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

nd Jule. It was impossible to make them work with safety without the repairs Case ha

ddy came out of the cabin arm-in-arm! At least the

re, eh?" Clay laughed, as

ared, rolling his eyes until they looked l

morning," Clay suggested.

Louee," was the reply.

lay. "Did you come all the way from the le

t had been put ashore at a landing above Cairo by the mate. Then, so great had been his desire to g

mmy he had spoken of as having been so liberal with him in the bestowal of names was an old colored lady who had given him a place to sle

rom the ceiling, being usually drawn up during the daytime. The motors we

and Teddy scampered into the cabin. Clay sprang to his feet and made for the deck, not doubting that Alex. and

of the deck was in sight, yet the blow he had heard warned him that something o

plunder, and it was his first impression that one of these had discovered the

ff voice from the cabin doorway commande

empty, too!" the

eering eyes of the man with the face of a fox who stood before him with a revolver pushed almost into his face caus

y, in plain sight. In another second it would have been in the little fellow's hand, with what result Clay could not imagine,

"get over in that corner and stay t

ating position, to be threatened with a gun, but it was quite another for him to stand inactive and see a boy

nd heavier than the lad, but he was slower of movement, and the result of the conflict might h

of one of the fighters-as he had been taught to do when the boys were wrestling-and while Mose was doing his best to get over to the shelf where the revolve

now be made of the intruder. He was gradually securing a hold on his enemy which would have ended the battle when he was seized and lifte

and motioned to Mose to remain quiet and keep out of sight. He feared that

ling lifted a pair of bloodshot eyes to Clay's face and sprang at hi

ad, "I'll give you some of your own med

warded it off with a fist like a ham, and set the boy behind the great bulk of his own person. Clay

y once been used as a fishline, and coolly proceeded to tie the boy's wrists. This task com

you molest the boy again I'll settle with you for it. I take it he had a right

inflamed eyes and went out on deck. In a moment he was

a surly tone. "He took a piece out of my leg and

bulldog by the collar. At that moment, whatever the consequences, the fel

od fellow, that dog! Of course he bit that robber! He wouldn't have been a

rge in proportion, looked Captain Joe over after the manner of o

This is a good dog, and we'll keep him wit

mn of strength, and poured forth such a torrent of laughter that Teddy came out of the cabin to see what new sport was

lives after that, I'll keep him. There's a heap of pizen snakes down my way that need looking after.

ke a piece out of that th

y puttin' a new hemp tie about that weazen of yours! Now let the kids and the dog and bea

motors together before y

ments, then at Clay, still in the bunk, and scratch

tin' together," he sa

wn stream before any of the boys returned. He thought of Alex. and Jule, marooned on that desolate point of

. Captain Joe was now regaining consciousness in the cabin, and Teddy was trying to interest him in a boxing match! M

gines together!"

One of the boys has gone to New Madrid for

ent, and then the former called out to Mose, e

he shouted.

can," was

with you. If I ever see either of

s to hold 'em under a wh

the giant returned.

l come of lettin'

nd tone, and Mose, nothing loth, gathered th

revived the dog, and that he was swimming. Then his attention was attracted to

loodwood sweeping down. Presently he felt the push of the current, and the boat went whi

e stern and half capsized h