CHAPTER VI.
TOM'S PLANS ARE UPSET.
FOR a while the three boys walked along in silence, Loren and Ralph being too amazed to speak, and Tom pluming himself on having done something that would, in the end, bring Joe Wayring and some of the other boys he disliked no end of trouble. The fact that it might bring trouble to himself as well, never once entered his mind. Ralph was the first to speak.
"I wouldn't have had that thing happen for any thing," said he.
"What thing?" demanded Tom.
"Why, that interview with the squatter. I could see, by the expression on his face, that you put the very mischief into his head."
"And that was just what I meant to do," replied Tom, who laughed heartily when he saw how troubled his cousins were over what he had said to Matt Coyle. "I saw he was thick-headed and needed help, and so I gave it to him."
"But don't you know that it is dangerous to trust a man like that? If he gets into trouble through the suggestions you made to him—and he will just as surely as he attempts to act upon them—he'll blow the whole thing."
"What in the world has he got to blow, and how have I trusted him?" asked Tom, rather sharply. "I didn't tell him to turn the sail-boats adrift or to steal the guests' hunting-dogs, did I? I simply told him what I should do if I were in his place."
"But you intended it for a suggestion, and hoped he would act upon it, didn't you?"
"Well, that's a different matter," answered Tom. "If he tries to revenge himself upon the citizens of Mount Airy for refusing to employ him or to buy his fish, and his efforts in that direction bring him into trouble, it will be his own fault. You and I want to see some of these conceited fellows, who think they know more and are better than any body else, brought down a peg or two, and if that squatter is accommodating enough to do the work for us—why, I say let him do it."
Tom continued to talk in this way for a long time, and to such good purpose that when they reached home his cousins had forgotten their fears and even expressed much interest and curiosity regarding the course of action that Matt Coyle might see fit to pursue. If he followed Tom's suggestion and built his shanty on the shore of Sherwin's pond, they might expect to hear from him before many days more had passed away.
"I hope that if Matt does take it into his head to do any thing, he'll run off Wayring's sail-boat," said Loren, gazing proudly at his own beautiful little sloop, which rode at her moorings in front of the boat-house. He had brought her up there on purpose to beat the Young Republic, which was said to be one of the swiftest boats on the lake; but the first time they came together under sail, the Republic had run away from her would-be rival with all ease, and it began to look as though the "Challenge Cup" would become Joe's own property. He had won it twice, and if he won it again it would be his to keep. There were those in the village who didn't want to see him get it. They had expected great things of the Uncle Sam—that was the name of Loren's boat and indeed she did look like a "flyer"; but when they witnessed the short race, which Joe Wayring purposely brought about one afternoon to test the Uncle Sam's speed, they were much disappointed, and told one another that the cup was Joe's for a certainty.
"If Matt will only take that boat, I'll win the next regatta," continued Loren. "If he does take her, Joe will never see her again, for she will be smashed to pieces in the rapids."
"If I could have my way, I should prefer to have Matt run off Joe's Rob Roy, for then you and Ralph would stand a chance of winning some of the canoe races," observed Tom. "But, of course, he couldn't steal the canoe without breaking into the boat-house, and that would send him up for burglary."
"Oh, no; he won't do that," exclaimed Loren.
Tom made no audible reply, but to himself he said:
"I don't suppose he will; but I might do it, and let Joe and the rest blame Matt Coyle for it."
There were still several hours of daylight left, and for want of some better way of passing the time, as well as to put themselves in trim for the coming canoe meet, Tom and his cousins decided that they would spend the rest of the afternoon on the water. Ever since their canoes came into their possession they had been assiduously practicing with their double paddles, and Tom, who was quick to learn any thing that required strength and skill for its execution, was fast becoming an expert canoeist. In a hurry-scurry or portage race he could beat either of his cousins, and on this particular afternoon he wanted to try an upset race, of which he had that day heard for the first time.
"I saw an upset race rowed, or rather paddled, during the meet of the American Canoe Association at Lake George last summer, and I wonder that I didn't think to speak of it," said Ralph. "Well, better late than never. We will go up to the head of the lake, where no one will be likely to see us, and make our first trial. We are all good swimmers, and it seems to me that we ought to make good time. The secret lies in getting back into our canoes after we have upset them. If we can learn to do that easily and quickly, we will stand a chance of putting Joe Wayring to his mettle, even if we don't beat him in the race."
