[Illustration: THE TAR WAS READY FOR USE. ]

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THE YOUNG OARSMEN OF LAKEVIEW

ByCAPT. RALPH BONEHILL. 

Author of"Rival Bicyclists, " "Leo, the Circus Boy, " Etc. 

CHICAGO. M. A. DONOHUE & CO. 407-429 DEARBORN ST. 

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CONTENTS

 CHAPTER PAGE I. Jerry, Harry, and Blumpo. 5 II. Mrs. Fleming's Runaway Horse. 12 III. Jerry's Bravery. 18 IV. Saving The Sloop. 24 V. Harry Is Rescued. 30 VI. The Single Shell Race. 37 VII. Who Won the Shell Race. 42 VIII. A Prisoner of the Enemy. 47 IX. Tar And Feathers. 54 X. What Towser Did. 60 XI. Off for Hermit Island. 66 XII. An Attack in the Dark. 72 XIII. Jerry's Shot. 77 XIV. The Hermit of the Island. 82 XV. The Hermit's Secret. 88 XVI. An Exciting Chase. 93 XVII. Harry's New Yacht. 98 XVIII. The Robbery of the Rockpoint Hotel. 107 XIX. The Red Valise. 112 XX. The Mishap to the Yacht. 117 XXI. Words and Blows. 124 XXII. Another Boat Race. 131 XXIII. Jerry Starts on a Journey. 139 XXIV. The Work of a Real Hero. 145 XXV. A Fruitless Search. 152 XXVI. Alexander Slocum is Astonished. 159 XXVII. Jerry's Clever Escape. 164 XXVIII. Something About a Tramp. 170 XXIX. Mr. Wakefield Smith Again. 177 XXX. An Unlooked for Adventure. 181 XXXI. Nellie Ardell's Troubles. 186 XXXII. A Crazy Man's Doings. 192 XXXIII. The Little Nobody. 199 XXXIV. Alexander Slocum Shows His Hand. 207 XXXV. A Strange Disappearance 214 XXXVI. Jerry Hears an Astonishing Statement. 221 XXXVII. A Joyous Meeting. 228XXXVIII. Alexander Slocum is Brought to Book. 236 XXXIX. Harry to the Rescue. 243 XL. A Struggle in the Dark. 251 XLI. A Last Race--Good-Bye to the Rival Oarsmen. 261

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THE YOUNG OARSMEN OF LAKEVIEW. 

CHAPTER I. 

JERRY, HARRY, AND BLUMPO. 

"I'll race you. "

"Done! Are you ready?"

"I am. "

"Then off we go. "

Quicker than it can be related, four oars fell into the water and foursturdy arms bent to the task of sending two beautiful single-shell craftskimming over the smooth surface of the lake. 

It was a spirited scene, and attracted not a little attention, for both ofthe contestants were well known. 

"Go it, Jerry! You can beat him if you try!"

"Don't let him get ahead, Harry. Keep closer to the shore!"

"How far is the race to be?"

"Up to the big pine tree and back. "

"That's a full mile and more. I'll bet on Jerry Upton. "

"And I'll bet on Harry Parker. He has more skill than Jerry. "

"But Jerry has the muscle. "

"There they go, side by side!"

And thus the talking and shouting went on along the lake front. Most ofthe boys present were members of the Lakeview Boat Club, but there wereothers of the town there, too, as enthusiastic as the rest. 

It was a clear, warm day in June. The summer holidays at the variousinstitutes of learning in the vicinity had just begun, so many of the ladshad nothing to do but to enjoy themselves. 

There were not a few craft out besides the two shells to which we havedrawn attention. But they drew out of the way to give the racers a freefield. 

On and on went Jerry and Harry until the big pine was reached. Then camethe turn, and they started on the home stretch side by side, neither onefoot ahead of the other. 

"It's going to be a tie race. "

"Pull, Harry! Let yourself out!"

"Show him what you can do, Jerry!"

Encouraged by the shouts of their friends, both boys increase their speed. But the increase on both sides was equal, and still the boats kept bow andbow as they neared the boathouse. 

"It's going to be a tie, sure enough. "

"Spurt a bit, Jerry!"

"Go it for all you're worth, Harry!"

Again the two contestants put forth additional muscle, each to out-distanthis opponent, and again the two row-boats leaped forward, still side byside. 

As old Jack Broxton, the keeper of the boathouse, said afterward: "Itwould have taken twelve judges, sitting twelve days, to have told whichhad the advantage. "

The finishing point was now less than five hundred feet distant, and in afew seconds more the race would be over. The crowd began to stop shouting, almost breathless with pent-up interest. It was surely the prettiest racethat had ever been rowed on Otasco Lake. 

Splash!

The splash was followed by a splutter, and then a frantic cry for help. Aportion of the high float in front of the boathouse had unexpectedly givenway, and a short, stocky, reddish-black youth had gone floundering overboard. 

"Blumpo Brown has gone under. "

"It serves him right for standing away out on the edge of the float. "

"Help! Help!" cried the youth in the water. "Hold on, Harry! Jerry, don'trun into me!"

Alarmed by the cries, the two racers turned around, easing up on theiroars as they did so. A single glance showed them that the unfortunate onewas directly in their path. 

"We must stop!" cried Jerry Upton to his friend. 

"All right; call it off, " responded Harry Parker. "It was a tie. "

As he finished, both shells drew up, one on either side of Blumpo Brown. Each of the rowers offered the struggling youth a helping hand. 

Blumpo was soon clinging to Jerry's shell. He was dripping from head tofoot, and not being at all a handsomely-formed or good-looking youth, hepresented a most comical appearance. 

"It's too bad I spoiled the race, " mumbled Blumpo. "But that's justme--always putting my foot into it. "

"I guess you put more than your foot into it this time, " was Harry'sgood-natured comment, as he ran close up alongside. 

"Where shall I land you, Blumpo?" questioned Jerry Upton. 

"Anywhere but near the boathouse, " returned Blumpo, with a shiver that wasnot brought on entirely by his involuntary bath. "If you land me there thefellows won't give me a chance to get out of sight. "

"I'll take you up the lake shore if you wish, " said Jerry. "I intended togo up anyway in a row-boat. "

"All right, Jerry, do that and I'll be much obliged to you, " returnedBlumpo Brown. 

"You are going along, aren't you, Harry?" continued Jerry, turning to hislate rival. 

"Yes, I want to stop at Mrs. Fleming's cottage, " replied Harry Parker. 

In a moment more Harry had turned his shell over to old Jack Broxton andhad leaped into a row-boat. 

"Ain't you fellows going to try it over again?" asked several on theshore, anxiously. 

"Not now, " returned Jerry. Then he went on to Harry, in a lower tone: "Ididn't expect to make a public exhibition of our little trial at speed, did you?"

"No; not at all. It was a tie, and let it remain so. "

Jerry soon left his shell; and then four oars soon took the row-boat faraway from the vicinity of the shore; and while the three boys are on theirway up the lake, let us learn a little more concerning them, especially asthey are to form the all-important characters of this tale of midsummeradventures. 

Jerry Upton was the only son of a well-to-do farmer, whose farm of onehundred acres lay just beyond the outskirts of Lakeview, and close to thelake shore. Jerry was a scholar at the Lakeview Academy, and did butlittle on the farm, although among the pupils he was often designated asCornfield. 

Harry Parker was the oldest boy in the Parker family, which numbered twoboys and four girls. Harry's father was a shoe manufacturer, whose largefactory was situated in Lakeview, and at which nearly a fourth of theworking population of the town found employment. 

It had been a singular incident which had brought the two boys togetherand made them firm friends. Both had been out skating on the lake thewinter before, when Harry had lost his skate and gone down headlongdirectly in the track of a large ice-boat, which was coming on with thespeed of a breeze that was almost a hurricane. 

To the onlookers it seemed certain that Harry must be struck and killed bythe sharp prow of the somewhat clumsy craft. But in that time of extremeperil Jerry had whipped up like a flash on his skates, caught Harry by thecollar, and literally flung himself and the boy, who was then almost astranger to him, out of harm's way. 

This gallant deed of courage had been warmly applauded by those who sawit. It also came to Mr. Parker's ears, and from that time on the rich shoemanufacturer took an interest in the farmer boy. He persuaded Mr. Upton toallow Jerry to attend the academy, and promised that the boy should have agood position in the office of the factory, should he wish it, when hisschool days were over. 

Harry was already a pupil at the academy, and it was here that the twoboys became warm friends. It was nothing to Harry that Jerry was afarmer's boy and that he was sometimes called Cornfield. He knew andappreciated Jerry for his true worth. 

And now what of Blumpo Brown, you ask? There is little to tell at thispoint of our story concerning that semi-colored individual. He was alonein the world, and had lived in Lakeview some ten years. Previous to thattime his history was a mystery. Where he had come from no one knew, and ifthe truth was to be made known, no one but Blumpo himself cared. He was avery peculiar youth, often given to making the most ridiculous remarks, and many persons around Lakeview fancied he had considerable Indian bloodin him. He lived in half a dozen places, according to the condition of hisfinances, and picked up his precarious existence by working for any onewho would employ him. He might have had a steady situation more than once, but it was not in Blumpo's composition to stick at one thing for any greatlength of time. We will learn much more concerning him as our storyproceeds. 

CHAPTER II. 

MRS. FLEMING'S RUNAWAY HORSE. 

"Well, now that the midsummer holidays have really commenced, what do youintend to do with yourself, Jerry?" asked Harry, as they took it easy fora bit after leaving the vicinity of the town. 

"I expect I'll have to help on the farm--at least, I think I ought tohelp, " was the reply. "You know this is the busy season. "

Harry's face fell a little at this reply. Evidently something was on hismind, and this answer did not harmonize with it. 

"I'll tell you what I would like mighty well, " put in Blumpo. "I wouldlike to leave town and take to the woods. "

"Why, Blumpo, you must have been reading my thoughts!" cried Harry. "I wasthinking exactly the same thing. "

"Take to the woods?" repeated Jerry. "What do you mean? Clear out fromhome entirely?"

"No, no, " laughed Harry. "I mean to go off for a while--say, two or threeweeks or a month. Sail up the lake and camp out, you know. " "Oh!" Jerry'sface took on a pleased look. "I would like that myself, especially if wecould go fishing and swimming whenever we wanted to. "

"I've had it in my mind for several days, " Harry continued, slowly. "I wasgoing to speak of it yesterday, but I didn't get the chance. "

"You mean you want me to go with you?" asked Jerry. 

"Yes. Don't you think your folks would let you?"

"They might. Who else would go along, do you think?"

"I haven't thought of any one else. We might ask--" and Harry hesitated inthought. 

"What's the matter with asking me?" put in Blumpo, with a serenity thattook away the lack of politeness in his remark. "I'm just as tired ofLakeview as anybody. "

Harry burst out laughing. The idea of asking Blumpo had never once enteredhis mind. 

"It ain't nothing to laugh at, " went on Blumpo, half angrily. 

"Excuse me, Blumpo, " said Harry, stopping short. "I--that is--I wasn'tthinking of you when I made the remark. "

"I'm not rich, nor eddicated, as you call it, and all that, but I can huntand fish, and so on, as good as the next feller, can't I?"

"You certainly can, " put in Jerry, who had for a long time had a strangeliking for the homeless youth. 

"And I am as willing as the next one to do my full share of campwork--washing dishes and the like, " went on Blumpo. "You ain't cut out forthat, " he added, turning to the son of the rich shoe manufacturer. 

"Maybe not, but I reckon I can do my full share of work, " laughed Harry. "I was not brought up with kid gloves on, you know. "

"One thing is certain, " mused Jerry. "I wouldn't want to leave until I hadrowed that race with Si Peters from Rockpoint. "

The race to which Jerry referred was one to take place on the followingSaturday. Silas Peters was considered the best single-shell oarsman on thelower side of the lake, and he had challenged Jerry as a representativefrom the Lakeview Academy. 

"You'll win that race, suah, " put in Blumpo. "I'll bet my hat on it. "

As Blumpo's hat was of straw and full of holes, this made both Jerry andhis friend burst into a fit of laughter. 

"I don't mean this hat. I mean my Sunday-go-to-meetin' one, " said thehomeless youth, hastily. 

"Blumpo, on your honor, did you ever own two hats at once?" asked Harrygravely. 

"Well, since you buckle me down, no, " was the low reply. "What's the use?Can't wear but one at a time. " "That's as true as you live, " returnedJerry. 

The three boys talked over the subject of an outing for some time. Allthought it a glorious idea, and Jerry said he would go if he possiblycould. 

All this time Jerry and Harry were rowing up the lake at a moderate rateof speed. Jerry loved the water, and spent nearly all of his spare time inthe vicinity of the lake. 

Presently Harry grew tired and Blumpo took his place at the oars. 

"Here comes the Cutwater!" cried Harry, a few minutes later. 

The Cutwater was a large sloop owned by one of the gentlemen living inLakeview. As she came past, those in the row-boat noticed several youngladies on board, who were sailing the boat under directions of a young mannamed Clarence Conant. 

Clarence had but little idea how a boat should be managed, and as thesloop went by Harry's face grew troubled. 

"Jerry, what do you think of that?"

Jerry stopped rowing for a moment to look at the sloop. 

"A good lot of sail up, especially if it should blow up stronger, " hesaid. 

"Just what I think. "

"That Clarence Conant don't know nuffin' about sailing, " snorted BlumpoBrown. "The ladies better beware how they go out with him. "

"I agree with you, Blumpo, " said Jerry, gravely. 

The sloop now disappeared from sight around a turn in the lake at whichseveral islands were situated. 

A few minutes later the row-boat drew up to a small dock at the end of awell-kept garden. 

This was Mrs. Fleming's place, where Harry intended to stop on an errandfor his mother and father. 

He sprang on the dock and hurried toward the house, saying he would not begone more than five minutes. 

The two boys waited for him to return, and during the interval Jerrycaught sight of the Cutwater up the lake and watched her progress withinterest. The wind was getting stronger and the sloop carried more sailthan was good for her. Soon she again disappeared, and Jerry turned towardthe house, wondering what kept Harry so long. 

"Must have been invited to lunch, " was Blumpo's comment. "Pity he didn'task us in, too. "

"No, he wouldn't stay and leave us here, " replied Jerry, "Mostlikely--hullo!"

Jerry sprang up in the row-boat in amazement. Down the garden path leadingfrom the front of the house to the dock came a beautiful black horse on agallop. On the animal's back sat a little girl not more than eight yearsof age. The horse was running away with her, and she was clingling tightlyto his mane. 

"Oh, John, stop him!" she screamed. 

"Whoa, Banker, whoa!" shouted a man who came running after the animal. 

But the horse, a nervous creature, was frightened over something and wouldnot stop. 

He clattered on the dock, and the next instant went over into the lakewith a loud splash, carrying the little girl with him. 

CHAPTER III. 

JERRY'S BRAVERY. 

