CHAPTER XI
BY PLUCK ALONE
AFTER half an hour of steady paddling, Rush shoved his coat up for apillow and lay flat on the slender raft to rest himself. He wasbreathing hard from his exertions; in fact, he was well nigh exhausted.But the Iron Boy's pluck was of the same quality as ever. Nothing couldweaken that, no matter how dire his predicament.
"I could make better time swimming," he mused, raising his head a littleand gazing longingly at the shore that now seemed farther off thanbefore, "if I only dared. I don't mean that; I do dare, but it would notbe prudent. I want to get to the mainland, and I think my present methodis the best one to get me there. Well, I must start the engines goingagain," decided the lad, grinning at his own humor.
Had any one chanced to be looking in his direction from the shore, thatperson probably would have thought he was gazing upon some strangecreature from the deep, for Steve was making the water foam all abouthim. His head and the end of the board were all that were visible abovethe surface. Once he paddled so fast as to cause him to lose hisbalance. His raft turned turtle, landing Rush on his back in the water.Laughing almost gleefully at his own misfortune, the lad, in a few swiftstrokes, regained the door.
"That was just so much effort wasted," he remarked. "I must rememberthat I am not running a race. I ought to be in pretty good trim for one,though; if I get through with this one I shall be fit for most any kindof an old race that I come across."
For the rest of the journey Steve made no attempt to spurt. He paddledalong steadily, making slow but sure progress toward the goal on whichhis eyes were continually fixed.
The sun was at its zenith when, slipping from the board, he found solidrock under his feet. Steve tried to shout, but he was too worn to raisehis voice. He clung to the door until it grounded with a grating soundon the beach. Steve lay there for a few minutes. Then he staggered tohis feet, making his way up the beach a few feet from the water, thereto throw himself on the ground exhausted.
For nearly two hours he lay resting, having fallen into a deep sleep.Then he awakened, sat up, resting his head in his hands for one lastlittle wink, the wink that was to give the lad the strength and courageto take up his journey.
"Hello, what's the matter?"
Rush started up suddenly. He saw before him a boy somewhat younger thanhimself, dressed in rough clothes. The boy was carrying part of a fishnet.
"Say, I'm glad to see you, and don't you forget it," exclaimed the IronBoy, striding forward and grasping the hand of the other lad, much tothe latter's astonishment. "Who are you?"
"I'm Billy Trimmer. I am a fisherman--me and my father."
"Do you live near here?" asked Steve eagerly, with visions of a mealbefore him.
"Nope. We live over yonder," pointing to the cloud of smoke that was nowmuch more plainly in evidence than before.
"Is that a town over there?"
"Yes."
"What is the name of the town?"
"Alpena."
"Oh! And what do you call that little island over yonder?"
"That one with the stones sticking up all over it like a porcupine'sback?"
"That describes it. Some of them are sticking into me yet."
"That's Little Gull Island."
"How far is it to Alpena?" questioned Rush.
"'Bout ten miles."
Steve uttered a long, low whistle.
"What's the easiest way to get there?"
"Hoof it. Ain't no other way."
"That's too bad. Is there a house anywhere near here where I could buysomething to eat?"
"Nary a house. But you kin git all you want over to Alpena."
"Thank you very much. I think I will be going."
"Say, where'd you come from?"
"From the lake--out of the lake. I was drowned out there last night, orpretty nearly drowned. A steamer went down and I was carried under----"
"A steamer?"
"Yes."
"Which one?"
"The 'Macomber,' I think it was. Coal laden and----"
"I must tell Pa," and the fisher boy was off on the run.
Steve gazed after the lad reflectively.
"I'd give a ten-dollar bill to anybody who would tell me how to run likethat now. Poor Bob, I'll bet he's eating his big heart out for sorrowover my disappearance." Steve paused. "They think I'm drowned, ofcourse, they do, and I ought to be. It must have been intended that Ishould be, but somehow I didn't arrive on schedule time."
