CHAPTER XIV

MYSTERIOUS STRANGERS

Under the forward gates, and through openings in them, the water was still bubbling and foaming, seeking to establish a level with that on the other side of the barrier. Lower and lower sank the bow of the barge, for it was held fast on the beam. The _Modoc_ heeled over more and more.

"Shut off the water!" again cried the captain.

Then the attendants at the lock were made aware that something was wrong. Orders were shouted; men ran to and fro. With immense levers they shut the flood gates, and, slowly and sullenly, as though cheated of its prey, the bubbling subsided.

"We must pull the barge back!" cried one of the lock men, running up along the cement wall.

"No, don't do that," advised Captain Wiggs, as he stood on the bridge of his vessel, while the boys, who were much alarmed by the impending accident, had joined him, for they were permitted the run of the ship.

"Why not?" asked the man. "We've got to free her from that gate beam."

"Yes, but if you pull her out from under the edge of that beam suddenly, she's sure to bound up, and then she'll come slap-bang against the side of my craft. Besides, I think she's held so tight that you can't pull her back."

"What shall we do?" asked the man, recognizing that Captain Wiggs knew what he was about.

"Let the water out from the rear gate," was his suggestion. "That will lower my vessel and the barge gradually. They'll assume their right positions, and no damage will be done. Then you can raise us again, and be sure no more ropes break. I don't want an accident like that again."

The captain's advice was followed. When the water ceased coming in the forward gate, the men ran to the rear one and opened the valves there. Out rushed the imprisoned fluid, boiling and bubbling at a great rate. Slowly the two big vessels began to sink. The barge swung away from the _Modoc_ and then, a little later, when the water had fallen sufficiently, the bow was released from the projecting beam. The two crafts were now in the same positions they had been in when they first entered the lock.

Men hastily fastened heavier ropes to the barge, and took several turns about strong bitts, so the ship could not again drift into danger. Then the flood was once more allowed to enter the lock.

Again the vessels rose, and this time, without mishap, they were floated to the higher level of the canal. The forward gates were opened and out toward Lake Superior steamed the _Modoc_, followed by the slower grain barge. The boys looked around them, being able to get a better view now, as they were some distance higher, being on a level with the top of the falls, off to their right. They saw a long string of vessels, some waiting to enter the locks to proceed east, while others were coming west.

"That was a narrow escape," remarked Bart, when the ship was again proceeding along.

"Yes, we seem to be sort of up against lots of hard luck this trip," remarked the captain. "I think you boys must be responsible."

"How?" asked Fenn, for the captain looked serious.

"Why, you're regular Jonahs. If there were any whales in these waters I'd try the experiment of throwing one of you overboard, to see if I couldn't change my luck."

"I'd be willing to jump over and take a swim," volunteer Ned. "It looks nice and cool in there, and it's hot up here."

It was a warm July day, and the weather was humid and unpleasant.

"Maybe when we get further out on Lake Superior, and come to some good place to tie up, I'll give you a chance to take a dip," responded the commander. "I'd like one myself."

"Ned must take care not to go to sleep, or he'll be carried under by a big fish," suggested Fenn, taking precautions to get beyond the reach of his chum's arm.

The _Modoc_ touched at a port of call that afternoon, and Captain Wiggs found awaiting him a message which changed matters so that he did not have to be in any hurry to conclude his voyage.

"This will give us a chance to lay-to, and go ashore," he said to the boys. "You might as well have a good time while you are on this cruise. No telling when you'll get another."

It was a day after this, one of the hottest that the boys ever remembered, that the _Modoc_ came to anchor off shore, near a little bay, on the edge of which, and about three miles away from where they laid-to, was a good-sized town.

"Now for a swim!" exclaimed Ned. "Can we take the boat and go ashore, captain?"

The desired permission being given, the four chums were soon rowing toward where they saw a sandy beach, that seemed to be put there on purpose for bathing. They hauled the boat up on shore and soon were disporting themselves in the water.

"Oh, this is something like!" exclaimed Fenn, as he proceeded to float with nothing but his face out of the water.

"Yes, you look just like a baby crocodile," replied Frank.

"I do, eh?" asked Fenn, diving suddenly and coming up under Frank, whom he ducked unceremoniously.

"Here! Quit-erurgle-gurgle!" called the luckless one, as he sank out of sight.

Then the boys began to play tricks on each other, had impromptu races and diving contests, and enjoyed themselves to the limit in the cool water.

"Let's dress and go on a little exploring trip," proposed Fenn, after they had spent an hour in the lake. "We've got time enough before we have to go aboard."

His suggestion was well received, and soon the four chums were strolling back from the lake, through the dense woods that bordered it. They had not gone far before Frank, who was in advance, suddenly halted. He motioned to the others to approach silently, and they joined him on tip-toe.

"What is it?" asked Ned.

Frank pointed through the bushes. Beyond the screen of the underbrush the boys could see a road. It did not seem to be much traveled, but what attracted their attention was a big automobile, drawn back, and almost hidden in the thicket.

"The machine's been abandoned," was Bart's opinion. "It is probably broken."

"Hush!" cautioned Frank, and not a moment too soon, for, at that instant two men stepped cautiously out of the bushes near the auto. One of them produced a telescope, and pointed it at the lake, which was just visible through the trees.

The boys looked at the man. He seemed a rough sort of fellow, with an unpleasant face. He was poorly dressed, and the lads noticed that, standing against a tree near him, was a rifle.

But it was a sight of the man's companion which caused the boys to stare again and wonder. For the second man was a Chinese, though he wore American clothes. Under his hat, however, could be seen the tell-tale queue.

The white man handed his Celestial companion the telescope, and murmured something to him, evidently in Chinese. The other replied and applied the glass to his eye. No sooner had he done so that he uttered an exclamation, and began jumping about.

The other man snatched the glass and took a look. Then they both talked very excitedly, pointing to the lake and then at the auto.

"I wonder what they can be up to?" whispered Fenn.

At that moment he stepped on a loose branch. It broke with a sharp report, and the Chinaman and the white man glanced to where the boys were hidden.

"Come on!" exclaimed Frank. "They may come after us!"