Blumpo was so scared by the accident that he uttered a short yell. 

"Fo' the lan' sake, " he moaned, in a shaking voice. 

The horse disappeared from sight for a brief space of time and then cameup and began to churn the water madly in an endeavor to save himself fromdrowning. 

The little girl was nowhere to be seen. 

"She'll be drowned, " thought Jerry, with rising horror. 

At that moment a lady rushed from the house, followed by Harry. It wasMrs. Fleming. 

"My child! my child!" she shrieked. "Save my Cora!"

Jerry waited to hear no more. At that moment the head of the little girlappeared directly by the horse's side, and he made a clever dive from therow-boat and came up close to the child. 

The girl was so bewildered that she simply beat the water in a helplessfashion, and this frightened the horse still more. Swimming up behind thelittle one, Jerry caught her under the arms. It was a perilous thing todo, for Jerry was in great danger of having his brains dashed out by oneof the horse's hoofs. 

"Good for you, Jerry!" shouted Harry. 

"Look out for the hoss!" shouted the man. "He'll kick you if he can!"

As rapidly as he could, Jerry swam out of the mad animal's reach. It wasdifficult with the struggling girl in his arms, but at last heaccomplished it, and willing hands helped him to the dock. 

"My Cora! my Cora! is she dead?" cried Mrs. Fleming. 

"No, she is more frightened than hurt, " returned Jerry. "Let us take herto the house. "

But before he could go a step, Mrs. Fleming clasped her girl in her armsand led the way. 

Anxious to be of assistance, Jerry followed the lady, while Harry, Blumpo, and the hired man tried to rescue the horse, who was very valuable despitehis nervousness. 

A noose was made at the end of a rope, and this was thrown over theanimal's neck. Then the horse got one foot through the noose, and in thisfashion they towed him to a spot where it was easy for him to wade outwithout assistance. 

The hired man was very much put out, for it was his fault that the horsehad run away. He led the animal around to the barn and gave him a goodrubbing down. 

Harry started for the house and met Jerry coming out. 

"How is Cora?"

"She's all right. Come on, " and Jerry brushed on toward the row-boat. 

"Why, what's your hurry, Jerry?"

The young oarsman blushed. 

"Oh, I hate to stand around and receive thanks, " he said. "Mrs. Flemingwants to make a first-class hero of me and I----"

"And that's just what you are, " cried Harry. 

"Indeed he is, " added Blumpo. 

"Nonsense!" Jerry brushed them to one side. "Come on!" and he made a runfor the row-boat, and the others were compelled to follow. 

"But your clothing is all wet, " insisted Harry, when they were seated inthe craft. 

"So is Blumpo's, " returned Jerry. 

"I'se most dry, the sun is that warm, " remarked the homeless youth. 

"I don't mind the wetting a bit, " said Jerry. "Rowing will keep me warmand the sun will dry me off quick enough. "

"You're a regular water dog, anyway, " laughed Harry. He could not help butadmire Jerry's modesty in running away from Mrs. Fleming as soon as it wasascertained that little Cora was all right. On and on up the lake the boyswent. Inside of half an hour they came to a sheltered nook on one of thenumerous islands. 

"I move we take a swim, " said Harry. 

"Second de emotion, " said Blumpo, and before Jerry could say a word thehomeless youth was running about as if in the savage wilds. 

It did not take Jerry and Harry long to disrobe. The plunge into the waterwas very pleasant, and they remained in bathing until Jerry's clothing, spread out on the top of a number of bushes, was thoroughly dry. 

In the meanwhile Jerry and Harry raced to another island and back. Jerrycame out first, with Harry four yards behind. 

The swim over, they dressed, and, after picking several handfuls ofberries, which grew on the island in profusion, they once more embarked inthe row-boat. 

"Time to get back, boys, " said Jerry. "I promised to be home beforedark. "

"So did I, " said Harry, "and we have several miles to go. "

"It don't make no difference to me when I git back, " remarked Blumpo, dolefully. 

"Don't worry, Blumpo. Think of the good time we are going to have when wego camping, " said Jerry. 

"And I must ask father for a regular situation for you when we come backfrom our outing, " added Harry. 

"Will you?" and the homeless boy's face brightened. 

The wind had been increasing steadily, and now it blew so strongly thatthe whitecaps were to be seen in every direction. 

"We're going to have no easy time getting back, " said Jerry, with ananxious look on his manly face. "Maybe we may be caught in a hurricane. "

"It's hot enough, " returned Harry. "Such oppressive heat generally meanssomething. "

A mile was covered, and then the wind began to send the flying spray inevery direction and filled the row-boat's bottom with water. 

"Wet again!" laughed Jerry, grimly. "Never mind. "

"Blumpo, you had better bail out the boat, " said Harry. He was as wet asthe rest, but did not grumble. 

While the homeless youth bailed out the water with a dipper they hadbrought along, Jerry and Harry pulled at the oars with all their remainingstrength. Another mile was passed. But now it was blowing a regularhurricane and no mistake. 

"We'll go to the bottom, suah!" groaned Blumpo dismally. 

"Not much!" shouted Jerry. "Keep on bailing. " "Look! look!" yelled Harryat that moment, and pointed over to the centre of the lake. 

There, beating up in the teeth of the wind in the most hap-hazard manner, was the Cutwater. Evidently Clarence Conant was nearly paralyzed withfear, for he had almost lost control of the craft. 

"Those ladies on board are worse off than we, " went on Harry. 

"That's so, " replied Jerry. 

But the words were hardly out of his mouth when there came an extra puffof wind. It sent the Cutwater almost over on her side, and threw amonstrous wave into the row-boat. 

The smaller craft could not stand the wind and waves, and with a lurch, she sank down and went over, dumping all three of the youths into theangry lake. 

CHAPTER IV. 

SAVING THE SLOOP. 

It was no pleasant position to be in. The three lads had been cast sosuddenly into the angry waters that for the moment they could notcomprehend the situation. 

Then Blumpo let out a yell of terror. 

"Save me! De boat has gone down!"

He was wrong, however, for a second later the row-boat bobbed up, lessthan four yards off. 

"This way!" shouted Harry to his companions, but the wind fairly drownedhis voice. He swam toward the upturned craft, and Blumpo and Jerry werenot slow in following it. 

Hardly had they reached it when a new peril confronted them. The Cutwaterwas bearing directly down upon them. With every sail set, she was in thevery act of cutting them to pieces!

"Look! look!" yelled Harry. "We are doomed!"

"My gracious!" moaned Blumpo. 

On and on came the sloop, with gigantic bounds over the whitecaps. Clarence Conant seemed utterly powerless to stay her course, or steer herto the right or left. 

The young ladies on board with him huddled in a heap near the tiny cabin, their faces white with terror. 

It was truly a thrilling moment. 

Of the entire crowd Jerry was the only one to keep perfectly cool. 

He was astride the row-boat, directly in the centre of the bottom, and itseemed as if the prow of the Cutwater must strike him in a second more. 

"Every one dive under!" he called out, and went overboard like a flash. 

For a wonder Harry and Blumpo promptly followed suit. 

Crash!

The row-boat was struck and stove in completely. 

The Cutwater was quite a good sized craft, and though the force of thecollision did not damage her to any extent, it checked her progressconsiderably. 

Jerry went down and down. He made a long dive, and when he came up it waswithin a yard of the sloop's rudder. 

Before another boy would have had time to think, the boy who so loved thewater made up his mind what to do. He made a mighty leap and caught holdof the rudder end ere the Cutwater could get beyond his reach. It was hardwork to hang on, as the sloop bobbed up and down with every wave, and therudder, being beyond control, swayed from side to side. 

But Jerry was both plucky and full of grit. He clung fast, and, watchinghis chance, climbed up to the stern and leaped on the deck. 

A brief glance showed him the cause of the present trouble. ClarenceConant was actually too much frightened to lower the sails. He had startedto act and got a rope twisted, and then, overcome with fear, had allowedthe matter to go while he clung to the bow in despair. 

"You confounded coward!" cried the young oarsman. "You ought to have knownbetter than to go out on anything bigger than a duck pond. "

He sprang to the halyards, and soon the main-sail came down with a bang. The jib followed. There was no time to attend to the sails more thanthis. 

Jerry looked around anxiously for Harry and Blumpo, but for a long whilecould see nothing of them. 

"Look here, " demanded Clarence Conant, recovering his composure, now thegreatest of the danger was over. "What--ah--do you mean by talking to mein this fashion?"

"I mean just what I say, " retorted Jerry. "You had no right to take theseyoung ladies out and expose them to such peril. " "The--ah--hurricane tookme by surprise, " was the dude's lame excuse. 

"I am very thankful to you, Jerry Upton, " cried Dora Vincent, the oldestand prettiest of the girls on board. 

"And so am I. "

"And I. "

"Thank you, " replied the boy, blushing. "But now is no time to talk. Whichof you will take the tiller, if I tell you exactly what to do?"

"I can--ah--take the tiller, " interposed Conant, haughtily. 

"You won't touch it!" cried the young oarsman, sternly. 

"Why, boy, what do you mean? Do you--ah--"

"Sit down! If you dare to stir I'll pitch you overboard!"

Overcome with a new terror, the dude collapsed. He was hatless, the curlwas out of his mustache and hair, and altogether he looked very much"washed out. "

He sank down near the bow, and it was well that he did so, for just thencame an extra heavy blast of the gale. 

"Hold hard, every one!" yelled Jerry. "Perhaps you ladies had better gointo the cabin, " he added. 

"I am to take the tiller, you know, " said Dora Vincent. "Well, then, letthe others go. We can work along better with a clear deck. "

So while Dora went aft, the others crawled into the cabin, or cuddy. Underpretense of seeing after their comfort, Conant crawled after them. 

"Now I will tell you just how to move the tiller, " said Jerry to DoraVincent. 

"All right, I am ready, " responded the brave girl. 

Now that she had Jerry with her, and knowing he was well acquainted withboats, she felt that she was safe, no matter how bad the storm might proveitself. 

After giving the girl some instructions Jerry hoisted the main-sail a fewfeet only. The sloop then swung around and moved in a beating way againstthe storm. 

Jerry wished to learn what had become of his companions. He was fearfulthat they had been drowned. 

It took quite some time to reach the vicinity where the accident hadoccurred, and even then but little was to be seen through the drivingrain. 

"Hullo, Harry! Blumpo!" he called out. 

No answer came back and he repeated the cry a dozen times. Then he fanciedhe heard a response directly ahead. The sloop was moved cautiously in thedirection, and presently they saw Blumpo clinging to part of the shatteredrow-boat. "Sabe me! sabe me!" yelled the youth. "Don't let me drown, Jerry. "

"Catch the rope, Blumpo!" cried Jerry in return, and threw forward the endof a coil. 

Blumpo clutched the rope eagerly, and then it was comparatively easy tohaul him on board. 

"Praise de Lawd!" he muttered fervently as he came on deck. "I t'ought Iwas a goner, suah!"

"Where is Harry?"

"I can't tell you, Jerry. "

"You haven't seen him since we jumped from the row-boat?"

"No. "

The young oarsman's face grew sober. What if their chum had really gone tothe bottom of Lake Otasco? It would be awful to tell Harry's parents thattheir son was no more. 

"We must find him, dead or alive, Blumpo. Take the tiller from MissVincent, and we'll cruise around, with our eyes and ears wide open, " saidJerry, with determination. 

CHAPTER V. 

HARRY IS RESCUED. 

"I can stay on deck, can't I?" asked Dora, as she turned the tiller overto the homeless youth. 

"If you wish. But be very careful when the sloop swings around, " repliedJerry. "You did very well, " he added. 

Dora smiled at this. Then she went forward and settled down, in spite ofthe rain, to help look for Harry Parker, whose folks she knew fairlywell. 

The Cutwater was put on a different track, and they began to move acrossthe lake, it being Jerry's idea to cross and recross at a distance ofevery six or seven hundred feet. 

Twice did they come close to each shore without seeing anything of Harry. 

"Gone down, suah's you're born!" said Blumpo, and the tears started out ofhis big, honest eyes. 

"I am afraid so, " returned Jerry, "and yet--hark!"

He put up his hand and all were instantly on the alert. The wind had gonedown somewhat, and from a distance came a low cry. "It's Harry's!" saidJerry. "Hullo, Harry!" he yelled, with all the power of his lungs. 

He waited, and an answering cry came back from toward the center of thelake. It was very weak, showing that Harry was almost exhausted. 

The course of the sloop was instantly changed, and they strove to reachthe spot before the boy should go down. 

Jerry was the first to see the form floating about amid the whitecaps. 

"Keep up, Harry!" he called encouragingly. "We will soon have you onboard. "

"I can't keep up any longer, " gasped his chum. "I am played out. " Andthrowing up his arms, Harry disappeared. 

Tying the end of a long rope about his waist, Jerry leaped overboard. Hestruck the spot where Harry had gone down and felt in every direction forhis chum. 

His hand touched an arm, and then he held Harry fast and brought him tothe surface. The poor boy was too weak to make the first movement. 

"Haul in on the rope, Blumpo!" called Jerry. 

Turning the tiller over to Dora Vincent, the homeless youth did asdirected. 

Jerry, with his burden, was soon brought alongside. 

It was no easy matter to hoist Harry on deck in the storm, but at last itwas accomplished, and Jerry followed his charge. 

Harry was unconscious, and he was taken to the cabin, where Dora and theother girls did all in their power for him; and then the Cutwater washeaded for Lakeview, two miles distant. 

The hurricane, or whatever it might be called, had by this time spentitself. The rain ceased and before the lake town came into view the sunshone once more as brightly as ever. 

Clarence Conant came on deck looking very much annoyed. He felt that hehad played the part of a coward, and knew he would have no easy time of itto right himself in the eyes of the young ladies. 

"The--ah--truth is, I was very sick, " he explained to Jerry. "I gota--ah--spasm of the--ah--heart. "

"Sure it wasn't a spasm in your great toe?" said Jerry, with a grin. 

But Clarence never smiled. It would not have been good form, you know. 

As soon as the dock was reached, Jerry left Blumpo to tie up and went toHarry. He found his chum able to sit up. He was very weak, but that wasall. 

"It was a close call for me, Jerry, " said Harry, with a shudder. "I oweyou my life. "

"It was a close call all around, " replied our hero. "We can be thankfulthat we are here safe and sound. " Harry felt too weak to walk, so acarriage was called to take him home. Jerry went with him, while Blumpowent over to the grocery store to tell of all that had happened. 

Clarence Conant was utterly left. He tried to excuse himself to DoraVincent and the other young ladies, but they would have nothing to do withhim. 

"The next time I go out it will be with somebody who can manage a boat, and who is brave enough to do it, even in a storm, " said Dora, and walkedaway with her lady friends. 

"Beastly bad job, beastly!" muttered Clarence to himself. "And my bestsailor suit utterly ruined, too! Oh, why did that storm have to come up onus?"