Chuckling to himself, the lad started on toward the city, ten milesaway. He tried to make himself forget his weariness by whistling andsinging. Coming to some willow bushes, he cut the stiffest small branchhe could find, from which he trimmed the nubs, then started on, whippinghis legs with it.
This seemed to start the circulation, and at the same time to take hismind from his own weariness. After a time the wet, swollen shoes beganto chafe his heels, and it was not very long before the skin had beenworn from both heels. Then a blister suddenly bobbed up on the ball ofthe right foot.
The boy took off his shoes and tried to doctor the sore spots, but therewas nothing he could do save tear up his handkerchief and bind up theaffected parts.
"A boil on my nose, now, would just about complete my misfortune," Rushgrinned. "I'm going to carry my shoes in my hands."
This did not work very well, for Steve's feet were sore and the rocksover which he was walking made his feet more tender than ever, so he putthe shoes on again. They had shrunk, of course, and the putting on wasattended with a great deal of pain. Steve Rush did not even grunt. Hedrew them on almost roughly, stamped in them and jumped up and down.
"There, I guess that'll fix that blister, anyway. I wish I could jump onthe sore spots on my heels and cure them as easily."
He started, and kept on without another stop until three o'clock in theafternoon, when Rush halted for a drink of water at a little creek thatcrossed his trail.
It was a sore and very much dilapidated young man who crawled into thetown just before supper time that evening. Realizing that his appearancewas far from prepossessing, Rush sought the back streets, following themin so far as possible, keeping an eye out for a hotel that he thoughtmight be respectable.
He found such a place after some searching about, during which thepolicemen he passed had eyed him suspiciously.
Steve entered the place, which proved to be a farmers' hotel, and askedif he could get supper and lodging there. The man behind the desk eyedthe lad narrowly.
"You've made a mistake young fellow," said the clerk.
"How so?" inquired Steve innocently.
"You should go out and see the hostler. Maybe he'll put you up. We don'tkeep your kind in here."
Several bystanders laughed at the boy's expense. But Rush neverflinched.
"Oh, I beg your pardon, sir; I thought I was in the stable. This must bewhere you herd the other lower animals. I see they are all here."
Before any one could recover his wits sufficiently to make a retort,Steve had stepped out of the place.
Next the boy tried a restaurant. He got no further than the desk when hewas held up by the proprietor.
"Hold on; where are you going?"
"I wish something to eat," answered the boy politely.
"You're in the wrong place, and----"
"No, I am not. That's what the fellow told me the last place I calledat. They can't both be the wrong place, so this must be the right one."
The proprietor of the place stepped out from behind his desk, laying afirm hand on Steve Rush's shoulder. A peculiar glint shot into the eyesof the Iron Boy, but he stood still.
"We can't serve you here. This is a gentlemen's restaurant. Perhaps youwill find something that will suit you down on the south side."
"I have money, sir. I am willing to pay for what I get. I have been in ashipwreck and am not very presentable----"
"I can't help it; you'll have to get out."
"See here, sir, I shall not get out until I have
had my supper. I havehad nothing to eat in twenty-four hours, and I'm hungry."
"Go on, go on; don't raise any disturbance here."
Steve walked over and laid a five-dollar bill on the desk.
"There's your money in advance. Give me the change after I have finishedmy supper----"
"I said I couldn't serve you here. I----"
"Oh, yes you can, and what's more you're going to."
"I'll call a policeman and have you put out."
"Look here, Mister Man, unless I get some supper here quickly, I'll havethe law on you. You are keeping a public house, and you have no right toturn me out."
Steve didn't know whether he were right or not, but he took a longchance. He saw at once that he had made a good point, so he pressed itfurther.
"I am going to sit down at that table over there, and I shall expect tobe served at once."
The proprietor's hand fell from the Iron Boy's shoulder as the latterstrode to the nearest table and seated himself. A waiter stepped up tohim asking what he would have, at the same time thrusting a bill offare on the table in front of the boy.
"I think I'll take about five dollars' worth of ham and eggs," answeredRush without a trace of a smile on his face.