CHAPTER XXIV.
IN WHICH ERNEST ENGAGES IN AN EXCITING STEAMBOAT RACE.
"If you ask for my opinion," said Bob Hale, "I say we had betterreturn to Parkville at once, and not wait to be driven back."
"It is easy enough for you to say that," replied Tom Rush, who hadjoined us. "You live there, and all you have to do is to go home; butwhat are the fellows who reside a hundred miles from there to do?"
"They will not be any worse off there than they will be here. Thequestion is only between going back and being driven back," added Bob.
"I suppose that we are to acknowledge that breaking away has been afailure," said Vallington.
"Not at all; I, for one, won't have any more to do with Mr. Parasyte,"answered Bob. "What do you say, Ernest?"
"I probably shall not go back to the Institute, whatever happens," Ireplied. "My breaking away is not from school only, but from all thehome I ever knew. I have been thrown out upon the world, to take careof myself."
For a moment my friends seemed to forget that we were in council todetermine what should be done for the rebels in their sympathy for me;but I assured them I was not at all concerned about myself, and feltabundantly able to make my way without any help.
"But what an old humbug your uncle is!" said Tom.
"He is a strange man. He seemed to have turned me out because Idispleased him in resisting Mr. Parasyte's injustice. He is afraid myconduct will lessen the value of his mortgage on the Parkville LiberalInstitute."
"I think Mr. Parasyte's conduct has lessened it," said Vallington."But all this is neither here nor there. What shall we do with thissteamer?"
"Take her back to Parkville, and leave her there," answered Bob.
"What are the fellows to do?" asked Tom.
"Let them go back to the Institute, and lie back till somethinghappens."
"I don't believe anything will happen this year," laughed Tom, who wasalways light-hearted in any emergency.
"Now, I think something will happen within a few days. I know thatcertain persons in Parkville, who have long been dissatisfied with Mr.Parasyte, intended to have a change months ago; and if I mistake not,this affair of ours will bring matters to a head," said Bob.
"What can they do? Mr. Parasyte is as obstinate as a mule, and ownsthe Institute himself," added Vallington.
"Not quite; my uncle will own the most of it if his note isn't paid,"I interposed.
"I am not at liberty to tell even what I know, which is not much; butI believe something will turn up which will put things right at theInstitute. All we have to do is to go back to Parkville and make ourpeace with the steamboat folks the best way we can," continued Bob.
We all agreed that the steamboat enterprise was a bad affair for us;but we were just as unanimous in the opinion that we could not havedone otherwise than take her as we did. It was mean of her captain tolend himself and his boat to such a man as Mr. Parasyte. We could notstay on Pine Island without food and without shelter. But we hoped toreturn the Adieno uninjured, and, through the powerful influence ofBob Hale's father, who was the wealthiest man in the county, to escapewithout any serious consequences. It was decided, therefore, to returnto Parkville just as soon as we had eaten our dinner.
Tom Rush's cooks were either very dilatory, or they had not got thehang of the steamer's kitchen, for we had to wait an hour for themeal. We dined in the cabin, where we found everything we needed toset the table; and in spite of the desperate condition of our affairs,we enjoyed ourselves very much. Some one ventured to inquire if wecould not charter the Adieno for a week, and finish our breaking awayin her, it would be so pleasant to live on board, and cruise up anddown the beautiful lake. But it was satisfactorily shown that ourfinances, however they might be improved by letters from home, wouldnot warrant such a piece of extravagance.
This was the last day of the breaking away, at least on the lake andin camp, and we were disposed to make the most of it. As soon as itwas announced that we were to return to Parkville, though some of thestudents murmured, and wished to make a trip down the lake before wewent back, the plan was accepted, and the boys were disposed toimprove the remainder of the cruise. They persisted in enjoying it;and before the boat left the wood pier, they were skylarking andtraining as though the future would require no account to be renderedof their past conduct.
Vallington went to the engine-room, and directed the boys below tostart up the fires. With Bob Hale I went to the wheel-house; while TomRush, as he had been directed by our chief, had all the dishes washed,and everything put in order in the cabin and kitchen, for we wished toleave the boat in as good condition in every respect as we found her.
"Cast off the fasts!" I called to the boys on the forward deck, whenVallington informed me that he had steam enough.
"All clear!" replied those who were doing duty as deck hands.
