another entry on the paper bag as fol- 
 lows: 
 
 One third of "Little Goldie's Vow " 03 
 
 After that they drew their chairs to the door- 
 way and sat and looked out across the quiet, 
 shaded street. 
 
 There was n 't much of interest to look at — a 
 cat washing its face on the side porch of the 
 little white house opposite, a sparkle of blue where 
 the river was visible between the branches of a 
 tree and the corner of a house on the other street, 
 
278 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 a couple of pigeons parading about in the road. 
 Twice an old man went by trundling a wheel- 
 barrow, and twice automobiles flashed along 
 northward on the river road. 
 
 "Wonder what time it is," murmured Chub 
 after a while, as he drew his watch out. ' ' Hello, 
 almost six! I wonder if one of us hadn't better 
 go back to the boat and tell the rest what 's hap- 
 pened to us. Maybe they '11 be worried. ' ' 
 
 "I '11 go," said Harry. "And I '11 tell them 
 we can't be back until half -past six, so that they 
 will keep supper for us." 
 
 "All right," answered Chub, "if you don't 
 mind. I '11 keep store. When did she say that 
 train was due?" 
 
 "About six, I think. She said Jennie would 
 surely be here by half -past." 
 
 "Well, only three-quarters of an hour more, 
 then. Eun along and tell them. And you don't 
 have to come back, Harry, unless you want to." 
 
 "Oh, but I do ! I won't be more than ten min- 
 utes. Chub." 
 
 "Take your time," answered Chub, magnan- 
 imously. "I sha'n't be overworked, I guess." 
 He settled down comfortably in his chair and 
 
KEEPING STOEE 279 
 
 watched Harry disappear around the corner. 
 "My, but this is an exciting town!" he muttered. 
 "I wish that cat would fall off the porch, or 
 something else would happen." But nothing did, 
 and presently Harry was hack again, and the 
 clock at the back of the store struck six in wheezy 
 tones. The sun was getting low, and long shafts 
 of amber light swept down the road that wound 
 up the hill toward the west. A train whistled in 
 the distance. 
 
 "That 's Jennie," said Chub. "Bennie will 
 be along pretty soon now ; Csesar and Bennie and 
 Jennie. I 'm getting awfully hungry. Do you 
 remember any of the messages Mrs. Peel left for 
 Jennie?" 
 
 Harry did, and to prove it she enumerated 
 them. Chub applauded her memory. 
 
 "All I remember," he said, "was something 
 about sparks." 
 
 It was almost twenty minutes later when the 
 white horse and the dilapidated buggy rattled 
 around the corner and pulled up for a moment in 
 front of the watering-trough. In the buggy sat 
 Bennie and no one else. He grinned joyously. 
 
 ' ' She did n 't come, ' ' he announced. ' ' Get ap ! " 
 
280 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 "Hold on!" cried Chub, hurrying to the curb. 
 "Are you sure she wasn't on the train?" 
 
 "Course I am." 
 
 "Didn't she send any — any message or any- 
 thing?" 
 
 ' ' No, not that I know of. ' ' 
 
 "When is the next train?" 
 
 " 'Bout 'leven o'clock, I guess. Get ap." 
 
 "Well, now what are we going to do?" de- 
 manded Chub, as the white horse ambled away 
 again. Harry shook her head. 
 
 "I 'd like to tell Jennie what I think of her," 
 said Chub aggrievedly. "Nice way for her to 
 act. We can't sit here until eleven o'clock and 
 wait for her. We '11 just have to shut up shop." 
 
 "But how will she get into the house?" asked 
 Harry. 
 
 "I don't know." Chub frowned thoughtfully 
 at the crumbling bricks. 
 
 "I suppose we might leave the key across the 
 street and pin a note on the door telling her to 
 go there and get it. I guess that 's all we can do, 
 eh?" 
 
 Harry agreed that it was. So they saw to the 
 fastenings of the window, took their iron kettle 
 
KEEPING STORE 281 
 
 into which were packed their other purchases, 
 wrote a line on a paper bag, and locked the door 
 behind them. Then Harry supplied a pin, and 
 Chub posted the note, which read: 
 
 Jennie: The key to the store is at the white house 
 right across the street. 
 
 At the white house they had some difficulty in 
 explaining their errand to an elderly woman who 
 was very deaf and very suspicious, but finally they 
 accomplished it and went off, leaving the key in 
 her hands. 
 
 "There 's a chance that Jennie won't be able 
 to make that old woman understand what she 
 wants," growled Chub. "Jennie may have to 
 sleep on the sidewalk to-night. Well, we 've done 
 what we could." 
 
 "And then maybe she won't come at all," said 
 Harry, hopefully. 
 
 "What good will that do!" Chub asked. 
 
 "Why, then we can keep store again to-morrow. 
 Would n't you just love to?" 
 
 "H'm," said Chub, doubtfully. 
 
CHAPTER XIX 
 
 A MIDNIGHT ALABM 
 
 WHEN they reached camp and the Slow Poke, 
 Dick and Roy were busy about the fire, 
 while Dr. Emery, in a pair of old gray knicker- 
 bockers and a blue flannel shirt, was cleaning fish 
 on a stone at the edge of the water. 
 
 "Look here at this one. Chub!" called the doc- 
 tor, proudly, as he held one of his trophies up by 
 its tail. 
 
 Chub examined it with interest and had to ac- 
 knowledge that it was pretty nearly as big as 
 his own famous fish. 
 
 "You didn't get so very many, though, did 
 you?" he asked. 
 
 "No," answered the doctor, "we didn't. I 
 don't believe it 's a very good stream any longer. 
 About fished out, I think. There's a large sum- 
 mer boarding-house up there, about a mile in, and 
 then we came across a good-sized camp of Gyp- 
 
 282 
 
A MIDNIGHT ALAEM 283 
 
 sies. They 're fond of fishing and pretty skilful, 
 too. But Roy says the map shows another 
 stream to the north that we might try. That is, 
 if we .cared to stay here another day." 
 
 "Oh, I think we 'd better stay a day or two 
 longer," Chub replied. "It 's such a dandy 
 camping-site, doctor, don't you think f" 
 
 The doctor decapitated a trout deftly and re- 
 plied with enthusiasm that he did. Chub smiled 
 as he watched him and remembered when even to 
 have stood in such close proximity with the doc- 
 tor would have filled him with vast uneasiness. 
 The doctor had been a good deal in the sun to-day, 
 and the end of his nose was scarlet, while other 
 little patches of the same shade were spread above 
 his eyes and on his cheeks. 
 
 "You '11 be needing some cold cream to-night, 
 sir," Chub said. "You 're burned." 
 
 The doctor felt of his nose gingerly. "It — it 's 
 quite tender to the touch," he said wonderingly. 
 "I had no idea the sun was so hot. There, that's 
 the last one. All ready, Dick. Will you bring 
 the pan over here, or shall I — " 
 
 "I '11 get it, sir," said Chub. 
 
 Twenty minutes later they were seated around 
 
284 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 the table — just a yard-square piece of white oil- 
 cloth spread over the grass between the river 
 bank and the tent. It wasn't the most even ta- 
 ble in the world, and Dick unfortunately set the 
 cotfee-pot down on a place where it managed to 
 topple over when no one was watching it. That 
 necessitated a new brew. But they were all hun- 
 gry and happy, as one generally is out of doors 
 under the trees and the sky, and the fiasco was 
 only a matter for laughter. 
 
 "See that hump, Dick?" asked Chub, gravely. 
 
 There was much to talk about. Dr. Emery and 
 Eoy and Dick had their fishing adventures to nar- 
 rate, and Harry and Chub must tell about Mrs. 
 Peel and the store, and Bennie, and Mrs. Benson 
 and her awe-inspiring husband. Dick was espe- 
 cially eloquent on the subject of the Gypsies whose 
 camp they had passed in returning from the fish- 
 ing-site. 
 
 "There were dozens of them, Chub, and they 
 had the dandiest wagons you ever saw. Painted 
 up like circus wagons, they were. And there 
 were about ten horses there. We saw the queen, 
 too, Harry. She was sitting in the door of her 
 tent, the biggest one of all, it was, and braiding 
 
A MIDNIGHT ALAEM 285 
 
 sweet-grass ; making baskets, I guess ; there were 
 a lot of them hanging around camp." 
 
 "I thought the queens never did any work," 
 Chub objected. 
 
 "I don't know. I never saw but one band of 
 Gypsies before; we don't have 'em out West 
 much. ' ' 
 
 ' ' There was one young fellow, ' ' said Eoy, ' ' that 
 wasn't any darker than I am. Dick insists that 
 he is a white person and was stolen when a child. ' ' 
 
 ''Well, he might have been," said Dick. "You 
 read about such things." 
 
 "In books," added Chub— "books like 'Little 
 Goldie's Vow,' you know." 
 
 "What 's that?" asked Eoy. 
 
 Chub darted a glance at Harry's disturbed 
 countenance and shook his head. 
 
 "Nothing that you should know about, Eoy. 
 It 's a novel. When you 're a few years older — " 
 
 But Eoy threatened him with the contents of his 
 tin cup, and Chub ceased. After supper was over 
 and the things cleaned up they went back to the 
 boat and climbed to the upper deck. The breeze, 
 which had mitigated the heat during the day, had 
 died down, and it was cooler here than on shore. 
 
 17 
 
286 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 It was dark by the time they settled down, and 
 Dick brought up a half-dozen Japanese lanterns 
 and strung them along the awning rods. When 
 the candles were lighted they threw quite a radi- 
 ance over the scene. 
 
 "It 's just like a party," said Harry. "Let 's 
 play games!" 
 
 "Anything but 'going to Jerusalem,' " said 
 Chub, drowsily, from where he was stretched out 
 in his chair. ' ' I don 't feel that I am able to walk 
 that far to-night." 
 
 "We '11 play 'fish, flesh, or fowl,' " said Harry, 
 "and I'm 'it.' " 
 
 "You always are 'it,' " said Chub gallantly. 
 
 "Papa, you draw your chair over that way 
 more," said Harry, ignoring Chub's compliment. 
 "We must sit in a circle. Come, Chub." 
 
 "I '11 try," Chub murmured. "It sounds a bit 
 difficult, though, sitting in a circle. How's this, 
 Harry?" 
 
 "Oh, Chub, don't be so silly," Harry laughed. 
 "Put your feet down and behave. Now I '11 be- 
 gin. The first one that does n't answer correctly 
 must take my place. ' ' The deck was soon ringing 
 with laughter, for, of course, some funny things 
 
A MIDNIGHT ALAEM 287 
 
 happened. As when Harry, suddenly poising in 
 front of Chub, exclaimed: 
 
 "Fowl! One, two, three—" 
 
 "What?" exclaimed Chub, with a jump. 
 
 "Four, five, six — " 
 
 "Er— er— " 
 
 "Seven, eight, nine — " 
 
 "Bullfrog!" 
 
 "You're 'it'!" cried Harry. "A bullfrog 
 isn't a fowl." 
 
 Chub strove to temporize. 
 
 ' ' Did you say fowl ? Are you sure ? ' ' 
 
 "Go ahead. Chub, she caught you," said Eoy 
 "Be game!" 
 
 "That is n't fair," grumbled Chub. "Of course 
 a bullfrog isn't exactly a fowl, but everybody 
 knows that frog legs taste just exactly like 
 chicken, and so — " 
 
 "Get up, get up, you lazy duffer!" cried Dick. 
 
 Chub got up and fixed Dick with a malevolent 
 scowl. Then he walked over to him and remarked 
 conversationally : 
 
 "Fish! One, two, three, four, seven, ten!" 
 
 "Here! You didn't count right!" objected 
 Dick. 
 
288 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 "Here, now!" said Cliub, contemptuously. 
 "That 's right, try to get out of it!" 
 
 But Dick got up and immediately caught the 
 doctor, who gazed blankly at him while he counted 
 the fateful ten. Harry clapped her hands de- 
 lightedly. 
 
 "Papa's 'it'!" she cried. "Now we'll have 
 some fun!" 
 
 The doctor got up and surveyed the four laugh- 
 ing faces anxiously. 
 
 ' ' Let me see, now ; what is it I say 1 ' ' They ex- 
 plained it to him, and he made for Harry. 
 
 "I 'ma fish ! " he cried. ' ' One, two, three, four, 
 five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve 
 thirteen, fourteen — " 
 
 He might have been counting yet had not they 
 stopped him, for Harry had gone off into a gale 
 of laughter and was quite incapable of words. 
 
 "You must n't say 'I 'm a fish,' " she explained 
 finally. "You just say 'fish.' And you must 
 only count to ten, papa." 
 
 "Oh! Then I '11 try again," answered the doc- 
 tor, cheerfully. He fixed Harry with a stern look 
 and said: 
 
 "Fish! One, two—" 
 
A MIDNIGHT ALARM 289 
 
 ' ' Flounder ! ' ' cried Harry. 
 
 "Three, four, five, six — " 
 
 "But I said it!" Harry cried. "You mustn't 
 count any more." 
 
 "Oh, then what must I do now?" 
 
 "You must try again until you catch some one. 
 Try Dick." 
 
 So the doctor tried Dick with no better result, 
 and then Eoy and finally Chub. 
 
 "You mustn't say 'fish' every time," Harry 
 explained. "If you do, we know what to expect. 
 Try 'fowl' or 'flesh.' " But the doctor shook his 
 head. 
 
 "I guess I 'd better stick to fish," he replied. 
 "I can remember that. Besides, I'm fond of 
 fish." 
 
 Finally Chub took pity on him and allowed 
 himself to be caught, and the doctor sank grate- 
 fully into his chair, sighing with relief and mop- 
 ping his face with his handkerchief. They tried 
 other games after that and kept up the fun until 
 the clock in the wheel-house warned them that it 
 was past bedtime. The doctor and Harry slept 
 on the boat, but the boys sought the tent on shore. 
 The moon came up while they were getting ready 
 
290 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 for bed, and with it came a fresh breeze out of the 
 southwest, which, according to Chub, "just filled 
 the bill." At all events, it made the tent a much 
 more comfortable sleeping-place, and it wasn't 
 very long before they were all slumbering. 
 
 If Chub was first asleep, he was likewise the 
 first of the three to awake. He sat bolt upright, 
 staring through the gray door of the tent. The 
 sky had clouded over, and the moonlight no longer 
 made the night radiant. Chub wondered what had 
 awakened him, and even as he wondered the an- 
 swer came to him in a shrill, frightened cry from 
 the house-boat: 
 
 "Papa! Chub! Help!" 
 
 It was Harry's voice, and Chub was out of the 
 tent in an instant, with a whoop of reassurance. 
 The world was gray-black, and objects were only 
 dimly discernible. But he knew the way to the 
 boat well enough, and went hurrying, stumbling 
 over the grass and through the little bushes. As 
 he went, a light sprang into view somewhere 
 aboard, Snip barked loudly, and at the same mo- 
 ment he collided with a figure on the bank. 
 
 "Who's that?" called Chub. "What's the 
 matter?" 
 
The figure disappeared noiselessly into the night 
 
A MIDNIGHT ALAEM 293 
 
 There was no response, and tlie figure disap- 
 peared noiselessly into the night. Then a white- 
 clad figure appeared at the edge of the boat, and 
 the doctor 's voice said : 
 
 ' ' Dick ! Chub ! Are you there ? ' ' 
 
 ''Yes, sir," answered Chub, scrambling aboard. 
 "What 's up?" 
 
 "Harry had a fright," replied the doctor, 
 calmly. "I fancy she was only dreaming, but 
 she says she awoke and saw some one at her win- 
 dow on the other side of the boat. But I heard 
 no one until you came." 
 
 "I did," answered Chub, looking regretfully 
 back. "I ran into some one just before you 
 called. I asked who it was, and got no answer. ' ' 
 
 By that time Dick and Eoy, who had hastily 
 put on some clothes, though still half asleep, had 
 joined them, questioning excitedly. 
 
 "Let 's get something on and have a look 
 around," suggested Eoy when the doctor had told 
 his story again. So they hurried back to the tent 
 and drew on coats and trousers, while the doctor 
 returned to Harry again. 
 
 When they returned to the boat, Harry had 
 joined the doctor in the forward cabin. She had 
 
294 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 slipped on a blue kimono and was seated on the 
 window-seat, with her feet tucked under her, 
 still rather pale of face, but trying to smile. 
 
