CHAPTER XV. OFF FOR THE ISTHMUS.
The _S.S. Caribbean_ lay at her dock at the foot of West Twenty-fifthStreet, New York City, with steam up in readiness for her departure forColon, which, as every boy knows, is the easterly port of the Canal Zoneand the terminus on that side of the Isthmus of the Panama Railroad.Everything appeared to be a perfect maze of confusion. Derricks rattled,steam winches roared and wagons clattered about the dock in everydirection. From the 'scape pipe of the big steamer white wisps of steamwere pouring, while black smoke rolled from the squat, black funnel. Atthe foremast flew the Blue Peter, that blue flag with a square whitecenter that, all the world over, signifies "Sailing day."
Down Twenty-fourth Street, hurrying with all their might, came three boyswhom, even had they not worn their Scout uniforms, we should have had nodifficulty in recognizing as Rob, Merritt and Tubby. All were laden downwith packages,--things bought at the last moment. The main part of theirequipment was already on board. As we know, their numerous campingexpeditions had provided for them so amply in that way that it had hardlybeen necessary to buy anything in that line. Tents, cooking outfits, andso on, they had long possessed.
But on board the ship, in the stateroom they were all three to share,reposed their proudest possessions: three blue-steel automatic revolverswith their cartridge belts, etc., and three brand new automatic rifles ofheavy caliber. The latter had been the gift of Mr. Mainwaring, while therevolvers the boys had bought themselves on his recommendation. It wasquite likely, it appeared, that they would explore some of the upperreaches of the Chagres River, a region infested by big snakes, jaguarsand alligators, and weapons were more or less of a necessity.
Good-byes had been said early that morning when an admiring, if slightlyenvious, cohort of Scouts, with the village band at their heads, hadescorted them to the train for New York. It had been a period of gloriousexcitement up to that time, but when the moment came to say the lastgood-byes and they had waved and given the Scout cry for the last time,the three lads felt strangely sober. This supernatural depression ofspirits had endured till they reached New York, where their last shoppingexcursion for some time diverted their thoughts and drove away the blues.So that it was a laughing, merrily chatting trio that came at a briskwalk down Twenty-fourth Street on its way to meet Mr. Mainwaring and Fredat the steamer. All felt that their departure for the tropics meant a newepoch in their lives. As for their friends at home, the Hampton localpaper had devoted a column to the lads' departure, calling them"Hampton's Boy Scout Pioneers."
How much they wished that they could have brought all the Eagles withthem to share their anticipated experiences! But that was manifestlyimpossible, and so, as the next best thing, Tubby carried a camera and anample supply of films with which to make all the pictures he could to beshown to admiring audiences on their return.
The water front opposite the sailing place of the West India and SouthAmerican ships is a busy spot. Life boils over thereabouts and the boysfelt quite bewildered as they faced the broad street packed with rumblingwagons and swearing drivers and stevedores that lay between them and thedock bearing in big white letters the magic words: Panama SteamshipCompany.
They were just about to cross the street when their attention wassuddenly distracted by the sound of some sort of scuffle or argumentgoing on near at hand. Facing about they were not long in discoveringwhat the trouble was. Drawn up against the curb was a small peddler'shand-cart, covered with rosy apples piled high in tempting fashion.Behind it stood a kindly-looking old woman who just at that momentappeared to be very much flustered and excited. The cause was soonapparent.
Above the quavering voice of the old woman came a loud, blustering onethat the boys were swift to recognize.
"Max Ramsay! What in the world is he doing here?"
"And Hodge Berry is with him and two other boys that look like cityfellows," struck in Merritt. "What are they up to?"
"It's plain enough that they are plaguing that poor old woman," exclaimedRob, "and it wouldn't surprise me if they had come down here to see usoff on the steamer and try to make trouble of some kind. I heard theywere staying with Ramsay's cousins in the city till the school wasrebuilt."
"Well, it's a shame, anyhow," cried Merritt indignantly.
He had just seen what the Hampton worthies and their friends were up to.They had amused themselves by plaguing the old woman till she was halfbeside herself, and then, while she was berating one of them, the otherswould steal some apples.
"Why, it's downright thievery," cried Rob.
"That's just what it is. Just what I'd expect from such cads," criedMerritt, fully as angry.
"They look like good apples, too," commented Tubby, regarding the fruitwith the eye of an expert in such matters.
