The Young Oarsmen of Lakeview Part 13

In the meantime Mr. Upton ran after the boys who had been holding Jerry.

He caught two of them, and before they knew it, knocked their heads together so forcibly that they saw stars.

Jerry, delighted at the unexpected turn of affairs, turned upon Wash Crosby. Si Peters had dropped the tar brush, and this Jerry secured.

Bang! whack! Crosby received a blow over the head, and one in the ear, which left a big black streak of tar.

"Oh, don't! please don't!" he screamed. "Let up, Jerry! It was only a joke! We weren't really going to tar and feather you!"

Then the fellow ran for his very life.

During this time Si Peters was trying his best to get away from Towser, who held on with a deathlike grip.

Around and around the campfire the two circled, until Jerry came up.

The youth called off the dog and went at Si in about the same manner as he had treated Wash Crosby.

Si wanted to run for it, and in his hurry rushed through the fire, knocking over the kettle of tar.

The sticky mess emptied itself over his clothing. Then the young oarsman tripped him up, and over he rolled among the loose feathers.

"Now you can see how you like it!" cried Jerry.

And growling and panting for breath, Si Peters ran away after the others.

The Rockpoint rowdies were thoroughly demoralized.

CHAPTER XI.

OFF FOR HERMIT ISLAND.

It took Jerry and his father some little time to get back their breath sufficiently to leave the woods and make their way to the road.

"You came in the nick of time, father," said the lad. "In another five minutes I would have been tarred and feathered."

"Tell me about the whole affair, son," said the old farmer; and Jerry did so.

"The good-for-nothing rascals!" cried the old farmer. "If they touch you again I'll have 'em all up before the squire."

"That won't help us, father," replied Jerry. "They are rich, you know.

They would get off somehow."

"Then I'll take it out of their hides."

Mr. Upton told how Towser had led the way into the woods. Jerry had always loved the farm dog, but now he thought more of him than ever.

"Good boy," he said. "You shall go with us when we take our outing--that is, if father will let you go."

"Yes, Jerry, take him along. He may help you out of some more trouble,"

replied Mr. Upton.

It was rather late when they arrived home. Mrs. Upton was shocked to learn of what had occurred, but glad to learn that Jerry had escaped his enemies.

The next day the young oarsman told Harry Parker and the other boys of his adventure. Harry was very indignant.

"Those Rockpoint boys ought to be driven out of the state."

"I dun racken I'll carry my hoss pistol after dis," said Blumpo. "Da don't cotch dis chile for to tar and feather him!"

A week later Jerry, Harry, and Blumpo started up the lake on a ten days'

outing.

They were in Harry's largest row-boat, the one that had a sail, and carried with them a tent and a good stock of ammunition. Jerry and Harry were armed with guns, and Blumpo carried his "hoss pistol" and a rusty spear.

They were bound for Hermit Island, a wild but beautiful patch of land situated almost at the end of Otasco Lake. The island was so called because it was said by some that the place was inhabited by an old hermit who lived in a cave and never showed himself to visitors.

Some did not believe this story, for try as hard as they could, they had never been able to locate the strange creature, who was said to have a white beard to his waist, and white hair equally long.

The day that the trio started away was a fine one, and the boys were in excellent spirits.

"I trust we have no more squalls," remarked Harry, as they glided along, the sail set and the oars out.

"No storm to-day," returned Jerry. "We are going to have at least three or four days of fine weather."

"Say, I wondah if I could shoot a bar wid dis yere gun," put in Blumpo, as he held up his pistol.

"You might if you threw the pistol at the bear when you pulled the trigger," laughed Jerry. "Sure as you are born, Blumpo, that pistol will go to pieces if you try to fire it."

"Den I'll fire it dis way," replied the homeless youth, and swung the weapon as if to heave it away.

An hour pa.s.sed, during which the boys laid their plans for a camp and talked over what they would do.

"I hope we have good hunting and fis.h.i.+ng," said Jerry.

"So do I," returned Harry. "And I likewise hope we find the hermit, if there really is such a creature."

"Maybe he won't want us on his island," put in Blumpo. "He may be an ugly feller."

"We'll risk it, Blumpo."

"I ain't in fer stirrin' up no hornets' nest," went on the homeless youth.

"I jess like ter lay around an' take it easy under de trees--a-listening to--"

"'The tumble bugs tumbling around,' as the song says," laughed Jerry.

"Blumpo, you must get more ambition in you. Come, row up lively. It's a good long distance to the island, and we must make it before sundown."