 "I don't know what waked me up," she said. 
 "But suddenly I was sitting up in bed and looking 
 at the little window. At first I didn't see any- 
 thing, and then a man's head and shoulders ap- 
 peared. I could see him against the gray sky; 
 just for a minute, for I let out an awful screech, 
 and the man disappeared just like that!" And 
 Harry snapped her small fingers. "Papa says I 
 dreamed it, but I didn't, really; I was wide 
 awake ! ' ' 
 
 The doctor shot a warning glance at the boys, 
 and Chub, who had opened his mouth, shut it 
 again quickly. 
 
 "Well, dreams seem very real sometimes," 
 said the doctor, soothingly. "And even if there 
 was any one there, I guess he was just looking 
 around. I don't believe he stole anything." 
 
 "We '11 soon see," said Chub, as he moved 
 toward the door. "Anyhow, don't you worry 
 about it now, Harry. He 's gone by this time. I 
 shouldn't be surprised if he was as scared as you 
 
A MIDNIGHT ALARM 295 
 
 were when you screamed ! Whew ! it brought me 
 up in bed like a shock of electricity ! ' ' 
 
 Harry laughed nervously. 
 
 "I — I think I '11 sleep in here with you, papa," 
 she said. The doctor smiled and looked at his 
 watch. 
 
 ' ' Well, I think we won 't have to do much more 
 sleeping," said the doctor. "It 's after four 
 o'clock. You lie down, Harry, and try to go to 
 sleep again. The boys and I will look around a 
 little and see if we can see any hoof-marks from 
 your nightmare." 
 
 "You won't go far?" asked Harry, anxiously. 
 
 "No, no, I won't leave the boat," he answered. 
 
 "I 'm awfully sorry I woke everybody up," 
 said Harry, apologetically. "I suppose it was 
 terribly silly of me, but I was so — so startled — " 
 
 "Shucks," said Roy, "we don't mind. It 's 
 rather a lark." 
 
 "Yes," said Chub, "it 's what is known as ris- 
 ing with the lark. ' ' 
 
 Harry laughed quite naturally at that, and they 
 left her to go over the boat and see if the early 
 morning marauder had taken anything off with 
 
296 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 Mm. They found signs of his presence as soon 
 as they reached the after cabin, for burnt matches 
 were scattered about the floor, and three cans of 
 peaches had been moved from the galley to Dick's 
 bed. 
 
 "Evidently meant to take these with him and 
 got scared off," said Dick. 
 
 "Maybe he meant to take bed and all," Chub 
 suggested. "Let 's look in the engine room and 
 see if he 's left the engine." 
 
 They poked around for a while longer with 
 their lanterns, but found no further evidences. 
 By that time the sky was brightening in the east, 
 and Eoy suggested that, instead of going back to 
 bed, they have an early breakfast and go fishing 
 before it got hot. Even the doctor agreed en- 
 thusiastically to the proposition, and, still dis- 
 cussing and conjecturing, they returned to the 
 tent. They had breakfast at a quarter to six. 
 Harry was not on hand. She had fallen asleep 
 again, and they didn't disturb her. Eoy volun- 
 teered to stay behind and keep her company, and 
 at half-past six the others set out merrily to try 
 the new stream. Eoy cleaned up the breakfast 
 things, keeping Harry's repast warm at the back 
 
A MIDNIGHT ALARM 297 
 
 of the fire. Then adding fresh fuel, he climbed to 
 the upper deck of the boat and made himself com- 
 fortable with a magazine. Harry appeared at 
 half-past seven, looking none the worse for her 
 interrupted slumbers. 
 
 "Well, any more nightmares?" asked Eoy, 
 cheerfully. Harry shook her head smilingly. 
 
 "No, but I don't think it was a nightmare, 
 Eoy," she answered. She seemed, however, less 
 certain about it than before. Perhaps she wanted 
 to believe in the dream theory as much as any one. 
 Eoy served breakfast to her and stood by atten- 
 tively with a dish-towel over his arm, suggesting 
 respectfully, "A little more of the hegg, ma'am?" 
 or ' ' Another cup of coffee, ma 'am ? ' ' Then, when 
 Harry had finished, they washed the rest of the 
 dishes very merrily and tidied up the camp and 
 the boat. Harry wanted very much to walk over 
 to the store and find out whether Jennie had ar- 
 rived, but, as it had been agreed that the boat was 
 not to be left unguarded, Eoy could n 't accompany 
 her, and she preferred not to go alone. Eoy was 
 all for returning to his chair on deck and his mag- 
 azine, but Harry wouldn't allow it. The flower- 
 boxes, she declared, were greatly in need of water ; 
 
298 CAPTAIN CHITB 
 
 and so Eoy worked hard for a time with a pail and 
 a dipper, Harry superintending his labors. When 
 the last dipperful had been distributed, Boy set 
 down the pail with a sigh of relief and looked 
 ingratiatingly at Harry. But the spirit of unrest 
 still possessed that young lady, and after a mo- 
 ment of thought her brow cleared, and she cried: 
 
 "Now we 'U make some doughnuts!" 
 
 "Will we?" asked Eoy, without enthusiasm. 
 
 "Yes; Chub and I got everything yesterday. 
 It 'U be lots of fun, and the others will be so sur- 
 prised when they come home and find doughnuts 
 for dinner. Chub is so fond of them!" 
 
 "Yes, and that's what makes it seem kind of 
 mean of me to help," said Eoy, earnestly. "He 'd 
 love to be here, you know. Suppose we wait until 
 he can help?" 
 
 "Oh, he won't mind," answered Harry lightly. 
 ' ' He 'd much rather eat them than make them. ' ' 
 
 "So would I," thought Eoy. But he didn't 
 say so. Instead, he followed Harry down to the 
 galley with a sigh which this time did n 't suggest 
 relief. For the next two hours there were great 
 doings. Harry, with numerous towels pinned 
 about her in lieu of an apron, and Eoy, with his 
 

 
 >f^" 
 
 "A little more of the hegg, ma'am?" 
 
A MIDNIGHT ALARM 301 
 
 coat off and his sleeves tucked above his elbows, 
 measured and mixed and beat; at least, Harry 
 did; Eoy stood by and did what he was told, but 
 the tasks which fell to him were menial in the 
 extreme. In spite of the limitations of space and 
 utensils, the frying was a big success, and, as Eoy 
 was allowed to help himself to the sizzling, hot 
 doughnuts as soon as they were sugared, he re- 
 gained some degree of happiness. 
 
 ' ' There ! ' ' exclaimed Harry, when the last batch 
 was being powdered with sugar from an im- 
 provised shaker which Eoy had fashioned from 
 a baking-powder tin by punching holes in the lid. 
 "That makes eight dozen and three. And then 
 you ate — how many, Eoy?" 
 
 "Five," answered Eoy, promptly and unblush- 
 ingly. 
 
 "Eoy Porter! You won't have any appetite for 
 dinner!" 
 
 "Don't worry," Eoy laughed. "As long as 
 you 're around I guess I '11 manage to work up an 
 appetite. I suppose we 'd better dust the river 
 next or trim the trees." 
 
 "You 're just too lazy for anything," laughed 
 Harry. "For goodness' sake go and sit down." 
 
302 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 "Not for worlds!" lie said indignantly. "I 
 can't bear to be idle. I shall fish from the ten- 
 der. Want to come along?" 
 
 Harry did, so they scrambled into the little boat 
 with a few worms and a couple of lines, and 
 rowed a little way into the stream. 
 
 "We mustn't go very far away." said Harry, 
 "in case — " 
 
 "Your nightmare came back," teased Eoy. 
 
 "Do you think it was that?" she asked anx- 
 iously. 
 
 "Don't you?" he answered evasively. 
 
 "I don't know. Maybe. But it didn't seem 
 like a dream." 
 
 "Lots of dreams don't. Hand me the bait-can, 
 please." 
 
 They fished for nearly an hour without having 
 even a nibble, and then rowed disgustedly back 
 to the boat. Shortly before noon the rest of the 
 party returned almost empty-handed. The doc- 
 tor had landed three small trout, Chub two, and 
 Dick none. 
 
 "The stream's too small," said the doctor. 
 "To-morrow — " he hesitated — "if we 're still 
 here, we '11 try the first stream and go higher up." 
 
A MIDNIGHT ALAEM 303 
 
 "Did you see our friends the Gypsies'?" asked 
 Roy. 
 
 "All over the shop," answered Chub. "We 
 met two fishing and passed a couple more about 
 ten minutes ago. They had two gunny-sacks on 
 their backs, and I'll bet they 'd been stealing 
 things. Get busy with dinner, Dick; I 'm almost 
 dead, I 'm so hungry. This early breakfast busi- 
 ness won't do." 
 
 When the meal was ready, Chub let out a howl 
 of delight. 
 
 ' ' Doughnuts ! " he shouted. ' ' Hooray ! Where 'd 
 you get 'em?" 
 
 "Made them, of course," replied Eoy, loftily. 
 "Harry assisted me. She's real handy about the 
 kitchen. I don't know what I 'd have done with- 
 out her. ' ' 
 
 "Huh!" said Chub. "She could have done 
 without you, Roy. You ate more than she made. ' ' 
 
 "Eoy did beautifully," Harry said. "I 
 couldn't have got along without him." 
 
 Eoy bowed impressively, and Chub grunted in 
 derision. But the latter had to acknowledge that 
 the doughniuts couldn't have been better even 
 without Eoy's interference. 
 
304 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 Dinner over, Harry declared that they must 
 go to the store and make certain that Jennie had 
 arrived. 
 
 "We '11 all go," said Dick. "I want to see 
 your old store." 
 
 The doctor elected to stay at home and do some 
 work, and they left him on the upper deck, im- 
 mersed in his books, with a fountain pen clasped 
 tightly between his teeth, and his pad of paper on 
 his knee. 
 
 "1 think," laughed Eoy, "that any one could 
 come along and steal everything out of the boat 
 without the doctor knowing anything about it." 
 
 ' ' Sure they could, ' ' Chub agreed. * ' But no one 
 will come around when they see him there. ' ' 
 
 When they came in sight of the store, Harry 
 gave out a cry of distress. 
 
 "There 's nobody there!" she exclaimed. 
 "It 's all closed up! She never came." 
 
 "Well," murmured Chub, sorrowfully, "I 
 never did have much faith in Jennie. ' ' 
 
 "I guess we might as well go back, then," said 
 Dick. 
 
 "Nothing of the sort!" returned Harry, de- 
 terminedly. "We '11 get the key and open the 
 
A MIDNIGHT ALARM 305 
 
 store. Mrs. Peel left us in charge, and it 's our 
 duty to do it. Why, just think of all the money 
 we may have missed already to-day ! It 's a per- 
 fect shame. Chub." 
 
 "I know; thousands of dollars, likely." Chub 
 shook his head gloomily. "Maybe we '11 have to 
 go into bankruptcy. You run over and get the 
 key, Harry." But Harry shook her head in dis- 
 tress. 
 
 "Oh, I couldn't. Chub. I never could make 
 her hear me. You go." 
 
 "Well," answered Chub, "I '11 do my best, but 
 my voice isn't very strong to-day." He crossed 
 the road toward the little cottage. 
 
 18 
 
CHAPTER XX 
 
 CHUB mounted the porch and tapped with the 
 iron knocker, while the rest waited and 
 watched on the other side of the empty street. 
 After a while he tapped again, and after a longer 
 while the door opened and the same old lady 
 peered out, her spectacles astride the tip of her 
 nose. Harry and Eoy and Dick heard the con- 
 versation begin, saw the old lady lean forward 
 and place a hand behind one ear, and saw Chub 
 nerve himself for a new effort. After that they 
 heard every word beautifully. 
 
 "I called for the key of the store," said Chub, 
 loudly. 
 
 ' ' Nothing to-day, ' ' replied the old lady, starting 
 to close the door. Chub deftly introduced one 
 knee between the door and the frame. 
 
 "You don't understand! I want the key of the 
 306 
 
"GASOLINE AND SUPPLIES" 307 
 
 store!" He pointed across the street. "Mrs. 
 Peel's store!" 
 
 The old lady shaded her eyes and peered across 
 at the waiting group. 
 
 "Feels sore, does he? Which one is it? 
 How 'd he do it?" 
 
 "He didn't! I mean — Look here, ma'am, I 
 want the key we left here last night! The key! 
 Key!" 
 
 "Key?" asked the old lady mildly. 
 
 "Yes 'm." They conld almost hear Chub's 
 sigh of relief. "We 're going to open the store. 
 Mrs. Peel's niece didn't come." 
 
 "You want the key?" 
 
 "Yes 'm, please." 
 
 "Are you the gentleman who left it here?" 
 
 "Yes 'm." 
 
 "What say?" 
 
 "Yes, ma'am!" 
 
 "Well, don't yell so. I'm a little deaf, but 1 
 don't have to be yelled at, young man." 
 
 "No 'm." 
 
 "Eh? What say?" 
 
 "It 's a nice day!" bawled Chub, desperately. 
 
308 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 "Yes, yes, I'm a-going for it. Ain't any sense 
 being so impatient. Sit down and wait a minute. 
 I don't remember just where I put it." 
 
 Chub retired to the railing and wiped his brow, 
 while the old lady carefully closed and locked the 
 door. Across the street the others were strug- 
 gling with their laughter. 
 
 "Did you make her hear?" asked Dick, softly. 
 Chub made a gesture of despair and felt of his 
 throat gingerly. Presently the door opened 
 again and the old lady held out the key. 
 
 "When 's she coming back?" she asked. 
 
 "I don't know," replied Chub. "I haven't 
 heard." 
 
 "Third? Not till then? You going to keep 
 store for her?" 
 
 "Just for to-day, I guess," answered Chub, 
 wearily. 
 
 "Eh? I can't hear you. You don't talk plain. 
 She ain't sold out, has she?" 
 
 "No, ma'am, she hasn't!" shouted Chub. 
 Then he plunged across the porch and made his 
 escape. The old lady remained at her front door, 
 watching and muttering, long after they had 
 opened the store and disappeared inside. 
 
I want the key cf the store 
 
"GASOLINE AND SUPPLIES" 311 
 
 "Here 's a couple of letters," said Dick, as 
 Clnib raised the window-curtains. They were 
 lying on the floor just over the threshold, and he 
 picked them up and examined them. "One for 
 Miss Jennie Frost and one for Mrs. Amanda 
 Peel. Strange I didn't get anything." 
 
 He handed them to Harry, and she looked them 
 over critically. 
 
 "This one 's from Mrs. Peel to her niece," she 
 said. "And the other — Chub, where did you say 
 Jennie lived?" 
 
 "Byers, or something like that. Why?" 
 
 "Because this other letter is postmarked Byers. 
 It just means, I suppose, that Jennie can't come." 
 
 "Probably." 
 
 "I wish we could open the other letter, the one 
 from Mrs. Peel, and see when she 's coming back. ' ' 
 
 "Yes, but of course we can't," said Eoy. "Be- 
 sides, what does it matter?" 
 
 "Well, it seems too bad to have the store shut 
 up, doesn't it? I'm sure Mrs. Peel needs money 
 badly. I'll put these letters in the cash drawer." 
 
 "Come and look at the pocket-knives, Eoy," 
 called Dick. "I 'm going to have one. There 's 
 a dandy here for seventy-five cents. Look." 
 
312 
 
 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 ''Oil, do buy one, Dick," called Harry. "We 
 ought all to buy something and help her out. 
 I 've got fifty cents, and I'm going to see what 
 I want. ' ' 
 
 Eventually Harry proudly added the following 
 items to her record of sales : 
 
 One Pocket-knife 
 
 One 
 
 One pair Canvas Shoes 
 
 One yard Blue Ribbon 
 
 One package of Raisins 
 
 % pound Crackers 
 
 y^ " Cheese 
 
 .75 
 .75 
 .60 
 .08 
 .15 
 .08 
 .10 
 
 Harry frowned and figured for a while and then 
 announced exultantly that they had already sold 
 two dollars and thirty- three cents' worth of goods. 
 "Is n't that fine?" she asked. 
 
 "The old lady hasn't sold that much before in 
 a week," said Chub. "Who wants some crackers 
 and cheese? Or some raisins? The cheese is 
 fine, but the crackers are a little bit stale." 
 
 They perched themselves on the counter and 
 partook of Chub's hospitality, Dick suggested 
 craftily that if they all ate as much as they could 
 now it would n't be necessary to prepare so much 
 supper when they went back to camp. 
 
"GASOLINE AND SUPPLIES" 313 
 
 "And there 's something in that, too," Dick 
 continued, "for our stores are getting pretty low. 
 We '11 have to have some fresh meat about to- 
 morrow, and some eggs, and — let me see; what 
 else was it I thought of ? I know ; kerosene. And 
 the ice-chest has been empty for nearly a week." 
 