But this was not the end of the matter for the dude. 

The row-boat that had been smashed was a valuable one belonging to theLakeview Boat Club. They did not care to lose the cost of it, and socalled on Conant to pay for the same. 

At first he refused, but when they threatened arrest he weakened. It tooknearly three weeks of his salary to square accounts, and then the youngman was utterly crushed. He never went sailing again. 

It did not take Harry long to recover from the effects of his outing onthe lake. Inside of a week he was as well as ever. Blumpo took good careto tell every one of all that had happened, and on every side Jerry waspraised for his daring work in saving the Cutwater and his chum. 

We have spoken of the match to take place between Jerry and Si Peters ofRockport. This was postponed for two weeks on Si's account. 

Si Peters was a tall overgrown youth of eighteen, and was generallyconsidered to be the best oarsman on the lake. 

Consequently, when a match was arranged by the clubs to which theybelonged between the pair it was thought, even by many Lakeview people, that Si Peters would win. 

Si had one great advantage over Jerry. His father was rich, while Jerry'sfather was poor. Consequently, while Jerry had to help on the farm duringidle hours Si Peters could go out and practice, and, thus get himself inperfect condition. 

It was this fact that made Si think he was going to have an easy timedefeating Jerry. 

But, unknown to him, Jerry got more time than he thought. Harry wasanxious to have his chum win, and spoke to his father about it. 

Now, Mr. Parker and Si Peters' father were not on good terms, and theformer readily agreed to a plan Harry proposed. 

"Mr. Upton, " he said one evening, when he met Jerry's father down in thetown, "I would like to hire Jerry to work for me every afternoon for acouple of weeks. "

"All right, Mr. Parker, " said Jerry's father, promptly. "When do you wanthim to come?"

"To-morrow, if he can. I'll pay you five dollars a week. "

"Very well. You can pay Jerry. "

So it was settled, and every afternoon the young oarsman went over to theParker place, which bordered on the lake. 

Here Jerry would practice in secret in a little cove seldom visited by anyboats. 

As the time grew close for the race between Jerry and Si Peters the boatclubs began to bet on their favorites. 

So sure were the Rockpointers that they would win, that they gave theLakeview people heavy odds. 

Together the two clubs put up as a trophy a silver cup, which later onwould be engraved with the name of the winner. 

Of course, Jerry's father soon found out what his son was doing. 

But he would not break his bargain with Mr. Parker, and so let Jerrypractice every afternoon, feeling sure that Jerry would not take the moneythe rich manufacturer had offered. 

"You will win, " said Harry, confidently. "I shall try my best, " returnedJerry. 

Si Peters and his friends smiled broadly whenever they came over toLakeview. 

"Jerry Upton won't be in it after the first quarter, " said they. 

The race was to be a mile, half a mile each way, the turning point being awell-known rocky island scarcely fifty feet in diameter. 

Jerry kept at his practice steadily until the great day for the racearrived. 

CHAPTER VI. 

THE SINGLE SHELL RACE. 

The race had been spoken of so much that Lakeview presented a holidayappearance. 

All those who could, crossed over from Rockpoint, and many came from otherplaces. 

The lake was crowded with craft of all sorts, and even standing room alongthe shore was at a premium. 

Even Farmer Upton grew interested. 

"You must win that race, son, " he said. "Not only for your own sake, butfor the sake of the whole Lakeview district. "

And this made Jerry more determined to win than ever. 

The race was not to come off until three o'clock in the afternoon. In themeanwhile there were half a dozen other contests, in which, however, themasses took but small interest. 

While one of these contests was going on, and Jerry was in the dressingroom of the boathouse putting on his rowing rig, Harry came in excitedly. "Jerry, you want to be on your guard, " he said in a low tone, so thatthose standing about might not hear. 

"On guard? How?"

"Against Si Peters. "

"I don't understand. "

"From what I have overheard, I imagine there is a plot on foot to make youlose the race. "

"What sort of a plot?"

"I can't say. "

The young oarsman gazed at his chum in perplexity. 

"What have you heard? I don't know what to make of this. "

"You know Wash Crosby?"

"Yes. He is Si Peters' toady. "

"Well, I heard him tell Browling that it was a dead sure thing Si wouldwin. "

"That might have been mere blowing. "

"No. Browling thought so, too, but then Crosby whispered in his ear. Atonce Browling's face took on a look of cunning. 

"'Can you do it?' he asked, and Crosby said he could. 

"Then Browling said he would put out his money on Si, if he could findanyone to bet. You know the whole crowd is rich. "

"Yes, and I know another thing!" exclaimed Jerry suddenly. "I fancy I cansee through their plan. " "What?"

"Crosby owns a steam launch, you know. "

"I do. "

"What is to prevent him from running the launch so that I shall get allthe swash? It would make me lose a quarter minute or more, and perhapsupset me. "

"Jiminey crickets! I believe you are right!" whispered Harry. 

"Did they mention the steam launch?"

"They did. Browling said he would go and take a look at her. "

"Then that is what the plot is, you may be sure of it. You ought to beable to stop them, Harry. You are going to be on your uncle's napthalaunch. "

"I will! If they get too close to you I'll boathook them and pull themoff!" cried Harry. 

"Good for you. "

"But beware, Jerry, the plot may not be that after all. "

"I'll keep my eyes open, " replied the young oarsman. 

A minute after this Harry went off. 

Then Jerry, having donned his rowing outfit, was surrounded by the othermembers of the club. His shell was inspected and found in perfectcondition. It had been guarded carefully, and now the club members did notdare to let their eyes off of it. 

"Bring me my blades, please, " said Jerry, and they were at once broughtfrom the locker. 

He began to examine them from end to end. Suddenly he uttered a cry. 

"Boys, look here!"

"What's up, Jerry?"

"This one has been strained and cracked. An extra hard pull on it, and itwould give out. "

A murmur arose. 

"Who did this?"

"Some enemy wants Jerry to lose, sure!"

How the blade had got into that condition was a mystery. 

But now was no time to speculate on the affair. A new set of blades mustbe procured at once. 

Luckily there was a pair belonging to a private party to be had. They werejust the same size and weight. 

"I would rather have my own, but I'll make these do, and beat them inspite of all, " said Jerry. 

At a given signal six of the boat club boys marched down the floatcarrying Jerry's shell, which had been polished and oiled until it shonelike a mirror. 

With a faint splash the shell dropped into the water. Then Jerry ran downand stepped in. His feet were "locked, " and the oars were handed over. 

[Illustration: THE SINGLE SHELL RACE. ]

"Hurrah for Jerry Upton!"

"He's the boy to win!"

"Hurrah for Si Peters!"

"Jerry won't be in it with Si!"

"He will!"

"Never!"

And so the talking and the shouting ran on. 

Meanwhile Si Peters had emerged from the landing at a private boathousesome distance up the lake shore. 

He received a hearty shout as he moved slowly over to the starting point. 

Si Peters won the choice of positions, and, of course, took the inside. 

The race should have been a mile straightway, but the original challengewhich led to the race had been for a half mile going and the same coming. 

Soon the two boys were in position. 

"Ready?"

There was a dead silence. 

Bang!

They were off! Both boys caught the water at the same instant. Each pulleda long but quick stroke. Ten yards were covered, and they remained side byside. 

"Pull, Si!"

"Go it, Jerry!"

Like two clocks, so far as regularity went, the two contestants bent theirbacks and pulled with might and main. 

One thing was certain, unless something happened, it would be a closerace. 

But now the Lakeview boys were getting wild. 

"See Jerry! He is gaining. "

"Jerry is five feet and more in the lead!"

It was true. Slowly but surely our hero was forging ahead. Should he beable to keep this up he would cross Si Peters' course at the turningpoint. 

But now Wash Crosby showed his hand. Without so much as a toot of thewhistle, his steam launch kept drawing closer and closer to Jerry's side. 

Then it gradually went ahead, until Jerry was caught in the swash of thetiny waves it produced. 

Under ordinary circumstances these waves would not have been noticed, butin a shell, and especially during a race, even such apparent trifles countheavily. 

"Keep off!" shouted the young oarsman. 

"Mind your business!" shouted Wash Crosby in return, but so lowly that noone but Jerry could hear him. "This is Si Peters' race!"

CHAPTER VII. 

WHO WON THE SHELL RACE. 

Jerry saw at once that he had been right in imagining that this was theplot against him. Wash Crosby intended to keep just close enough to causehim trouble without actually fouling him. 

Already the swash from the steam launch was telling on Jerry's lead. SiPeters kept up at his best and soon was once more abreast of our hero. 

"Hurrah!" came from the shore. 

"Si Peters leads!"

"I said he would win!"

"That steam launch is too close to Jerry Upton. "

"Nonsense! Don't croak because you are going to lose the race, " shoutedBrowling. 

The Lakeview boys began to look glum. 

But now something happened that Wash Crosby had not calculated upon. 

Straight from across the lake came the naptha launch belonging to HarryParker's uncle. In the bow stood Harry, boathook in hand. 

When the launch was within three yards of the Crosby craft she came to ahalt. Wash Crosby was so interested in watching the race that he did notnotice what was going on. 

Harry threw the boathook and it caught fast in the steam launch's stern. Then the naptha launch was moved back, and away she went, carrying thesteam launch with her. 

She could do this because Crosby did not have on a full head of steam. 

Astonished at the turn of affairs, Wash Crosby looked around to see whatwas the matter. 

"Hi! what are you doing?" he bellowed to Harry. 

"Hauling you off, " returned Jerry's chum. "I know your plot, Wash Crosby;but it is not going to work. "

"Let go there!"

"Not much! You'll keep your distance from Jerry Upton's shell. "

"I would like to know who made you my master!" stormed Crosby, in aperfect rage. 

"If you don't come away I'll report you and get the town to lynch you, "retorted Harry, valiantly. "Don't you dare to touch that boathook. "

However, Wash Crosby did dare. But as long as the line attached was tauthe could not loosen it. Then he tried new tactics. He put on a full headof steam. 

It was a tug of war between the steam and the naptha launches, and for themoment it was hard to tell which would come off victorious. 

But Harry's craft was more powerful than Crosby's, and soon the steamlaunch was carried far away from the racing shells. 

Wash Crosby was furious and would have eaten Harry up could he have gottenat the lad. 

"I'll fix you for this!" he cried and threw a heavy chunk of coal atHarry's head, which the boy dodged. 

"Don't try that again, Wash Crosby, or I'll retaliate in a way you leastexpect. "

"You had no right to haul me off. "

"You had no right to interfere with Jerry Upton. "

Wash Crosby grumbled but could do nothing. Harry calmly proceeded to holdhim back until the race was almost over. 

In the meanwhile, how was Jerry faring?

With long, quick strokes, he swept on, side by side with Si Peters. 

It was going to be a close contest, and the spectators along the lakefront went wild with enthusiasm. 

"Don't let up, Si!"

"Show the Rockpointers what you can do, Jerry!"

"A dollar that Si wins by a length!"

"A dollar that Jerry wins by two lengths!" At last the two reached RockyIsland, which formed the turning point. 

They were still side by side, but Si had the inner turn all to himself, while Jerry had to move about in a much larger area. 

This brought Jerry a good length behind Si Peters when the return wasbegun. 

Si Peters saw this and grinned to himself. 

"You ain't in it a little bit, Jerry Upton!" he called out, but Jerry didnot reply. He was not foolish enough to waste breath just then intalking. 

Over the smooth water swept the two long shells, each boy working withquick and long strokes. 

Now the finishing stake was in view. Si Peters still kept his lead. 

"It's Si's race, no doubt of it!"

"Didn't I say Jerry Upton wouldn't be in it?"

"What does Cornfield know about rowing, anyhow?"

But scarcely had the last remark been made when Jerry began to increasehis stroke. 

Slowly but surely his shell began to overlap that of Si Peters. Now he washalf-way up, now three-quarters, now they were even!

"See him gaining!"

"Look! look! Jerry is ahead!"

"He can't keep that stroke! It's enough to kill him!"

"Can't he? Look, he is actually walking away from Si. "

Jerry was now "letting himself out. "

Like a flash he swept past Si Peters and reached the finish two and a halflengths ahead. 

A rousing cheer from the Lakeview boys greeted him, while the Rockpointerswere as mum as oysters. 

Si Peters looked decidedly crestfallen. For several minutes he had nothingto say. Then some of his friends whispered into his ear. 

"You must do it, Si, " said one of the number. 

"All right, I will, " replied Peters doggedly, and hurried to the judges'boat. 

"I claim a foul!" he cried out loudly. 

Every one was astonished, and none more so than Jerry. 

"Where were you fouled?" asked one of the judges. 

"Up at the turning point. "

"That is a falsehood!" cried Jerry indignantly. "I never came anywherenear you. "

"I'm telling the truth, " said Si Peters. "If he hadn't fouled me I wouldhave beaten with ease. "

CHAPTER VIII. 

A PRISONER OF THE ENEMY. 

At once a loud murmur arose. Some sided with Jerry, while others took SiPeters' part. 

From hot words the boys of the rival towns almost came to blows. 

In the midst of the quarrel a row-boat came down the lake carrying twoelderly and well-known gentlemen, both residents of Rockpoint. Curious toknow the cause of the trouble, the gentlemen came up to the judges' craft, now moored along shore. 

"Peters claims a foul up at the turning point, " said some one of thegentlemen. 

"You mean up at the island?"

"Yes. "

"There was no foul there. Was there, Greenley?"

"None at all, " replied the second gentleman. 

These assertions attracted attention. On inquiry it was learned that thetwo gentlemen had been up at the island fishing. They had watched the racein the meanwhile, and they were willing to make affidavit that Jerry hadnot interfered in the slightest degree with Si Peters. 

"He took the outside, and he really gave Peters more room than wasnecessary. "

The two gentlemen were too well known to be doubted in what they said, andat once the judges refused to accept Si Peters' plea. 

"The race goes to Jerry Upton, who won it fairly. "

Then how Jerry's friends did yell with delight! The lad was pounced uponand raised up on his friends' shoulders, and away went the boat club boysaround the town, Blumpo in advance of them blowing a big fish-horn. 

"You is de boy!" said the homeless youth. "You is de best oarsman on delake!"

Harry was in the crowd, and when he told how he had outwitted Wash Crosbyevery one roared. 

The race, however, made lots of ill-feeling. The Rockpoint boys could notstand defeat, and that evening half a dozen rows started in as manydifferent places. 

Sticks and stones were freely used, and many boys went home with theirarms and heads tied up. 

Jerry became involved in one of the worst of the fights in rather apeculiar manner. He was on his way home rather late, thinking all was overand that the Rockpointers had departed, when he heard a hoarse cry forhelp from down a side street. 

He recognized the voice as that of Blumpo Brown, and at once hurried tothe spot, there to find the youth at the mercy of four of the Rockpointboys, including Wash Crosby, Si Peters, and two others named Banner andGraves. The quartet had poor Blumpo down on his back and were kicking himas hard as they could. 

