The Heroes of the School Part 33

"Stop the barge!" This was Captain Needham's voice calling. "Lower a boat! We mustn't let 'em get away! After 'em men!"

There was a ringing of bells. The water churned under the stern of the _Comet_ as the engine was reversed. Then came the sound of a boat being lowered. A few seconds later it struck the water.

"We're almost to sh.o.r.e," called Bart cautiously. "Keep on boys!"

Then came the noise of oars in the rowlocks. The barge had come to a stop.

"Give way!" called Captain Needham. "Get 'em before they land or we'll have trouble. But I guess they can't go very far barefooted."

CHAPTER XXVIII

THE PURSUIT

Ned, being the best swimmer, was first ash.o.r.e. The others soon joined him. They could dimly make out the approaching boat in which were several men.

"Which way?" asked Fenn.

"No way at all," replied Bart. "To the trees! If we take a step they'll hear us, and besides, we don't know any more than the man in the moon which way to go. Hide in a tree until they give up the chase."

The sh.o.r.e was lined with trees. It wasn't much fun climbing up barefooted, and with thin clothes on, but the boys managed it, and soon were in a big willow, the thick leaves of which afforded a good screen.

They had no sooner perched themselves on limbs, well hidden by the foliage, than the sound of the boat's keel grating on the gravelly sh.o.r.e was heard. Then came the captain's voice.

"Scatter now and hunt for 'em. They can't have gone far! We were after 'em too quick! But be careful men, I don't want those boys hurt. Be easy, remember!"

"That's queer," thought Ned. "In fact this whole business is queer."

The noise the men made as they crashed through the underbrush came plainly to the ears of the boys. They could see the gleam of lanterns the searchers carried, as they ran to and fro. But the tree proved a happy thought. None of the men imagined the boys were in it, and some of the pursuers even stood beneath the willow and voiced their remarks of disappointment.

For ten or fifteen minutes the search was kept up in the vicinity of where the boat had landed. The men made a circle about the place looking for the boys but did not find them. The chums, cramped from clinging to the branches, dared not move for fear of rustling the leaves, and disclosing their presence. Finally the searchers gathered about the boat, close to the tree.

"Guess they gave us the slip," remarked the captain. "Smart lads those.

Well, men, might as well go back. Get the boat ready." The men moved off, Captain Needham remaining beneath the tree a moment longer. The boys heard him murmur: "The King of Paprica will not like this. I must get word to him at once."

Then he moved away. A little later the sound of the boat being hoisted to the barge could be heard.

"Can't we get down now?" whispered Fenn. "I'm all stiff and cold."

"Better wait awhile," advised Bart. "They may have left some one on watch."

It was weary waiting but the boys did not complain. It was so still they could hear the men in the small boat boarding the barge. Then there came the sound of the big craft getting underway. Bart peered out through the leaves. He could just make out the steamer.

"They've turned around! They're heading down stream!" he said in an excited whisper. "I guess we're safe now. Come on, boys!"

He scrambled down, followed by the others.

From the sh.o.r.e they could see the lights of the barge disappearing around a bend in the river.

"Must be something very queer in this, when our escape makes them turn around and go back," spoke Bart.

"Looks as if we were surely mixed up in that mystery," came from Frank.

"Wish we knew how."

"We'll soon know," replied Bart. "This thing will have to end in a little while. Now, the question is, what are we going to do?"

"Let's look for a place to stay the rest of the night," counseled Frank.

"All right, only I don't feel much like tramping through the woods and fields in the dark and barefooted," objected Fenn. "Why not stay here until it's light enough to see where we are going?"

After talking it over they decided this was the best plan. It was too risky tramping about in an unknown locality, especially without some protection for their feet. Bart walked back away from the river. Then he called to his chums:

"Here's a hay field, fellows. It's been cut but hasn't been c.o.c.ked up yet. Come on, we'll make a pile of it and crawl in to get warm."

It was a good suggestion. The half-cured gra.s.s made a warm nest for the thinly clad boys, and they huddled down together in a big mound of the fragrant hay, pulling it over themselves until they were hidden from sight, leaving only a little hole to breathe through. It was so warm and comfortable that they speedily fell asleep.

The sun was shining when they awakened. Bart sprang up, scattering the hay all about, and his companions followed.

"Oh, for a bit of breakfast!" Fenn remarked.

"'So say we all of us,'" chanted Bart.

"There's a chance of it!" exclaimed Ned.

"What?"

"Breakfast!" and he pointed to a little village about half a mile away.

"Hurrah! We're in luck!" cried Ned. "Now for a meal and a chance to send word home!"

"We can't go looking this way!" exclaimed Fenn. "Look at our clothes!"

"You mean don't look at 'em," corrected Bart. "We'll hang a sign out; 'We have better ones at home.' That will satisfy any one. As for me I'd go there and ask for a bite if I only had my swimming togs on, and these are a heap-sight more respectable than those. Here goes!"

He strode forward, pulling wisps of hay from his hair. The others followed. From the field they emerged into a country road that led to the village. They were almost at the outskirts of the hamlet, where several houses were grouped together when a boy came from one out into the highway, carrying a pail of milk.

"That looks good!" exclaimed Bart. "Hi, kid," he called, "sell us a drink of milk, will you?"

The boy halted. He gazed at the four strange figures approaching; figures clad in ragged overalls and jumpers; bare-footed figures, with bits of hay clinging to them. Then the boy dropped his pail of milk spilling it all over and with a yell of: "Pop! Pop! Here they be!" he dashed back into the house.

The next moment three men came from the house. They carried clubs in their hands, and one had a gun.

"Here they are!" called one, as the three advanced on the run toward the boys.

"Polite way to receive guests," commented Bart.