CHAPTER XIV
MYSTERIOUS STRANGERS
Under the forward gates, and through openings in them, the water wasstill bubbling and foaming, seeking to establish a level with that onthe other side of the barrier. Lower and lower sank the bow of thebarge, for it was held fast on the beam. The _Modoc_ heeled over moreand more.
"Shut off the water!" again cried the captain.
Then the attendants at the lock were made aware that something waswrong. Orders were shouted; men ran to and fro. With immense levers theyshut the flood gates, and, slowly and sullenly, as though cheated of itsprey, the bubbling subsided.
"We must pull the barge back!" cried one of the lock men, running upalong the cement wall.
"No, don't do that," advised Captain Wiggs, as he stood on the bridge ofhis vessel, while the boys, who were much alarmed by the impendingaccident, had joined him, for they were permitted the run of the ship.
"Why not?" asked the man. "We've got to free her from that gate beam."
"Yes, but if you pull her out from under the edge of that beam suddenly,she's sure to bound up, and then she'll come slap-bang against the sideof my craft. Besides, I think she's held so tight that you can't pullher back."
"What shall we do?" asked the man, recognizing that Captain Wiggs knewwhat he was about.
"Let the water out from the rear gate," was his suggestion. "That willlower my vessel and the barge gradually. They'll assume their rightpositions, and no damage will be done. Then you can raise us again, andbe sure no more ropes break. I don't want an accident like that again."
The captain's advice was followed. When the water ceased coming in theforward gate, the men ran to the rear one and opened the valves there.Out rushed the imprisoned fluid, boiling and bubbling at a great rate.Slowly the two big vessels began to sink. The barge swung away from the_Modoc_ and then, a little later, when the water had fallen sufficiently,the bow was released from the projecting beam. The two crafts were nowin the same positions they had been in when they first entered the lock.
Men hastily fastened heavier ropes to the barge, and took several turnsabout strong bitts, so the ship could not again drift into danger. Thenthe flood was once more allowed to enter the lock.
Again the vessels rose, and this time, without mishap, they were floatedto the higher level of the canal. The forward gates were opened and outtoward Lake Superior steamed the _Modoc_, followed by the slower grainbarge. The boys looked around them, being able to get a better view now,as they were some distance higher, being on a level with the top of thefalls, off to their right. They saw a long string of vessels, somewaiting to enter the locks to proceed east, while others were comingwest.
"That was a narrow escape," remarked Bart, when the ship was againproceeding along.
"Yes, we seem to be sort of up against lots of hard luck this trip,"remarked the captain. "I think you boys must be responsible."
"How?" asked Fenn, for the captain looked serious.
"Why, you're regular Jonahs. If there were any whales in these watersI'd try the experiment of throwing one of you overboard, to see if Icouldn't change my luck."
"I'd be willing to jump over and take a swim," volunteer Ned. "It looksnice and cool in there, and it's hot up here."
It was a warm July day, and the weather was humid and unpleasant.
"Maybe when we get further out on Lake Superior, and come to some goodplace to tie up, I'll give you a chance to take a dip," responded thecommander. "I'd like one myself."
"Ned must take care not to go to sleep, or he'll be carried under by abig fish," suggested Fenn, taking precautions to get beyond the reach ofhis chum's arm.
The _Modoc_ touched at a port of call that afternoon, and Captain Wiggsfound awaiting him a message which changed matters so that he did nothave to be in any hurry to conclude his voyage.
"This will give us a chance to lay-to, and go ashore," he said to theboys. "You might as well have a good time while you are on this cruise.No telling when you'll get another."
It was a day after this, one of the hottest that the boys everremembered, that the _Modoc_ came to anchor off shore, near a littlebay, on the edge of which, and about three miles away from where theylaid-to, was a good-sized town.
"Now for a swim!" exclaimed Ned. "Can we take the boat and go ashore,captain?"
The desired permission being given, the four chums were soon rowingtoward where they saw a sandy beach, that seemed to be put there onpurpose for bathing. They hauled the boat up on shore and soon weredisporting themselves in the water.
"Oh, this is something like!" exclaimed Fenn, as he proceeded to floatwith nothing but his face out of the water.
"Yes, you look just like a baby crocodile," replied Frank.
"I do, eh?" asked Fenn, diving suddenly and coming up under Frank, whomhe ducked unceremoniously.
"Here! Quit-erurgle-gurgle!" called the luckless one, as he sank out ofsight.
Then the boys began to play tricks on each other, had impromptu racesand diving contests, and enjoyed themselves to the limit in the coolwater.
"Let's dress and go on a little exploring trip," proposed Fenn, afterthey had spent an hour in the lake. "We've got time enough before wehave to go aboard."
His suggestion was well received, and soon the four chums were strollingback from the lake, through the dense woods that bordered it. They hadnot gone far before Frank, who was in advance, suddenly halted. Hemotioned to the others to approach silently, and they joined him ontip-toe.
"What is it?" asked Ned.
Frank pointed through the bushes. Beyond the screen of the underbrushthe boys could see a road. It did not seem to be much traveled, but whatattracted their attention was a big automobile, drawn back, and almosthidden in the thicket.
"The machine's been abandoned," was Bart's opinion. "It is probablybroken."
"Hush!" cautioned Frank, and not a moment too soon, for, at that instanttwo men stepped cautiously out of the bushes near the auto. One of themproduced a telescope, and pointed it at the lake, which was just visiblethrough the trees.
The boys looked at the man. He seemed a rough sort of fellow, with anunpleasant face. He was poorly dressed, and the lads noticed that,standing against a tree near him, was a rifle.
But it was a sight of the man's companion which caused the boys to stareagain and wonder. For the second man was a Chinese, though he woreAmerican clothes. Under his hat, however, could be seen the tell-talequeue.
The white man handed his Celestial companion the telescope, and murmuredsomething to him, evidently in Chinese. The other replied and appliedthe glass to his eye. No sooner had he done so that he uttered anexclamation, and began jumping about.
The other man snatched the glass and took a look. Then they both talkedvery excitedly, pointing to the lake and then at the auto.
"I wonder what they can be up to?" whispered Fenn.
At that moment he stepped on a loose branch. It broke with a sharpreport, and the Chinaman and the white man glanced to where the boyswere hidden.
"Come on!" exclaimed Frank. "They may come after us!"