 "Oh, we don't need ice," said Chub. 
 
 "We do in this sort of weather if we 're going 
 to keep meat fresh. And I 'd like mighty well 
 to see a little fresh milk and not have to use that 
 canned stuff. And we 're about out of that, too. ' ' 
 
 "We can get condensed milk here," said Eoy. 
 ' ' I saw some over there on the shelf. ' ' 
 
 "Oh, let 's!" said Harry. 
 
 "I tell you what," Chub said. "To-night 
 we '11 look over the boat and make a list of what 
 we need. Then if we can get any of the things 
 here we '11 do it. What do you say ? ' ' 
 
 "Good scheme," replied Roy. "It '11 put some 
 money in Mrs. Peel's pocket." 
 
 They were still discussing it when there was the 
 sound of a wagon stopping in front of the store. 
 The arrivals proved to be a farmer and his wife, 
 and for the next quarter of an hour all hands were 
 busy. The farmer wanted axle-grease, horse 
 
314 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 liniment, five- pounds of red ocher, five gallons of 
 kerosene, a bag of flour, and ten pounds of 
 sugar. While the boys were hunting these things 
 up, Harry was following the farmer's wife all 
 around the store, from one show-case to another, 
 explaining the absence of Mrs. Peel and exhibiting 
 the goods. 
 
 "Well, now, I call it right down kind of you 
 young folks to keep store for her," declared the 
 woman. "I hope her sister ain't very sick, but 
 she did n 't look real strong when she was here 
 awhile back. How much is that wide yellow 
 ribbon r' 
 
 "Fifteen cents a yard," replied Harry 
 promptly, having thoroughly investigated the 
 contents of the ribbon-case and the prices earlier 
 in the afternoon. 
 
 "My, ain't that a lot? Still, I always was 
 partial to yellow; is seems so sort of cheerful, 
 don't it? You can cut me a yard and a quarter, 
 I guess. And I want a dozen sheets of writing- 
 paper, the kind that 's ruled, you know, and a 
 package of envelopes to fit." 
 
 When the customers departed, Harry reckoned 
 up the sales and announced gleefully that four 
 
"GASOLINE AND SUPPLIES" 315 
 
 dollars and twelve cents had been added to the 
 treasury. 
 
 "I haven't had so much fun since I had the 
 measles," said Chub. "Did you observe the 
 artistic way in which I did up that bundle?" 
 
 "And did you see me handle the sugar-scoop?" 
 asked Dick. "I believe I was cut out for a store- 
 keeper, fellows." 
 
 "We '11 have to order some more kerosene 
 soon," remarked Eoy. "I pumped the tank al- 
 most dry filling the old farmer's can for him. 
 Where do we buy our keresone?" 
 
 "Standard Oil Company," answered Chub, 
 promptly. "I '11 drop a note to Mr. Eockefeller 
 this evening. I wonder what she keeps gasolene 
 for?" 
 
 "Maybe for automobiles," suggested Harry, 
 
 "I don't believe an automobile ever stopped in 
 this village," Chub replied. 
 
 "Plenty of them go by, though," Dick said. 
 "I 've seen four this afternoon. I think this is 
 the main road along here, is n't it?" 
 
 "What we ought to do," announced Chub, "is 
 to let them know that we keep it. We ought 
 to put a sign out. Wait a minute." 
 
316 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 He went out into the back yard and rummaged 
 around until he found a board some four feet 
 long by ten inches wide. He brought it in and 
 pulled a marking-pot and brush from under the 
 counter. 
 
 "Now then," he said as he dipped the brush 
 and began to print, "here goes for the automobile 
 trade!" Five minutes later the sign was done 
 and they were nailing it to the corner of the 
 store, where it was visible for a hundred yards 
 up the road. Chub had lettered it as follows: 
 
 HEADQUARTERS FOR AUTOMOBILISTS 
 
 GASOLENE AND SUPPLIES 
 
 But Chub wasn't yet satisfied. On the back 
 of a piece of cardboard he printed "Midsummer 
 Sale!" This he placed in one of the windows, 
 saying, "I 'm pretty certain that Mrs. Peel is 
 asking a heap less than her husband did. You 
 see, there 's a store some place near here that 's 
 getting her trade away from her, and it 's safe 
 to say she 's marked things pretty low. ' ' 
 
 "How about your automobile supplies?" asked 
 Eoy. "What do you mean?" 
 
 "I didn't say 'automobile supplies,' " an- 
 swered Chub. "I said 'gasolene and supplies'. 
 
"GASOLINE AND SUPPLIES" 317 
 
 We've got all sorts of supplies, haven't we? 
 'Supplies' means crackers and cheese and such 
 things just as much as it does carburetors, 
 doesn't it?" 
 
 "I suppose so, but it sounds sort of mislead- 
 ing. ' ' 
 
 "Well, if you come right down to it, we 've got 
 plenty of things automobilists use. We 've got 
 grease and wrenches and files and pliers — and 
 water — " 
 
 "That's right," agreed Dick. "We don't 
 claim to have a full line of supplies. We 're 
 short on goggles, pink veils, spark-plugs, and 
 extra tires." 
 
 "Wouldn't it be lovely," asked Harry, "if a 
 big automobile should stop and buy a whole lot of 
 things?" 
 
 "Yes, say about fifty gallons of gasolene, a 
 dozen files, half a dozen wrenches, and a pail of 
 water!" laughed Chub. 
 
 "Well, they might buy something," replied 
 Harry, cheerfully. "And if any one should ask 
 for a pink veil I 'd show them the mosquito 
 netting. ' ' 
 
 "Harry, you 've missed your vocation," Eoy 
 
318 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 laughed. "You should have been a shopkeeper. 
 Hello, what's that?" 
 
 There was a loud grinding of brakes outside, 
 and a big red touring-car which had coasted 
 noiselessly down the hill came to a sudden stop 
 at the corner almost under the new sign. Before 
 they could reach the door a man in a yellow dus- 
 ter, evidently a chauffeur, hurried in. 
 
 "I want some gasolene," he announced brus- 
 quely. ' ' Where do you keep it ? " 
 
 "In the back yard," replied Chub, promptly. 
 "Come on. How much do you want?" 
 
 "Five gallons will do. Is it any good!" 
 
 "Best made," answered Chub. "We get it 
 direct. Come on." 
 
 The chauffeur followed him with a growl. 
 
 "Bet it 's low-test stuff," he muttered. 
 
 Eoy went out with them, while Harry and Dick 
 sauntered out on the sidewalk, where they could 
 see the car and its occupants. There were two 
 ladies and a gentleman in the back of the car, 
 and a second gentleman was seated in front. 
 They all wore dust-coats, and from the appear- 
 ance of the car it was evident that they were 
 touring. One of the ladies glanced around and 
 
"GASOLINE AND SUPPLIES" 319 
 
 caught sight of Harry and said something to the 
 gentleman beside her. He, too, turned, and in a 
 moment they were all looking. Harry colored 
 and drew back around the corner. Dick, how- 
 ever, held his ground. 
 
 "Got anything to eat in there?" asked the man 
 in front. 
 
 "Yes," Dick answered. "Crackers, cheese, 
 canned things, raisins, dried apricots — " 
 
 There was a burst of laughter from the car. 
 
 "Let 's get out and see what we can find," said 
 one of the ladies. In a moment the store was 
 invaded. They bought crackers, cheese, canned 
 peaches, potted ham, and sardines, and did it so 
 merrily that Harry and Dick had to laugh with 
 them. The party bore their purchases back to 
 the car, Dick assisting, and immediately began 
 their luncheon or, as one of the ladies laughingly 
 called it, "afternoon tea." 
 
 "But we haven't paid for it" she said sud- 
 denly. "How much do we owe you?" 
 
 "Let me see," said Dick, "there was a pound 
 of crackers — " 
 
 "Never mind," said one of the men, taking a 
 bill from his purse. "Here 's five dollars. I 
 
320 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 guess that will pay for the gasolene and every- 
 thing. You keep the rest," 
 
 "It won't come to anything like that," Dick 
 protested. "The crackers are — " 
 
 "We don't want to hear how much they are," 
 laughed the second lady. "They might not taste 
 so well, and when you have n 't had a mouthful to 
 eat since eleven o'clock — " 
 
 "Never mind about counting it up," said the 
 man to Dick, genially. ' ' That five dollar bill will 
 cover it all. ' ' 
 
 "Thank you," replied Dick, gravely. 
 
 The chauffeur appeared with the gasolene 
 poured it into the tank, and tossed the can to 
 Dick. 
 
 "Poorest stuff I ever saw," he muttered 
 savagely as he climbed to his seat. "All right, 
 sir?" 
 
 "Go ahead," replied the gentleman beside him. 
 The car sprang forward and in a moment had 
 disappeared in a cloud of dust. Dick went back 
 to the store. 
 
 ' ' Did they pay you ? ' ' asked Harry, eagerly. 
 
 "I should say they did." Dick exhibited the 
 five-dollar bill. "He said this would pay for the 
 
"GASOLINE AND SUPPLIES" 321 
 
 gasolene and the other stuff, and I was to keep 
 the change. I kept it." 
 
 "But the chauffeur paid for the gasolene!" 
 cried Key. ' ' Call them back ! ' ' 
 
 "You go out and call," said Dick, dryly. 
 "They 're a mile away by this time. If they 
 want their money, they '11 come back for it. 
 Meanwhile it goes to Mrs. Peel." He deposited 
 the five-dollar note in the till. Harry clapped 
 her hands ecstatically. 
 
 "Six dollars more!" she cried. "You must all 
 help me put it down. How much were the sar- 
 dines, Dick?" 
 
 Half an hour later a small boy appeared and 
 bought a bottle of peppermint and two sticks of 
 candy, and that completed the day's sales. At six 
 o'clock they closed the store. Chub locked the 
 door into the living-rooms and put the key on a 
 nearby shelf. 
 
 "There 's no use having that open," he said, 
 "since Jennie is n't coming." 
 
 On the side-walk they paused irresolutely. 
 
 "You take it over to her," said Chub to Dick, 
 holding forth the key. But Dick shrank away 
 from it. 
 
322 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 "Not me!" he cried. "I never could make her 
 hear ! ' ' 
 
 "Look here," said Eoy, "why not keep the 
 key ourselves? It is n't likely that Mrs. Peel will 
 be back before to-morrow. We can come over 
 early in the morning and open up again. ' ' 
 
 * ' Of course, ' ' Harry agreed. ' ' And we '11 leave 
 a note on the door in case she should come. ' ' 
 
 So the note was written and pinned up, and 
 they started back to the boat. 
 
 "Do you think," asked Harry, uneasily, when 
 they were climbing the hill, "that it 's quite safe 
 to leave all that money in the store over night? 
 There 's over twenty dollars." 
 
 Chub waved the key under her nose. 
 
 "But some one might break in," she insisted. 
 
 * ' Shucks ! Don 't you worry, Harry ; I '11 
 wager there hasn't been a robbery around here 
 since the place was started." 
 
 "You don't know. Chub. Does he?" she ap- 
 pealed to the others. "If that money should be 
 stolen, you '11 have to make it good. ' ' 
 
 " Me ? " asked Chub. ' ' Certainly. I '11 make it 
 good. That's one of the easy things I do. I 
 hereby place myself under a thirteen-doUar bond." 
 
CHAPTER XXI 
 
 THE BXJEGLABY 
 
 KEROSENE, potatoes, condensed milk, cheese, 
 and bacon, ' ' said Dick, writing the items on 
 a slip of paper. 
 
 Chub groaned. 
 
 ''More bacon?" he asked dismally. 
 
 "Well, we 've got to have some sort of meat," 
 answered Dick, "and we can't get fresh meat 
 here. All those things we can get at the store 
 to-morrow. But we '11 have to reach a real town 
 pretty soon. We ought to have meat and fresh 
 vegetables and fruit." 
 
 "Look here," said Eoy, "there are plenty of 
 farms around here. Why not see if we can't get 
 some vegetables and fruit at one of them to-mor- 
 row ? And some milk too ? ' ' 
 
 "Good idea," said Chub. "I delegate you and 
 Dick to buy those things. ' ' 
 
 "I don't mind," said Dick. "There 's a farm, 
 
 19 323 
 
324 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 a big old farm a little way beyond the village ; you 
 can see it from the road. And seems to me it 's 
 almost time for corn, is n't it?" 
 
 "Sure," said Eoy. "And don't we need more 
 eggs ? ' ' 
 
 " Yes, " answered Dick. "I forgot eggs. And, 
 I say, maybe they will sell us a couple of nice 
 young chickens. We '11 start right after break- 
 fast. Want to come along, Harry?" 
 
 But Harry shook her head. ' ' Chub and I have 
 to look after the store," she replied importantly. 
 
 ' ' That 's so, I 'd forgotten the store. Well, you 
 take this list along. Chub, and bring those things 
 back with you at noon. I '11 put down the quan- 
 tities we need. Who 's got any money?" 
 
 "Money!" exclaimed Chub. "Where's that 
 large sum we intrusted to you a week ago ? ' ' 
 
 "Large sum!" responded Dick indignantly. 
 ' ' It was two dollars ! How long do you think two 
 dollars is going to last? I 'm down to my last 
 cent, and I don't suppose I can get a check cashed 
 around here." 
 
 "Scarcely," said Chub. "I've some money, 
 though. Here 's two dollars to spend on vege- 
 
THE BURGLAEY 325 
 
 tables, and I '11 pay for what we get at the store. 
 Are you keeping the account straight, Roy?" 
 
 "I guess so, I put down whatever any one tells 
 me to. It 's hot down here. Let 's get back on 
 deck." 
 
 The doctor was sitting in one of the willow 
 chairs, his gaze on the opposite shore of the river, 
 where a few faint lights twinkled through the 
 darkness. Chub lighted the lamp in the wheel- 
 house, and Harry stopped behind her father and 
 rumpled his hair playfully. 
 
 "Asleep, papa?" she asked. 
 
 "Asleep? By no means, my dear. The fact 
 is, I was — " he paused and laughed amusedly — 
 "I was occupied in rather a funny way. I was 
 making up a riddle. ' ' 
 
 ' ' A riddle ! ' ' said Harry. ' ' That 's nice. What 
 is it, papa?" 
 
 "Well, see if you can guess it, any of you." 
 
 "That means me," said Chub, perching him- 
 self on the rail and hugging a stanchion. "If 
 there 's one thing I pride myself on, it 's eluci- 
 dating riddles. Elucidator 's my middle name." 
 
 "Well, tell me what it is that 
 
326 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 'Flies through the air without wings, 
 Swims through the sea without fins, 
 Has nails but no toes, 
 Sheets but no clothes, 
 On each of its fingers wears rings." " 
 
 "Why, it 's poetry!" declared Harry. 
 
 "Well, I don't claim much for the rhymes," 
 answered the doctor, modestly. "Got it. Chub?" 
 
 "Er — well, you see, sir, being in rhyme makes 
 it more difficult." 
 
 The others jeered. 
 
 "Of course I don't mean that I can't guess it, 
 only that it requires more effort. Now let me see : 
 'Flies through the air without wings;' that 's a 
 balloon. 'Swims through the sea without fins;' 
 that 's — that 's an eel. Er — what was the rest, 
 doctor?" 
 
 "Has nails but no toes, 
 Sheets but no clothes, 
 On each of its fingers wears rings.' " 
 
 replied the doctor. 
 
 Chub was silent a moment. Then, "I — I think 
 it 's an ichthyosaurus," he said. 
 
 "You 'II have to guess again," laughed the 
 doctor. ' ' How about you, Dick ? ' ' 
 
THE BUEGLARY 327 
 
 "I give it up," answered Dick. 
 
 "So do I," said Eoy and Harry in unison. 
 
 "And you, Chub?" 
 
 "Well, of course I could get it in time, but as 
 the others are impatient, I won't stand in their 
 way, sir." 
 
 ' ' Very kind of you, sir ' ' said the doctor. "It 's 
 a ship." 
 
 Every one said "Oh I" — every one save Chub. 
 
 ' ' I should have guessed that next, ' ' he remarked 
 easily. 
 
 ' ' Oh, what a fib. Chub ! ' ' said Harry. ' ' You 'd 
 never have guessed it, and you know it." 
 
 "I don't quite see what you mean about 'nails 
 and no toes, ' ' ' said Dick. 
 
 "Don't you? Why, a ship 's put together with 
 nails, Dick." 
 
 ' ' Sure, ' ' murmured Dick, while the rest laughed. 
 "And — and how about the rest of it, sir?" 
 
