Part 14 (1/2)

”On the houseboat, of course,” answered his elder brother. ”If we stop to do anything else we'll lose too much time.”

”But that launch can run away from us.”

”Perhaps, but you must remember that they'll have to be cautious, because the craft is strange to them. They won't dare to run full speed for fear of blowing up or of striking a snag.”

”I vish da struck a hundred of dem snags alretty!” cried Hans.

”Then again, they may tie up as soon as they think they can leave the river with safety. I think we can follow in the houseboat as well as in anything.”

”Yes, let us stick to the houseboat,” came from the young Southerner.

”But wait, pole her over to the barge. Perhaps we can buy some food.”

”Yes, let us get food by all means,” added Sam.

They were soon beside the lumber barge, which had a comfortable cabin and sleeping quarters. As Harold Bird knew the owner well, there was little difficulty in obtaining provisions and at a reasonable price.

Then off those on the _Dora_ pushed, and soon the current of the broad Mississippi carried them out of sight down the stream.

”We must keep a good lookout,” said d.i.c.k, as night came on. ”We don't want to miss them in the dark.”

”And we don't want to run into anything either,” added Sam.

”Dis ain't kvite der life on der oceans vaves vot I like,” observed Hans. ”I d.i.n.k me after all a sail s.h.i.+p oder a steamer been besser, hey?”

”Yes, a sailboat or a steamer would be better just now,” answered Tom. ”But we have got to put up with what we happen to have, as the dog said who got lockjaw from swallowing a bunch of keys.”

”Did dot dog git dot lockjaw from dem keys?” asked Hans, innocently.

”Sure he did, Hans. You see, they didn't fit the lock to his stomach, so he couldn't digest them.”

”Poor dog, vot vos his name?”

”Why, his name was--er--Picker,--but he couldn't pick the lock, so he died.”

”Is he teat yet?”

”Is he dead--Say, Hans, what do you mean?”

”Oh, it ton't madder,” answered the German boy, and walked away, leaving Tom wondering if the joke had been turned on him or not.

On and on swept the houseboat over the broad bosom of the Mississippi.

Fortunately for our friends, it proved a clear night, with countless stars bespangling the heavens.--They had managed to find two lanterns fit for use and each was lit and placed in position. Most of the boys remained on the forward deck, watching anxiously. d.i.c.k was at the rudder, steering as Harold Bird directed.

It was not long before something dark loomed up along sh.o.r.e and they knew they had struck one of the numerous levees, or artificial banks, along the Mississippi, put there to prevent the country from being inundated during the freshets. The levee was very high and looked strong enough to withstand almost any pressure that could be brought to bear against it.

”And yet they sometimes give way and cause a terrible amount of drainage,” said Harold Bird, in reply to Sam's question. ”I have seen the river spread out for miles, and houses and barns carried off to n.o.body knew where over night.”

”Well, I don't think the launch would tie up at the levee, do you?”

”It is not likely. I have an idea those fellows will try to get down to New Orleans.”