The boys went into the boat-house by a side door, and about ten minutes afterward the front door swung open, and two Shadow canoes and one Rob Roy were pushed into the water, and as many young fellows, dressed in light gymnastic suits, sprang into them and paddled up the lake. They met a few sailing parties, who waved their handkerchiefs and hats to them as they shot by, and at the end of half an hour reached a wide and deep cove near the head of the lake. This was their practice ground. They had chosen it for that purpose because it was a retired spot, and so effectually concealed by the long, wooded point at the entrance, that a fleet of boats might have sailed by without knowing that there was any one in the cove.
"We'll start from this side and go across and back, as we have done heretofore," said Ralph, who led the way in his Rob Roy. "We'll upset twice—once while we are going, and once while we are coming."
"But how does a fellow get into his canoe after he gets out of it?" inquired Tom.
"The rule is to climb in over the stern and work your way to your seat," replied Ralph. "But at Lake George I saw some of the contestants throw themselves across the cock-pit and get in that way. We'll try both plans, and each fellow can adopt the one that suits him best."
When the boys had taken up their positions at safe distances from one another, Ralph gave a shrill whistle and away they started, the light Rob Roy taking the lead with Tom close behind. A few minutes' work with the double paddles brought them to the middle of the cove, and then Ralph uttered another whistle. An instant later the three canoeists were in the water. The Rob Roy turned completely over and came right side up in a twinkling and at the same moment Ralph's head bobbed up close alongside. He threw himself across the cockpit and climbed in with the greatest ease; and while bailing out the water with a tin basin that was tied to one of the timbers of the canoe so that it could not float away or fill and sink, he looked complacently at his companions, who were making desperate efforts to regain their seats by climbing over the sterns of their respective crafts.
"Grab hold of the side of your canoe, draw yourself as far as you can out of the water, turn a hand-spring and land on your feet in the cock-pit," shouted Ralph, addressing himself to no one in particular. "I saw that done at Lake George last summer by two or three different men."
"Suppose you do it yourself and show us how," answered Tom, who having at last succeeded in gaining the deck, was slowly working his way toward his seat; but instead of sitting astride of his canoe, as he ought to have done, he tried to make headway on his hands and knees in order to beat Loren, who was making all haste to reach the cock-pit of his own craft. In his eagerness Tom forgot how cranky his canoe was, and, neglecting to trim her properly, she turned over and let him down into the water again.
Ralph, of course, could have won the race very easily, but he lingered to watch the others, so that they all reached the turning point at the same moment. On the home stretch another upset occurred, and this time Tom and Loren did not waste as many minutes in getting back as they did before. They learned rapidly, and when half a dozen more races had been tried they became so expert that Ralph had little the advantage of them. By this time they began to think they had had enough of the water for one afternoon, so they pulled away for the boat house, Tom easily distancing his cousins, who tried in vain to keep up with him.
"This afternoon's work has opened my eyes to a thing or two," said Ralph, after they had changed their clothes and sponged out their canoes.
"So it has mine, "exclaimed Tom. "Let me talk first, and see how far my conclusions agree with yours. In the first place, you ought to win the upset race."
"That's my opinion," said Loren. "He shall win it, too, if strategy is of any use."
"You are no sooner out of your canoe than you are back into it again," continued Tom. "I am sure that neither Wayring, Hastings nor Sheldon can do better than that. I only wish you had a little more muscle."
"But I haven't got it and can't get it between this time and the race, and so you fellows will have to help me."
"Trust us for that," answered Tom. "Then we'll turn to and foul the best contestant in the hurry-scurry race, so that Loren can win that; and if you will lend me your Rob Roy, I'll take my chances on carrying off the honors in the portage race."
"That is just the way I had planned it," exclaimed Ralph. "We'll show these fellows who think themselves so smart, that there are others in the world who are quite as smart as they are."
