CHAPTER VIII

THE STRANGE BOATMAN

Bart went over to the soda fountain and ordered "something for all hands" as he expressed it. Meanwhile Alice remained at Lem's side, holding his wrist down well under the hot water. Lem's face had lost some of its pained look. The heat was reducing the swelling and, consequently, the pressure.

"Will you kindly get me some cotton and bandages ready?" asked Alice of the clerk, and he produced them at once.

"When you going to graduate as a trained nurse?" asked Bart, as he came back, a glass of soda in each hand.

"Little boys shouldn't ask the nurse questions," spoke Alice, with a laugh.

"I say, how's Lem going to eat his?" asked Frank. "He's only got one hand, and it's hard work dishing up the cream with a long handled spoon if you don't hold the glass."

"You boys will have to hold mine and Lem's," said Alice. "We can eat with one hand then," and so it was done. Bart held Lem's glass and Fenn took charge of Alice's. When they finished the boys who had acted as soda-bearers regaled themselves on the beverage.

"Say, Alice, how long before that'll be done? It's been boiling half an hour now," remarked Bart.

"More hot water, please," the girl requested of the clerk. "A little longer," she added to her brother. "Then I'm going to bandage it and we can go."

To give her credit Alice did bandage the sprained wrist quite well. She opened her first-aid book on the counter in front of her and followed a diagram showing how to fold the cloth. The druggist complimented her on her skill.

"This is my first big case," said Alice with a smile. She was very much in earnest over it, however lightly the boys treated her ambition. "I hope I have some more soon."

"Well, I hope it isn't me," said Lem.

"I'm sorry if I hurt you," said Alice, looking a little offended.

"Oh, I didn't mean that!" Lem hastened to add. "It feels ever so much better. I meant I hope I won't get hurt again. The season is young yet and we've lots of games ahead of us."

"Guess we'll have to take Alice along to look after the wounded," said Frank. "She'll be the mascot."

"Somebody was mascot to-day all right," came from Bart. "We certainly were in luck. Stumpy, hereafter you're the regular substitute pitcher. Sandy Merton can consider himself released."

It was dusk when the little group left the drug store to go to their several homes.

"You must come and report to me to-morrow," said Alice as she bade Lem good-bye. "Be careful to keep the bandage on."

"I will," he promised.

His house was in the opposite direction to that which the four chums took. The chums walked on slowly together, Alice and Jennie hurrying away to do an errand for Mrs. Keene. As the boys turned a corner they almost collided with a man who was walking quickly in the opposite direction.

"I beg pardon!" he muttered as he passed through the group of lads. They were too surprised to respond and when Bart did think to say, "certainly," the man was several feet away hurrying up the street. The boys gazed after him.

"Don't you know who that is?" asked Ned suddenly.

"No; friend of yours?" inquired Fenn.

"I'm sure it's the man we met in the woods Saturday."

"Who, the crazy man?"

"No, the one at the hut--the King of Paprica--though he may be crazy for all I know. I recognized him as he hurried past me."

"Are you sure?" asked Frank.

"Positive."

"He didn't have his crown on," spoke Bart.

"And his clothes were not the same," put in Fenn.

"That doesn't make any difference," insisted Ned. "I am sure it was the same man. I'll bet there's some mystery here, and it's up to us to solve it," he added.

"I don't see why," said Frank.

"Why haven't we as good a right as any one?"

"I'm certain this man, if he is the one we saw at the hut, is the keeper of that poor lunatic we first met in the woods. Now what's the use of bothering them. They have troubles enough," replied Frank.

"Well, I want to get a look inside that hut," went on Ned, "and I'm going to, some day."

"Your curiosity may get you into trouble," spoke Frank, a little seriously.

"It won't be the first time," and Ned laughed.

"Well, whoever he is, he was in a great hurry," said Fenn. "Maybe the lunatic is sick and he's going to get some medicine for him."

By this time the man was out of sight, and, after a little further talk the boys went on.

Some one must have told Sandy Merton what Bart said about his being released from the team, for the next day he approached the nine's captain on the school campus.

"I hear you said I couldn't play on the team any more," Sandy said to Bart.

"That's what I did. Who told you?"

"That's none of your affair. But I tell you I am going to play."

"You refused to obey an order from the captain," said Bart. "Not that I'm better than any of the other players, but they elected me captain and I'm going to run the nine or resign. You can't play as long as I'm captain."

"We'll see how long you'll be captain then," muttered Sandy, as he walked away.

"Think he means anything?" asked Fenn of Bart.

"I don't care whether he does or not. I'm sorry to have to act that way, but if the team's going to amount to anything it's got to obey orders. If you fellows don't want me for captain, say the word and I'll resign."

"Resign nothing!" exclaimed Ned. "I'd like to see you do it. Eh, fellows?"

"That's right!" came from the crowd that had heard what Sandy said.

"Let's go for a row on the river after school," suggested Bart to his chums during the noon recess, and they agreed. The boys jointly owned a well-equipped boat in which they frequently made trips down to the lake. It was a four-oared barge, roomy and comfortable, though not speedy.

"Shall we bring our fishing tackle along?" asked Ned.

"You can if you like," replied Bart. "I'm not going to. I'm just going to take it easy."

Quite a crowd of boys went to the river after school. Some took their swimming suits, while others went to fish or row, as a number of them had boats. The four chums soon got their craft out from the house, at a public dock, where it was kept.

"Who'll row?" asked Frank.

"Draw lots," suggested Bart, and the choice fell to Ned and Fenn.

"Up or down?" asked Fenn.

"Row up and float down," said Ned. "We don't want to be working all the while."

They went up the stream for two or three miles, and Frank, who had borrowed Ned's fishing tackle, cast in. But the fish did not seem to be biting.

"Put up a little further," suggested Frank. "We're almost to the Riffles. I'd like to get a bite as long as I'm at it."

As the boat was sent round a turn of the river the boys caught sight of another craft in which a man was seated. His boat appeared to be anchored, and as he stood in the bow he reached down into the water with a long pole and seemed to be pulling something up.

He did this several times, and on each occasion would carefully examine the end of the pole which he had stuck into the river.

"That's an odd proceeding," remarked Bart, as he looked at the lone boatman.