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

id, addressing the giant, as the Rambler struck the hal

bumps like that, and to the fishes we go! Get a pole out, and see if yo

ere Clay sat, side by side

he demanded. "You must ha

bin," replied the boy. "If you'll cut this

up the revolver which lay on the floor not far awa

for the pole, "if you try any tricks

erness of branches springing from the bole of the tree the boat had struck. The boy's strength was insufficient, and Red

rn and added its weight to that of the motor boat and the running

ll have to let the boat drift down in company wi

asserted, "we could get the boat out

the prow with an axe. Both men eyed him sharply

you!" Sam shouted, s

ed Red. "I reckon the ki

be friendly than his companion, "if you'll stand ready with the pole, I'll get

tree, and you go on down and call out the pol

with the pole, and when the limb is off you give

of going off and leaving the Rambler! Hand me t

ring of the river, Clay crept over the gunwale and landed on the tree, which sank lo

he don't time himself to a second, he'll get knocked into a cocked hat by

dmiringly, as Clay chopped away at t

e may prove to be too much of a kid for both of u

e trunk. The swaying of the trunk upon which Clay stood threw him into the water, but he clung to

of him now," he decla

eck. For a moment it seemed that both of them must be drawn under the boat, but the big fellow's stren

come so

the cabin, the look on his

ver mind what Sam says! He means all right,

ey snarled at each other as they worked, and Clay was in constant fear that Sam would play some treacherous trick

dea at that time, even, that he would lose the boat. He did not know what had become of his chums,

ng a little but not seriously, and was finally wo

er, and relief parties searching for flood victims were frequently seen, but

with the door closed. He could hear calls from pass

ave some to the boy. Once Sam lay down for a short nap. Red was not communicative

ntly the moon came out, and the outlaws began discuss

where no one will think of looking for us. We must get the boat out of sight," he went on, "before r

willing to take my chance on being sma

big fellow! Where had he heard it before? Then, like a flash, the memory came to him! Th

had disappeared when the officers had come on board. Clay wondered where the boy was, and why this outlaw had taken an interest in h

perhaps, murdered him, led Clay to believe that he was not wholly depraved. T

. He now saw that the willingness of his companions and himself to aid the waif had led to good results, for it was this willingness which had und

position to make their way down the river without del

of floating timbers made its appearance under the moonlight. "If we get

. The boat had undoubtedly been reported seized long before this, and every craft passing up or down would soon be

had attacked Clay, nor did he suspect that Alex. and Jule had fallen into the hands of a

rought to a conclusion. He had been assaulted by Red, and was raging for rev

Sam finally declared. "I saw a movement there. Good

floating raft an

he said, "but there's no one on board her

he two men waited for a clear sky again. When the raft was reveale

bayou!" cried Sam. "I wish I had knocked him o

ut Clay, listening with every faculty awake, had a

he boys are not far off! Anyway, I'll give them a chance to see the old bo

ut on the rushing water, and made for the cabin,

ing down to the Gulf! The lights won't hurt! We don't have to answer any calls for help that may come

ghts, and then went to assist Sam in getting the Rambler out into the stream. Clay

o his throat again. He feared that the boys had been caught in wreckage and drowned.

window leading to the cabin from the stern deck cautiously pushed