CHAPTER VII

TO THE RESCUE

Bill Berry was a big burly fellow, pretty much of a brute in his ways, and, though the boys knew he was a coward at heart, they realized that he might prove an ugly customer in a fight. He could not be depended on to battle fairly, but would take any advantage that came his way. Nor would he hesitate to use a stick or stone, where others would rely on the weapons which nature had given them; their fists.

“We’d better get ready for trouble,” said Jerry in a low voice.

“Shall we tackle him?” asked Ned. “He and Noddy will be no more than a match for the three of us.”

“Don’t fight if we can avoid it,” counseled Jerry.

Bill Berry, with anger in his eyes continued to advance. Noddy, who had started to go away, came back, emboldened by the attitude of his crony.

“I’ve been wanting to get my hands on you fresh lads for some time!” exclaimed Bill. “Now I’ve got a chance.”

“You might have stopped off last night, just before we ran you down,” said Jerry. “We could have accommodated you then.”

“Was that you, last night?” asked Bill, suddenly. “Did you see me? Did you see the Blue--”

Then Bill seemed to remember that he was talking too much. He came to a sudden stop, and looked over at Noddy, who was detected in the act of shaking his fist at his former ally.

“We didn’t see anything blue, green or red,” put in Ned. “It was too dark to see anything but you.”

“Yes, and you’ll pay for what you did!” exclaimed Berry. “I’ll have the law on you for smashing my boat!”

“So Noddy has said,” came from Bob. “It’s getting to be an old story.”

“See here, you young whelps!” cried Bill in sudden anger. “I’ll show you what it means to make fun of me!”

He made a sudden dash toward the three boys, who stood close to the edge of the dock.

“Stand ready!” spoke Jerry in low tones. “If he tries any of his tricks you two jump to one side and I’ll tackle him. If he gets the best of me, you can jump in and lend a hand.”

Bill, with clenched fists, sprang at the three boys. Bob and Ned moved a little to one side to give Jerry plenty of room. It looked as if there was going to be trouble.

“List to the song of the whip-poor-will. He threw in the river poor old Bill!” came in sing-song tones from the rear. There was a sudden rush. Two figures mingled on the dock. There was a struggle, a smothered exclamation, and then a mighty splash in the water.

“There he goes, over his toes!” cried old Pete Bumps, jumping excitedly about.

Below the dock Bill Berry was struggling in the water. He spluttered and threshed about and then struck out for shore.

“Quite a little swim, while the evening light grows dim,” recited Pete solemnly.

“Good for you, Pete!” cried Ned. “You came in the nick of time!”

“Do you think so?” asked Pete anxiously. “I was afraid I’d be a little late. However I saw he meant business so I sailed in. I couldn’t have him fighting you boys Sunday night, so I just thought a little bath would cool him off. I took hold of him and--.”

“He fell in, that’s all,” finished Ned. “You’re all right, Pete.”

Bill reached shore and he and Noddy slunk away.

“Well, we’re well rid of them,” observed Jerry. “I’m glad we didn’t get to fighting, though I wouldn’t run away from it if it had to be. Pete did us a good turn.”

“I’m always on hand to beat the band,” put in the odd character. “To be with you boys fills me with joys. That ain’t a very good rhyme, but I’ve been making a lot of ’em to-day, and I’m kind ’a tired,” he added.

“I guess you’d better go home and go to bed, Pete,” advised Bob. “It will do you good.”

“Just as you say, I’m on my way,” replied the old man solemnly, as he turned to go.

“Did anything strike you as peculiar?” asked Jerry of his chums.

“How do you mean?” asked Ned.

“I mean the way Bill Berry acted,” replied Jerry. “He seemed to fear we had discovered something. Then there was his remark about something blue.”

“Do you know, that occurred to me,” put in Bob. “But I didn’t like to say anything for fear you’d laugh at me. It seemed as if he was afraid we had discovered something.”

“That’s the way I took it,” spoke Ned. “I wonder what it could have been.”

“Whatever it was, you can depend on it there was something crooked back of it,” commented Jerry. “Those two never got together but they were up to some mischief. I only hope we have no further trouble with them.”

The boys were again at the boat house the next afternoon. Ned had asked to run the engine, and, as it was decided that all three should take turns at managing the different parts, Bob went to the wheel while Jerry played he was a passenger.

“Down or up?” asked Bob, as he threw in the clutch and backed the _Dartaway_ out of the house.

“Let’s go down,” suggested Jerry. “Then we can try her up against the current and see how she behaves.”

The boat was making good progress, the engine was purring like a contented cat, and the boys were beginning to enjoy the run, when Bob suddenly shut off the power and cried:

“There, I forgot all about ’em!”

“What?” asked Jerry anxiously. “There’s plenty of gasolene, I hope.”

“It’s the sandwiches,” spoke Bob in sorrowful tones. “I told our girl to put up a lot of ’em so we could have ’em this afternoon in case we got stuck again. Now I’ve come off without ’em. I guess I’ll go back.”

“You’ll do nothing of the kind!” exclaimed Jerry. “This is no picnic party. We’re not going to get stuck. If we do we’ll make you wade ashore and get the grub. You’re captain this trip. Ned and I are passengers.”

“Oh if you’re going to act that way about it, why I’ve got nothin’ more to say,” said Bob, in rather an aggrieved tone. “I only thought--”

“You only thought of getting something to eat,” put in Ned. “Now start her off, Chunky, and forget you have a stomach.”

“I’ll never be able to do that,” replied Bob with a sigh, as he threw the lever forward.

The _Dartaway_ answered promptly and spurted ahead at a good pace. The boys had reached the next town below Cresville, running on second speed, since the current aided them.

“Look out for that rowboat ahead,” cautioned Jerry to Bob. “They act as if they didn’t know how to get along.”

He pointed to a boat containing two girls who seemed to be trying to row across the stream at a particularly wide part. They were both at the oars, but were making little progress.

One girl in the boat looked up and caught sight of the motor craft. It seemed to give her a fright for she screamed and began pulling frantically at the oars. Her companion was likewise affected, and the two, in their eagerness to reach shore were rocking the small boat violently by their endeavors.

“They’ll have an upset if they’re not careful,” said Jerry, who was intently watching the girls.

Hardly had he spoken that one of the rowers “caught a crab.” Her oar, dipped into the water only a little distance, had, when she pulled strongly on it, given way suddenly. She fell backward and her companion trying to catch her, leaned to one side.

This was too much for the frail craft. It careened far over, water ran over the gunwale, and, an instant later the two girls were floundering about in the water.

“To the rescue!” cried Ned, standing up in the motor boat, and proceeding to take off his shoes and coat.