Part 34 (1/2)
”They're there!” Rod gasped.
”After the logs?” the captain enquired. ”Are you sure?”
”Yes. Come quick, or it will be too late!”
Stepping to one corner of the kitchen, the captain picked up his rifle, and swiftly followed Rod to the sh.o.r.e. There they paused and listened.
”Ye're right, by gum!” the captain whispered. ”The skunks! But I'll stop their fun. Into the tender now, and make no noise.”
With Rod seated astern, and the captain at the oars, it took but a few minutes to come close to the tug. A long line had already been made fast to the raft, and the small boat with two men on board was returning from fastening the warp. Captain Josh ceased rowing and waited. Then he caught up his rifle, and held it in readiness.
”Hold on there!” he roared. ”What's the meanin' of all this?”
”None of your business,” was the gruff and somewhat startled reply.
”Get out of the way or we'll run ye down!”
”Is that so?” and the captain drew back the hammer of his rifle.
”Bluff all ye like, but I've something here which does more'n bluff.
Stop rowin', I tell ye, or I'll blow yer heads off!”
It was remarkable what an effect these words had upon the night-prowlers. They could see, as well, the levelled rifle, and they believed that the man holding it meant business. They stopped rowing, but the boat still glided onward.
”Back water, and keep away from the tug!” the captain commanded.
The men obeyed, and soon the boat was lying but a few yards off.
”There, that's better,” the captain commented. ”Now, what have yez to say about yer actions here?”
”We're only obeyin' orders,” was the surly reply. ”We were told to come fer these logs.”
”Who told ye?”
”Nick Taftie. We're workin' fer him.”
”H'm, I thought so. Worked fer him last year at the same job, eh?”
”Yes.”
”How many of yez are there?” the captain enquired.
”Three. Pete Simons, the engineer, is on board.”
”Well, then, ye jist tell Pete to drop anchor, and tumble in there with yez. If yez try any foolin', I'll shoot.”
”But what are ye going to do?” one of the men demanded. ”We can't stay here.”
”Never mind what I'm goin' to do; ye'll find that out in plenty of time. It's not a bad place to stay, after all. Yez won't starve, and I shan't shoot so long as yez behave yerselves. Hurry up, and give Pete his orders!”