"You cowards!" shouted Jerry as he rushed up, "to kick a fellow when he'sdown!"

"This is none of your affair, " shouted Si Peters. "He insulted us, and wewon't take an insult from anybody, much less an Indian coon. "

"Da jess pitched inter me!" howled Blumpo. "Sabe me!"

"Let up, I say!" went on Jerry, and, clutching Si Peters by the shoulder, he flung the big Rockpointer flat on his back several feet away. ThenJerry pitched into the others of the crowd. 

This gave Blumpo a chance to rise. He scrambled up and let out a long andloud yell for help. Luckily, some other boys were not far away. They heardthe cry and arrived on a run. 

"We must skip now!" cried Wash Crosby to Si Peters. "We'll have the wholetown on us in another minute. "

"Hang the luck!" howled Peters. "But just wait, Jerry Upton, I'll getsquare with you yet. "

He turned away with his friends, and the quartet scooted for the lake, with Jerry, Blumpo, and half a dozen others at their heels. 

Wash Crosby's launch was tied up at a dock, and into this they tumbled. The line was cut, and off they steamed, amid a perfect shower of stones, lumps of dirt, old bottles, and anything that came handy to the Lakeviewboys' reach. 

"There, I fancy that's the end of them, " said Jerry. "I thought they hadgone long ago. "

"Da laid for me!" groaned Blumpo. "Wish I dun had a hoss pistol, I wouldshoot 'em all full of holes!"

Soon the steam launch faded away in the darkness, and a little later foundJerry again on his way home. Of course his folks were proud to think hehad won the race. 

"My boy, Jerry!" was all Mrs. Upton said, but the way she said it meant agood deal. 

It was a week later that the boat club gave a reception, at which Jerrywas the lion. He was presented with the silver trophy, and made a neatlittle speech. There were refreshments and music, and altogether theaffair was the most brilliant Lakeview had seen for some time. 

Matters moved along slowly for a week after the racing and the receptionwere over. Jerry worked on the farm, and never was there a moreindustrious youth. 

In the meanwhile Harry Parker made several arrangements for the outing upthe lake, in which Jerry and Blumpo were to accompany him. 

One day Mr. Upton received a letter from Rockpoint. It was from a friend, and asked if the farmer could send him over at once a load of hay. 

"I can't go very well, " said Mr. Upton. "Supposing you take it over to Mr. Dike, Jerry?"

"I will, sir, " replied Jerry, promptly. 

The young oarsman had not been over to Rockpoint since the races, but hethought he could go over and come back without encountering trouble. 

The hay was soon loaded on the rick, and then Jerry started off for theother shore. He was compelled to drive nearly to the lower end of the laketo cross on the bridge, consequently it was well on toward the middle ofthe afternoon when Rockpoint was reached. 

He and Mr. Dike put the load in the barn, and after being paid, andpartaking of a glass of cold milk and a piece of home-made pie, Jerry, atjust six o'clock, started on the return. 

It had been a gloomy day, and, consequently, it was already growing dark, although it was midsummer. 

But Jerry knew the way well, so he did not mind the darkness. He let theteam go their own gait, and took it easy in the rick on a couple of horseblankets. 

He was in a sort of day dream, when suddenly, his team was stopped by acouple of boys, who sprang from behind a clump of trees. 

The boys wore masks over their faces, and when they spoke, they did theirbest to disguise their voices. 

Jerry sprang up in alarm. At the same time four more boys, also masked, surrounded the hay-rick. 

"What's the meaning of this?" demanded Jerry. "Let go of those horses. "

Instead of replying, the two boys continued to hold the team. The otherfour leaped into the hay-rick and fell on Jerry. Taken so suddenly, he wasat a disadvantage. Hardly could he make a move before one of the boysstruck him on the head with a club, dazing him. 

Then a rope was brought forth, and Jerry's hands were tied behind him andhe was thrown on the ground. 

The boys sent the team on their way, trusting to luck that the horseswould find their way home. 

"What are you going to do with me?" asked Jerry, when he found himselfbound and helpless. 

"You'll soon see, Jerry Upton, " came from the leader, in such a muffledvoice that our hero tried in vain to recognize the speaker. 

"Make him march!" said another. 

"All right, march!"

Into the woods the masked gang hurried Jerry. When he attempted to turnback, they hit him with their sticks and tripped him up. 

Finally, when he would go no further, four of the boys picked him up andcarried him. 

Nearly a quarter of an hour was spent in this manner, and the partyreached a little clearing. On three sides were tall trees, and on thefourth a wall of rocks. 

"This is the spot, " cried the leader. "Now tie him to a tree and get thestuff out of the cave. "

At once the young oarsman was bound to a tree on the edge of theclearing. 

Then two of the boys entered a cave between the rocks. 

Soon they came forth with a pot filled with a thick, black liquid and twobig pillows. 

At once Jerry realized what his captors meant to do. They were going totar and feather him!

CHAPTER IX. 

TAR AND FEATHERS. 

The prospect was far from pleasant to our hero. In spite of his bravery, he shivered as he saw the gang of masked boys start up a fire over whichto heat the tar. 

"So you intend to tar and feather me, " he said to the leader. 

"You've struck it, Jerry Upton. "

"All right, Si Peters, do it, and you shall go to prison, mark my words. "

Jerry had only guessed at the identity of the leader, but he had hit uponthe truth. 

"Who told you I was"--began Peters, and broke off short. "You'remistaken, " he went on in his assumed voice. 

"I am not mistaken, Si Peters. I know you, and you had best remember whatI say. "

"Oh, you're too fresh, Upton, and we're going to teach you a lesson, " putin another of the crowd. 

"A good coat of tar and feathers is just what your system needs. "

"We'll paint you up so artistically that even your own mother won't knowyou. "

"Not if I can help it, " muttered Jerry, under his breath. 

A great mass of wood had been collected, and this gave a roaring fire andalso afforded a good light for the workers. 

On each side of the fire a notched stick was driven into the ground. Athird stick was laid across the top, just beyond the flames. From thisupper stick the pot of tar was suspended by an iron chain. 

The heat soon began to tell on the tar. As it softened it could be smelleda long distance off. 

"How do you like that smell?" asked Peters of Jerry. 

"Oh, it's a good enough smell, " replied our hero, as coolly as he could. 

"Never had a dose of tar before, did you?"

"I haven't had this dose yet. "

"That's so, but you soon will have. "

"Maybe not. "

"Oh, you can't escape us. "

"Not much, he can't, " put in another, and now Jerry felt sure that thespeaker was Wash Crosby. 

"We'll talk about that later, Crosby. "

The masked boy started back and denied his identity. But it was plain tosee he was much put out. 

"I know you, Peters, Crosby, Banner and Graves, " went on Jerry. "And I'lldiscover who you other two fellows are before I leave here, too. "

"Fiddlesticks!" shouted one of the boys by the fire who was stirring thetar. 

"Is it getting soft?" asked Crosby. 

"Yes. "

"Where is the brush?"

"I've got it, " spoke up another, and he held up the stump of an oldwhitewash brush. 

"That's all right. "

At a signal from Peters the crowd of masked boys withdrew to the side ofthe fire. 

Here a long talk followed. It was so low that Jerry could not hear aword. 

Peters was making the crowd solemnly promise that they would not informupon each other, no matter what happened. 

"If we stick together, Upton can prove nothing, " he said. "He has nowitnesses. "

"Right you are, Si. "

"We want to get square, and this is the chance of our lives to do it. "

"We can give him the tar and feathers and then leave him tied up in such afashion that he can get free, but not before we have had a chance to makegood our escape and get home and to bed. "

"That's the way to fix it. "

"It will teach Lakeporters a good lesson, " put in one of the unknowns. "My! but ain't I down on every one of 'em. "

"And so am I!"

"And I!"

"And I!"

In the meanwhile the young oarsman was trying his best to work himselffree of his bonds. He felt that unless he escaped he would surely betarred and feathered. 

He tugged at the ropes around his body, and after a hard struggle hemanaged to free his left arm. 

His right arm followed, although this cost him a bad cut on the wrist, from which the blood flowed freely. 

But he gave the wound no thought, and in haste began to work at the ropeat his waist. 

Now that was loosened, only the one around his knees remained. 

He looked anxiously toward the fire. The masked boys were still in deepdiscussion, and not a single eye was directed toward the prisoner. 

Oh, for three minutes more time!

He worked with feverish haste. 

And now he was practically free!

Si Peters turned and beheld him as he took a step behind the tree, out ofthe glare of the fire. 

"He has got away, fellows!" he shouted. "After him, quick!"

A yell went up, and the crowd rushed forward. 

"He mustn't escape us!"

"We worked too hard to capture him!"

"See, he is limping! The rope is still fastened to one of his legs!"

Like a pack of wolves after a rabbit they came after Jerry. 

Our hero did his best to outdistance them, and he would have succeeded hadit not been for the rope around one knee, which caught in a tree root andthrew him down flat on his face. In another moment the crowd was on top ofhim. 

They showed him no mercy. Si Peters was particularly brutal and kickedJerry heavily in the side half a dozen times. 

"I'll teach you to crawl away, you sneak!" he cried. "You can't fool us inthis fashion. "

The kicks stunned Jerry and deprived him of his wind. He fought as best hecould, but he was no match for six strong boys. 

Again he was overpowered. Then the gang dragged him to the side of theroaring camp fire and threw off their masks. 

"Now we'll strip him, " said Wash Crosby. "The tar is all ready and so arethe feathers. "

Jerry's struggles availed him nothing. His coat and vest were literallyripped from his body, and his shirt followed. 

"Give me the brush. I want to give him the first dose, " sang out SiPeters. 

The old whitewash brush was handed to the leader. Si dipped it deeply intothe pot of hot tar, and approached the young oarsman. 

"Now, Jerry Upton, we'll tar and feather you in spite of your threats, " hesaid. 

CHAPTER X. 

WHAT TOWSER DID. 

"Well, by creation! what does this mean?"

The speaker was Mr. Upton, Jerry's father. He was gazing at the hay-rick, which was coming down the road to the barn at a lively gait. 

As the boys who had captured Jerry had thought, the horses had found theirway home alone. 

Anxiously, Mr. Upton looked around for Jerry, and then he stopped the teamand put them up in the barn. 

Running into the house he told his wife of the state of affairs. InstantlyMrs. Upton grew alarmed. 

"Perhaps they ran away and threw Jerry out!" she cried. 

"It ain't likely they could get away with Jerry, " replied Mr. Upton. "ButI allow it is curious. "

A half hour went by, and the farmer determined to start on a hunt for hisson. He went off on horseback, and took with him Towser, the farm dog. 

Towser was an old and faithful animal, a prime favorite with Jerry, and hetrotted along beside the horse as if he knew something was wrong. 

"We want to find Jerry, Towser, " said Mr. Upton. "Jerry, Towser, Jerry!"

And the dog wagged his tail as if to say that he understood perfectly. 

It was now quite dark. The farmer had brought along a lantern, and this helit and swung around first on one side of the road and then on the other. As he journeyed along he remembered Jerry's troubles with the Rockpointboys. 

"Maybe he has had another fight, " he thought. "It was foolish to let himgo over there. "

Inside of an hour the other side of the lake was reached, and they struckthe lonely road leading into Rockpoint. 

As the farmer went on he became more and more sober in mind. He seemed tofeel in his mind that something was wrong. 

Towser let out a mournful howl. 

"Jerry, Towser, Jerry!"

Again the dog howled. Then he came to an unexpected halt and althoughFarmer Upton went on, the dog refused to budge. 

"What is it, Towser?"

For reply the dog started into the bushes, and this at first made the oldfarmer angry, for he did not understand the dog. 

"Come, Towser!" he cried. "We are not after game just now!"

But the dog would not come. He wanted to enter the brush. 

At last Mr. Upton went to catch him by the collar, but just as he did sothe dog gave a short bark and picked up something from among the bushes. 

"Hullo!"

No wonder the old farmer was surprised. The article Towser had discoveredwas a sling-shot Jerry often carried with him. 

"Must have come in here, " mused Farmer Upton. 

Then of a sudden he began to examine the ground. It was soft in spots andplainly showed the footmarks of Jerry and the Si Peters' crowd. 

"He's in trouble!" said the old farmer to himself. "Maybe some tramps havecarried him off and robbed him. "

Urging on the faithful dog, Mr. Upton hurried along the path through thewoods, leaving the horse tied to a tree. 

It was an uneven way, and he stumbled many times. But he did not mind--hisone thought was to reach his son and find out the boy's condition. 

Towser ran ahead, howling dismally at every few yards. But the faithfuldog did not lose the scent. 

Presently, through the bushes, Farmer Upton caught sight of a distantcampfire. 

"Hist!" he called to Towser. "Go slow, now! Down!"

And the dog obeyed and howled no longer. 

A hundred yards more were passed, when a loud cry rent the air. 

"Help! help!"

It was Jerry's voice. Si Peters was in the act of applying the firstbrushful of tar to his back. Utterly helpless, there was nothing left forJerry to do but to use his lungs. 

"Shut up!" cried Si Peters. "Yell again and I'll hit you in the mouth withthe tar. "

"You are an overgrown coward!" retorted Jerry. "Give me a fair show, andI'll knock you out in short order. "

And again he called for help. 

In a rage, Si Peters started to plaster Jerry's mouth with the hot tar. But ere the brush could descend, Mr. Upton and Towser burst upon thescene. 

"Stop, you young scamps!" roared the old farmer. "At 'em, Towser! Chew 'emup!"

Startled at the unexpected interruption, the rowdies fell back. ThenTowser leaped forward and caught Si Peters by his trowsers. 

"Save me!" yelled Si, in terror. "The dog is going to chew me up!"

"Good, Towser!" returned Jerry. "Hold him fast!"

And Towser did as bidden. 

In the meantime Mr. Upton ran after the boys who had been holding Jerry. He caught two of them, and before they knew it, knocked their headstogether so forcibly that they saw stars. 

Jerry, delighted at the unexpected turn of affairs, turned upon WashCrosby. Si Peters had dropped the tar brush, and this Jerry secured. 

Bang! whack! Crosby received a blow over the head, and one in the ear, which left a big black streak of tar. 

"Oh, don't! please don't!" he screamed. "Let up, Jerry! It was only ajoke! We weren't really going to tar and feather you!"

Then the fellow ran for his very life. 

During this time Si Peters was trying his best to get away from Towser, who held on with a deathlike grip. 

Around and around the campfire the two circled, until Jerry came up. 

The youth called off the dog and went at Si in about the same manner as hehad treated Wash Crosby. 

Si wanted to run for it, and in his hurry rushed through the fire, knocking over the kettle of tar. 

The sticky mess emptied itself over his clothing. Then the young oarsmantripped him up, and over he rolled among the loose feathers. 

"Now you can see how you like it!" cried Jerry. 

