Part 37 (1/2)

Just then Bruin leaned back from the window and against the whistle lever. Instantly a roar, accompanied by a cloud of steam, burst from the whistle at the after end of the boat. The roaring of the siren did not cease. It kept right up and Mr. Bear glanced about uneasily as if suspecting that the noise was directed against him.

About this time the chief engineer rushed to the deck.

”Stop that blowing. You'll blow all the steam out of the boilers!” he commanded, shouting up to the bridge.

”Suppose you come up and stop it yourself,” suggested Jarvis, grinning over the rail.

”We shall have to try that meat plan, I guess, boys,” decided the master. ”How shall we do it without playing the part of the meat?”

”I have a plan,” answered Steve. ”Bob, if you will get a piece of meat I will see what I can do in the meantime.”

Bob hurried aft for the fresh meat while Steve busied himself by preparing a rope which he placed at the foot of the stairs on the lower deck. By this time, Jarvis had returned with the meat, the captain having watched the arrangement with nods of approval.

”Please have some men stationed under cover of the deck-house below us and have a tarpaulin, one of the canvas hatch covers, handy, will you?”

asked Rush.

”Certainly. Jarvis tell the mate to do as Steve suggests. I will open the door of the pilot-house when you are ready.”

In the meantime Bruin had left the whistle lever and lumbered to the starboard window where he stood observing the preparations for his capture. His nose was upraised sniffing the air, for he smelled the fresh meat.

”Look out that he doesn't jump out of the window,” warned Bob.

”I hardly think he will. It is quite a drop,” answered Rush. ”Now, Captain, if you will open the door, I think we are ready,” he added, taking the meat from the hands of his companion.

”You don't need me now, do you, Steve?”

”Well not just this minute,” laughed Rush.

Bob ran up the rope ladder of the foremast, and from this point of safety he grinned his enjoyment of the scene. Captain Simms threw open the pilot-house door; then he also s.h.i.+nned up the ladder. The bear was ambling toward Steve at a rapid gait. But the Iron Boy did not appear to be at all frightened. He slid down the stairs to the forward deck, waited until the bear was almost upon him, then dropped to the main or lower deck.

Bruin was after him without loss of time. Reaching the lower deck, Steve dropped the fresh meat in the big loop of rope that he had spread out on the deck, and quickly darted behind a hatch.

The bear seized the meat with an ugly growl. Steve gave the rope, one end of which was in his hands, a violent jerk and the next second the bear was floundering about the deck, fighting, pawing and uttering fierce growls, with the noose of Steve's rope drawn down tight over one of the animal's fore-legs.

Steve took a twist around a stanchion.

”The tarpaulin!” he shouted.

Not a man made a move to do the lad's bidding.

”Bob! Come down here. I want you! Quick!”

”I'm coming.”

Jarvis was down the ladder in short order.

”What shall we do now?”

”Grab hold of this canvas and help me throw it over the beast.”