 "A sheet is a rope that hoists a sail, as you 
 doubtless know," explained the doctor. "As for 
 the fingers and rings, why, the masts are the fin- 
 gers, and the rings are the wooden rings that the 
 sails are attached to. There you are, sir. ' ' 
 
 "To think of you making that up yourself!" 
 

 328 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 sighed Harry. "You did make it up yourself, 
 papa ? ' ' 
 
 "Yes, it 's quite home-made," was the reply. 
 "Suppose the rest of you try it." 
 
 I couldn't make mine rhyme," said Harry. 
 
 I never could make things rhyme." 
 
 "I will make up the first one," said Chub. 
 "Are you all ready?" They told him they were, 
 and Chub cleared his throat portentously. 
 
 "Well — er — why am I like a young pig with a 
 pink nose?" 
 
 "There 's so many reasons," said Dick, "but, to 
 keep you in good humor, I speak for all when I 
 say we give it up. ' ' 
 
 "Because I'm always Eaton: see? Eaton — 
 eating!" 
 
 "What 's the pink nose got to do with it?" 
 asked Eoy. 
 
 ' ' Oh, I just put that in to make it harder. ' ' 
 
 "That 's a rank conundrum!" jeered Dick. 
 
 "There speaks envy," returned Chub, sadly. 
 "Let 's hear you give a better one." 
 
 "All right. Why did the animals go into the 
 ark?" 
 
 "Because there was Noah else!" shouted 
 
THE BURGLARY 329 
 
 Harry. ' ' That 's an old one, Dick, and you 
 did n 't make it up at all. ' ' 
 
 "Didn't say I did. Chub challenged me to 
 give a better one, and I did it. ' ' 
 
 "Here 's one," said Roy. "I think it 's orig- 
 inal, but I won't vouch for it. When is a wagon 
 not a wagon?" 
 
 "When it 's a cart?" asked the doctor. 
 
 "No, sir." 
 
 "When it 's awheel," cried Harry, eagerly. 
 
 "N-no, but that is n't so bad. Give it up?" 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 "When it turns into a road." 
 
 "That 's lovely!" said Harry. "I must re- 
 member that. 'When is a wagon not a wagon? 
 When it 's a road;' no, no, 'when it turns into a 
 road.' I know one, but it 's not original." 
 
 "Out with it," said Chub. "The answer 's on 
 the tip of my tongue. ' ' 
 
 "Well, then, what 's the best age for a small 
 house?" 
 
 "Cott-age," answered Dick, to Harry's disap- 
 pointment. 
 
 "You knew it," she objected. "You ought to 
 have let Chub try." 
 
330 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 "Pshaw! he 'd never have guessed it. He 
 has n't guessed one yet." 
 
 "Just wanted to give the rest of you a show," 
 replied Chub, amiably. "Don't you know any 
 more, doctor?" 
 
 "Let me see," said the doctor. "I used to 
 know some. Here 's one; perhaps you all know 
 it, however." 
 
 " Do I know it, papa ? ' ' asked Harry. 
 
 "If you do you must n't tell. Now then : What 
 throat trouble did George Washington have when 
 he chopped down the cherry-tree ? ' ' 
 
 Nobody knew, and the doctor had to dispel their 
 ignorance. 
 
 "Why, a hacking cough, to be sure. And what 
 remedy did his father give him?" 
 
 "A licking," said Chub. "Hand me the prize, 
 please." 
 
 ' ' Oh, no ; this was a remedy for throat trouble. 
 He gave him cherry hawl-some." 
 
 "That 's great," laughed Chub. 
 
 The conundrums continued until Dick asked one 
 that broke up the meeting. That was: "How 
 long will it take to get Chub up in the morning if 
 we don't go to bed right away?" 
 
THE BUEGLAEY 331 
 
 ''That 's the easiest yet," said Eoy. "The 
 answer 's half an hour. ' ' 
 
 "Wait, please I" cried Harry. "I've just 
 thought of a lovely one. You know this, papa, 
 and so you must n't guess. What 's the differ- 
 ence between a spiritualist and a sailor?" 
 
 "I've heard that," said Dick. "It's some- 
 thing about ghosts, isn't it?" 
 
 "Yes, but you mustn't tell," warned Harry. 
 "Do you know it, Chub?" 
 
 "What, that? Huh, that was the first conun- 
 drum I ever made up! I got a prize for that!" 
 
 "Then what 's the answer, smarty?" 
 
 "Why — er — one goes to sea in the day and the 
 other goes to see in the dark. Come on, fel- 
 lows." 
 
 "That 's not right. Chub! Do you all give it 
 up? Well, the answer is, one sees to ghosts and 
 the other goes to sea." 
 
 "Wasn't that what I said?" demanded Chub 
 from the steps. "Hasn't she simply taken the 
 words from my mouth, Dick?" 
 
 "No, she hasn't," laughed Dick." 
 
 "Anyhow," said Chub aggrievedly, "it isn't 
 as nice as one I know about a chestnut." 
 
332 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 "Huh, I guess that 's what it is — about a chest- 
 nut!" 
 
 "Listen, Dickums!" Chub pulled Dick after 
 him down the steps and held him against the side 
 of the boat, "I '11 tell you, Dickums, and no one 
 else. You 've been a good friend to me. Don't 
 squirm so! Give me your full attention. Now; 
 What 's the difference between a good chestnut 
 and a bad chestnut? Answer: A worm. Cute, 
 isn't it? Laugh, Dickums, laugh, or I'll drop 
 you overboard!" 
 
 The next morning after breakfast Eoy and 
 Dick set out in search of vegetables and eggs, 
 milk and chickens, the doctor trudged off with 
 his fishing-rod, and Chub and Harry went to the 
 store. When they arrived, the curtains in the 
 windows were still down, and the note still hung 
 on the door. 
 
 "She didn't get back last night, I guess," said 
 Chub, as he unlocked the door and threw it wide 
 open. 
 
 "I do wonder when she will come," murmured 
 Harry. "Of course we can't stay here much 
 
The till was empty 
 
THE BURGLARY 335 
 
 longer. Papa said at breakfast that he thought 
 we ought to try a new fishing-place." 
 
 "My, but he loves to fish, does n't he?" laughed 
 Chub, as he raised the curtains and let the sun- 
 light in. "Any mail this morning T' 
 
 "Not a bit," answered Harry. "Let 's take 
 that list, Chub, and get the things together we 're 
 to take back to the boat. ' ' 
 
 "All right. I wonder what I did with it. If 
 I 've gone and lost it — no, here it is. Kerosene 
 —hello!" 
 
 "What?" cried Harry. 
 
 Chub pointed to the counter half-way down the 
 store. One glance was sufficient for Harry. 
 With a cry of alarm, she darted to the money- 
 drawer and pulled it open. 
 
 "Oh, Chub!" she wailed despairingly. 
 
 The till was empty. 
 
CHAPTER XXII 
 
 CLUES 
 
 THE money was gone from the drawer; boxes, 
 tins, and packages had been pulled from the 
 shelves, examined, and either tossed helter-skelter 
 back or left upon the counters, and on every side 
 lay evidence of the burglar's depredations. 
 
 "I said we oughtn't to leave the money here," 
 wailed Harry. 
 
 Chub did n't reply. He had seated himself on a 
 box and was frowning dejectedly about him. 
 
 "Who do you suppose did it"?" asked Harry. 
 
 "I don't know ivJio did it, but I know how it was 
 done," answered Chub. He pointed to the door 
 into the back yard. The panel nearest the lock 
 had been splintered in, and the marauder had evi- 
 dently thrust his hand through and turned the key 
 from the inside. 
 
 "What shall we say when Mrs. Peel comes?" 
 asked Harry, miserably. 
 
 336 
 
CLUES 337 
 
 "Tell her the store 's been broken into and 
 burglarized, ' ' answered Chnb, stolidly. " I '11 
 make up the money they stole, but I don't think 
 I ought to pay for the goods taken. And I im- 
 agine, from the looks of things, that the robbers 
 took more than twelve dollars' worth of stuff with 
 them." 
 
 "That 's the worst of it," mourned Harry. 
 "We can make up the money between us, for you 
 know very well. Chub, we aren't going to let you 
 pay it all, but we can't pay for the groceries and 
 things." 
 
 "We haven't even any way of finding out how 
 much they are worth, ' ' replied Chub. ' ' I suppose 
 I 'd better report the robbery to some one. I won- 
 der where the nearest police station is." 
 
 He got up and walked to the back door, Harry 
 following him, and examined it. 
 
 "Looks as though some one had just kicked his 
 foot through it, doesn't it?" he asked. "And 
 here he goes — hello, there must have been two 
 of them! You can see the footprints, Harry. 
 They just climbed the fence here, walked across 
 to the door, and smashed it in so that one of them 
 could put his hand through and turn the key. 
 
338 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 And here 's a match. ' ' He picked it up, examined 
 it, and dropped it into his pocket. ' ' They lighted 
 a candle or something — " 
 
 "There 's a candle over there beside the bar- 
 rel," said Harry. Chub picked it up. 
 
 "If it was a new one when they lighted it," he 
 said, "they must have been in here a good long 
 time. I don't believe a candle burns down that 
 much in less than twenty minutes or half an hour. 
 I wonder — " 
 
 He broke off and walked to one of the shelves. 
 A new box of tallow candles had been dragged 
 from its place, and one candle was missing from 
 the top layer. Between the counter and the door 
 he picked up four more matches and added them 
 to the one in his pocket. 
 
 "I don't suppose," he said thoughtfully, "that 
 they 've got any police around here who could 
 catch these fellows in a hundred years. So I 
 guess it doesn't make much difference whether 
 we report the robbery to-day or nest week. ' ' 
 
 * ' Oh, but we ought to tell some one right away, 
 Chub," exclaimed Harry. 
 
 "Well, I 'm going to look around first, anyway. 
 We ought to get some idea of what 's been taken. 
 
CLUES 339 
 
 I 'm glad I locked the door into tlie living-rooms. 
 Here 's tlie key just where I put it." 
 
 He started around the store, looking into dis- 
 placed boxes and cans and returning them to their 
 places. Presently Harry got a piece of paper and 
 began to put down a list of the things which they 
 believed had been taken. 
 
 "There were more sides of bacon than this," 
 said Chub. 
 
 "There were seven," said Harry. "I noticed 
 yesterday. They 've stolen four." 
 
 "Put it down," said Chub. "And they've 
 made a big hole here in the canned things. Looks 
 to me as though they 'd taken about two dozen 
 cans. You can see where they took peaches and 
 green-gage plums. Let 's see; put down six of 
 each, Harry, and about a dozen more assorted — 
 tomatoes, beans, and other truck. And sardines, 
 I guess; I don't know how many; say three or 
 four. That 's all they took here, I think." 
 
 He worked around the store, examining, tidy- 
 ing, and replacing, Harry following anxiously 
 with her paper and pencil. When they had fin- 
 ished they breathed easier. It seemed that the 
 robbers had confined themselves entirely to bacon 
 
340 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 and canned goods, altliongh, as Chub allowed, they 
 might have helped themselves to other things in 
 small quantities for all they knew. But at most 
 the value of the things taken would foot up well 
 under ten dollars. 
 
 ''Don't see why they did n't take more," mused 
 Chub. "They had all the time they wanted, ap- 
 parently." 
 
 "Maybe they had to carry the things a long 
 way," Harry suggested. Chub shot a questioning 
 glance at her. 
 
 "What do you mean?" he asked. 
 
 "Why, they might live a long way off," Harry 
 explained. "I don't believe it was any one who 
 lives here, do you?" 
 
 "No, I don't. It might have been a couple of 
 tramps. The railroad isn't more than a quarter 
 of a mile from here, and they may have been 
 walking along the track and got hungry and came 
 over to see what they could find. Only, how 'd 
 they know there was no one at home here ? ' ' 
 
 "That 's so," murmured Harry. "It looks as 
 though it must have been some one who knew 
 that Mrs. Peel was away, does n't it?" 
 
 "Yes," answered Chub, thoughtfully. "Well, 
 
CLUES 341 
 
 whoever they were, they cleaned up the cash- 
 drawer." He walked over to it and stared into 
 it, hands in pocket. ' ' There ought to have been a 
 lock on it, though I don't suppose that would have 
 kept them out." He turned away, and as he did 
 so something white on the floor under the counter 
 caught his eye. Picking it up, he bore it to the 
 light. It proved to be a crumpled wad of papers. 
 Chub smoothed them out, revealing Harry's 
 memoranda of sales, the letter to Jennie, and the 
 letter to Mrs. Peel. Both envelopes had been torn 
 open. 
 
 "Guess they thought there might be money in 
 them," said Chub. Then — "Look here, Harry," 
 he said, "I 'm going to read this one to Jennie 
 and see if Mrs. Peel says when she's coming 
 back. Under the circumstances I think it 's al- 
 lowable, don't you?" 
 
 "Yes," answered Harry. "I do. Because she 
 ought to know what 's happened, and if she is n't 
 coming to-day or to-morrow we must write to 
 her." 
 
 So Chub opened the letter and read it aloud : 
 
 "Dear Jennie: — I found Millie was very much bet- 
 ter when I got here, and there was n 't any real need of 
 20 
 
342 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 my coming, except James was worried and upset and 
 afraid she was going to be real sick. The doctor was 
 here about half an hour ago and says she is doing nicely. 
 It was just a touch of heat, but James thought it was a 
 fever. She was doing a heavy washing, and the weather 
 was terribly hot, and she just gave out like a flash. I 
 tell James he must have a woman to come in Mondays 
 and help Millie, and he agrees. Unless something un- 
 looked-for happens, I will be home day after to-morrow 
 afternoon, and if you have your bag packed you can go 
 right home the minute I get there, if you want to. 
 Your aunt Millie sends her love, and so does James. ' ' 
 
 "Tour aff. aunt, 
 "Amanda Peel." 
 
 "When was it written?" asked Harry. 
 
 "Day before yesterday," Chub answered. 
 ' ' That means that she will be back to-day. Well, 
 all the better. I 've had about all the storekeep- 
 ing I want." 
 
 "So have I," said Harry, dolefully. "And it 
 was such good fun until this morning, wasn't 
 it?" 
 
 "It wasn't bad. You stay here, and I '11 see 
 if I can find out where the nearest station is. 
 Tou are n't afraid, are you?" 
 
 "N — no," answered Harry, "I '11 stay near 
 the door." 
 
CLUES 343 
 
 She had no chance to be lonesome, for ten min- 
 utes after Chub left, almost the entire population 
 of the village had appeared on the scene, eager 
 for details of the robbery, anxious to see the 
 broken door, and highly curious about Harry. 
 Meanwhile Chub, seated behind Caesar and beside 
 Bennie Hooper, was being taken to Washington 
 Hills and the sheriff. Chub found the sheriff in 
 the middle of a horse trade in front of the livery- 
 stable. When, however, he had stated his er- 
 rand the horse trade was adjourned, and the sher- 
 iff followed Chub and Bennie back to the scene 
 of the robbery in his side-bar buggy. 
 
 The sheriff was a young, alert man, and Chub 
 had to own that he seemed quite intelligent. But 
 he did n 't offer them much hope. 
 
 "I reckon," he said, after he had looked over 
 the premises and heard all the particulars they 
 could give him, "that whoever done this job has 
 got away before this. Tramps, likely as not. It 
 looks like their sort of work; bungly, you see; 
 took no pains to hide their tracks. They was 
 hungry and couldn't find any place that looked 
 more promising. Probably had a gunny-sack and 
 filled it, and then went back to the railroad. The 
 
344 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 old lady was lucky they didn't take more." 
 
 "But doesn't it seem funny," asked Chub, 
 "that they should know the place was empty I" 
 
 "Well, you left a note on the door, didn't you? 
 Maybe they prowled around, found that, didn't 
 see any lights, and concluded they 'd take a 
 chance. Probably they tried the windows and 
 couldn't open 'em without breaking the glass, and 
 then went around back. Well, I '11 see what can 
 be done. But I guess it 's a hopeless job. Like 
 as not they 're ten miles or even twenty miles 
 away by now. Maybe they caught a freight. But 
 I 'U telegraph up and down the road. You leave 
 it to me, sir. Tell Mrs. Peel I '11 let her know if 
 anything comes up." 
 
 He climbed into his buggy and was off again. 
 They watched him go and then locked the store 
 and went back to the boat. It was almost noon, 
 and Dick and Eoy had just returned after a fruit- 
 ful journey to the neighboring farm. 
 
 "We got eggs and chickens and corn and beets 
 and peas and a whole half- gallon of milk!" called 
 Dick, jubilantly. "And some little round 
 squashes that you fry in bread-crumbs." 
 