And growling and panting for breath, Si Peters ran away after the others. 

The Rockpoint rowdies were thoroughly demoralized. 

CHAPTER XI. 

OFF FOR HERMIT ISLAND. 

It took Jerry and his father some little time to get back their breathsufficiently to leave the woods and make their way to the road. 

"You came in the nick of time, father, " said the lad. "In another fiveminutes I would have been tarred and feathered. "

"Tell me about the whole affair, son, " said the old farmer; and Jerry didso. 

"The good-for-nothing rascals!" cried the old farmer. "If they touch youagain I'll have 'em all up before the squire. "

"That won't help us, father, " replied Jerry. "They are rich, you know. They would get off somehow. "

"Then I'll take it out of their hides. "

Mr. Upton told how Towser had led the way into the woods. Jerry had alwaysloved the farm dog, but now he thought more of him than ever. 

"Good boy, " he said. "You shall go with us when we take our outing--thatis, if father will let you go. "

"Yes, Jerry, take him along. He may help you out of some more trouble, "replied Mr. Upton. 

It was rather late when they arrived home. Mrs. Upton was shocked to learnof what had occurred, but glad to learn that Jerry had escaped hisenemies. 

The next day the young oarsman told Harry Parker and the other boys of hisadventure. Harry was very indignant. 

"Those Rockpoint boys ought to be driven out of the state. "

"I dun racken I'll carry my hoss pistol after dis, " said Blumpo. "Da don'tcotch dis chile for to tar and feather him!"

A week later Jerry, Harry, and Blumpo started up the lake on a ten days'outing. 

They were in Harry's largest row-boat, the one that had a sail, andcarried with them a tent and a good stock of ammunition. Jerry and Harrywere armed with guns, and Blumpo carried his "hoss pistol" and a rustyspear. 

They were bound for Hermit Island, a wild but beautiful patch of landsituated almost at the end of Otasco Lake. The island was so calledbecause it was said by some that the place was inhabited by an old hermitwho lived in a cave and never showed himself to visitors. 

Some did not believe this story, for try as hard as they could, they hadnever been able to locate the strange creature, who was said to have awhite beard to his waist, and white hair equally long. 

The day that the trio started away was a fine one, and the boys were inexcellent spirits. 

"I trust we have no more squalls, " remarked Harry, as they glided along, the sail set and the oars out. 

"No storm to-day, " returned Jerry. "We are going to have at least three orfour days of fine weather. "

"Say, I wondah if I could shoot a bar wid dis yere gun, " put in Blumpo, ashe held up his pistol. 

"You might if you threw the pistol at the bear when you pulled thetrigger, " laughed Jerry. "Sure as you are born, Blumpo, that pistol willgo to pieces if you try to fire it. "

"Den I'll fire it dis way, " replied the homeless youth, and swung theweapon as if to heave it away. 

An hour passed, during which the boys laid their plans for a camp andtalked over what they would do. 

"I hope we have good hunting and fishing, " said Jerry. 

"So do I, " returned Harry. "And I likewise hope we find the hermit, ifthere really is such a creature. "

"Maybe he won't want us on his island, " put in Blumpo. "He may be an uglyfeller. "

"We'll risk it, Blumpo. "

"I ain't in fer stirrin' up no hornets' nest, " went on the homeless youth. "I jess like ter lay around an' take it easy under de trees--a-listeningto--"

"'The tumble bugs tumbling around, ' as the song says, " laughed Jerry. "Blumpo, you must get more ambition in you. Come, row up lively. It's agood long distance to the island, and we must make it before sundown. "

All three braced up, and the big boat went forward at an increased rate ofspeed. 

"Hullo!" cried Harry, presently. "Jerry, doesn't that look like Si Peters'yacht?"

And Harry pointed over to the west shore of the lake, where a craft hadjust emerged from behind a small headland. 

"It is the Peters' yacht, sure enough, " replied Jerry, after studying thecraft. 

"If she cums dis way, we'll hab lively times, " remarked Blumpo. 

"That's true, Blumpo. Come, maybe we can get away from her. "

The boys kept steadily on their course, and for a long time those on theyacht seemed to pay no attention to them. 

But after awhile the big boat put on another tack, and fifteen minuteslater it was within hailing distance. Then they saw that Si Peters andCrosby were in posession. They had with them five other Rockpoint lads, including Banner and Graves. 

"Hi, you fellows, stop rowing!" yelled Peters at the top of his voice. 

"Mind your own business, Si Peters, " retorted Harry. 

"You won't stop?"

"No. Leave us alone. "

"We want you to give up Jerry Upton. "

"Give him up?"

"Exactly. Come up alongside and let him jump on board of the yacht. "

"That's as cool as a cake of ice!" cried Jerry. "You want everything, don't you?"

"We are going to get square with you, Jerry Upton!" put in Wash Crosby. 

"Let us pull away as fast as we can, " whispered Harry. "Those chaps meantrouble. "

"Dat's de talk, " said Blumpo, who was the worst scared of the three. 

They bent to their oars, and soon moved off a hundred feet or more. 

Then Si Peters ran out to the jib of the yacht. 

"Stop!" he commanded. "Pull another yard and you'll be sorry for it. "

"We'll risk it, " replied Jerry. 

"We'll run you down!"

"You won't dare!" yelled Harry, in alarm. 

"Won't we? Just see if we won't!"

At once Si Peters gave some directions to Wash Crosby, who was at thewheel. The course of the yacht was slightly changed, and now the craft washeaded directly for the boat containing our friends. 

"Anudder smash-up, shuah as you're born!" groaned Blumpo, and he preparedto leap into the lake. 

"Stay where you are!" ordered Jerry. "I'll check their little game. "

Reaching into a locker, the young oarsman brought out his gun. Leaping onone of the seats, he pointed the weapon at Si Peters' head. 

"Sheer off!" he cried. "Sheer off, or I'll fire on you!"

CHAPTER XII. 

AN ATTACK IN THE DARK. 

Si Peters was nearly dumfounded at the unexpected turn affairs had taken. The bully at once gave the necessary directions, and the yacht passed towindward of the other boat. 

"A good idea, Jerry!" exclaimed Harry. "That will make them steer clear ofus for good, I reckon. "

"If they haven't got guns of their own, Harry. "

The boys on the yacht were evidently much crestfallen. They had hoped toget Jerry in their power, but that plan was defeated. They dropped behindseveral hiding places, and again headed for the big row-boat. 

But once more Jerry outwitted them. Calling to Blumpo to steady thetemporary mast, he climbed to the top, his gun slung over his shoulder. 

From this elevated point he was able to sweep the yacht's deck from stemto stern. 

"Now turn about, or I'll fire on you, as sure as fate!" he ordered. 

"You think you are smart, don't you, " sneered Wash Crosby. 

"I'm too smart for your crowd, " retorted Jerry. 

"We can fire as well as you, " put in Graves. 

"If you had a gun, which you haven't, " retorted Jerry. 

The boys on the yacht growled among themselves, but could do nothing. WashCrosby tried to throw a piece of iron on the row-boat, but it fell short. Then Harry retaliated by shooting through the yacht's main-sail. 

Seeing the boys on the big row-boat meant business, Si Peters and hiscrowd withdrew from the encounter. 

As soon as they were gone, Jerry came down from his perch, and off theystarted once more for the island. 

The yacht sailed so far off they thought they were no longer observed. 

But in this they were mistaken for Si Peters had a field glass with him. 

This glass was now brought into play, and Peters' crowd kept track ofJerry and the others until the vicinity of Hermit Island was reached. 

"Going to camp there, " said Wash Crosby. 

"It ought to give us a fine chance to get square, " replied Si Peters, andthe crowd began to plot against our hero and his friends. 

But in the meantime the big row-boat disappeared behind the bushes whichfringed a narrow inlet, and, try their best, those on the yacht could notlocate it again. 

"Never mind, we'll come up some other day, " said Si Peters. "It's gettingtoo late to do anything now. "

And the yacht returned to Rockpoint. 

It was Harry who selected a landing place on Hermit's Island. He found asmooth, sandy beach, and here the row-boat was drawn up well out of thewater. 

Back of the beach was a little clearing. On one side were tall rocks, andon the other the woods. 

"As good a place as any to pitch the tent, " said Jerry. "Come, Blumpo, stir yourself. "

The tent was brought out and put up, and a camp fire was lit. While Blumpogathered brush to put into the tent to sleep on, Jerry and Harry triedtheir hands at fishing. 

Soon Harry had a bite, and brought in a perch weighing a little over ahalf a pound. 

"Good for you, Harry, you take first prize!" cried Jerry. 

Hardly had he spoken when he felt a jerk. There was a lively struggle forfully a minute, and then Jerry landed his catch--a rock bass, all of apound in weight. 

"Second, but best, " laughed Harry. "I guess that is all we want forto-night. "

The pan was over the fire getting hot. Blumpo cleaned the fish and putthem on. In the meantime, Jerry made a pot of coffee. 

Never had a meal tasted better to the boys. They lingered over the scrapsfor a long while, talking over the events of the day. Blumpo also gavethem a song. It was a happy time. 

"Somebody ought to stand guard all night, I suppose, " said Jerry, when itcame time to turn in. 

"Oh, nonsense!" cried Harry. "Who is going to hurt us in this out of theway spot?"

"We don't know what may be around. "

"I'se too tired to watch, " put in Blumpo. 

"Never knew the time you weren't tired, " laughed Jerry. "But let it go, ifyou wish. "

Quarter of an hour later all of the boys had turned in. Blumpo picked outa corner of the tent nearest the rear. Harry slept in the middle, whileJerry took up a place not far from the front flaps. 

As it was rather warm, they left one of the flaps open to admit the air. Jerry lay in such a position that he could look out on the smolderingcampfire. 

Jerry was as tired as the rest, and it did not take him long to drop offinto a sound sleep. 

How long he slept he did not know. A low noise outside aroused him. Heopened his eyes with a start, wondering what it was. 

Then came another growl or grunt, he could not tell which. He sat up andlooked outside. 

A sight met his gaze that nearly caused his heart to stop beating. Thecamp fire was almost out, but beyond its fitful glare he beheld a pair oflarge eyes bent directly upon the tent opening. 

The eyes belonged to some savage beast which was about to attack thecamp. 

CHAPTER XIII. 

JERRY'S SHOT. 

Jerry realized that he and his friends were in great peril. What thesavage beast outside was he could not tell, but it looked large andpowerful in the gloom beyond the camp fire. 

There was no time to lose if anything was to be done. 

Luckily, before lying down, the young oarsman had loaded his gun and hungit up on the front pole of the tent, within easy reach. 

Sitting up, he now took the weapon and pulled back the trigger. 

The click reached the ears of the animal outside, and once again it letout that peculiar sound, neither grunt nor growl. 

Then Jerry put the gun to his shoulder, and, taking aim at one of theshining eyes, fired. 

Bang!

The report of the firearm caused Harry and Blumpo to spring up in wildalarm. 

"What's the matter?"

"Heaben sabe us!" moaned Blumpo. 

"A wild animal outside, " cried Jerry. "Get your gun, quick!"

Harry leaped for his weapon. 

"What is it?"

"I can't make out. "

Reloading as rapidly as he could, our hero dashed into the open. A howl ofpain told he had hit his mark. The beast had turned and was crashingthrough the brush close to the rocks. 

"Let us find out what it was!" cried Harry. 

"Doan go!" moaned Blumpo. "You will git chewed up!"

And then he dove back into the tent for his "hoss" pistol and his rustyspear. 

Catching up a blazing brand, Jerry threw it into the brush. By the lightthey saw the creature crouching on a rock. 

Bang! bang!

The two guns spoke simultaneously. Harry hit the beast in the shoulder. Jerry's shot was more effective for it struck in the neck, and with asnarl the creature leaped into the air and fell--dead. 

"You've settled him!" cried Harry. "Come on and inspect him. "

"Wait and load your gun first, " cautioned our hero. "He may have somefight in him still. "

The weapons were put in order, and then, with firebrands to light the way, they moved forward to inspect their victim. 

It was a large and heavy boar. 

"A wild hog!" shouted Jerry. "My, what a big fellow he is!"

"I thought it was a bear, " said Harry. He was somewhat disappointed. 

"He was savage enough, at all events, " replied Jerry. "These wild hogs putup a terrible fight, father says. "

"Oh, I know that. Wasn't Dick Harben's uncle killed by one? Well, he'sdead enough and we have meat to last a month. "

"Pretty strong eating, " smiled Jerry. 

They called Blumpo. The homeless youth was delighted over the deadanimal. 

"'Ham's de best ob meat, '" he sang. "I'll soon fix him up, see if Idon't. "

The boys were glad that it was getting toward morning, for the excitementhad taken all the sleep out of them. They replenished the fire, and sataround waiting for daybreak. 

As soon as the sun rose, Blumpo prepared breakfast, while Jerry and Harrytook a plunge into the lake. It was great sport, and they remained in thewater until Blumpo called them. 

That day the boys tramped nearly two miles around the island. They tooktheir guns with them and came back with their game bags full of birds. Returning, they were thoroughly tired out, but nevertheless resolved toset a watch. 

"Four hours each, " said Harry, and this was agreed to. 

But nothing happened to disturb them, and on the following night the watchwas abandoned. 

The boys put in nearly a week in hunting, fishing, swimming, and lyingaround, and they enjoyed every minute of the time. 

Nothing had been seen or heard of the hermit who was supposed to inhabitthe island, and they began to think that no such person existed. 

Neither had they heard anything more of Si Peters and his crowd, and theyfancied they were safe from molestation. 

Sunday passed quietly, and on Monday morning Jerry proposed they takealong a game bag full of provisions and climb to the top of the rocky hillin the centre of the island. 

"We must go to the very top before we leave, " he said. 

The game bag was filled with eatables, and cups, plates, etc. , and thenthey tied up the tent flaps and drew the boat still higher up out of thewater. 

The first quarter of a mile of the journey was easy enough, but after thatthey struck the rocks, and climbing became more and more difficult withevery step. 

"Phew! but dis am work!" puffed Blumpo. "Dis boy's most tucked out!"

"We'll take a good long rest at noon, Blumpo, " said Harry. 

Up and up they went until Jerry, who was in advance, came to a suddenhalt. A deep split in the rocks barred his further progress. 

"Will we have to go back?" asked Harry, anxiously. 

"It looks like it. "

"Can't we leap over?"

"We might try. I can, if you are willing to follow. "

"I kin jump dat easy enough, " put in Blumpo. 

Jerry stepped back, and running a few feet, made the leap in safety. Harryfollowed, and then both boys waited for Blumpo Brown to join them. 

The homeless youth measured the distance with his eye and came on like asteam engine. 

But just before he reached the edge of the split he slipped and wentheadlong. Unable to stop himself, he crashed down into the opening headfirst. 

In going over the rocks he twisted himself partly around. 

