The Project Gutenberg EBook of Captain Chub, by Ralph Henry Barbour This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. Title: Captain Chub Author: Ralph Henry Barbour Illustrator: C. M. Relyea Release Date: August 27, 2017 [EBook #55435] Language: English Character set encoding: UTF-8 *** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CAPTAIN CHUB *** Produced by Donald Cummings and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net cover Captain Chub The boys entertain Mr. Ewing Captain Chub By Ralph Henry Barbour Author of “The Crimson Sweater,” “Tom, Dick, and Harriet,” “Harry’s Island,” etc. With Illustrations By C. M. Relyea logo New York The Century Co. 1909 Copyright, 1908, 1909, by The Century Co. Published September, 1909 J. F. TAPLEY CO. To J. P. M. WITH THE AUTHOR’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 of 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 Alarm 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 [vii] “T XXV. Mr. Ewing is Suspicious 373 XXVI. Chub’s Adventure 382 XXVII. Gifts and Farewells 397 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 didn’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 little 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 CHAPTER I THE STOLEN RUN hat settles that,” groaned the captain of the Crimson nine as the long fly settled gracefully into the hands of the Blue’s left-fielder. The runner 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 cheerfully. “We’ve got to hold ’em tight. Not a man sees first, Tom; don’t lose ’em.” [viii] [ix] [3] 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 anybody’s game. The score was 3 to 3. Pritchett had pitched a grand game: had eight strike-outs 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 supporters 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 end of the year, the final game and the deciding one. The stands, which started far beyond third base and continued around behind 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 outcome 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 intolerable heat. Score-cards waved in front of red, perspiring faces, straw hats did like duty, and pocket-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 cheerleader they strained their tired lungs to new excesses of sound. Now, panting and laughing, they fell against each other in simulated exhaustion. “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—” “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 Roy 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 backing 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 Blue was destined to wave triumphantly that day. “Two down!” called the Crimson captain encouragingly. “Now for the next one, fellows! Don’t lose him, Tom!” “Two out!” bawled the coachers back of first and third. “Run 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 considered 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. “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 Roy 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’ll mean two runs; just what it meant before,” answered Roy. “Who’s this at bat?” “Kneeland,” answered his neighbor on the other side, referring to his score-card. [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] “What’s he 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 suspense. One ball; one strike; two strikes; two balls; a foul; another foul. “He’s spoiling ’em,” muttered Chick uneasily. 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 awning. “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 wandered down the farther bench where the substitutes 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 nature on his face at this moment; something besides 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 getting 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. Understand? 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 cheerleader, looking over his shoulder, ready to summon a “short cheer” for the batsman, hesitated and ran across to the bench. “Who’s batting?” he asked. “Eaton,” he was told. “Batting for Pritchett.” “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 feeling pretty nervous, although he succeeded in disguising 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 hasn’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’ll bet he’ll 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 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!” announced the umpire. Chub turned on him in surprise and shook his 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 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 smiling 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 [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] T 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 freshmen were hugging each other ecstatically. The head of the Crimson’s batting list was coming 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!” Chub Eaton was lying in a cloud of dust The Crimson captain stepped to the plate, looking determined, and hit the first delivery safely. 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, 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. CHAPTER II LETTERS AND PLANS hat 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 footsteps 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. The shadows darkened under the elms and here and there a light glared out from an open window. But in the room the twilight held undisputed 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 Roy 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. Roy 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 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 societies. 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 [14] [15] [16- 17] [18] [19] [20] [21] 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 Society 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 old two-bagger by one Roy Porter which had 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, wasn’t she? And wouldn’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 Roy; “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’ll hear in the morning.” “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 fumbled 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 Roy applied the match to the drop-light. Chub groaned and turned his face away. “I give you notice, Roy, 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 sensibilities. Besides, it doesn’t suit my complexion. I’ve mentioned that before. Now a red shade—” “Here’s a whole bunch of mail,” exclaimed Roy, 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 over there,” replied Roy tranquilly. Chub hesitated, groaned, and finally followed the suggestion. “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, Roy; let me read this to you.” “He’s coming?” asked Roy eagerly, abandoning 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 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 haven’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 Roy. “Harry’s getting ‘growed up,’ you know.” “Well, we’ll see. Here, where’s that other letter? 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 [22] [23] [24] [25] T looked through the brief note again—“only he doesn’t say anything about the price. ‘When you get here we’ll talk over the matter of terms.’ That doesn’t sound encouraging, does it?” Chub looked across at Roy dubiously, and Roy 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 Somes’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 Roy. “Say, it would be awfully jolly if we four could get together again this summer, wouldn’t it?” “Dandy!” answered Chub. “And we’ll do it, too,” he added stoutly. “I don’t believe so. Something will happen at the last moment,” said Roy dejectedly. “You’ll see.” “My gentle croaker, let me finish this.... ‘I got through exams O. 