It was a very pretty programme, no doubt, but it never occurred to Tom and his cousins that possibly the boys to whom Prime was to introduce them the next day, might not think favorably of it. There were those among them who had never been first in any race, although they were very expert canoeists; and it was not at all likely that they would consent to see these new-comers carry off the prizes for which they had contended ever since the club was organized.
Tom and his cousins were tired enough to rest now, and they found it lounging in their hammocks under the trees, and watching the boats that passed up and down the lake. They took another short run in their canoes by moonlight, spent the next forenoon sailing about in Loren's sloop, and at one o'clock bent their steps toward the store where they were to meet George Prime and his friends. When they arrived at the place where Matt Coyle's shanty stood the day before, they were surprised as well as delighted to find that it wasn't there.
"He's gone, as sure as the world," cried Ralph. "Now we shall very soon know whether or not he has the pluck to do any thing to the men who would not give him a chance to earn an honest living."
Tom laughed loudly.
"Did you really think I was in earnest when I told Matt yesterday that I thought he had been shamefully treated?" said he, as soon as he could speak. "Why, Ralph, I thought you had more sense. I said that just to make him mad. If I succeeded, he will do the work that we would otherwise have been obliged to do ourselves."
When they reached the drug-store they found Prime waiting for them. After he had treated them to a cigar apiece, he led them through a rear door into a store-room, where they discovered a dozen or more fellows perched upon boxes and barrels, each one puffing vigorously at a cigar or pipe. They were engaged in a very earnest conversation which they brought to a sudden close when the door opened.
"Here they are," exclaimed Prime, as the boys arose to their feet and took their pipes and cigars out of their mouths. "Tom Bigden, and his cousins Ralph and Loren Farnsworth, gentlemen. I believe you have met some of my friends before at lawn parties, ball matches and the like," added Prime, addressing himself to the new-comers.
"I had the good fortune to meet them yesterday at Miss Arden's," said one of the boys, Frank Noble by name, advancing and shaking Tom and his cousins by the hand. "And I also had the pleasure of putting them to their speed one day last week, when I happened to catch them out on the lake with their canoes. You ought to make a good one," he added, turning to Tom. "I could see by the way you made that Shadow spin through the water that you've got the muscle. All you want is practice. If you keep it up, you can go in next year with some hope of winning."
Tom was somewhat disconcerted by these words, and so were Ralph and Loren, if one might judge by the blank look on their faces. It was clear to them that there were others besides themselves who wanted prizes, and who looked to their friends to assist them in winning those prizes.
"I thank you for your compliment and for your words of encouragement," replied Tom, concealing his disappointment as well as he could, and turning to shake hands with another boy he had met at the lawn party on the previous day, "but I am going to win the portage race this year."
"And if I don't come in first in the paddle race, it will not be because I do not try my level best," added Loren.
"And I'm going to give somebody a pull for the upset race," chimed in Ralph.
It was now Noble's turn to be astonished. He looked inquiringly at Prime, and Prime looked at Tom and his cousins. The latter saw very plainly that while they were laying their plans they had interfered with arrangements that had already been made by the boys by whom they were surrounded, but they were none the less determined to have their own way in the matter. Tom, who could hardly conceal the rage that had taken possession of him, resolved then and there that he would stick to his programme, no matter what promises he might be obliged to make to the contrary. He was like an Indian, in one respect: When he wanted a thing he wanted it with his whole heart, and he wanted it immediately. He wanted a prize to show to his city friends when they came to visit him, and he wanted the honors that prize would bring him.
"Well—yes," said Prime, who knew that Noble and the rest expected him to say something. "We'd like to have you win under different circumstances, but as it is, I think—you see—look here; I suppose you are with us against Wayring and the other fellows who have been walking off with the prizes every year since the club had an existence!"
"Certainly I am," answered Tom. "We all are, and we're going to do the best we can to beat them, too. Didn't you tell us no longer ago than yesterday that you wished we would come into the club and make Joe Wayring lower his broad pennant for a while?" he added, turning to Prime.
"I did; but I have had opportunity to talk the matter over with my friends since then, and we have decided that those who have worked so long and so hard for the prizes, ought to have them in preference to any new-comers."
"All right," said Tom, silencing by a look the words of indignant protest that arose to Ralph's lips and Loren's. "Who comes in for the paddle race?"
"I do," said Noble.