With one hand he caught hold of a frail bush growing among the rocks. 

His left foot caught in a crevice, and there he hung, unable to helphimself, and with death staring him in the face!

CHAPTER XIV. 

THE HERMIT OF THE ISLAND. 

"He'll be killed!" yelled Harry. 

His face was deadly white. 

"Help me!" came faintly from Blumpo. 

Before the others could realize it, Jerry had leaped back to the otherside of the opening. Catching hold of a jutting rock with one hand, hegrasped Blumpo's wrist with the other. 

"Now let go below and I'll haul you up, Blumpo, " he said. 

The frightened youth did as requested, and slowly but surely Jerry draggedhim up to a safe spot. 

"Good for you, Jerry!" shouted Harry. 

"By golly! but dat was a close call!" shuddered the homeless youth. 

Then, with tears in his big, honest eyes, he wrung our hero's hand. 

"You dun sabed my life, Jerry!" he declared solemnly. "I won't forgit dat, neber!"

The nervous boy was averse to attempting a second jump, and so the partywalked along the opening until a much narrower spot was reached. 

Once over, the upward climb was again begun. By noon they reckoned thatthey were within half a mile of the top. But all were exhausted, and gladenough to rest and take a bite to eat. 

A fine spring was found, and here they washed up and quenched their thirstbefore resuming the journey. 

They found a large quantity of huckleberries growing on the hillside, andthese made very acceptable eating. 

"A fellow could put in a month here, " remarked Jerry. "But, heigho! thevacation will soon be ended, and then for school again. "

The rest over, they went up and up again. 

"Beat you to the summit!" cried Jerry, and started up the last stretch ona rush. Harry followed, and Blumpo was not far behind. 

What a splendid panorama was spread before them! They could see clear toeither end of the lake and off to the hills east and west. 

"I see the church steeple!" cried Jerry. 

"Look! look!" exclaimed Harry, suddenly. 

He pointed down the lake to where a yacht was bowling along before thebreeze. 

"Si Peters' boat!"

"I wonder if Peters knows we are still on the island?" mused Jerry. 

"I reckon he does. "

"It's a wonder he and his crowd never came up to make more trouble forus. "

"Perhaps he dun got scared at dis hoss pistol ob mine, " put in Blumpo. 

To him that "hoss" pistol was a mighty weapon, greatly to be feared. 

A little back of the summit of rocks was a grassy plateau, and here theboys decided to camp for the night. 

"What a beautiful place for a picnic!" said Harry. 

"Rather hard to get to, though, " returned Jerry. "I wonder if there is aspring handy?"

"A spring away up heah!" exclaimed Blumpo. "Yo' expect watah to run uphill? Ha, ha!"

"Yes, Blumpo; strange as it may seem, the finest springs are found at thevery tops of mountains. Come on and look for one. "

The homeless youth showed his surprise, but he readily joined in the hunt, and so did Harry. There was a patch of brush behind the plateau, and thisthey skirted. Ere long Jerry found a tiny rivulet flowing in a well-wornhollow. 

"The head of this rill of water will bring us to the spring, " he said. 

They began to follow the watercourse. It led around half a dozen bigrocks. 

"Halt!"

All three of the boys sprang back in amazement. From whence had thatunexpected command proceeded?

"Halt, I say!"

They stopped short. 

"Who are you?" asked Jerry quickly. 

"I am the Lonely Man. Leave me!"

"The Lonely Man, " repeated Jerry. 

"Yes. Depart, my boys, at once. "

"Are you the man they call the hermit of the island?" asked Harry. 

"I presume so. Now leave me. I have not spoken to other men for years. "

"We would like to get a little water first, if you please, " said Jerry. "Surely so good an old man as you will not refuse us that. "

This way of talking evidently struck the hermit's fancy, for there was arustle of bushes, and the hermit of the island stepped into view. 

All of the boys stared at him in blank amazement. He was a reddish-blackindividual, with snow white hair and long flowing beard. 

Blumpo grew so frightened that he immediately fell on his knees. 

"De voodoo doctor, suah!" he muttered. 

Like many other ignorant people, he was very superstitious and believed incharms and voodooism. 

"We are sorry to have disturbed you in your lonely retreat, " began Harry. "But we----"

"Say no more, my boy. Get the water you need and depart. "

"We will. "

Harry and Jerry turned toward the spring and quietly filled up the big tincan they had brought along. 

The old hermit watched them curiously. 

"You look like good boys, " he said. "I want to ask a favor of you. "

"What?" asked both boys in a breath. 

"I wish to end my days here undisturbed. Will you promise not to reveal mydwelling place to your friends?"

"I am willing to say nothing, " said Jerry, promptly. 

"So am I, " returned Harry. 

The old man looked much relieved. 

"And how is it with you?" he went on, turning and walking to where Blumpohad his head bent low on the ground. 

"Please, sah, don't charm me, sah! don't cast no spell ober me!" howledBlumpo. "I ain't dun nuffin' 'deed I ain't. I'se de best boy in Lakeview!Ain't I, Harry? Ain't dat de truf, Jerry?"

"I will not harm you, so do not be afraid, " said the hermit with a faintsmile on his reddish-black face. 

"I won't tell a t'ing! not a word, sah, hope ter die if I do!" went onBlumpo, still keeping his face down. 

He was afraid that if he looked at the hermit he would be bewitched. 

"Blumpo, get up!" said Harry, sharply. "Don't make a fool of yourself. This gentleman is not going to hurt you. Stand up and be a man. "

Thus spoken to, the homeless boy arose slowly to his feet. His knees werestill trembling, and he needed but little incentive to take to his heels. 

"I have not seen a colored or an Indian boy in years, " went on the oldhermit. "If you are an honest boy let me take your hand. "

He advanced, and with his knees knocking together Blumpo put out his handand looked the old man in the face. 

The next instant the hermit gave a leap back in profound astonishment. 

"Abraham! As sure as the sun shines! And I thought he was dead!"

CHAPTER XV. 

THE HERMIT'S SECRET. 

All three of the boys were much mystified by the old hermit's words. 

"He must be a little off in his head, " thought Harry. 

"Who is Abraham?" asked Jerry. 

"This is Abraham!" cried the hermit. "Are you not Abraham?" he went on toBlumpo. 

"I reckon not, sah. I'se jess plain Blumpo Brown. "

"Blumpo Brown! Ha! how well I remember that name! You are indeed Abraham, and I am your father!"

And the hermit caught Blumpo in his arms. It is needless to say the youthwas frightened and bewildered. 

"Come to my cave and I will tell you all, " went on the hermit, and hedragged Blumpo along. 

Jerry and Harry willingly followed. They found that the old man had quitea comfortable place among the rocks. It was elaborately furnished, showingthat the hermit was well-to-do. 

They all took seats on some skins thrown over rude couches. The hermitmade Blumpo sit close to him. 

"My name is Daniel Brown, " he began. "And you, Blumpo, are my only son. Your full name is Blum-pou-la-hau, --the Indian forboy-of-the-laughing-face, --for, you know, you have much Indian blood inyour veins. "

"Dat's what folks said I had, " said Blumpo. 

"I thought you were dead--that you had been drowned. It was this drove meto make a hermit of myself. "

Then the old hermit went into many particulars, to which all listened withgreat interest. 

Blumpo could scarcely believe his ears. His face began to expand, and asmile broke out on it, the like of which had never before been seen. Hewas a homeless waif no longer. He had found a father. 

Jerry and Harry talked to the old hermit for an hour and more. They foundhim peculiar in his ideas, but with a warm heart. 

Before they retired for the night Daniel Brown came to the conclusion togive up his dwelling on the top of the mountain. 

He said he would build a cabin down by the lakeside and there he andBlumpo could live like ordinary people. 

"I have several thousand dollars saved up, " he said, "so we will not wantfor anything. I will buy a boat, and Blumpo can make a living by lettingher out to pleasure parties. "

"Dat will suit me exactly, " cried Blumpo. 

"But you must also go to school in the winter, " went on Daniel Brown. "Andyou must drop that dialect, and not say dat for that. "

"Golly! but won't I be eddicate!" murmured Blumpo. "Say, Pop maybe I kinhab--I mean have--a new suit, eh?"

"Two of them, Abraham, " said the hermit; and then all hands laughed. 

It was well for the boys that they were housed in the hermit's dwelling, for that night a terrible thunder storm came up. The wind howled andshrieked around the mountain top, and continued until dawn. 

"If we had been on the plateau we would have been blown off into thelake, " said Harry, at breakfast. 

By nine o'clock it cleared off and at twelve the mountain was as dry asever. They packed up, and, accompanied by the hermit, set off, for the oldcamp. 

Daniel Brown knew every inch of the mountain and under his guidance theyreached the bottom much quicker than they would otherwise have done. 

As they were trailing through the woods toward the camp, Harry suddenlyput up his hand. 

"Listen! Don't you hear some persons talking?" he asked. 

"Where can it be?" asked Jerry. 

"Down by the camp, " said Blumpo. 

"Si Peters' crowd, I'll bet a new hat!" cried Jerry. "Come on, all ofyou!"

The young oarsman broke into a run, and Harry and Blumpo came after, withthe hermit lagging on behind. A turn in the brush brought them in sight ofthe camp. 

There were Si Peters, Wash Crosby, and four others in the act of shovingHarry's craft into the water. 

"They intended to run off with our boat!" yelled Jerry. "Stop, there, youthieves!"

"Stop, or we'll fire on you!" added Harry. 

The Peters crowd were surprised and alarmed. They hesitated for a moment. 

"Go ahead, don't mind them!" howled Si Peters. "Quick, fellows, shove outto the yacht!"

Before Jerry and the others could reach the spot the big row-boat wasafloat. The Peters' crowd leaped on board and quickly shipped the oars. 

"Stop, or we'll fire on you!" sang out Harry again. 

"Fire and be blowed!" howled Wash Crosby. 

Bang! went Harry's gun, and the shot rattled all around the row-boat. 

But now a turn of a headland took the craft out of range. 

"Follow me!" said Jerry, as he leaped across the camp to where they couldagain catch sight of the craft. 

Over the rock and through the brush they stumbled, a distance of twohundred feet. Then the shore of the lake was again reached. 

But, alas! before they could do anything the Peters crowd was entirely outof range. They saw the big row-boat taken over to where the yacht lay atanchor. Harry's craft was tied fast to the stern and the Rockpointersclambered aboard their own vessel. 

"Good-bye and good luck to you!" cried Si Peters, mockingly. "Hope youfellows enjoy playing Robinson Crusoe. We'll come back for you some timenext year. "

And then the yacht sailed away, leaving those on the island to theirfate. 

CHAPTER XVI. 

AN EXCITING CHASE. 

For the moment the boys did not know what to do. Si Peters and his crowdhad run off with their row-boat, and how to get to the mainland was aserious question. 

To swim the distance would be a dangerous undertaking, and there was notelling how long it would be before another craft should come along totake them off. 

But the hermit solved the problem. 

"If you want to follow those boys you can take my boat, " he said. 

"Have you a boat?" asked Jerry, quickly. 

"Certainly, although I use it but sparingly, and then only at night. "

The hermit led the way to the lower end of the island. Here in awater-cave rested a long, round-bottomed row boat, containing two pairs ofoars. 

"Just the thing!" cried Jerry. "Come on, Harry!"

He and his chum leaped in. Blumpo looked at his newly found father. 

"I will go along if you wish, " said the hermit. 

In five seconds more all four were in the boat, which was then shoved outinto the lake. 

With Jerry and Harry at the oars, they made good progress in the directionof Si Peters' yacht. 

All were armed, and Blumpo occupied the time in seeing that every weaponwas ready for use. 

"The wind is dying out, " said Harry. "That is in our favor. "

"They have not more than half a mile start, " rejoined Jerry. "We ought tocatch up in half an hour. "

It was evident that those on the yacht did not anticipate pursuit, for itwas not until the distance between the two craft had been considerablylessened that they showed signs of alarm. 

"They see us!" cried Blumpo. "Shall I give 'em a shot?"

"No; wait, " replied Jerry. 

The wind had now gone down almost entirely, and the yacht's sails wereflapping idly. 

Si Peters and Wash Crosby were evidently alarmed at the turn affairs hadtaken, and they called their chums around them for consultation. 

"We can't do anything while the wind is down, " said Crosby. 

"Let's get out and row, " suggested Graves, who was one of the number. 

"Can we tow the yacht?"

"We can try. "

This was decided on, and all of the crowd leaped into Harry's boat. Theybrought the craft around to the yacht's bow, and then every one took anoar. 

"See, they are hauling off the yacht!" cried Harry. "They mean to get awaysomehow. "

"We'll race them, " replied Jerry. 

They bent to their oars and made the old hermit's boat fairly fly throughthe water. Slowly they crept nearer and nearer. It was an exciting chase. 

"Take my place, Blumpo!" cried Jerry, at last, and the boy willinglyobeyed. 

Jerry leaped into the bow, and taking up his gun pointed it at Si Peters'head. 

"Si Peters!" he called-out, "do you see this gun? Unless you stop rowingI'll fire at you, no matter what the consequences are. "

Si Peters turned deadly white, for he was in reality a big coward. 

"Do you hear me?" went on Jerry. "One--two--th----"

"Stop! don't shoot!" yelled the Rockpoint bully, and he held up his oar. 

"Now, Wash Crosby, you stop rowing, too!" went on Jerry. 

"Think you are boss, eh?" sneered Crosby. 

"I am. Up with the oar!"

Crosby hesitated, and then his oar went up beside Si's. The others becamebadly frightened and also stopped rowing. In a moment more the hermit'scraft was beside the big row-boat. 

The Rockpointers gazed at the white-haired man in astonishment. Theywanted to know who he was, but just then had other matters to attend to. 

"You think you own the earth when you have a gun!" howled Si Peters toJerry. 

"We're on top, that is certain, " responded our hero. "Say, Harry, supposing we get on the yacht and make them row us back to the island?"

"Not much!" growled Wash Crosby. 

"Just the thing!" cried Harry. 

Still keeping the Peters' crowd under guard, Jerry and his friends boardedthe yacht. 

Then, much against their will, they made the others turn about and dragthem back to where they had started from, towing the hermit's craftbehind. 

Peters and Crosby were in a perfect rage, but could do nothing, as Jerrypretended to be very savage and itching to shoot them. 

The island reached, Jerry made the Peters' crowd beach the boat and cleanher. 

"Now take your yacht and begone!" he commanded, and the crowd hurried offin double-quick order. As the yacht drifted away the hermit laughedheartily. 

"Cleverly done!" he said. "Jerry Upton, you are a smart lad. "

The boys spent one more day on the island and then left for home. Thehermit went along, and created some surprise when he appeared on thestreets of Lakeview with Blumpo, his son. 

All the boys were glad that the homeless youth had found a father, whowould endeavor to make something out of the good-natured and honest lad. 

There was also a surprise for our hero and Harry. 