"Well, if you aren't the limit," exclaimed Merritt, giving him adisgusted look.
"Haven't I got a right to give my opinion?" asked the fat Scout demurely.
"Well, of all the mean skunks," cried Rob indignantly, with a darkeningbrow. "See, the poor old woman is lame. She's got a crutch there. Shecan't get after them and that's why they are so bold."
"Come on, and stop it," exclaimed Merritt impulsively, "I can't stand foranything like that."
"Better get a policeman," suggested Tubby prudently.
"I don't see one in sight," rejoined Rob; "I guess it's up to us to stopit."
"Here's where I get even for that tumble I took, Scout rules or no Scoutrules," muttered Tubby to himself as the three lads advanced.
Max Ramsay was contentedly munching a big red apple as they approached.He was too much, engrossed with laughing at the anger of the old womanand the mean pranks of his friends to notice the trio of determinedlooking lads nearing him. He had already swooped down on the stand andwas now trying to divert the old woman's attention from the raids of hiscompanions.
"Drop that apple, Max Ramsay!"
That was the first warning that Max had that the three Scouts fromHampton were on the scene. He and his companions had, as Rob guessed,come down to the steamer to make trouble for the boys if they could. Buton the way they had stopped to divert themselves at the old apple woman'sexpense.
Max turned a trifle pale for an instant, but then he bethought himself ofhis companions and grew defiant again.
"As if I'd drop it for you," he said sneeringly.
Rob's arm flashed out and seized Max's wrist. The next instant the applewas flying across the street.
"Ouch!" grunted Max, "what are you trying to do? Break my arm? Hey,fellows!"
His companions, their attention thus drawn, rallied to Max's support. ButRob, crimson with just anger, never noticed them. Nothing made the youngScout leader more angry than cruelty or injustice to children, the oldand feeble, or dumb animals. His eyes fairly blazed now as he faced Max,who looked mean and cringing beside him.
"Now get out of this, you coward," he exclaimed, grabbing Max's shoulderand giving that worthy a good shove. "Be off and take your friends withyou. You ought to be ashamed of yourselves, treating a poor old womanthis way."
"Let's give 'em a good punching," muttered Tubby belligerently.
"That's what I say," chimed in Merritt; but Rob held back his twofire-eating chums.
"Oh, we're not scared of the whole bunch of you namby-pamby sissies,"cried Hodge Berry, a hulking lad who, however, took good care to keep outof reach of Rob's fists. He had once witnessed what they could do and hadno desire for a personal experience. Now Max's two city cousins chimedin.
"Why don't you give those toy soldiers a good hiding?" said one.
"Yes; those Boy Scouts are too dern busy," put in the other, apale-faced, pimply lad of about seventeen.
But despite these brave remarks, neither of them made any effort to backup Max or Hodge Berry.
"All right for you. We'll fix you some time," snarled Max.
"Why not do it now?" inquired Tubby. "You're four to three, that's goododds."
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bsp; "Oh, we could lick you if we wanted to. We'll do it, too, when you getback from Panama, if you ever do. I hope the 'gators eat you."
"Thank you," said Rob, laughing in spite of himself; "and as for fightingyou fellows, why I don't much believe in it, but if you don't makeyourselves scarce, I'll give you rowdies a lesson you won't forget."
"Yah-h-h-h-h!" was all that the apple raiders could think of to say, butthey faded away from the scene in as dignified a manner as they couldmuster.
The three Scouts then bought some apples from the old woman, who pouredout her thanks so profusely that a small crowd began to gather about herand listen.
"Come on, fellows," said Rob, "let's get out of this."
They hurried away, followed by the old woman's "Wurra wurras," and "Godbless yez fer foine byes now, even if ye do wear haythenish clothes."
When they were out of earshot, Rob turned his attention to his badge,which he was wearing upside down. Like many other Scouts, he didn't turnit the right way up till he had lived up to the Scout rules of doing adaily kind deed. He now turned his badge the right way and so did hischums, who had adopted this rule also.
"I'd have felt better if I could have got a good crack at those chaps,though," said Tubby between bites at his apple.
Suddenly a steamer's whistle boomed out above the dock-side uproar.
"Gee whiz, fellows, that's the 'all ashore' whistle. We've got tohustle!" cried Rob.
The three Scouts broke into a run, each congratulating himself that hecould present himself before Mr. Mainwaring with an "upturned badge."