CLUES 345 
 
 "Didn't you bring the things from the store?" 
 asked Eoy. 
 
 "No," Chub answered. 
 
 "Why not?" 
 
 "Well, I guess we sort of forgot them. Some 
 one broke into the store last night and stole the 
 money and a lot of groceries." 
 
 Presently, when Eoy and Dick had heard all 
 there was to hear, Chub decoyed Eoy to the tent, 
 out of hearing of Harry. 
 
 "I say, Eoy," he began, "do you remember 
 the other night when we found those cans of 
 peaches on the bed?" 
 
 "Sure," answered Eoy. 
 
 "Eemember we found a lot of matches on the 
 floor?" 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 "Eemember what sort they were?" 
 
 "What sort? No, just matches, weren't 
 they?" 
 
 ' ' Parlor matches ? ' ' 
 
 "Um — no, they were what we used to call 'all- 
 day matches,' the kind that come in cards and have 
 to be broken off." 
 
346 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 "Exactly, sulphur matches," agreed Chub. 
 "Well, look at these." He drew five burnt 
 matches from his pocket and held them out. 
 
 "Yes, I see," said Eoy. "Look like the same 
 kind, don't they? You think, then, that the fel- 
 low that Harry saw at her window is the same 
 fellow that robbed the store!" 
 
 "I think he was one of them," answered Chub, 
 decidedly. "Besides, he tried to steal canned 
 fruit from us, and they took about two dozen 
 cans of it last night." 
 
 "That 's so. Who do you think did it!" 
 
 "I don't know, but — I 've been wondering — I 
 say, how far do you think it is to where those 
 Gipsies are?" 
 
 "About two miles, I should say. Now, that 's 
 it, Chub! I '11 wager they did it!" 
 
 "Well, that 's what I think," said Chub. 
 "Now, look here. After dinner you and Dick had 
 better go back to the store with Harry and be 
 there when Mrs. Peel comes. I'll give you a 
 check to replace the stolen money. She won't lose 
 that, anyway." 
 
 "Oh, we '11 all contribute to that," said Eoy. 
 
CLUES 347 
 
 "I don't know that we 're bound to replace it, 
 though. We did n 't steal it. ' ' 
 
 "No, but I 'd feel better if we did. You fel- 
 lows need n't help, though ; I 've got enough to pay 
 for it all." 
 
 "Nonsense; we '11 go thirds on it. But what 
 are you going to do?" 
 
 "Go fishing," answered Chub, with a grin. 
 
 "Fishing?" 
 
 "Yes, up near where the Gipsies are camped." 
 
 "Pshaw, you can't find anything. Chub!" 
 
 "I don't suppose I can," replied Chub, mus- 
 ingly, "but — ^well, it won't do any harm to have a 
 look around." 
 
 "Let me go with you," said Eoy, eagerly. But 
 Chub shook his head. 
 
 "No, I '11 go alone. I want to look around the 
 camp a bit, and they won't think much of it if I 
 stumble in there alone. 
 
 "Don't think they '11 act, badly, do you?" asked 
 Eoy, uneasily. 
 
 " No ; why should they ? They won 't know what 
 I 'm up to. Maybe they won't see me. We 'd 
 better not let Harry know anything about it. 
 
348 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 though, because she still thinks she may have 
 dreamed that chap at her window. If she knows 
 it really was a man, she '11 be scared to death all 
 the rest of the time we 're here." 
 
 "I don't see what we want to stay here for, 
 anyhow," said Eoy, disgustedly. "The fishing 's 
 absolutely no good." 
 
 "Well, I think we '11 move on to-morrow. It 
 would have saved us money if we 'd gone before. 
 There 's the doctor coming back. I '11 tell him 
 about it now, so Harry won't know." 
 
 "Too bad, too bad!" said the doctor, when Chub 
 had told his story. "But I would n't let it worry 
 me much. As for the money, why, we can fix that 
 up easily enough among ourselves. I don't be- 
 lieve I 'd run any risks. Chub, by poking my 
 head into that Gipsy camp. They 're an evil- 
 looking lot. I came by there this morning again 
 after I 'd caught these." He looked down rue- 
 fully at the string of five small trout which he 
 carried. 
 
 "I don't think there 's any danger, sir," an- 
 swered Chub. "Don't worry; I 'II be back long 
 before supper-time." 
 
 But Chub was mistaken there. 
 
CHAPTER XXin 
 
 IN THE GIPSY CAMP 
 
 AFTER luncheon Dr. Emery remained in charge 
 of the boat, Harry and Roy and Dick re- 
 turned to the store, and Chub wandered non- 
 chalantly away with his fishing-pole. Harry de- 
 clared that he was as mean as he could be to 
 desert them now, just when Mrs. Peel was coming 
 back, but Chub was quite heartless and went off 
 whistling. At the parting of the roads he waved 
 them good-by, but Harry refused to notice him. 
 With a resentful toss of her head she walked 
 straight on, her little tip-tilted nose held high in 
 air. 
 
 Chub smiled as he turned and took up his jour- 
 ney. It was the hottest sort of a hot day, and 
 the road wound on without a speck of shade for 
 the better part of a mile. He crossed the rail- 
 road and after a while found himself at the sum- 
 mit of a hill, with the river valley stretching along 
 
 349 
 
350 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 beneath him north and south for as far as the eye 
 could reach. There was a small group of sumac- 
 bushes beside the road here, and he threw him- 
 self down in the scanty shade it afforded and 
 rested for a few minutes. Then he climbed a 
 stone wall, crossed an upland meadow, and so 
 came to a stream. It was rather a good-sized 
 affair and very noisy, for it was hurrying down- 
 hill over a bed of boulders. Pools were few and 
 far between here, but he followed the stream up 
 as it wound around the side of the hill, and even- 
 tually found a place where a big lichen-covered 
 rock backed the water up into a shallow basin. The 
 place didn't look as though it held many trout, 
 but he selected a fly and made his cast. At the 
 end of ten minutes or so he had landed a miserable 
 little fish, not much more than a fingerling, which 
 under ordinary circumstances he would have dis- 
 dained to keep. But it was already approaching 
 mid-afternoon, and he couldn't afford to be par- 
 ticular. Two more youngsters were added to his 
 string during the next quarter of an hour, and 
 then Chub decided that he had enough for his 
 purpose, for he only wanted to convince the Gip- 
 sies that he was a bona fide trout-fisher and not 
 
IN THE GIPSY CAMP 351 
 
 an emissary of the sheriff's office. Stringing his 
 catch on a willow twig, he disjointed his rod and 
 slipped it back into its case, dropped his fly-book 
 into his pocket, and took up his journey again. 
 
 He kept on around the side of the hill and 
 presently was back on the road, which had begun 
 to dip into a narrow valley which divided it from 
 the higher range of hills to the westward. He 
 proceeded slowly and cautiously now, for he 
 didn't know how near the Gipsy encampment 
 might be, and he wanted to look it over before he 
 decided on a course of action. He met no one on 
 the road save a farmer jogging along half asleep 
 on top of a load of hay. Presently a speck of 
 grayish white caught his eye. Surmising it to be 
 one of the Gipsy tents, he left the road and 
 plunged into the woods to the right. It was very 
 still and warm. Once he thought he heard voices 
 in the direction of the tent, and presently, as he 
 went softly through the trees and undergrowth, 
 the gurgling of a stream reached him. He kept 
 on until he had found it, and then followed along 
 the bank, feeling pretty certain that it would lead 
 him to the encampment. Nor was he mistaken, 
 for fifty yards farther on the tents came into view 
 
352 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 between the trees. He dropped to his hands and 
 knees and worked cautiously forward until the 
 undergrowth stopped. There, lying behind a 
 bush, he reconnoitered. 
 
 The spot which the Gipsies had selected for 
 their camp was an ideal one. On one side lay 
 the road, on the other the brook. It is probable 
 that the band had camped there each summer for 
 a number of years and that their occupancy of 
 the spot had denuded it of underbrush. At all 
 events, it was quite clear of bushes and was just 
 such a place as one would have picked out for a 
 picnic. The trees were scattered, but gave plenty 
 of shade; there was a fine turf underfoot; the 
 road was at their front door and water at their 
 back. 
 
 There were two big, gaily painted vans and five 
 tents, the latter scattered about apparently at 
 haphazard. One tent, a circular one and the 
 largest of the lot, was set in the center of the 
 grove, and this Chub guessed to be the queen's 
 apartment. Here and there clothes hung drying 
 or airing from the branches, some bales of hay 
 were piled beside one of the wagons, there was a 
 pungent odor of smoke from a smoldering fire. 
 
IN THE GIPSY CAMP 353 
 
 Chub counted eight horses tethered about where 
 they could crop the grass. Outside one of the 
 tents hung a string of baskets, and in the air, 
 mingling with the odor of the wood-smoke, was a 
 faint perfume of sweet-grass. Each tent ap- 
 peared to have its own fireplace and commissary. 
 Kettles and pans littered the ground about the 
 piles of ashes, and here and there dried branches 
 were heaped for fuel. It was all rather interest- 
 ing, and for a moment Chub quite forgot his er- 
 rand. 
 
 There were three men, perhaps twice as many 
 women, and several children, the children ranging 
 in age all the way from that of the baby, who 
 kicked and crowed in his mother 's arms, to that of 
 the lad of apparently twelve, who was lazily break- 
 ing up fire-wood with an ax at the far side of the 
 camp. The men were frankly idle, sitting with 
 pipes in mouth outside one of the tents. 
 
 The women, all save the one with the baby, were 
 busy. One was mixing something for supper in a 
 flat tin pan, others were weaving baskets, and an- 
 other was sewing. Chub had always imagined 
 Gipsies to be rather picturesque folks, with ear- 
 rings and brightly hued costumes. But there was 
 
354 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 little of the picturesque about these. The women 
 wore calico dresses of blue or brown, the men 
 were clad in things that would have disgraced a 
 tramp, and the children came into, apparently, 
 whatever was left. Chub, looking them over, de- 
 cided that the doctor was quite right; they cer- 
 tainly were an evil-looking lot, and he wondered 
 what their course would be if they suddenly dis- 
 covered him lying here behind the bush. They 
 looked as though they would hesitate at nothing. 
 And just when he had reached that decision, one 
 of the men broke into laughter, the others joined 
 him, and the women smiled in sympathy, the 
 swarthy faces falling into soft lines and the dark 
 eyes glinting merrily. Perhaps, Chub reflected, 
 they were human, after all. This, under the cir- 
 cumstances in which he found himself, was an 
 encouraging thought. 
 
 He had come there with the idea that possibly 
 he might catch sight of something which would 
 prove that the burglary had been performed by 
 one of their number. He had scarcely expected 
 to find them seated in a circle dividing the spoils, 
 but it had not seemed impossible that he might 
 discover a telltale can of peaches or a side of ba- 
 
IN THE GIPSY CAMP 355 
 
 con. But now, search as lie did, not one speck of 
 incriminating evidence could he see. The only 
 course remaining, then, was to retrace his steps 
 through the woods and approach the camp openly 
 by the road. Perhaps, if he made beheve that he 
 had lost his way and asked them to set him right, 
 he might get an opportunity to look around the 
 camp and possibly see inside one or two of the 
 tents. He might even buy a basket or two. But, 
 on the point of creeping away, a new plan oc- 
 curred to him, a plan which engaged his ardor 
 because of its sheer recklessness. 
 
 The nearest tent was about thirty feet from 
 where he lay, its back toward him. Xo sounds 
 came from it, but he couldn't be sure that it was 
 unoccupied, for all of that. Yet, somehow, he be- 
 lieved that it was. It seemed fair to assume that 
 the three men in sight were the only ones left in 
 camp ; that the others were away, peddling, dick- 
 ering for horses, fishing. Surely no one would 
 remain in a stuffy tent a hot day like this, he 
 thought. By creeping a few yards to the left 
 he would have the tent between him and the Gip- 
 sies, unless some of the children, who were fairly 
 quiet under the effects of the heat, should take 
 
356 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 it into their heads to roam his way. But that was 
 a risk he could afford to take, he decided. Once 
 at the back of the tent, he could easily raise the 
 canvas and look in. It might be that he would 
 discover nothing for his pains, but, on the other 
 hand, he might find a good deal. 
 
 Leaving his rod and the fish under the bush 
 and mentally locating it so that he could recover 
 them later on, he crept back and made a detour 
 of a dozen yards toward the road. "When he again 
 reached the edge of the clearing, the tent was in 
 front of him and the Gipsies out of sight. Paus- 
 ing a moment to rest, for creeping on hands and 
 knees is breath-taking work, he slid stealthily 
 from cover and crept toward the tent. He did n't 
 pause to listen, for the sooner he was behind the 
 tent the sooner he would be well hidden. But 
 when he crouched against the soiled canvas he 
 paused and barkened intently, his heart pounding 
 against his ribs like a hammer. Only the mur- 
 muring of voices reached him, however, and he 
 breathed easier. 
 
 Putting his head down, he peered under the edge 
 of the canvas, and his heart gave a throb of tri- 
 
IN THE GIPSY CAMP 357 
 
 umph, for there, not a foot from his nose, were a 
 dozen or more of the stolen cans ! 
 
 They were piled on the ground at the back of 
 the tent, the corner of a yellow horse-blanket half 
 covering them. Chub squirmed until his head 
 and shoulders were inside the tent, and reached 
 forward. Beyond the cans were two of the strips 
 of bacon, wedged in between them and a bale of 
 hay. Not a sound came from the tent. Noise- 
 lessly Chub drew the rest of his body inside and 
 peered around the corner of the bale. The tent 
 was empty. Three beds composed of narrow 
 straw-filled ticks were in sight, a small old-fash- 
 ioned trunk, cooking utensils, some clothes swing- 
 ing from the ridge-pole, a couple of empty boxes 
 on top of one of which lay a pack of dirty play- 
 ing-cards and a pile of harness. Chub smiled his 
 satisfaction and then pondered his next step. If 
 the stolen groceries were here it was plausible to 
 suppose that the money was here, too. Of course 
 it might be in the thief's pocket, but Chub didn't 
 believe that Gipsies were in the habit of carrying 
 much money around with them. If only he knew 
 where to lookl 
 
 21 
 
358 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 The flap of the tent was open, and through the 
 opening he could see the woman with the bahy, 
 and two of the children rolling about on the grass. 
 If, he thought, he could only close the flap ! Then 
 he saw a way of accomplishing that result. By 
 keeping close to the side of the tent on the right 
 he would be out of sight of the Gipsies and 
 could creep around and loosen the flap. So he 
 dodged back behind the bale of hay to the farther 
 wall of the tent, and crept along it until he could 
 reach the flap. It fell into place, cutting off the 
 shaft of hot sunlight that had flooded the front 
 of the tent. As it fell, he dropped to the ground 
 and peeked out under the bottom to see if it had 
 been noticed. But, save that one of the men had 
 got to his feet and was standing yawning and 
 stretching, the inhabitants of the camp were much 
 as he had seen them last. He waited and watched 
 until the yawning man had stretched himself out 
 in the shade and pillowed his face in his arms. 
 Then he began his search. As rapidly and as 
 quietly as he could he began at one corner of the 
 tent and worked around to it again, lifting blan- 
 kets, boxes, beds, cooking-utensils, and whatever 
 else he found. He searched the ticking of the 
 
Two men entered the tent 
 
IN THE GIPSY CAMP 361 
 
 mattresses for slits through which the money 
 might have been thrust, and he tipped the bale 
 of hay up and looked under it. But when he had 
 completed the circuit of the tent he was forced to 
 acknowledge defeat, for not a penny of money 
 had he found. It was hot and stifling since he 
 had closed the flap, and the perspiration was pour- 
 ing from his face, when he finally paused non- 
 plussed and sought about in vain for some hid- 
 ing-place he had overlooked. At that moment 
 footsteps sounded close beside the tent, shadows 
 passed across the sloping canvas, and Chub's 
 heart jumped into his mouth. With a bound he 
 reached the bale of hay and tumbled himself be- 
 hind it just as the flap was lifted and two men en- 
 tered the tent. 
 
CHAPTER XXIV 
 
 AN OLD ACQUAINTANCE APPEARS 
 
 WHEN Eoy and Dick and Harry reached the 
 store they found, to their satisfaction, that 
 the village inhabitants had gazed their fill and 
 gone. Eoy and Dick amused themselves for a 
 while in discovering clues and evolving theories, 
 but that amusement finally palled, and they joined 
 Harry at the front of the store and awaited the 
 advent of Mrs. Peel. With the doors open front 
 and back it was fairly cool, although outside the 
 sun was baking hot. Two hours wore themselves 
 away to the slow ticking of the old clock, and Dick 
 became restless. 
 
