Part 9 (1/2)
”Your curiosity may get you into trouble,” spoke Frank, a little seriously.
”It won't be the first time,” and Ned laughed.
”Well, whoever he is, he was in a great hurry,” said Fenn. ”Maybe the lunatic is sick and he's going to get some medicine for him.”
By this time the man was out of sight, and, after a little further talk the boys went on.
Some one must have told Sandy Merton what Bart said about his being released from the team, for the next day he approached the nine's captain on the school campus.
”I hear you said I couldn't play on the team any more,” Sandy said to Bart.
”That's what I did. Who told you?”
”That's none of your affair. But I tell you I am going to play.”
”You refused to obey an order from the captain,” said Bart. ”Not that I'm better than any of the other players, but they elected me captain and I'm going to run the nine or resign. You can't play as long as I'm captain.”
”We'll see how long you'll be captain then,” muttered Sandy, as he walked away.
”Think he means anything?” asked Fenn of Bart.
”I don't care whether he does or not. I'm sorry to have to act that way, but if the team's going to amount to anything it's got to obey orders. If you fellows don't want me for captain, say the word and I'll resign.”
”Resign nothing!” exclaimed Ned. ”I'd like to see you do it. Eh, fellows?”
”That's right!” came from the crowd that had heard what Sandy said.
”Let's go for a row on the river after school,” suggested Bart to his chums during the noon recess, and they agreed. The boys jointly owned a well-equipped boat in which they frequently made trips down to the lake.
It was a four-oared barge, roomy and comfortable, though not speedy.
”Shall we bring our fis.h.i.+ng tackle along?” asked Ned.
”You can if you like,” replied Bart. ”I'm not going to. I'm just going to take it easy.”
Quite a crowd of boys went to the river after school. Some took their swimming suits, while others went to fish or row, as a number of them had boats. The four chums soon got their craft out from the house, at a public dock, where it was kept.
”Who'll row?” asked Frank.
”Draw lots,” suggested Bart, and the choice fell to Ned and Fenn.
”Up or down?” asked Fenn.
”Row up and float down,” said Ned. ”We don't want to be working all the while.”
They went up the stream for two or three miles, and Frank, who had borrowed Ned's fis.h.i.+ng tackle, cast in. But the fish did not seem to be biting.
”Put up a little further,” suggested Frank. ”We're almost to the Riffles. I'd like to get a bite as long as I'm at it.”
As the boat was sent round a turn of the river the boys caught sight of another craft in which a man was seated. His boat appeared to be anch.o.r.ed, and as he stood in the bow he reached down into the water with a long pole and seemed to be pulling something up.