"And who is put down for the upset race?" continued Tom.
Bob Lord said that he was; and a young fellow named Scott volunteered the information that his friends had decided that he ought to be allowed to win the portage race, because he came so near winning it fairly the year before.
"Then it seems that my cousins and I are to be left out in the cold," observed Tom, who was mad enough to break things.
"By no means," some of the boys hastened to explain. "There are some handsome prizes offered for the sailing races, and we intend that you shall win them if we can make you do it."
"Don't want 'em," said Tom, gruffly. "Couldn't enter for them if we did."
"Why not?"
"Because we bought our canoes for exploring purposes, and not for sailing. We received such contradictory advice from those to whom we applied for information, that it was all we could do to make up our minds what kind of canoes to get; and when it came to the sails, we thought we would let them go until we could decide upon the style of rig we needed without asking any one's advice. We may make up our minds that we don't want any sails at all."
"Oh, you mustn't do that," exclaimed Noble, "for if you do you will lose half the sport of canoeing. By the way, the club meets Saturday evening, and if you say so, I will take in your names."
"I am obliged to you," replied Tom. "But we had about half agreed with Wayring and Hastings to propose us for membership."
Ralph and Loren were greatly astonished, and Prime and his friends saw that they were.
"I am sorry you did that," said Noble. "Every one of us here present has pledged himself not to vote for any thing brought forward by Wayring and his crowd."
"I did it before I knew what sort of boys they were," said Tom, apologetically, "and I don't like to go back from my word. Are you going to black-ball us for it?"
"By no means," exclaimed all the boys, in a breath.
"We want you to help us carry out our programme," added George Prime.
"Well, all the help you will get from me won't amount to much, you may be sure of that," said Tom, to himself; and his cousins were so well acquainted with him that they could tell pretty nearly what he was thinking about.
"Have you spoken to Wayring about proposing you for the yacht club?" asked Scott.
Tom, with unblushing mendacity, replied that he had.
"I don't believe the regatta will amount to much this year," remarked one of the boys who had not spoken before. "If Matt Coyle carries out the threats he made yesterday, there won't be any yachts to contend for the prizes. You heard about that, I suppose?" he added, turning to Tom and his cousins.
"We were present when a legal process of some kind was served on him yesterday, and we heard Matt say that he wouldn't go away," answered Loren. "But when we came around the foot of the lake a little while ago, we found that he had cleared out, taking his shanty with him."
"You saw the constable serve him with a notice to quit, did you!" exclaimed Noble. "Well, you missed the best part of it. You ought to have been there about three hours later, and witnessed the fight that took place between Matt and his family, and the officer and his posse. The old woman proved herself to be the best man in the lot. Matt evidently knew that an effort would be made to eject him by force, and his wife prepared for it by boiling a big kettle of water. When the constable, with a crowd of guides at his back, presented himself at the door, she opened on him with that hot water; and if you could have seen the stampede that followed, you would have laughed until your sides ached, as I did."
"You didn't laugh much when it happened," Prime remarked. "I was there, and I know there wasn't a man or boy in the party who showed a neater pair of heels than one Frank Noble."
When the burst of merriment that followed these words, and in which Frank joined as heartily as any of his companions, had somewhat subsided, the narrator continued:
"I am free to confess that I didn't see any thing funny in the way the old woman jammed that long-handled dipper into the kettle and sent its boiling contents flying toward us, but it was very amusing after it was all over, and I woke up in the night and laughed about it. Of course the defiant squatters were overpowered after a while, but not until Matt and both his boys had been knocked flat, and one of the guides had disarmed the old woman by running in and kicking over her kettle of water. The officer was determined to arrest the last one of them for resisting his authority; but Mr. Hastings, who happened along just then, and who thought that neighbors so undesirable could not be got rid of any too quick, told the constable to chuck the squatter and all his belongings into the punt and shove them out into the lake, after giving them fair warning that they would be sent up as vagrants if they stopped this side of Sherwin's pond."
"Did he do it?" asked Ralph.
"Of course he did. But before Matt put his oars into the water he made us a speech containing threats which I, for one, hope he will have the courage to carry out."
Here Noble stopped to light his cigar which had gone out while he was talking.