 "My!" he exclaimed, "I wish the old lady 
 would come if she's coming!" 
 
 "So do I," said Eoy, heartily. "And I wish 
 I could get a drink of cold water somewhere." 
 
 "Why not use the watering-trough?" asked 
 
 362 
 
AN OLD ACQUAINTANCE APPEARS 363 
 
 Dick. "Come on. I 'm thirsty, too. Have 
 some, Harry?" 
 
 But Harry declined, and the boys went out and 
 held their mouths to the little iron pipe. And 
 while they were drinking a two-seated carriage 
 turned the corner and drew up in front of the 
 store. On the back seat were Mrs. Peel and a tall 
 man who, in spite of the heat, wore a long black 
 frock-coat buttoned tightly about his lank form. 
 
 "That 's Mrs. Peel!" whispered Eoy. "Come 
 on!" 
 
 Mrs. Peel climbed nimbly out of the carriage 
 and entered the store, while her companion re- 
 mained to haggle with the driver over the amount 
 to be paid for the drive from the station. Roy 
 and Dick entered close behind Mrs. Peel. 
 
 "How do you do?" asked Harry, in a small 
 voice. 
 
 "Why, bless me, my dear," exclaimed Mrs. 
 Peel, "I didn't think to find you here!" She 
 looked about the store. "Where 's Jennie?" 
 
 "She didn't come," answered Harry, gaining 
 courage, "and so we. 've been keeping store for 
 you. And we sold over twelve dollars' worth of 
 things — " 
 
364 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 "I want to know!" said Mrs. Peel, beamingly. 
 
 ' ' Yes 'm, but last night some one broke into the 
 store and stole the money and a lot of things ! ' ' 
 
 The little woman paled and glanced apprehen- 
 sively about her. 
 
 "Burglars!" she whispered. "But who — " 
 
 "I guess we don't have to look very far for 
 'em," said a voice at the doorway. Eoy and 
 Dick started and looked up. It was the man in 
 the black frock-coat. 
 
 "Thunder!" muttered Eoy, softly. "It 's Jim 
 Ewing!" 
 
 "This is my brother-in-law, Mr. Ewing," fal- 
 tered Mrs. Peel. "This young lady is the one I 
 was telling you about, James, and these gentlemen 
 — they are friends of yours, my dear?" 
 
 "Yes," answered Harry, "we 're all together 
 with my father and Chub — you saw him the other 
 day — on a house-boat." 
 
 Roy and Dick were gazing fascinatedly at the 
 farmer, and Mr. Ewing was staring malevolently 
 back at them. 
 
 "James, there 's been thieves here," said Mrs. 
 Peel, "and they stole — how much did they take, 
 Miss?" 
 
AN OLD ACQUAINTANCE APPEARS 365 
 
 "They took all the money in the drawer," said 
 Harry, ' ' and we reckoned up that they 'd taken 
 about nine dollars' worth of bacon and canned 
 goods. They broke in the back door — ■" 
 
 "Up to your old tricks again, are ye?" asked 
 Mr. Ewing, harshly. "Ain't content with rob- 
 bing farms, eh? Have to take the bread out of 
 the mouths of the widows and orphans, too, do 
 ye?" 
 
 "Why, James !" ejaculated Mrs. Peel, bewilder- 
 edly. "You don't understand! These aren't 
 the thieves! These gentlemen are — " 
 
 "Don't need to tell me anything about 'em," 
 grunted the farmer. "We 've met before, ain't 
 we?" 
 
 "We have," replied Roy, dryly. 
 
 "Didn't think you 'd dare deny it," was the 
 triumphant response. "Well, I guess we 've met 
 once too frequent for your good, you young ras- 
 cals! I guess — " 
 
 "Why, what do you mean, James?" cried Mrs. 
 Peel, nervously. 
 
 "Mean? Mean that these folks is a parcel of 
 thieves, that 's what I mean, Amanda ! Travel 
 around country, they do, in some sort of a floatin' 
 
366 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 robbers' den. They broke into my house early 
 in the spring and stole more 'n thirty dollars 
 worth of silverware. And then here a while ago, 
 when Millie was up visiting you, they come around 
 again, and I found 'em at their tricks and pretty 
 nigh got 'em. But this time I '11 wager they '11 
 get what they deserve. You go out, Amanda, and 
 send some one for the constable." 
 
 But Mrs. Peel was beyond running errands. 
 She subsided into a chair and fanned herself with 
 her bonnet, looking dazed and frightened. 
 
 "You said they was friends of yours," she 
 whispered weakly to Harry. 
 
 "They are," replied Harry, stoutly and indig- 
 nantly, "and this gentleman is quite mistaken. 
 The store was robbed last night, while we were 
 all asleep on the boat or in the tent." 
 
 "Of course, of course," chuckled the farmer. 
 "You did n't know anything about it, young lady; 
 I don't say you did. But I guess these fellers 
 here can pretty nigh put their hands on the things 
 if they want to. Where 's the other chap?" he 
 demanded of Roy. 
 
 "He 's — he 's fishing," answered Eoy. 
 
 "Fishin', eh I Carried a bag along with him, 
 
AN OLD ACQUAINTANCE APPEARS 367 
 
 didn't he? To bring the fish home in, eh? Yes, 
 he-'s fishin', I '11 be bound — fishin' in hen-coops, 
 likely! Got a room where we can lock 'em in, 
 Amanda, till the constable comes?" 
 
 "Why, James, I — I — don't know what to think! 
 I'm sure these young gentlemen wouldn't do 
 such a thing! And — and even if there is a few 
 things missing," she continued, nervously, "I — 
 I wouldn't want to make any trouble, James." 
 
 * ' You don 't need to, ' ' he replied, grimly. " I '11 
 make the trouble. Now you get up and march 
 into the house, right through that side door 
 there." This to Roy and Dick. 
 
 "Look here, Mr. Ewing," said Roy, calmly, 
 you 've made a fool of yourself once before, and 
 it's time to quit. We weren't robbing your 
 house that other time, and we don't know any 
 more about this affair than we 've told you. And 
 if you think we 're going to let you lock us up in a 
 stuffy old room just so you can make a goose of 
 yourself, you 're mightily mistaken. Come on, 
 Harry, and leave this crazy man to himself." 
 
 ' ' No, you don 't ! " cried the farmer. ' ' You stay 
 where you are ! I 'm going to have the law on 
 you, I say! Don't you defy the law now! Don't 
 
368 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 you do it! If you do it '11 go hard with you, I 
 tell you that ! I 've warned ye ! " 
 
 "James," gasped Mrs. Peel, "don't be violent! 
 Just — just let 's hear what they have to say. You 
 tell me, my dear, all about it. ' ' 
 
 "Then he mustn't call Eoy and Dick thieves," 
 answered Harry, angrily. "He 's a horrid old 
 man, whoever he is." 
 
 "Tell Mrs. Peel all about it, Harry," said Roy, 
 in a bored tone. ' ' See if you can make her under- 
 stand. ' ' 
 
 "Well," said Harry, pausing a moment to col- 
 lect her thoughts, "it was like this." And she 
 told the story of the burglary from the time of 
 Mrs. Peel's departure to the station to her return. 
 Mr. Ewing sniffed and snorted at intervals, and 
 Dick looked several times as though he was hav- 
 ing hard work to refrain from pitching into him, 
 but Mrs. Peel listened' attentively to every word, 
 and when the narrative was finished turned in 
 triumph to her brother-in-law. 
 
 "There, James," she said. "I told you you 
 were mistaken. And these young gentlemen have 
 put the money back in the drawer — which I 'm 
 
AN OLD ACQUAINTANCE APPEARS 371 
 
 sure they aren't beholden to do — and it 's there 
 now." 
 
 "A check!" scoffed the farmer. "I reckon I 
 wouldn't count too much on any piece of paper 
 they give you. ' ' But it was to be seen, neverthe- 
 less, that Mr. Ewing was somewhat shaken in 
 mind, for it would have been very difficult for any 
 one to have disbelieved Harry's story. 
 
 "Oh, if that 's all that 's troubling you," said 
 Roy, we '11 give you the cash instead." 
 
 "And how about the other things you stole?" 
 
 "We didn't steal them. And I guess you '11 
 have to look for them yourself," said Roy, wear- 
 
 iiy. 
 
 "And how about my silverware?" 
 
 "Oh, bother your silverware!" exploded Dick. 
 "I don't believe you ever owned any! Anyhow, 
 I 'm sick of hearing about it. Come on, Roy, 
 let 's mosey along. " 
 
 But the farmer strode to the door, closed it, 
 turned the key in the lock, and dropped the key 
 into his pocket. 
 
 "You '11 stay where you are a bit longer," he 
 snarled. "I ain't decided yet what to do with 
 
372 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 you." Then, before either Roy or Dick remem- 
 bered the back door, he had headed them off in 
 that direction as well, and, with both keys in his 
 pocket, was master of the situation. 
 
CHAPTER XXV 
 
 MB. EWING IS SUSPICIOUS 
 
 DICK looked eagerly at Eoy, but Roy shook his 
 head. So far they had done nothing to 
 merit punishment, but if they set on the farmer 
 he would have good cause for complaint against 
 them. Besides, as Eoy realized, it was doubtful 
 if they could overcome Mr. Ewing in a tussle. 
 Roy perched himself on the counter again and 
 shrugged his shoulders. 
 
 "You 're making a fool of yourself," he said, 
 "just as I begged you not to do." The farmer 
 paid no heed to him. 
 
 "You get your things off, Amanda," he said, 
 "and look around and see just what 's gone. I 
 reckon if these fellers own up to nine dollars' 
 worth you '11 find a heap more than that missing ! ' ' 
 
 "You 're a horrid, ugly, suspicious old man!" 
 cried Harry, hotly. "And just as soon as I get 
 
 373 
 
374 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 back to the boat I 'm going to tell my father on 
 you ! ' ' 
 
 Mr. Ewing regarded her thoughtfully. 
 
 "Father 's with you, is he?" 
 
 "Yes, he is!" 
 
 "Guess you and your father was n't with these 
 fellers a while back, was you? When they stopped 
 and paid me a visit ? ' ' 
 
 "No, but we know all about it. The boys only 
 stopped at your place to buy some milk, and your 
 dog got after them and drove them into the 
 house." 
 
 "Well, I ain't saying you 've got anything to 
 do with this," said the farmer, quite kindly. 
 "And if you want to run along home I ain't got 
 no objections, Miss." 
 
 "I sha'n't go until you let Eoy and Dick go," 
 replied Harry, spiritedly. "You haven't any 
 right to keep us here. ' ' 
 
 "I ain't keeping you. Miss. I offered to let 
 you out. You run along, Amanda, and do as I 
 tell you to. The sooner we find out what 's miss- 
 ing, the better." 
 
 "Well," said Mrs. Peel, arising with a sigh, 
 
ME. EWING IS SUSPICIOUS 375 
 
 "I don't know what to say, James. It don't seem 
 to me as you 're doing right. ' ' 
 
 "Don't you worry about me, Amanda. I '11 
 stand good for my actions." 
 
 With another sigh and a troubled, doubtful 
 look about her, the little woman went toward the 
 door into the living-rooms. 
 
 "You '11 find the key on the third shelf at the 
 right," said Harry. "We locked the door yester- 
 day." 
 
 "Might as well have a look around in there, 
 too," advised Mr. Ewing. "Maybe they 'vebeen 
 collectin' silverware again." 
 
 Dick groaned loudly, and the farmer cast a bale- 
 ful look at him as Mrs. Peel disappeared. Harry 
 joined the boys, and they discussed the situation 
 in whispers, while Mr. Ewing stood guard near 
 the front door. 
 
 "What 's the good of being huffy?" asked Eoy. 
 "It 's nothing but a lark, anyway." 
 
 "But look at the time," said Dick. "Six 
 o'clock already, and I 'm as hungry as a bear. 
 And the doctor wiU wonder what 's become of 
 
376 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 "That 's so. I say, Harry, you 'd better run 
 along to the boat and bring the doctor and Chub 
 with you. There 's no use in missing our sup- 
 per just to please this old galoot." 
 
 "Well, I will," answered Harry. "I guess 
 when papa comes he will have something to say 
 to this man!" She shot a vindictive look at the 
 unperturbed Mr. Ewing. "If you '11 kindly un- 
 lock the door," she announced, haughtily, "I '11 
 go." 
 
 "Very well," said the farmer, "but you fellers 
 just stay where you be; understand?" 
 
 "Yes, we understand," replied Eoy. "We 
 won't try to rush you. Don't you suppose we 
 could get out of here if we wanted to try!" 
 
 "Maybe; maybe not," answered Mr. Ewing, as 
 he unlocked the door. "Anyhow, you 'd better 
 not try it." 
 
 "Good-by," called Harry. "I '11 bring papa 
 right back." 
 
 ' ' Oh, take your time, ' ' replied Roy, with a wave 
 of his hand. "We 're quite comfortable. Be- 
 sides, we have the inestimable pleasure of Mr. 
 Swing's society." 
 
 The door closed again, and the farmer returned 
 
ME. EWING IS SUSPICIOUS 377 
 
 the key grimly to Ms pocket. After a few min- 
 utes Mrs. Peel returned. 
 
 "Not a thing 's gone from the house, James," 
 she announced. 
 
 "Are you certain sure?" asked Mr. Ewing. 
 
 "Of course I am," she replied, tartly. 
 
 "Well, now you take a look around the store." 
 
 Mrs. Peel proceeded to do so. When she came 
 to the money-drawer she found the check which 
 Harry had placed there. She brought it to Mr. 
 Ewing, and the latter looked it all over care- 
 fully. 
 
 "It looks perfectly good, don't it, James?" she 
 asked, anxiously. 
 
 "Yes, it looJcs all right," he acknowledged, 
 grudgingly, "but it 's the best-lookin' checks 
 that 's the worthlessest. Horace Collins, over to 
 Highwood, took a check like this from a stranger 
 once, and it wa'n't a bit of good. Came back to 
 him marked right across the face of it, 'No funds.' 
 You can't ever tell by lookin' at a cheek what it 's 
 worth, Amanda. ' ' 
 
 Eoy and Dick sat on the edge of the counter 
 and swung their heels and grinned. 
 
 Mrs. Peel continued her investigation, and when 
 
 22 
 
378 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 she was through she did some figuring, dipping 
 the little stump of a pencil at frequent intervals 
 into the corner of her mouth. Finally : 
 
 "It 's just as they said, James," she an- 
 nounced. "I can't see as anything 's missing ex- 
 cept the canned things and the bacon. And that 
 foots up to just eight dollars and forty cents." 
 
 "Glad to hear it," said Mr. Ewing, in tones 
 which belied his assertion. "It might have been 
 a heap worse." He turned to the boys. "If 
 Amanda 's willing to take that money in cash in- 
 stead of paper and let you off, I ain't got any- 
 thing more to say. If I was her I 'd have ye all 
 put in jail, but women-folks are soft-hearted and 
 easy-goin', and it 's for her to say." 
 
 "Of course," said Mrs. Peel, hurriedly, "this 
 check may be all right. I don 't get many of them, 
 you see, and don't pretend to be able to tell the 
 good ones from the bad. But James says it 's 
 risky, and so if you gentlemen would n't mind just 
 giving me the money instead — " 
 
 "We 'd do it in a minute for you, ma'am," 
 Eoy answered, "but this gentleman here has got 
 on my nerves. So I guess that, seeing we aren't 
 
ME. EWING IS SUSPICIOUS 379 
 
 liable for that money anyway, it '11 have to be the 
 check or nothing." 
 
 "Didn't you agree — " began the farmer, an- 
 grily. 
 
 "There, there, James," Mrs. Peel soothed. 
 "There ain't any cause to pursue the subject. 
 They 're right, I guess; they ain't bound to pay 
 back what the burglars took, and I don't know 
 as I ought to take the money from them." She 
 laid the check on the edge of the counter and ob- 
 served it dubiously. 
 
 "That 's all right, ma'am," said Dick. "We 
 want you to have it. We 've made it up between 
 us. It was n't our fault that the store was broken 
 into, but still we were left in charge, after a fash- 
 ion, and we 'd feel better about it if you let us 
 pay." 
 
 Farmer Ewing laughed sarcastically. 
 
 "Gettin' out of it pretty cheap at that, I guess," 
 he sneered. "If it was my store — " 
 
 "Oh, see here, now, if it was your store you 'd 
 have had no customers ! ' ' broke out Eoy. 
 
