CHAPTER XX

FOLLOWED BY SANDY

"I have it!" exclaimed Frank. "Get into our boat and we'll land you anywhere you want."

"Will ye?" asked the farmer. "That'll be th' thing. I'll fool th' savage critter. This is where I git ahead of ye, Stonewall Jackson," he added, shaking his fist again at the bull.

"Is that his name?" asked Ned.

"I named him that about an hour ago," the farmer said. "He was wuss than a stone wall for me, th' way he kept me from gittin' out of th' river. 'Fore that his name was jest plain William."

"Named after any one?" inquired Bart as the farmer got into the rowboat.

"Not special. Ye see I took him for a debt a feller owed me, an' I named him William 'cause I took him for a bill, see? Bill bein' short for William."

"Oh, you needn't explain," said Bart, as he joined in the laugh that followed.

"I've got th' best on ye now," the farmer went on, looking at the beast as the boys rowed the boat out into deeper water.

The bull seemed to think so, for with a loud bellow it went back to the middle of the pasture and began eating.

"He fairly had me," the farmer said. "He could run along shore a good deal faster than I could wade in th' water, and th' pasture runs along th' river for three miles, without a fence wuth speakin' of. I couldn't see no way of escapin'. It's lucky you come along. Are you boatin' for a livin'?"

"No, we're taking a sort of vacation," replied Ned.

"Had breakfast?" inquired the farmer.

"Oh yes, early this morning."

"Wish I had. Next time I try t' ring a bull's nose 'fore I git my meal I'll be a older man. I was goin' t' ask ye t' have some breakfast with me," he went on. "My name's Garfield Johnson. I've got quite a farm."

"Much obliged, Mr. Johnson," said Bart, "but we're just roughing it, and we're not dressed for company."

"Green onions! Neither be I!" exclaimed the farmer. "Look at my boots, all wet and my pants too. I wonder what Mandy'll say. Mandy's my wife," he added, "an' she's dreadful particular."

The boys beached the boat in about half an hour, and tying it fast followed Mr. Johnson to his house, facing on a lane which led out to a country road.

"We'll go in th' back way," said Mr. Johnson. "Mandy's particular about her floors, an' I'm sorter--." He looked down at his trousers, which still dripped water, and laughed.

Mr. Johnson introduced the boys to his wife, telling her what had happened. She insisted that the chums remain to breakfast which they did, though they had eaten a few hours previously. They declined an invitation to stay to dinner. Mr. Johnson made them take a big pail of milk, while his wife added a bag of home-made crullers and some cheese, which formed a welcome addition to their larder.

"If you row up stream a mile you'll be right opposite the village, or you can go by the road," said the farmer as they bade him and his wife good-bye.

Fenn and Bart decided they would walk, and let Frank and Ned row the boat up and meet them. They wanted to get some condensed milk and matches, of which they had run out.

The supplies were purchased and, in a little while the other boys arriving took Bart and Fenn aboard. Then the trip up the river was resumed. They kept on until late in the afternoon, as their double breakfast did away with the necessity for dinner. On the way they passed a number of steamers and barges bound for Lake Erie. Some of them were loaded with lumber and other commodities, while several were going up the river empty, to get freight.

The boys found a fine place to camp that night and liked it so well they remained there three days. They had pleasant weather and thoroughly enjoyed themselves, paddling about, fishing and going in swimming.

They decided they would go no further up the stream, and, having camped out at their last stop for another day they packed up for the return trip. The weather, which had been fine, seemed threatening, and they had not brought along clothing or blankets which would serve in case of rain.

"We'll make it in two stages," said Bart, referring to the home journey. "One night's camp will fix it so's we'll not be all tired out when we get home."

They started early in the morning, and planned to camp just above Woodport. It was nearly dusk when they neared the town.

"Hark!" exclaimed Ned, as the boats were gliding along close to shore. "Do you fellows hear anything?"

They all listened.

"Sounds like some one paddling a canoe behind us," spoke Bart.

"That's what I think. I've been hearing it for the last ten minutes," Ned went on. "Some one is following us."

"Maybe it's that tramp," suggested Fenn.

"I'm going to find out," Ned remarked. "You and Frank row along slowly, Bart, and I'll surprise whoever it is."

It was now quite dark. The noise made by the oars drowned the sound of the paddles, if the unknown was still following the chums.

Ned was busy in the stern of the boat. He twisted a torch from papers and then soaked the end in kerosene oil from the lantern they had.

"Stop rowing," he whispered to his chums, "but keep the oars in motion so they'll make a noise as if we were still going. He'll think we're are on the move and keep after us."

Frank and Bart did as Ned suggested. They could not hear the sound of the paddle but Ned could. Suddenly there was a little glow of light as Ned struck a match. Then there was a burst of flame as the oil-soaked paper caught. Ned tossed it away from the boat. It blazed up brightly and in the glare, as it floated on the water, the boys saw a canoe just behind them.

But the greatest surprise was occasioned by a sight of the paddler. As the light gleamed on him the chums saw he was Sandy Merton.

"Sandy!" exclaimed Ned.

Then the light went out, making the darkness blacker than before.