Part 13 (1/2)
After supper had been eaten the boys switched on all the lights and sat out on deck. There was a brilliant moon, but they preferred to let everybody in that vicinity know that they were there--hence the electric lights.
”If any one sneaks up on us now,” Alex. laughed, ”he'll have to get to us by the under-water route! And, even then, one of us would be apt to see him. Captain Joe is losing his record as a watch dog, but I guess Teddy can take his place.”
Captain Joe, as if he understood every word that had been said, and resented the insinuation, walked up to the prow and sat in a meditative mood, looking over the small ”tow-head” which sheltered the boat from the current. He sat there motionless so long that Alex.
finally called attention to him.
”Ah knows what he's done seein'!” exclaimed Mose. ”Dar's a big fat c.o.o.n watchin' us from dat mess ob bushes. Ah done seen him long time ago!”
An inspection of the spot pointed out showed half a dozen evil-looking negroes watching the boat.
CHAPTER XI
FIRE-FACES ON THE ISLAND
”What are they squatting there watching the boat for?” queried Jule, as the prow light fell full on the group of negroes on the island.
”They don't look good to me!”
”If we keep away from them,” Case suggested, ”and don't try to stare them out of countenance, they'll probably keep away from us. They do look fierce, though!”
While the boys discussed the matter the negroes moved away from the sh.o.r.e of the island, where they were under the boat lights, and secreted themselves behind a patch of willows which fringed the ”tow-head,” for the place where they were was little else.
”I don't believe they have any idea of letting us alone, if they can manage to get on board the _Rambler_,” Clay declared. ”I have often read that lawless negroes and whites are alike alert for plunder during flood seasons, and it is floating goods those fellows are after, unless I am much mistaken. We'll have to keep a sharp watch to-night.”
”Wouldn't it be wiser to drive them away?” asked Alex., with one of his grins.
”We have no right to drive them away,” Case suggested. ”We may get into trouble if we try it. I'll watch half the night and not mind it at all.”
Alex. nudged Jule in the side and whispered in his ear for a moment.
”Jule and I will watch the first half,” he then said. ”Perhaps they will go off home by midnight, and Case won't have to watch at all.”
”Alex.,” Clay exclaimed, ”you've got some mischief in your mind.
Heretofore you've come out of your sc.r.a.pes with whole bones, but sometime you'll get into serious trouble if you don't stop running out nights. I strongly advise you to let those levee negroes alone! You go to bed early, and I'll watch the boat!”
”Who's got mischief in the mind?” grinned Alex. ”I guess I can stay up until midnight without gettin' into trouble! You see if I don't make the dandy watchman to-night! When it comes to keeping guard, I'm the candy boy!”
”You usually manage to get into trouble when you are left alone!”
laughed Clay.
”If I can't be good to-night,” grinned Alex., ”I'll be careful.”
Nothing more was seen of the negroes at that time, although the boys were satisfied that they were still on the island, as no boat had been seen to leave it.
After a time Clay, Case and Mose went to bed, leaving Alex., Jule, Captain Joe, and Teddy on deck. The dog seemed particularly wide awake, moving about as if he scented danger, while the cub sat looking toward the island with twitching nostrils.
”Seems as if the dog and the cub know there's something coming off here to-night,” Jule remarked, as Captain Joe put his paw on the gunwale and sniffed the air. ”Do you really think they have a way of discovering approaching peril which human beings have not? Captain Joe certainly looks as if he saw something unpleasant coming.”
”I often think dogs have an instinct which warns them of danger,”