The River Motor Boat Boys on the Mississippi; Or, On the Trail to the Gulf

x. observed. "Can either of you boys se

s quite dark. The boy started toward the switch which controlled the prow light, but the vo

ight here under the overhang. I came to ask you to

cabin door, where he stood with a freckled nose wr

the man wants us to do for him. Why don't you come on deck?" the boy a

ot lookin' for trouble! I'm in bad here, strangers, a

listening attitude. In the deep dusk his face could not be seen plainly, but Alex.

bending still lower over the deck railing. "We a

dy nor nothin' to run away from, that kid ain't! Hide him until you

rhaps you're the man that robbed the warehouse at Rock Island! He just

et down the river right soon! The men who are watchin' you are comin' down the pier now. I reckon they saw me talking from the bosom o

darkness in the direction of the pier, and a bullet cut the water close to where t

n said. "Drop down until

and took his own advice to disappear, anyway! What do you think of him? H

t far from the pier, and one large street lamp disclosed the figures of a dozen men running toward the motor boat! The man who had d

he light flared out on the cluttered pier and the swirli

sed. "We understand the use of firearms ourselves

said one of the advancing p

rough-looking men, all armed, and all insisting that e

away. Captain Joe and Teddy, however, objected strenuously, and it required the efforts of all four, before t

who seemed to be in co

e boy who cam

"Just after the shooting I looked for him, but he w

reply. "If you shelter him you'll be breaking the law. What was that swimmer saying to

ome on board with your insulting suspicions," Clay answered. "When you make up y

some moments, and the men

ed of Clay. "Honest, now

boy's reply. "He certainly is not on board the Ram

one could swim long in that current. And the man, t

p down to-night? It will be risky sailing because of the flood, but at the same time it

g off into bayous which ran out into swamps for miles, with almost as strong a current as the main channel. Those who have read previous volumes of this series will doubtless r

nd falls, but had at last worked round the Falls of St. Anthony and struck better water. They had met with plenty of adventures on the way, but nothin

il and British Columbia, Captain Joe having been bought by Alex. at Para, and Teddy having been rescued from

y confirm the suspicions of those on shore. Suppose we move away from this pier, so as to be out of the way of the mob, and anchor in another place, wher

s well remain here until morning. I must confess that

he night!" Jule suggested. "I'm still hungry! Tho

or supper? I won't be able to sleep much, on account of watching, and may as

d Jule. "Think one is going to climb up on t

distance up the river and anchored in a little bay which promised protection from the rushing current

at bank to the east. Don't you ever think all the river fish have moved into top flats because of the fl

t for a dozen fish suppers, but you seem to have the

right!" Alex. taunted, "so

t tugged and strained at the cord which held it, and now and then received severe bumps from floating d

however. At times great masses of trees and timbers would go sailing down, advancing out of the darkness into the circle of light about the

tle rowboat in a threatening manner. Sometimes the boy had all he could do to keep the craft from turning turtle and dumping him into the river. The o

proach of dangerous wreckage, and the lone fisherman was often glad to heed the warnings of his chums. At last, however, just as he

houted to the boy. "It is likely to

ving on it!" Jule shouted

hat was said to him he did not heed the warning, for he kept on playing his fish

which had drawn so many lesser objects in. Then, for the first time, Alex. saw his danger. If the mass struck the boat it migh

its bulk. Then he heard a cry come from the raft, and saw a mite of a boy reaching out his han