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 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 Roy? He owes me a letter, the scoundrel. Write as soon as you can to the Waldorf. I’ll be there to-morrow evening. Tell Roy 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-morrow. They’d ought to have taken you on, Chub. But next year, when I get there, I’ll 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’ll take the midnight train to-morrow, Roy; see Mr. Cole; look up Dick, and get ready for the cruise! Won’t we have fun, though?” “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’ll have to attend to that if you’re fussy. You’ll 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’ll talk over the matter of terms. Regards 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’ll 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 Roy, “I’ll see that there’s no almond flavoring aboard. Do you remember 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 reminiscently. Roy 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 hammering at the door, and a covey of happy, irresponsible freshmen burst into the room. There was no packing that night. But what did it matter? There was to-morrow and many, many other to-morrows stretching away in a seemingly limitless 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 matters when “finals” are over and summer beckons. CHAPTER III AN INVITATION TO MISS EMERY wo 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; [26] [27] [28] [29] [30] and the guess would have been correct. Roy Porter was the host, and his guests were Mr. Thomas H. Eaton, otherwise known as Chub, and Mr. Richard Somes, better known as Dick. Dick, as we have learned through his letter, has just graduated 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 living 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 places. His father is a mining man whose business 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 Roy 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 Roy, as his guest, and Dick has taken dinner with them this evening. And now, having left Mr. Porter to his paper in the library and Mrs. Porter to her book, they have scurried up to Roy’s room for a good long talk; for there is much to be said. At the present moment Roy, 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 reminded 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, Roy?” “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 couldn’t buy it, but we thought maybe he’d be willing to rent it for the summer. And, finally a week or so ago, we wrote him—” “We?” queried Chub. “Well, then, you wrote him, Chubbie 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 Roy. “Isn’t it?” asked Dick in surprise. “I did think it was; honest. Where is it, then?” “It—it’s on—you tell him, Roy.” “It’s on a lake.” “It’s on Niagara Falls,” added Chub knowingly. “Bounded on the north by Canada, on the 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.” [31] [32] [33] [34] [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’ll 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 letter, and when finished and signed it ran as follows; Miss Harriet Emery, Ferry Hill School, Ferry Hill, N. Y. My 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, Roy, 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’ll ever have of getting your A.B.” Writing the invitation to Harry “You don’t suppose, do you,” asked Dick anxiously, “that she’ll 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’ll say ‘Bring your doughnut recipe and any other one person you want to.’ How’s that?” “All right; although, of course, a doughnut recipe isn’t a person.” “Oh, that’s just a joke,” laughed Chub. “Hadn’t you better label it?” asked Dick innocently. “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,” muttered Dick, “she’s certainly a pretty good wotter.” “Who’s got a stamp?” asked Chub as he finished 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 different flavors, you know; peppermint, vanilla, wintergreen, chocolate—” “Almond,” suggested Roy. “And then when you went to the post-office you could say: ‘I’d like ten twos, please; peppermint, if you have it.’” “You’re an awful idiot,” laughed Dick. “Give me the letter and I’ll post it on the way to the hotel. Now, let’s talk about what we’ll have to buy. Let’s figure up and see what it’ll cost us.” “Go ahead,” said Chub readily. “I’ve got a pencil.” “First of all, then, we’ll need a lot of provisions.” “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 [36] [37] [38- 39] [40] likewise and moreover if Chub doesn’t have enough to eat he will mutiny.” “Then you’ll 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 the crew than the captain. If you’re captain you can’t mutiny, and I’ve always wanted to mutiny. Say, wouldn’t it be great if we could be pirates? We could put up that skull-and-cross-bones flag and board one of the Day Line steamboats. Think of the sport we could have! We’d swipe all the grub on board of her and make the officers walk the plank! Then—then we’d scuttle her!” “How do you scuttle a boat?” asked Dick curiously. Chub for a moment was at a loss, and glanced doubtfully at Roy. 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 contemptuously. “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, but good pirates are few and far between, these 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 Roy. “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’ll 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 contemptuous silence. “We’ll need flour, coffee, tea, salt, rice, cheese—” “Pepper,” interpolated Dick. “Baking-powder, sugar, flavoring extracts—” “Mustard,” proposed Chub, “for mustard plasters, you know.” “And lots of things like that,” ended Roy triumphantly. “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. Personally, 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 vegetables and an occasional egg, suffice my simple needs. I might mention, however, that a suggestion 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,” answered 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. —“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 Roy. “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’ll 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, Roy.” “Oh, you’ll 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 conversation lacks—lacks variety, diversity. If you are quite through vilifying me—” “Doesn’t he use lovely language?” murmured Roy in an aside to Dick. [41] [42] [43] [44] [45] T “We will now proceed with our estimate,” concluded 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 aren’t there; but—” “Then we want none of it! An egg that you can’t fry isn’t a respectable egg. If I can’t have real eggs I’ll starve like a gentleman.” “Well, let’s leave the eggs out of it for the present,” suggested Roy. “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. Besides, the best way to do is to buy the things and 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?” “Right 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’ll be around at ten in the morning. See if you can at least get him up by that time, Roy.” “With a glance of scathing contempt,” murmured Chub, “our hero turned upon his heel and strode rapidly away into the fast-gathering darkness.” But where he really strode was down the stairs, with one arm over Dick’s shoulder, while Roy brought up the rear and gently prodded them with the toe of his shoe. CHAPTER IV LEASING A HOUSE-BOAT he preceding summer, while camping out on Fox Island—or Harry’s Island, as they called it now—the boys had made the acquaintance of the Floating Artist. He had appeared one day in his house-boat, the Jolly Roger, in which he was cruising down the Hudson, sketching 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 admitted by a uniformed butler and conducted into 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 noiselessly. 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 Roy’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 didn’t penetrate, and a balcony of dark, richly carved oak, screened and curtained, stretched across the front end of the studio. In a great 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 bearskin 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, elaborately 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 [45] [46] [47] [48] [49] [50- 51] 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 with cushions. And amidst the cushions, a fact only now discerned by the visitors, lay a red setter 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 pretended 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 becoming quite enthusiastic in his welcome and digging 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 Roy, “instead of standing here like a lot of ninnies.” “Did you ever see such a place in your life?” asked Dick. “It looks like a museum and a palace 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’ll go over there and sit down and not snoop,” answered Roy 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 Roy, 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. 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 happened 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 cushions with his head on Dick’s knee. “I guess there isn’t much to tell,” said Roy. “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 good times on 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’ll have the jolliest sort of a time, boys.” “It’s mighty nice of you to want us to have it,” said Roy. “We’ll take very good care of it, Mr. Cole, and—” “...