Inland Waterways | Page 8

so far as assistance from the shore
is concerned; and, besides, they could make it uncomfortably warm for
us from either bank."
The force of this argument was apparent to all, and the Restless was
soon anchored in the basin twenty feet from the shore, while her crew,
none of whom felt very much like sleep just then, remained on the alert
for the slightest suspicious sound.

CHAPTER III.
DIFFICULT NAVIGATION.
THERE was sufficient light to enable the boys to see surrounding
objects quite distinctly, and they kept their eyes fixed upon that portion
of the canal lying in the immediate vicinity of the storehouse.
Nearly an hour had passed, and Nat was beginning to think it might be
as well for him to take "forty winks" or more while everything was
quiet, when Harry whispered:
"I can see one of the gang. He just came around from the corner of the
building, and is now hidden by the deep shadow on this side."
Even as he spoke the other two tramps appeared in view for an instant
as they crept toward the bank of the basin in such a stealthy manner
that there could be no doubt but that they meditated mischief.
"There is a chance those fellows may be thinking of swimming across,
with the belief it will be possible to get on board without our
knowledge. Go aft, Harry, while I watch here, and Nat walks back and
forth to make sure we're both attending to business."

After another long time of waiting, during which not a sound was heard,
the tramps came out of cover, and walked down the towpath in the
direction of New Brunswick.
"I guess they've come to the conclusion that it is no use to try to catch
us napping; but we won't run any risks. One shall sleep an hour while
the other two watch; and by that means we'll be on duty only a couple
of hours apiece. You take the first trick below, Nat, and Harry shall
have the second."
In the absence of any immediate danger it is not difficult for one to
close his eyes in slumber after a hard day's work, and the cook did not
waste many moments lying awake.
From this time until sunrise the utmost vigilance was maintained, but
there was no sign of the enemy. The tramps had disappeared; but since
it was quite possible they might return with an increased force, the
yachtsmen did not feel secure.
After breakfast had been served the same rule was observed in regard
to guard duty; and at no moment during the twenty-four long hours
which followed was the Restless without two sentinels.
"We've made what might be called a bad beginning," Nat said, as he
awakened Phil a few moments before sunrise on Monday morning,
"and if this thing comes from our having started on Friday morning, the
sooner we turn around and try it over again, the more certain we'll be of
ever seeing the St. Lawrence River."
"We won't act quite so foolishly as that," Phil replied laughingly. "After
the yacht is in the canal once more you set about getting breakfast,
while Harry and I run the craft."
"We may meet those very particular friends of ours who want to make
the trip to New Brunswick."
"If we do, both guns will be where we can use them, and I'll answer for
it that no one gets on board without our full permission."

After this no delay in continuing the journey was made; it required
fully half an hour's hard work to get the little craft out of the basin, and
then as Nat set about cooking breakfast the Restless darted down the
canal, as if rejoiced at having her liberty.
Several times during a run of six miles did Harry fancy he saw their old
enemies; but on each occasion the alarm proved to be without
foundation, and after breakfast had been eaten in the standing room
while Phil remained at the wheel, they congratulated themselves on
having finally escaped from such unpleasant acquaintances.
"We are getting so near the end of the canal, and there are so many
boats around that they don't dare to make any -- Hello! who's that?"
As he spoke he pointed toward the towpath, where a boy of seventeen
or eighteen stood beckoning frantically for them to steer nearer the
bank.
"To judge by his clothes he must be a tramp, too," Harry said in a
whisper. "Perhaps he's one of the gang we've been watching for, and is
trying to get us in where the others can jump aboard."
"They can't think we're such fools as to give them a chance to try that
game, no matter how near they were to the path,"