 Further hostilities were interrupted by a knock 
 at the door. Mr. Ewing turned the key and 
 
380 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 looked out. Then the door swung open, and the 
 doctor and Harry appeared. 
 
 "Well," said the doctor, gravely and quietly, 
 "what 's going on here, pray?" 
 
 "Is he your father!" asked the farmer of Har- 
 ry. She nodded. 
 
 "Then I '11 explain to him," said Mr. Ewing. 
 He started in and had reached the robbery of his 
 farm in June, when his silverware had been taken, 
 when the doctor smiled and held up his hand. 
 
 "One moment, sir," said the doctor. "I hap- 
 pen to know exactly where all three of these 
 young gentlemen were during the first three weeks 
 of June, and it is quite impossible that they 
 could have had anything to do with taking your 
 silver. As for the time they visited your farm 
 and were found by you in your house, their ex- 
 planation is quite truthful. I 've known them all 
 for periods of from three to five years, sir, and 
 I assure you that you can believe what they tell 
 you. As for attempting to connect them with the 
 recent burglary here, why, that is quite absurd. 
 I think, Mr. Ewing, that you have allowed your 
 imagination to run away with you." 
 
HE. EWING IS SUSPICIOUS 381 
 
 "Sounds mighty fine," growled Mr. Ewing, 
 "but how do I know who you are?" 
 
 "My name is Emery, sir, and I 'm principal 
 of the Ferry Hill School at Ferry Hill, which, as 
 you probably know, is only a short distance down 
 the river from here. These boys have all been 
 my pupils, and this young lady is my daughter. 
 Now, boys, I guess we 'd better get back to sup- 
 per." 
 
 Dick and Eoy followed the doctor to the door, 
 Mr. Ewing offering no objection. At that mo- 
 ment there was the sound of an automobile horn, 
 and a big gray car swept down the road and 
 stopped with a jarring of brakes in front of the 
 store. In the front seat sat Chub and Joe Whit- 
 ing; in the back of the car were the sheriff and 
 three chaps of about Whiting's age. 
 
 "Hello, there!" cried Chub, cheerily. "Mrs. 
 Peel in? Tell her we 've got pretty nearly all her 
 stuff, and what we couldn't find we 've brought 
 the money for!" 
 
CHAPTER XXVI 
 chub's adventure 
 
 IT was after eight o'clock, and they were back 
 at camp, eating a much-delayed supper and 
 listening to the story of Chub's adventures. 
 
 "I just had time to get behind that bale of hay 
 with the horse-blanket over it when they came into 
 the tent. I thought sure they 'd seen me! I 
 made myself as small as possible and felt around 
 for the bottom of the canvas, thinking every min- 
 ute they 'd reach down and pull me out." 
 
 "Oh, but you were scared!" laughed Eoy. 
 
 "I was," asknowledged Chub. "You 'd have 
 been seared, too." 
 
 "Then what happened?" asked Harry, eagerly. 
 
 "Now, if Dickums will cut a few more slices 
 of bread I '11. proceed with the narrative. I 'm as 
 hungry as a bear!" 
 
 "Well," Chub proceeded, a& he buttered an- 
 other slice of bread and helped himself to the 
 
 382 
 
CHUB'S ADVENTURE 383 
 
 stewed apricots, "I got my feet through under 
 the bottom of the tent and squirmed out until I 
 just had my head inside. I was n't going to leave 
 that there, but just then the two Gipsies began 
 shouting and quarreling with each other, and I 
 was pretty certain that they didn't know I was 
 around. So I stayed still a moment and listened. 
 I could n 't understand more than one word in 
 three, for they used the funniest language I ever 
 heard, but I didn't have any trouble making out 
 that one chap wanted money and the other did n 't 
 want to give it to him. I thought every minute 
 they were going to fight, but they didn't; just 
 romped around and called each other things in 
 Gipsy language — and sometimes in English — and 
 raised all sorts of a rumpus. I thought you could 
 have heard them a quarter of a mile away, and I 
 wondered why the other folks didn't come over 
 to see what was up. But I suppose they 're used 
 to it. Presently I got my head outside, too, but in 
 such a position that I could see in under the can- 
 vas and hear everything. 
 
 "Pretty soon they calmed down, and I heard 
 one of them saying something about a dollar, and 
 the other fellow saying 'Two dollars! Two dol- 
 
384 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 lars!' over and over. And finally one of them 
 hove in sight, and I ducked quick. I heard him 
 fussing around back of the bale of hay, and 
 thought he was getting some of the canned things 
 for supper. I lifted the canvas a little way and 
 saw that he was n't looking toward me at all. He 
 was leaning over the bale and pulling a piece of 
 brown paper out between the layers of hay. When 
 he had it out he opened it, and I felt like kicking 
 myself. For there were bills and silver and cop- 
 pers wrapped up in it, and I knew it was the 
 money I 'd been looking for. But I kept still and 
 watched. He took a two-dollar bill out of the 
 bunch, did the rest up, and put it back where it 
 had been before, shoving his hand 'way into the 
 hay. Then he went off, and I heard them squab- 
 bling again, only they were n't so peevish now. 
 
 "Then, thinks I, it 's my time. So I squirmed 
 back until I had my head and shoulders in the 
 tent again. By stretching I could reach the bale, 
 and in the shake of a lamb's tail I had that little 
 bundle of money in my pocket. Then I thought 
 it would be a good scheme to have a look at the 
 chaps so I could tell them again. That 's where 
 I made my mistake, for, just as I got my head 
 
CHUB'S ADVENTUEE 385 
 
 around the corner, one of the fellows got np off 
 the box he 'd been sitting on and looked my way. 
 I saw him all right, and the other fellow too, but 
 he saw me, which was n 't down on the program. 
 I saw his eyes get big and his hand shoot out to- 
 ward me, pointing, and I heard him break into 
 song, but I didn't wait any longer. I sneaked. 
 I got tangled up in backing out, and lost some time 
 that way, but I got out before they reached me, 
 and was up and running like the dickens for the 
 woods. 
 
 "Weir, you never heard such a row as there 
 was! I hadn't got half-way to cover when the 
 whole place was in an uproar and everybody in 
 that camp was coming after me. The fellows in 
 the tent came, too; one through the back and the 
 other by way of the door. It was a merry chase, 
 fellows ! I made for the deep woods and then cir- 
 cled around toward the road, thinking I could 
 outrun any of them if I had a good track. But I 
 was off my reckoning. I reached the road all 
 right and had a few yards' start, when the chap 
 who had seen me broke out of the woods and 
 came after me like a house afire. And he can 
 run, that Gipsy ! If we had him at college we 'd 
 
386 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 win the sprints easily! I put on every ounce 
 of steam I had, but he kept gaining on me, and I 
 saw that it was no use. Then I made a dive for 
 the woods again, thinking I might manage to give 
 him the slip. But instead of that I gave myself 
 the slip. I tumbled over a root or something, 
 and before I could get my feet again he had me." 
 
 "Oh, Chub!" gasped Harry. "Did he hurt 
 you?" 
 
 "Cut his head off," said Dick. "Look for 
 yourself, Harry." 
 
 "No, he didn't hurt me, that is, not to mean 
 it. He pretty nearly broke my back when he 
 landed on me, but that was unintentional, I sup- 
 pose. By the time I 'd got up, about six more 
 of the Indians were on the scene, all talking and 
 jabbering away like mad. No one seemed to 
 know what the trouble was, and the chap who had 
 me could n 't get them to keep still long enough 
 to let him tell them. I never heard such a lot of 
 noise in my life. Sounded like a meeting of the 
 Football Rules Committee. Well, they held on 
 to me and shouted and yelled, and I got my breath 
 back and tried to put on a front. 
 
 " 'What do you mean by chasing me like this?' 
 
CHUB'S ADVENTURE 387 
 
 said I. 'Let me go immediately' — or words to 
 that effect. 'What you do in my tent?' asks the 
 pasty-faced gentleman who had caught me. 'What 
 tent?' says I, looking as innocent as anything. 
 Then they all broke out again, and pointed, and 
 began to lug me back to their old camp. I went 
 unwillingly, but I went ; that is, I went part way. 
 Because, just as we were getting back to it, along 
 comes a cloud of dust with an automobile in it. 
 So I began to yell like anything: 'Help! Murder! 
 Fire! Thieves!' And, being a human sort of an 
 automobile, it stopped quick to see what was up. 
 When the dust had blown away I looked up to 
 find Joe Whiting grinning down at me in surprise. 
 
 " 'Well, what the dickens are you doing here, 
 Eaton?' he asked. 
 
 " 'Having my fortune told,' said I. 'And I 
 don't like the way it 's turning out.' 
 
 "Well, Whiting had three friends with him — 
 they were touring, it seemed — and it was n't more 
 than half a minute until I was in the car with 
 them. The Gipsies didn't want to let me go. 
 They said I'd been caught stealing; they can talk 
 good enough English when they want to ; and they 
 were going to have me arrested. But the fellows 
 
388 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 said I was a particular friend of theirs, and they 
 couldn't spare me. Whiting sort of wanted to 
 get out and break up the camp, but I told him I 
 knew something that would be more fun than that. 
 So we went on, and I told him all about every- 
 thing; how I 'd found the stolen things and the 
 money, and all we had to do was to get the sheriff 
 and go back there and get them. Whiting said 
 they were n't in any particular hurry, and they 'd 
 run over to Washington Hills and bring the sher- 
 iff back. So we did it. Found the sheriff wash- 
 ing up for supper, got him into the car, and hus- 
 tled him back. The rest was easy. He just 
 showed those Gipsies his badge and the handle of 
 his revolver, and they said, ' Welcome to our city. ' 
 We hunted through the whole place and got every- 
 thing except a few cans of vegetables and two 
 strips of bacon. Then the sheriff threatened to 
 arrest every one if they didn't pay up for what 
 was missing and move out of the township before 
 to-morrow night. And they agreed to everything. 
 We threw the booty into the automobile, said 
 good night, and kited for the store. ' ' 
 
 "Well, you had a busy and eventful afternoon," 
 said the doctor, when Chub had ended. "It was 
 
CHUB'S ADVENTURE 389 
 
 a lucky thing that your friends came just as they 
 did. I 'm afraid you 'd have fared badly other- 
 wise." 
 
 "I don't believe they 'd have hurt me, sir," an- 
 swered Chub. "You see, they didn't know I 'd 
 taken the money; they didn't find that out until 
 the sheriff told them. And I don't believe they 'd 
 have thought of it. I think they 'd have let me go 
 after awhile." 
 
 "It did me good," laughed Dick, "to see the ex- 
 pression on old Jim Ewing's face when you 
 lugged the stuff into the store. He was a pic- 
 ture." 
 
 "The old ruffian!" growled Roy. 
 
 "Well, he saw the error of his way," said 
 Chub, cheerfully. "And he came as near apolo- 
 gizing as it was possible for him to, I suppose." 
 
 "Said he 'd made a mistake ; we could have told 
 him that before," muttered Roy. "I hope he — " 
 Roy glanced at the doctor and gulped. "I hope 
 he loses his train." The others laughed. 
 
 "Well, Mrs. Peel apologized for him, anyway," 
 said Dick. "She 's a nice old lady. She was so 
 excited she didn't know what was happening, es- 
 pecially when Whiting bought the dozen cans of 
 
390 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 tomatoes. What did he want with those, Chub?" 
 
 Chub chuckled. 
 
 "I asked him, and he said they were fine to set 
 up on the fence-posts and shoot at with revolvers. 
 Said every time you hit one the blood came. He 's 
 a good chap, fellows. We must look him up when 
 we get back to college." 
 
 "We sure must!" said Eoy, vehemently. 
 "Come on and let 's get these things washed up. 
 It 's 'most time for bed." 
 
 "I wonder," remarked the doctor, as he pushed 
 Snip off his lap and arose — "I wonder if you boys 
 know what the date is." 
 
 "Yes, sir, the fifth," replied Chub, promptly. 
 
 "Sixth, isn't it?" asked Eoy, doubtfully. 
 
 "Seventh," said Dick, as though he really 
 knew. 
 
 "The seventh it is," replied the doctor, "the 
 seventh of August. Does that suggest anything 
 to any one?" He looked around the circle smil- 
 ingly. But every one looked utterly blank, every 
 one save Harry ; she looked uneasy, as though she 
 would have liked to change the subject of con- 
 versation. 
 
 "Somebody's birthday?" asked Eoy, vaguely. 
 
CHUB'S ADVENTURE 391 
 
 "Labor Day!" exclaimed Dick, and was 
 promptly hooted. 
 
 ' ' No, it 's nothing particular on the Gregorian 
 calendar," said the doctor, "but it 's an important 
 day on my calendar, I might say our calendar." 
 And he laid his arm over Harry's shoulders and 
 pulled her to him. 
 
 "Well, it isn't Harry's birthday," said Chub, 
 "because she — " 
 
 "And it isn't the doctor's," Dick interrupted, 
 "because that comes in February. We — we ob- 
 served it last time." And Dick smiled doubtfully 
 at the doctor. 
 
 "You did indeed," replied the latter, dryly, to 
 the accompaniment of Harry's laughter. 
 
 "What did you do?" asked Chub, gleefully. 
 
 "They serenaded me," said the doctor, with 
 one of his slow smiles. "The music was really 
 nice, but, as it happened at half-past six in the 
 morning, I was obliged to interrupt it. In fact, 
 I was obliged to interview some half-dozen of the 
 leaders at the ofi&ce. And our friend Dick, here, 
 was one of them." 
 
 "Oh, we didn't mind, sir," replied Dick, cheer- 
 fully. "You see," he explained, turning to Chub 
 
392 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 with a reminiscent grin, "we got up early, about 
 twenty of us, and went to the cottage. There 
 were about eight of us who could play things, and 
 we had two violins, three banjos, a concertina, and 
 —and—" 
 
 ' ' A clarionet ! ' ' prompted Harry, her eyes danc- 
 ing. 
 
 "Yes, and we made pretty good music. We 
 played 'Boola' and 'Dixie' and something else. 
 They weren't especially appropriate, of course, 
 but we had to play what we all knew, or what 
 most of us knew. We were just in the middle 
 of the third number on the program, with every- 
 thing going finely and the clarionet skipping every 
 third or fourth note, when up went a window and 
 out popped the doctor's head. 'What does this 
 mean?' he asked, very sternly. Then we all 
 cheered and made noises on the fiddles and things, 
 and yelled, 'Happy birthday. Doctor!' And the 
 doctor told us to go back to the dormitory in- 
 stantly. And we went." 
 
 "And then you went to the office after break- 
 fast, eh ? " asked Eoy. 
 
 "Oh, yes," replied Dick, carelessly, "but the 
 doctor didn't really mean half he said!" 
 
CHUB'S ADVENTUEE 393 
 
 Dr. Emery's laughter mingled with that of the 
 others. 
 
 "But you haven't guessed my riddle yet," he 
 reminded them. 
 
 "I give it up, sir," said Chub. "The seventh 
 of August doesn't mean a thing to me." 
 
 "Well, we wish it didn't to us, don't we, Har- 
 ry?" Harry nodded sorrowfully. "It 's the 
 end of our two weeks' cruise on the Slow Poke," 
 said the doctor. "It 's the day we were due 
 home." 
 
 "0 — oh!" exclaimed the boys in chorus. 
 
 "Can't you stay a little longer, sir?" asked 
 Chub, eagerly. But the doctor shook his head 
 with decision before Harry could get out the 
 words on her tongue. 
 
 "No, I 'm afraid not. Chub. I 've an engage- 
 ment at home the day after to-morrow and some 
 things to look up first. I ought to have been 
 back to-day, I suppose, but I think one day won't 
 matter. Do you think you can get us back to- 
 morrow?" 
 
 "Easy, sir, if you really must go," answered 
 Chub. But Dick shook his head dubiously. 
 
 "Why not?" challenged Eoy. 
 
 23 
 
394 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 "Well, you see, the engine hasn't been work- 
 ing very well of late, and I should n't be a bit sur- 
 prised if it just stopped entirely to-morrow." 
 
 "Get out! You haven't had it going for 
 days!" said Eoy. "How do you know?" 
 
 "Feel it," answered Dick, gravely. "I — I 
 have a premonition." 
 
 "And how long do you think it will be before 
 the engine gets to working again?" asked the doc- 
 tor, with a twinkle in his eye. 
 
 "Probably about a week, sir," replied Dick, 
 slyly. 
 