Si Peters and his gang had been arrested for burning down a barn belongingto Harry's father. 

The Rockpoint lads tried to beg off, but the authorities took the matterin hand, and every one of them was sent to the reformatory. 

This ended the rivalry for the time being between Lakeview and Rockpointand, as a consequence, the autumn and winter which followed werecomparatively quiet. But stirring events were on the way, as the chapterswhich follow will testify. 

CHAPTER XVII. 

HARRY'S NEW YACHT. 

"Luff up a bit, Harry!"

"All right, Jerry. Do you think we will make that point?"

"If the wind holds out. We are behind the rocks now, and that cuts most ofthe breeze off. "

"Blumpo, coil up some of that rope, will you?"

"To be suah, " returned the youth addressed. 

The scene was the deck of a handsome yacht named the Whistler. She was asclean cut as a craft could be, and carried a spread of snowy white sailswhich would have gladdened the heart of any sea-dog to behold. 

Three boys and an old man were sailing this craft. The three boys wereJerry, Harry and Blumpo. The man was Jack Broxton, the boathouse keeper. 

The yacht was a new one, recently purchased by Harry Parker's father forthe use of his son and Jerry. 

"Do you remember what a row we had up around this island last summer withSi Peters, Wash Crosby and the rest of the Rockpoint crowd?" mused Jerry, as the yacht swung around the north point of Hermit Island, that spotwhere Blumpo had so strangely found his father. 

"Don't I, though!" cried Harry. "I wonder if they are out of thereformatory yet for setting fire to the barn?"

"I heard da was, " put in Blumpo, who now attended school regularly. "SiPeters got out las' month, an' Wash Crosby got out six weeks ago. "

"Well, I hope they turn out better boys now, " said Harry, seriously. "Idon't see why they want to get into such trouble. A fellow can have lotsof sport without doing wrong. "

"By the way, Harry, the great yacht race comes off in Long Lake in a fewweeks, " said Jerry. "Why can't we take our yacht down through the riverand be on deck to see it?"

"By golly, dat would be most splendiferous!" yelled Blumpo. "De best t'ingI've dun heard of dis Summah!"

"I've thought of it, " returned Harry. He turned to the old tar. "Jack, could we take the Whistler down through Poplar River to Long Lake?"

"I reckon we could, " was the slow answer, as Jack Broxton rolled his quidfrom one cheek to the other. "The water is running putty high now. "

"It would be a fine trip in itself, " went on Jerry. "I've never saileddown the Poplar beyond Carlville. "

"Nor I, " returned Harry. "But never mind that just now. Here we are at thelanding. "

"An' heah am my father's house, " said Blumpo. 

The former hermit, now, however, a hermit no longer, came out to greet hisson. In the meantime all hands lowered sail and tied up. 

It was a beautiful day, and the young oarsman and Harry had come over tothe island to see what they could shoot. They left Jack in charge of theyacht and Blumpo with his father, and started off with guns and game bagsfor the interior. 

"There can't be much game at this season of the year, " said Harry. "But wemay have a little sport, and tramping in the woods does a fellow lots ofgood. "

"Indeed I know that, " was the quick response. "Hullo, here's a nasty bitof bog to cross. "

"We'll go around by yonder big tree. "

The two boys went on in a semi-circle. When the big tree mentioned wasreached Jerry stepped on what he supposed was one of the twisted roots. 

A second later he let out a yell which was heard down to the landing. 

He sprang back so suddenly that he bumped into Harry, who was closebehind, and both rolled over in the wet grass. 

Ere they could rise they heard an angry hiss, and a snake darted from thetree and settled directly upon Jerry's body!

For a moment Jerry was too paralyzed with fear to move or speak. Then ashe recovered he threw off the snake and rolled away, over Harry and closeto the boggy spot. Harry also turned away, but came up against a heavymass of brush. 

The snake hissed angrily. The pressure of Jerry's foot on its head hadjust been sufficient to arouse its anger. It meant to strike if it could. 

"Hit it with your gun!" shouted Harry. 

"You hit it!" cried our hero. "Oh!"

The snake was again coming on, its long, green body quivering in the spotsof sunlight which shot under the trees. There was no doubt but what itintended to fight the intruders. More than likely it had a nest of youngnear. 

Bang!

The shot was a square one, and when the smoke from the gun cleared away itwas found that the reptile's head was completely severed from the body, which latter continued to twist about until it fell into the water of thebog hole. Jerry kicked the head in after it, out of sight. 

"Let us get out of here, " he said, with a shudder. "Who knows but what wehave dropped into a regular nest of snakes. "

That he was right in his surmise was soon evident, for low hissings couldbe heard on several sides. Without delay they sprang across the bog swampand took to the higher ground, where they could see every foot of the waybefore them. 

"I've had snakes enough to last me the rest of the summer, " soliloquizedJerry. "I hate them worse than anything else in the world. Look!"

He pointed on ahead, to where there was a tree almost loaded with gamebirds. At a sign from Jerry both raised their guns and fired. 

There was a flutter and a whirr, and then came a number of shrill criesfrom the birds which were wounded. These the boys at once proceeded to putout of their misery. 

"Four birds, " said Harry, as he counted the lot. "That wasn't bad, eh?"

"You're right, Harry. We won't get another such shot if we tramp allday. "

"I move we get back to the yacht. We have come a good distance, and itwill be more than dinner time before we can make it. "

"I am with you. We can go out hunting again this afternoon, or try ourhand at fishing. "

With the birds in their bags, Jerry and Harry set out on the return to thelanding. 

On the way they talked over the great yacht races soon to come off, andalso of the proposed trip through the Poplar River to the large lakebeyond. 

"It will be a dandy trip, " said Jerry, and then he added, with muchspirit: "How I would like to sail on one of the yachts and help win. "

"So would I, " rejoined Harry. "It would be great sport, not to sayanything of the honor. "

When the chums arrived at the boat-landing they found Blumpo and theothers waiting for them. A camp fire was burning a short distance awayfrom the log house, and over this the birds were done to a turn by theyouth, while the others prepared some potatoes and coffee brought from theyacht. 

Blumpo's father considered it a great holiday to have his son with him forthe time being. He asked Blumpo how he was getting along with his studies, and was pleased to learn that the youth was making fairly good progress. 

After dinner it was decided to sail around to the lower end of the islandand try bass fishing, for which the lake was famous. 

"And then we'll come back here and stay all night, " said Jerry to the oldman. 

The lines were soon cast off and the main-sail and jib set, and as soon asthey caught the breeze they swung around and down the lake at a speed ofseveral knots an hour. 

"Somebody else out besides ourselves, " observed Jack Broxton, as hepointed to half a dozen sail-boats cruising around. "This year everybodyhas the yachting craze. "

"It's great sport, " returned Harry. "By the way, " he went on, pointing toa large yacht coming up the lake on a long tack. "What boat is that?"

"She is called the Arrow, I don't know who owns her, " was the oldboatkeeper's reply. 

"She is coming over this way. Let us stand out a little and see who is onboard. "

"Just as you say, sir. "

"Yes; I'm curious about that yacht, too, " put in Jerry. 

The course of the Whistler was altered several points, and they left thevicinity of the island shore. As they drew closer to the big yacht Jerryuttered a cry of astonishment. 

"By Jinks! It can't be possible!"

"What's up?" asked Harry, coming to his side. 

"There are Si Peters and Wash Crosby on the deck of that yacht. I can seethem as plain as day. "

"Our old enemies!" murmured Harry. 

"Da didn't lose no time in gittin' togedder after da got out of de'formatory, did da, " laughed Blumpo. "Da say de bad ones allers do sticklike glue. "

"Oh, maybe they'll be first-class chaps now, " said Jerry, who was willingto let the past be forgotten. 

"Don't you be too sure on that p'int, lads, " put in Jack Broxton. "It'smighty hard to make anything out of a bad egg, and Si Peters and WashCrosby are bad eggs if ever there were any. "

"Dat's so, fo' suah, " murmured Blumpo. 

"Well, we won't have any words with them, " said Jerry. "We'll let bygonesbe bygones. "

"I would like to know where they got that yacht, " said Harry. "It can't bepossible Mr. Peters bought it for Si. When Si went to the reformatory hetold father he intended to send his son to a military school and cut offhis allowance. "

"Maybe Si has promised to reform. Hullo! they are coming this way!"

Jerry sprang up in alarm, for the big yacht had suddenly veered aroundseveral points and was now coming head on toward them. 

"We'll be run down!" shrieked Blumpo, in terror. 

"The young fools!" muttered Jack Broxton. "Don't they know anything aboutsteering?"

"The big yacht is evidently one too many for them. See, there is no oneaboard but Si and Wash. Two hands are not enough for such a craft. "

Nearer and nearer the two yachts came to each other. 

Jack Broxton did his best to steer clear of the Arrow, but he was at adisadvantage. Soon the big yacht took away all the wind of the Whistlerand she lay helpless. 

"Keep off!" yelled Jerry, but the cry was unheeded. 

Bang! Crash! The Arrow struck the Whistler on the bow, the long bowspritripping a hole in the main-sail. 

Then came a smashing of woodwork and the Whistler began to sink. 

CHAPTER XVIII. 

THE ROBBERY OF THE ROCKPOINT HOTEL. 

"We are lost!"

"Heaben sabe us!"

"Cling fast for your lives!"

A dozen other cries rang out, for the force of the collision wasterrible. 

But all clung fast and no one was thrown into the water, to be struck andperhaps instantly killed. 

"What do you mean, Si Peters?" yelled Jerry. "You ran into us onpurpose!"

There was no time to reply nor to say more. After the crash the two yachtsdrifted apart, and with a somewhat damaged bowsprit the Arrow went on herway. 

As she slid by, Harry caught a glimpse of Wash Crosby holding fast to abig red valise, which had come near bounding overboard. He thought no moreof it at the time, but had good reason to remember it later. 

"What shall we do?" asked Jack Broxton. 

"We've got a neat little hole in the side. "

"Can we beach her on the island?" asked Harry. "I don't want the Whistlerto go to the bottom of the lake. "

"I reckon I can manage it. Just hold that bit of canvas over the hole. "

Harry and our hero jumped to do as bidden, while Jack Broxton and Blumpoundertook to steer the yacht toward shore. The craft was becoming sowater-logged that she acted clumsily, and they had their hands full. 

"We is gwine down, suah!" groaned Blumpo, but as he spoke the keel gratedon the sand, and a moment later she swung around hard and fast, and thedanger of sinking was past. 

While Jack and Blumpo lowered the sails, Harry and Jerry carried severallines ashore and tied them to the trees in such a fashion that the yachtcould not pound herself, even if the wind came up. 

After the sails were lowered old Jack inspected the damage done. 

"I can patch the main-sail in an hour, " he said. "But that hole at the bowwill take three, and I ought to have more tools than I've got aboard. "

"Can't we patch things up sufficiently to take her back into Lakeview?"asked Harry. 

"Maybe we can. But it would be better on account of the wind to steer forRockpoint. She couldn't stand the chop sea on the other course. "

"All right; we'll steer for Rockpoint, and take her over to Dan Mason'sboatyard. "

Blumpo ran down the shore of the island to tell his father of what hadhappened. While he was gone the others patched up the break at the bowwith some thin wood and a square of canvas, tacked on, and gave all acoating of pitch. 

Half an hour later found the Whistler bound for Rockpoint. They had tosail along with great care, for fear of breaking open the patched place. Had this occurred they would all have gone to the bottom. 

It was growing dusk when the harbor at Rockpoint was reached. At the dockthey saw that something unusual had happened. A crowd of men were gatheredabout talking earnestly, and pointing up the lake. 

"Whoever they were, they took a boat, I'm sure of that, " said one man. 

"That's so, " said another. 

"But who were they, and where did they go?" asked a third. 

"Ah, that's for the police to find out. "

Wondering what was up, Jack Broxton and the three boys brought theWhistler around to the boatyard and turned her over to Dan Mason. The oldfellow, who was a first-class man at repairing boats of all kinds, promised to have the craft in good trim by noon of the next day. 

"Did you hear the news?" he asked, after their business talk was at anend. 

"What news?" asked Jerry. 

"About the hotel being robbed. "

"Robbed!"

"Exactly. A couple of thieves got into the safe and took a box of jewelryand four hundred dollars in cash. "

"By George! dat am a loss!" ejaculated Blumpo. 

"The jewelry is said to be worth nearly one thousand dollars. "

"Have they any idea who the thieves were?"

"No, they wore handkerchiefs over their faces, with holes cut in 'em forto see. Some thinks as how they got away in one o' the boats lying upshore. "

"How did they do the job?" questioned Jerry, with much interest. 

"I didn't hear any of the particklers, boys. "

"Come on up to the hotel and find out, " said Harry. "We haven't got tohurry home this evening. "

Side by side Harry and the young oarsman walked to the Rockpoint Hotel, alarge place, now filled to overflowing with Summer boarders. 

They found every one around the resort talking over the case. PresentlyHarry heard somebody say that the stolen money and box of jewels had beenplaced by the robbers into a large red valise belonging to the proprietorof the hotel. At once he called Jerry aside. 

"I know who committed this robbery, " he said. 

"Who?"

"Si Peters and Wash Crosby. "

CHAPTER XIX. 

THE RED VALISE. 

Of course Jerry was astonished at his chum's declaration. 

"How do you know this?"

"They had that red valise. I saw it. "

"Let us make a few more inquiries before we say anything, " replied Jerry, slowly. "It's pretty bad to accuse anybody of such a crime as this. "

They asked a number of people about the robbery, but could gain noinformation which would directly implicate Si Peters and his crony. 

"We had better keep mum for the present, Harry. "

"What, and let the robbers escape?"

"Oh, I don't want that to happen. "

The two talked it over for awhile, and when they returned home they weremuch troubled. But that night word came from New York City which mystifiedthem greatly. 

A detective telegraphed he had captured two tramps who confessed to ahotel robbery on Lake Otasco. 

"That settles it, " said Harry. "We were all wrong, and I am glad we saidnothing. "

On the following day they rowed over to Rockpoint for the Whistler. Theyheard no more about the hotel robbery, and the matter almost slipped theirminds. But they were destined ere long to remember the occurrence fullwell. 

Jerry and Harry talked matters over with their parents and made plans tosail down the Poplar River to Long Lake, and go to the yacht races atonce. 

Jack Broxton was to accompany them. Unfortunately for Blumpo, his fatherwas taken sick and the youth had to remain behind to attend him. 

Bright and early the next day the trip was commenced. 

It lasted two days and three nights, and then they found themselves out onLong Lake, a large and beautiful sheet of water. 

Harry and Jerry had studied up all the newspaper reports concerning therace between the Defender, a splendid yacht from the Poplar River, and theSpray, a craft from up the lake, and they knew exactly where to go inorder to see the race to the best advantage. 

