Part 15 (2/2)

This vehicle for water-travel was a shallow, skiff-like boat, almost as broad as it was long, and with a square bow and stern. There was a place for a short mast to be stepped, but, with the lake covered with drifting ice cakes, it was judged safer to depend upon huge sweeps for motive power.

With these sweeps, not only could the punt be urged forward at a speed of perhaps two miles an hour, but the ice-cakes could be pushed aside and a channel opened through the drifting ma.s.s for the pa.s.sage of the awkward boat.

Mr. Preston had explained all this to Mrs. Tingley, who was used to neither the woods nor the lake, and she had agreed that this means of transportation to Cliff Island was sufficiently safe, though extraordinary.

”Let's pile in and make a start,” urged Ralph Tingley, eagerly. ”Why! we won't get there by dark if we don't hurry.”

”And goodness knows we need to get somewhere to eat before long,” cried Jennie Stone. ”I am willing to help propel the boat myself, if they'll show me how.”

”You might get out and swim, and drag us behind you, Heavy,” suggested one of the girls. ”You're so anxious to get over to the island.”

They all were desirous of gaining their destination--there could be no doubt of that. As they were getting aboard, however, there came a hail from up the main street of Logwood.

”Hi, yi! Don't you folks go without me! Hi, Preston!”

”Here comes that Blent man,” said Mrs. Tingley, with some disgust. ”I suppose we must take him?”

”Well, I wouldn't advise ye to turn him down, Mis' Tingley,” urged the foreman. ”No use making him your enemy. I tell you he's got a big political pull in these parts.”

”Is there room for him?”

”Yes. And for the fellow with him. That's Lem Daggett, the constable. Oh, Rufe is going over with all the legal right on his side. He'll bring Jerry back here and shut him up for a few days, I suppose.”

”But on what charge?” Mrs. Tingley asked, in some distress.

”That won't matter. Some trumped-up charge. Easy enough to do it when you have a feller like 'Squire Keller to deal with. Oh,” said Preston, shaking his head, ”Rufe Blent knows what he's about, you may believe!”

”Who's the old gee-gee with the whiskers?” asked the disrespectful Isadore, when the real estate man came down to the dock, with the constable slouching behind him.

”Hurry up, Grandpop!” shouted one of the Tingley boys. ”This expedition is about to start.”

Blent scowled at the hilarious crowd. It was plain to be seen that any supply of milk of human kindness he may have had was long since soured.

Ruth caught Tom Cameron's eye and nodded to him. Helen's twin was a very good friend of the girl from the Red Mill and he quickly grasped her wish to speak with him alone.

In a minute he maneuvered so as to get into the stern with his sister's chum, and there Ruth whispered to him her fears and desires regarding Blent and Jerry Sheming.

”Say! we ought to help that fellow. See what he did for Jane Ann,” said Tom. ”And that old fellow looks so sour he sets my teeth on edge, anyway.”

”He is going to do a very mean thing,” declared Ruth, decidedly. ”Jerry has done nothing wrong, I am sure.”

”We must beat the old fellow.”

”But how, Tom? They say he is all-powerful here at Logwood.”

”Let me think. I'll be back again,” replied Tom, as the boys called him to come up front.

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