 "A very intelligent engine," said the doctor, 
 with a smile. "You have a talk with it to-night, 
 Dick, and explain to it that I am obliged to be at 
 home to-morrow. Maybe it will decide to go on 
 with us. You might say, that if I can't get home 
 on the Slow Poke I '11 have to ferry across and 
 take the train." 
 
 "In that case," said Dick, regretfully, "it — it 
 might postpone its breakdown until later. But I 
 feel sure that it won't last longer than it takes 
 to reach Ferry Hill." 
 
 "Goody!" cried Harry. "Then you can stay 
 and pay us a visit, can't they, papa?" 
 
CHUB'S ADVENTURE 395 
 
 "They 're going to," he answered. "They 're 
 going to stay with us at least a week, are n't you, 
 boys?" 
 
 The boys looked at each other questioningly. 
 Finally : 
 
 "I 'd like to," said Chub, "if the others—" 
 
 "We 'd all like to," said Eoy. "And we will 
 if you 're sure you don't mind, doctor." 
 
 "Mind! Of course I won't mind! Why, Mrs. 
 Emery wouldn't forgive me if I let you go back 
 without a real visit. ' ' 
 
 "If they don't come," said Harry, "I won't 
 speak to them again ever!" 
 
 ' ' Oh, we 're coming, ' ' said Chub. ' ' We '11 sleep 
 aboard the boat, doctor, so that Mrs. Emery won't 
 have to bother about us much." 
 
 "Just as you like about that, boys, but you '11 
 take your meals at the cottage ; that 's understood. 
 How much longer is your cruise going to last, 
 Chub?" 
 
 Chub looked doubtfully at the others. 
 
 "Well," he replied, finally, "this is the seventh, 
 and if we stay at the school a week that will bring 
 it to about the middle, won't it? Then if we went 
 back to New York slowly we could make the trip 
 
396 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 last to about the twentieth. And, as far as I'm 
 concerned, I think I 'd be ready to quit by that 
 time. ' ' 
 
 "That 's long enough," said Dick. 
 
 Eoy agreed with him. "We '11 have been gone 
 over six weeks by that time," he said. "And 
 there 's no use prolonging a good time till you 
 begin to get tired of it." 
 
 ' ' And there 's no use staying up all night, ' ' said 
 Dick, with a yawn. "I wager you '11 dream the 
 Gipsies have got you to-night. Chub." 
 
 "If I do," answered Chub, "you '11 hear me!" 
 
CHAPTEE XXVII 
 
 GIFTS AND rAEEWELLS 
 
 THE next morning camp was broken and the 
 Slow Poke was made ready for the cruise to 
 Ferry Hill. Chub and Harry left Dick to fiddle 
 with his beloved engine and Eoy to help him, and 
 paid a farewell visit to Mrs. Peel. They found 
 the little woman busily and contentedly engaged 
 about the store, armed with a feather duster. 
 Chub's gasoline sign still challenged the passing 
 trafi&c from the corner of the building. 
 
 "I 'm just going to let it stay right there," said 
 Mrs. Peel, when Chub offered to get it down for 
 her. "When you can buy gasoline for twelve or 
 fourteen cents by the barrel and sell it for twenty 
 cents a gallon, I think it pays real well. And 
 you 'd be surprised the number of automobiles 
 go by here ! I 've been keeping track of them 
 this morning, and there 's been three already. 
 Didn't any of them want any gasoline, I guess; 
 
 397 
 
398 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 leastways, they didn't stop; but maybe the next 
 one will ; you never can tell. I took the sign out 
 of the window, though, ' ' she added, apologetically. 
 "It didn't seem just the thing, although it was 
 certainly printed just lovely. I was wondering 
 if you 'd mind doing me another one instead. I 
 was making up my mind to ask you, in case you 
 came back again, just when you crossed the 
 street." 
 
 "I '11 be glad to," said Chub. "What shall I 
 print?" 
 
 "Well," — Mrs. Peel folded her arms and 
 pursed her lips — "I've heard folks say that down 
 to Washing-ton Hills it 's hard to get waited on 
 at that store, and that half the time they get 
 short weight. I guess that 's how that fellow 
 down there can sell as cheap as he does. I 
 thought you might just put on the sign, 'Prompt 
 attention, honest prices, full measure.' What do 
 you think!" 
 
 "That's lovely," said Harry, "and it's all 
 true, too!" 
 
 "Well," said Mrs. Peel, beaming at the com- 
 pliment, "I always have held that it pays to 
 
GIFTS AND FAEEWELLS 399 
 
 treat folks fair and square, leastway in the long 
 run. That fellow down to Washington Hills 
 is doin' pretty well now, but I wouldn't be 
 surprised if he got into trouble before many years 
 are gone. Folks don't mind being cheated for 
 awhile, but they get tired of it in the end. There 
 was a man came here last Fall with a lot of signs 
 he wanted me to buy; cards, they were, that you 
 put in the window and around the store. Awfully 
 pretty, too; looked like pictures, most. But I 
 didn't take to them. Mostly they was signs like 
 'Our Prices can't be Beat' and 'As good as Any, 
 Better 'n Many' and 'Our Prices are the Lowest 
 in Town. ' Well, course that last was true enough, 
 because this is the only store here, but most of 
 them was sort of prevaricating. I told the man 
 so. I said if he had any real honest signs to fetch 
 'em out and I 'd look at 'em. But, if you '11 be- 
 lieve it, he did n 't have one ! My husband used to 
 say that you could cheat a man once, and maybe 
 twice, but you could n 't cheat him the third time 
 because he wouldn't give you a chance. And I 
 guess that 's about the way it is. I '11 get a nice 
 big piece of cardboard, sir, and the marking pot." 
 
400 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 Chub took particular pains with that sign, rul- 
 ing his lines and spacing his letters with a pencil 
 before he set to work with the brush and the 
 lampblack. And when it was finished it certainly 
 looked fine. 
 
 "There," said Chub, holding it out, "that is n't 
 so bad, is it? I 've seen signs right in the win- 
 dows of our stores at home that didn't beat that 
 much. That capital F looks sort of wobbly, but 
 you would n 't notice it, I think. ' ' 
 
 "It 's perfectly splendid!" said Harry, admir- 
 ingly. And Mrs. Peel, who had watched the 
 lettering with an almost breathless interest, flut- 
 tered off, in quite a tremor of excited pleasure, to 
 find her spectacles. 
 
 "Looks just like it was printed on a printing- 
 machine," she exclaimed, when her glasses had 
 been adjusted and she was alternately trying the 
 effects of looking through them and over them. 
 "I 'm very much obliged, sir. I — I think I '11 
 put it in the window and see how it looks from 
 outside. ' ' 
 
 So, with Chub assisting, she tacked it to the 
 back of one of the window shelves, and cleared 
 the one below so that the inscription should not 
 
GIFTS AND FAREWELLS 401 
 
 be missed. Then she hurried out to the sidewalk 
 and viewed it with her head perked about like a 
 bird's. Chub and Harry joined her and observed 
 the effect with satisfaction, and Chub, to Mrs. 
 Peel's delight, discovered that it could be read 
 from the corner of the street if you found just 
 the right spot to stand. 
 
 They made a few modest purchases for the 
 boat's larder and then bade Mrs. Peel good-by. 
 
 "Well," she said, "I do hope you '11 come 
 again. You 've been most kind and obliging, all 
 of you. I do hope you won't hold it against me, 
 the way James acted. He 's a real nice man, 
 'cept when he gets his tantrums, and then he 's 
 that set and — and pig-headed there is n't any use 
 trying to argue with him." 
 
 "I think that 's so," murmured Chub. 
 
 "Lideed, we didn't mind him at all, did we. 
 Chub?" assured Harry. 
 
 "No 'm, not a bit," Chub replied. "I — I hope 
 he got his train all right last night?" 
 
 "He must have, I guess. If he hadn't he 'd 
 been back again likely. He was real ashamed 
 of the way he 'd acted and the things he 'd said, 
 but wild horses couldn't get him to own up to 
 
402 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 it, Miss. Some men are like that. You have to 
 know them, Miss. My husband used to say 
 that there was two ways to judge a man. One 
 way was to watch him in public, and the other 
 way was to see him at home. I 've seen 
 James at home. Well, must you really be go- 
 ing?" 
 
 "Yes," answered Chub, "they '11 be waiting 
 for us at the boat, I 'm afraid. Good-by. ' ' 
 
 "Grood-by, sir. Good-by, Miss. I do hope 
 you '11 come up this way again, and — and — " 
 The little woman broke off vaguely and swept her 
 gaze quickly about the store. Then, "Just you 
 wait a bit, please. Miss," she exclaimed. She 
 trotted back to the ribbon-case, casting a back- 
 ward glance at Harry's face, and fumbled agi- 
 tatedly about there for a moment. Then she 
 came back with a roll of light-blue ribbon which 
 she put in Harry's hand. 
 
 ' ' To tie up your hair, my dear, ' ' she whispered, 
 patting the hand that held the gift. 
 
 "Oh, but really, Mrs. Peel—" 
 
 "Now don't you say anything. Miss ! It 's just 
 a little remembrance from an old woman you 've 
 been kind to. 'Tain't worth a row of pins." 
 
GIFTS AND FAKEWELLS 403 
 
 And while Harry was thanking her she turned to 
 Chub. 
 
 "Ain't there any little thing you 'd like to take 
 along, feir?" she asked, eagerly. "I do wish 
 you 'd select something. I suppose there is n't 
 much here you 'd care for, but — " 
 
 "Indeed there is, Mrs. Peel," Chub assured her 
 heartily, "but I 'm not going to take anything. 
 I thank you just the same." 
 
 Mrs. Peel's eyes were ranging the store again, 
 and Chub nudged Harry and moved toward the 
 door. 
 
 "Just a minute, sir!" And Mrs. Peel hurried 
 away to one of the farther shelves, returning in 
 a moment, looking highly pleased with herself. 
 "There," she said, "just you take that, sir. It 's 
 a real pretty bit of china, ain't it? Course that 
 sentiment don't mean anything. Unless," she 
 added, half shyly, ' ' you want it should, sir. ' ' 
 
 The gift was a pale pink mustache-cup, deco- 
 rated with green leaves and purple flowers, and 
 bearing the inscription in funny gilt lettering, 
 "Friendship's Token." Chub glanced at Harry, 
 whose eyes were dancing merrily and yet looked 
 a trifle misty, and then at Mrs. Peel. Apparently, 
 
404 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 however, that lady was quite unaware of the 
 irony of presenting Chub with a mustache-cup, 
 and Chub restrained a smile and thanked her quite 
 gravely and earnestly. When they reached the 
 corner with their gifts and purchases, they turned 
 and looked back. The little woman was in the 
 doorway, smiling and waving her feather duster. 
 They waved back to her and went on. Harry 
 was silent until they were taking the hill. Then : 
 
 "I don't care," she said, half aggressive and 
 half apologetic, "I think it was perfectly sweet 
 of her. Chub!" 
 
 "Of course it was," answered Chub, emphati- 
 cally 
 
 "And — and it shows," continued Harry, earn- 
 estly, "that the world is just full of nice people, 
 and you can 't always tell who they are at — at 
 first." 
 
 " ' The world is so full of a number of things, 
 I'm sure we should all be as happy as kings,' " 
 
 murmured Chub, adding, with a glance at Harry's 
 ardent face, "Anyhow, 'most any one could be 
 nice to you without half trying." 
 
 "Why?" asked Harry, opening her blue eyes 
 
They waved back to her and went on 
 
GIFTS AND FAEEWELLS 407 
 
 very wide. Chub's gaze wandered off to the 
 scenery. 
 
 "Oh, just — just because," he answered, 
 vaguely. 
 
 Shortly before ten the Slow Poke was on her 
 way again, dropping down the river with, for the 
 Slow Poke, almost marvelous speed, 
 
 "At this rate," sighed Harry to Chub, "we 
 shall be home long before supper-time. ' ' 
 
 "Well, for my part," answered Chub, turning 
 the spokes of the wheel idly back and forth, "I 'm 
 about ready to eat some one else's cooking. But 
 don't whisper it to Dick." 
 
 "This will be our last — I mean my last dinner 
 on board," said Harry, regretfully. "Don't you 
 think we might find a real pretty place to stop, 
 Chub?" 
 
 "To be sure, we can; and we '11 make a fare- 
 well banquet of it and eat everything nice we 've 
 got ! You take the wheel a minute, and I '11 give 
 orders to my worthless cre*w." 
 
 They made quite a ceremony of that dinner. 
 Dick, imbued with the spirit of the occasion, made 
 a jelly omelet as a piece de resistance, and piled 
 
408 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 every good thing that the larder contained on the 
 table up under the striped awning. They had 
 stopped the headlong career of the Slow Poke 
 where a murmuring grove of trees came down and 
 leaned over the water as though to watch their 
 green finery mirrored back to them from the calm 
 surface. They had snubbed the boat's bow close 
 to shore, so that half the upper deck was in the 
 cool shadow, and at that end they had placed the 
 table. Harry and Snip had jumped ashore and 
 brought back sprays of leaves for the adornment 
 of the festal board and Eoy had ruthlessly snipped 
 a dozen big red blooms from the geraniums in 
 the boxes. Dinner was late, but no one minded, 
 not even the doctor, for Ferry Hill was less than 
 fifteen miles away, and three hours more would 
 bring them there. 
 
 The doctor was called on for a speech when the 
 dessert was brought on, and responded eloquently, 
 finally toasting his hosts in a brimming glass of 
 "vin de Cold Spring." Chub responded, "on 
 behalf of himself and his crew, who, being a 
 motley lot hailing from many countries, were un- 
 able to speak the English." The crew groaned 
 loudly at this, but later forgave the remark and 
 
The doctor was called on for a speech 
 
GIFTS AND FAEEWELLS 411 
 
 responded generously with applause. Snip ate 
 his repast from a dish at Harry's side and had 
 a little of everything, as was only proper when you 
 consider the occasion. Harry decreed that no 
 one was to hurry the least little bit, and no one 
 did. And so it was two o 'clock before the engine 
 began its work once more, and almost five when 
 the Slow Poke sidled up to the Ferry Hill landing, 
 and Snip, with a bark of sheer delight, leaped 
 the intervening two yards of water and capered 
 around the float. 
 
 I might tell, at the cost of many details and 
 much space, of the week that followed, but the 
 story is really finished at this moment. It was 
 a jolly week, the j oiliest sort of a week, and every 
 one, even Dr. and Mrs. Emery, enjoyed it 
 thoroughly. And every one. Dr. and Mrs. Emery 
 not the least, regretted the arrival of the day 
 of departure. Good-bys were said, promises of 
 future meetings made, and, with the doctor and 
 Mrs. Emery and Harry waving from the landing, 
 and Snip barking farewell, the Slow Poke moved 
 away on the final stage of her journey. The boys 
 watched the group on the wharf until a point of 
 land hid it from view. 
 
412 CAPTAIN CHUB 
 
 "Nice folks those," said Dick, quietly. 
 
 "Yes, they are!" murmured Roy. 
 
 "Right, oh!" said Chub. 
 
 The voyage back to New York was taken in 
 easy stages, for, now that the end was in sight, 
 no one was really anxious to reach it. They 
 stopped when they liked, and started when it 
 pleased them, and had a pleasant, lazy time of it. 
 No incident of moment occurred worth setting 
 down here, unless, possibly, it is a very tiny inci- 
 dent that happened on the second evening of the 
 homeward voyage. Chub was getting ready for 
 bed, and Roy and Dick were standing at his door 
 talking to him, their own disrobement complete. 
 Suddenly Dick pushed his way into the little 
 room and picked up something which was lying 
 face down on the bed beside Chub's discarded 
 garments. 
 
 "Hello!" said Dick. "Where 'd you get the 
 photograph. Chub?" 
 
 "Here! You put that down!" exclaimed Chub, 
 making a dash for it. But Dick was too quick 
 for him and tossed it to Roy. 
 
 "Have a look!" he called, as Chub grappled 
 him. 
 
GIFTS AND FAREWELLS 413 
 
 Roy had a look, and : 
 
 "It 's Harry!" he exclaimed, in surprise. 
 
 "Well, what of it?" asked Chnb, defiantly. 
 
 "Oh, nothing," mnrmured Roy. 
 
 "Oh, nothing," echoed Dick, softly, and, join- 
 ing arms, they marched twice around the deck in 
 the moonlight, whistling Mendelssohn's "Wed- 
 ding March" badly out of tune, and grinning like 
 a couple of Jack-o '-lanterns when they passed the 
 window. Chub, frowning and muttering, stowed 
 the photograph at the bottom of his suit-case. 
 
 THE END