I rang to back her; and when the bow of the Adieno was clear of thewharf, I started her forward slowly; and keeping her in the middle ofthe channel, she passed in safety out into the broad lake.
"We are too late; we ought to have gone before," said Bob,impatiently. "There comes the Champion. I was certain she would beafter us--as certain as you were. What shall we do?"
I headed the Adieno down the lake when I saw the Champion--that is,away from Parkville.
"We must take our chances; we can't do anything else," I replied toBob, as I threw the wheel over.
"But you are not headed for Parkville."
"Not yet; for I don't mean to be captured."
"How can you help it?"
"Perhaps I can't help it; but I can try."
I notified Vallington through the speaking-tube that the Champion wasin sight, and headed towards us.
"We mustn't let her overtake us, if we can help it. I will put on thesteam," he replied.
"All right; I can keep out of her way," I answered.
"Why not surrender?" said Bob, who stood at my side watching theChampion.
"Surrender!" I exclaimed.
"Why not? What harm will it do?"
"I have no idea of throwing myself into the hands of those steamboatmen. Don't you see the Champion is full of men?"
"Do you suppose they would harm us?"
"I do. No doubt Mr. Parasyte is on board, and he will give themliberty to maul us as much as they please."
"Perhaps you are right; I didn't think of Mr. Parasyte's being withthem."
"Of course he is; and I think we can make better terms by fighting itout. For my own part, I would run the steamer ashore and take to thewoods, rather than give myself up to Mr. Parasyte and such a gang ashe has now."
Bob did not fully agree with me, though he thought we had better getback to Parkville, if we could. This was not an easy matter, for theChampion lay between us and our destination, and could cut us off ifwe attempted to pass her. She could run up alongside of the Adieno, ifwe attempted to dodge her, and throw her men on our decks.
The Sisters lay near the middle of the lake, and the Champion must goto the north or to the south of them. I made a blunder; I ought tohave waited at the end of the channel until our pursuer had reachedhis most southern or most northern point in coming round the shoal,and then gone off in the opposite direction; but even then he mighthave put about, and headed us off. It was hard to decide what to do,and I continued to go to the westward until the Champion, which hadchosen the southern passage, was due south of The Sisters, when Istood away to the northward.
But the pursuer "had me;" and finding it was useless to attempt to getby her, I headed the boat down the lake again. The Champion thencrowded on all steam and chased us. This was exactly what I wished herto do, and I led her five miles down the lake.
"I don't know about it, Ernest," said Bob, shaking his head. "I thinkshe will catch us. This boat is the fastest, but we don't understandher well enough to make her do her best."
"I am afraid of that; but don't talk to me, if you please, now," Ireplied.
I led the Champion to th
e northward of an island at this point; andhere her captain made a blunder, which restored to me the advantage Ihad lost before. When the Champion was well by the island, I turnedthe Adieno to the southward, and went round the island, whichprevented our pursuer from cutting us off, and saving any of thedistance, as he might have done, in the open lake.
"There, Bob, I have done it now, and I am satisfied," I said. "Shecan't cut us off, and it will be a square race up the lake."
"The Champion is gaining on us every moment," replied Bob.
THE RACE BETWEEN THE ADIENO AND THE CHAMPION.--Page275.]
The other steamer was certainly overhauling us. The superior skill ofthe men in charge of her gave them the advantage. I told Vallington ofthe fact, and soon the roaring of the furnaces and the creaking ofthe boat assured me he was in earnest. But in spite of his renewedexertions, the Champion was gaining a little, and I was sure that shewould overtake us long before we could reach Parkville. I headed herfor The Sisters, therefore, determined to put in force the plan I haddevised before dinner. I ran directly for the channel, and theChampion followed.
The pursuer was almost upon us when we came within a quarter of a mileof the end of the channel. Both boats were shaking and trembling underthe high pressure of steam, and every fellow on board the Adieno wasin a fever of excitement.
"Crowd her, Vallington!" I shouted through the tube.
"The Champion's bow is within ten feet of us!" exclaimed Bob.
"Stop her, you villains!" cried the captain of the boat from the bowof the Champion.
"Give it to her, Vallington! In two minutes more we are safe!" Iyelled through the tube.
"She is almost upon us!" said Bob, tremulously.
At that moment we heard the engine bell of the Champion ring, as theAdieno approached the narrow channel. Her wheels stopped, and shebegan to back vigorously.
"Give them three cheers!" I called to the students, as the pursuerbacked out; and they were given with a will.