"I know the captain of the Defender well, " said Harry. "He and father areold friends. "

"Maybe he'll let you on his yacht then, " said Jerry. "My, but wouldn'tthat be jolly!"

"I won't go without you, " said Harry. 

"I would like to be on that yacht myself, " said old Jack Broxton, as theypresently came in sight of the Defender, anchored a short distance fromthe starting point of the race. 

"We'll run up and I'll hail the captain, " said Harry. 

This suited everybody, and it was done. The captain of the Defender was ondeck seeing to it that everything was in order for the race. He greetedHarry with a pleasant wave of his hand. 

"Can we come on board and take a look around?" asked Harry. 

"Yes, but you won't have time to waste, " was the captain's reply. "We'vegot to get down to the starting point soon. "

The Whistler was run up alongside, and Harry and Jerry leaped on board ofthe Defender. They shook hands with the captain, and also with Frank Lee, the captain's nephew, a bright boy of their own age. 

They were much interested in the magnificent yacht and all of herappointments, and laughed greatly when Frank Lee snatched off their capsand placed caps on them with the name of the Defender above the peaks. 

"Now you fellows belong to the crew!" cried Frank Lee. 

"All right, we'll help you beat the Spray, " returned Jerry, quickly. 

The captain overheard the remark and turned to Harry:

"Would you really like to remain on board during the race?"

"Indeed we would!" said Harry. "And we'll do duty, too, same as the restof the crew, if you'll only keep us. You know both of us understand allabout a regular yacht. "

"Well, you can stay. I am short one man, and two boys ought to more thanmake up for him. "

Perhaps Jerry and Harry were not delighted? They sent word to JackBroxton, and then made themselves familiar with the great yacht, the prideof all on board. 

Soon it was time to up anchor and make for the starting point. Jerry andHarry worked manfully at the ropes, and so did Frank Lee. No one isallowed to remain idle on a racing yacht. The least one can do is to rushto this side or that and thus make "ballast. "

"All ready!" came the word, and the signal was given to start, and theDefender and the Spray were off. 

Presently Jerry came over to the captain, who was at the wheel. 

"Can we pass the Spray?" he asked, anxiously. 

"We can try, Upton, " was the reply. "Can you take the wheel for a minute. I must have a drink of water. "

"Aye, aye, sir, " said Jerry. 

How proudly he took hold of the wheel! He was for the time being inabsolute command of the Defender. 

An extra breeze sprang up. They were sailing almost side by side with theSpray. Suddenly the Defender shot ahead. Our hero stuck to the wheel, while Harry and Frank Lee did their full share of work with the rest ofthe crew. 

The Defender was ahead, but the race was not yet over. 

CHAPTER XX. 

THE MISHAP TO THE YACHT. 

The young oarsman was not allowed to remain at the wheel long. Soon thecaptain of the Defender came up again and took charge. 

"I see we have passed the Spray, " he said. "That's a good one for you, Upton. Now we must keep ahead. "

After turning the wheel over to the captain, Jerry moved forward to whereHarry and Frank Lee were standing. 

In the meanwhile the gallant yacht was cutting the water like a razor. Thebreeze was stiff, and they were running free before it. Soon the Spray wasalmost out of sight behind them. 

"This Defender is a great boat, " said Harry. 

With the wind on the starboard quarter the Defender and the Spray reachedalong for over a mile at a six knots an hour gait. 

Then the wind fell off to almost a calm. 

"This is no good, " observed Jerry. 

"Fortunes of racing, " laughed Harry. 

"I would like to see another stiff breeze. "

"We may catch more than enough before we have finished, " put in FrankLee. 

The further on the two yachts went the lighter became the wind, and eachin turn ran into "soft" spots, when balloon top-sails hung up and downidly. 

But no matter how the wind came the Defender got along, leaving the Spraysteadily behind. 

It was a triangular course, of three miles to each side, and soon thefirst side was sailed. 

The yachts wore around the first mark flat, leaving it on the port hand. 

Baby jib top-sails had been sent down before the rounding, and spinnakerpoles were now ready for the balloon sail. 

With booms well off to port, the Defender led the way to the secondstretch. 

Sharp work was done in handling the spinnaker, for just one minute afterrounding this big balloon was set and pulling. 

This was clever work, but the Spray sailors did fully as as well, for theyhad their spinnaker on just as fast. 

"Great Caesar!" ejaculated our hero, suddenly, "Look!"

Ashore the sky grew black and ominous, foreboding a coming squall. 

The weather certainly looked bad, and it turned out worse than it looked. 

Instead of wind, rain came on, and soon all on board the yachts weresoaked. 

"What do you think of that, Jerry?" asked Harry. 

"We're going to catch it and no mistake, " replied the young oarsman. 

All hands on board saw the coming squall and looked at the captain fororders, but none came. 

The yachts, favored by a strengthening breeze, were pushed on to meet thatwhich was sure to come, and half-way over on the third stretch it came onhard and struck the Defender. 

Bang! slash! went the sails and the gallant yacht swept well over on herside. 

Again all looked to the captain, but he shook his head. 

"Reckon he wants to see what she can stand, " whispered Jerry. 

He was right. The captain, at the wheel, held the yacht up to it, and heldher true. 

On and on they went, the sky growing blacker and blacker as theyproceeded. 

Suddenly Jerry heard a crack like a pistol shot, and looking forward sawthat the standing part of the bridle to the jib had parted. The seizingpulled out and away went the sheets. 

The sail snapped and cracked loudly, and in a second more it carried awaythe club on the clew of the jib. 

"There she goes!" yelled somebody. 

Hardly had he uttered these words when the big sail split in half and hungflapping in the wind. 

It was now utterly useless to the racing yacht. 

A new sail must be set at once, but in that high wind who would bring theold sail in?

"I'll volunteer!" cried Jerry, as he sprang forward, and Harry and FrankLee came close on his heels. 

The crew hung back for a moment, and in that time Jerry reached the flyingsail. 

He caught one end just as an extra heavy puff of wind came on, and in atwinkle he was dragged half overboard. 

But now Harry and Frank Lee sprang to the rescue, and then the regularcrew came forward. All worked like beavers, and soon the torn sail wastaken off. 

Six minutes later a new sail was in place, and on went the gallantDefender as speedily as before. 

She carried herself well, and nothing was lost in that blow but the jib. 

In the meanwhile the Spray could not stand the strain and ran on behindwith all sails reefed. 

"A great yacht, " said those on the other boats. And the Defender stockwent away up. 

The captain praised Jerry for the quickness with which he had taken holdof the torn sail and steadied it. 

"A loose sail on board a racing craft is a dangerous thing, " he said, "forthere is no telling how much damage it will do. "

The squall was of short duration, not lasting over seven minutes, if aslong. It gathered strength as it worked off shore, and some of thepleasure boats received the full benefit of it. 

As the Defender got within two miles of the finishing line the breeze felloff. 

Still the gallant craft held her own. 

"The finish is in sight!" cried Jerry, presently. 

He was right. A mile more and the race would be over. 

Those on board of the Spray did their best to haul up to the Defender. 

The effort did not avail them, for the Defender gained steadily. 

At last the line was crossed. 

The Defender had won the race by a lead of over half a mile, and shereceived a rousing reception. 

Steam whistles blew their mightiest, flags waved, and the crowd on theother boats shouted themselves hoarse. 

It was a great day, and one never to be forgotten. 

"That settles it, " said Harry. "The Defender is the champion yacht of theclub. "

It was not long after this that the Whistler ran up and took Jerry andHarry on board. Old Jack Broxton had seen the race and was greatlypleased. 

The boys resolved to anchor the Whistler off the upper shore of Long Lakethat night. 

"We'll leave Jack in charge and take a trip down to Harmony Beach, "suggested Harry. 

This suited Jerry, and by half past six the two boys were on board theopen cars on their way to the great Summer resort. They enjoyed the ridevery much, especially Jerry who had never been to the beach before. Theyvisited the hotels and had supper, and then listened to a band concert. 

It was after eleven o'clock before they were ready to return to theWhistler. 

As they were making their way back to the cars Jerry caught Harry by thearm. 

"Look! Look!"

Harry looked, and in a crowd of people saw Wash Crosby. Not far away stoodSi Peters. 

Both were swaggering around as if they had plenty of money and wantedeverybody to know it. 

"What shall we do?" asked Harry. 

"I hardly know, " replied Jerry. "I feel certain in my mind that theyrobbed the Rockpoint Hotel in spite of what the detectives think. "

"So do I. But we can't prove it. "

The two boys resolved to watch Peters and Crosby and try to overhear anyprivate talk they might have. 

Peters and Crosby entered a large music hall and sat down at one of thetables. 

Motioning to Harry, our hero led the way to the side of the building. 

A board was off, and by standing near the opening they could heareverything Si Peters and Wash Crosby said. 

CHAPTER XXI. 

WORDS AND BLOWS. 

The very first words spoken by Si Peters confirmed the young oarsman'ssuspicious. 

"What did you do with the valise, Wash?" he asked. 

"Left it on the yacht at the cove, " replied Wash Crosby. 

"That's where you made a big mistake. "

"How so?" growled the toady. 

"They might take it into their heads to search the yacht. "

"Oh, I guess not. "

"We don't want to run any chances of being found out. "

"We're all right; don't worry. "

"Perhaps we are and perhaps we are not. "

"Oh, keep still, and let us enjoy the music, " growled Crosby, for anorchestra was now playing. 

A waiter came up and Si Peters gave an order. Jerry was quite sure he hadordered something stronger than what he was in the habit of drinking athome. It was evident that the bully of Rockpoint had turned out even worsethan before. 

"What shall we do?" whispered Harry. 

"We ought to inform the police. "

"Just my idea of it. "

"I don't know if there are any officers around here. "

"Oh, there must be. "

They looked around, but in the darkness no policeman could be seen. 

"You stay here and I'll go hunt up somebody, " said Jerry. 

Scarcely had he spoken, however, when their attention was attracted to arow that was taking place in the concert hall. Two men were fighting, andpresently a chair flew through the air. 

At once those sitting around tried to retire. 

Peters and Crosby rushed out in the crowd, and not to lose sight of thepair Jerry and Harry went after them. 

Fifty feet from the concert hall the four came face to face. Si Petersstarted back, and Wash Crosby wanted to run for it. 

"Who--what?" stammered Peters. 

"We have caught you, " said Jerry, boldly. "You may as well give in. "

"What do you mean?"

"We know that that you robbed the Rockpoint Hotel, " said Harry. 

"It's not so, " cried Crosby. 

"Shut up!" hissed Si Peters. 

Without warning he hit Jerry a sharp blow in the face. Then he rushed atHarry and tripped him up. 

"Come on!" he yelled to Crosby "We must get away!"

Like a deer he ran off, behind a large roller coaster where all was dark. 

Jerry stopped Peters, but only for a moment. Heavy blows were exchangedand then Peters followed his chum. 

"They are gone, sure enough!" cried Harry, in dismay. 

And gone they were, swallowed up in the crowd which surged on all sides ofthem. 

Jerry and Harry searched in vain for the two evil-doers and then hunted upthe police and told their story. 

A watch was set, but Si Peters and Wash Crosby managed to escape from thebeach resort without being detected. 

Jerry and Harry returned to Lakeview with the Whistler, and the reportspread that Si Peters and Wash Crosby had robbed the hotel. 

At first Mr. Peters refused to believe it. He came over to Jerry's home, and threatened Mr. Upton with a lawsuit. 

But the farmer quickly silenced him. 

"Don't say a word to me, Mr. Peters, " he said. "A boy that will try to tarand feather another boy, and then set fire to a barn and burn up cattle, isn't none too good to rob a hotel. "

"My son is as good as yours!" growled Mr. Peters, and went off in aperfect rage. But he bothered the Uptons no more, nor did he go near theParkers. 

The lake was searched, and the yacht found up at the cove Si Peters hadmentioned. On board was found the valise taken from the hotel. 

After this detectives were sent out to find the two young rascals. But SiPeters and Wash Crosby kept out of sight. 

Yet the day of reckoning was not far off, as we shall soon see. 

About a week after this Harry invited Jerry to a drive along the westshore of Lake Otasco. 

As they bowled along they talked over all sorts of matters, and presentlyHarry mentioned Si Peters and Wash Crosby. 

"I wonder if they are still hanging around Harmony Beach?" he said. 

"Oh, I don't think they would dare, " replied Jerry. "They must know by thenewspapers that the detectives are on their track. "

"I wish we could bring them to justice. It would be a feather in ourcap. "

"So it would, Harry. But I would rather have the law do the work. I neverwant to have anymore to do with either of them. "

It did not take the two boys long to drive to the lower end of the lake. Here the team was put up at a livery stable, and the chums hired bathingsuits and houses, and spread themselves for a fine dip in the lake. 

The water was just right, and they enjoyed every second of the half hourthey allowed themselves. 

It was eight o'clock in the evening before they went to get their teamagain. 

The moon was just coming up over the rim of the lake and this promisedthem a splendid drive back to Lakeview. 

As Harry and our hero entered the turnout two figures stole up from theback of the barn. 

The pair were Si Peters and Wash Crosby. 

They ran on ahead, and as the boys waited to settle with the livery stablekeeper they soon disappeared. 

Harry drove, and the young oarsman leaned back and took it easy. 

A mile was covered, and they were just passing a clump of bushes whenwhizz! a stone came flying into the carriage. It struck Jerry on the arm, causing him to cry with pain. 

"Who threw that?" he exclaimed. 

Whizz! came another stone. It struck Harry in the cheek, drawing blood. 

"Whoa!" yelled Jerry, and while the horses were still in motion, he leapedto the road. 

He had noted the direction from which the missiles came, and bound off, but behind the bushes all was dark. 

"Look out for yourself!" cried Harry. 

He was busy with the horses, who were shying first to one side and then tothe other. 

At first Jerry could see nothing, but soon he discovered two forms in thesemi-darkness. 

He rushed over and found himself face to face with Si Peters and WashCrosby. 

"Peters!" he ejaculated. 

Scarcely had he spoken when a club was raised. Jerry tried to avoid thedescending blow, but was only partly successful. 

The club landed over his shoulder and neck and he was more than halfstunned. 

"Come!" he heard Peters whisper to Crosby, and then all became a confusedwhirl and he pitched forward in the grass. 

The two rascals ran out into the road. 

"That for you, Harry Parker!" yelled Si Peters, and struck Harry in theknee with the club. 

In the meantime Wash Crosby sprang half into the carriage. 

He made a grab at Harry's gold watch chain. 

The chain broke from the buttonhole and along with it came Harry'sbeautiful timepiece. 

"I'll keep this to remember you by!" cried Wash Crosby in derision, andaway he sped across the highway and down a side road, with Si Peters athis heels. 

CHAPTER XXII. 

ANOTHER BOAT RACE. 

The horses now demanded all of Harry's attention. One of them was bound torun away, and the youth had all he could do to hold the animal in check. But the lad knew what he was doing and presently held them under completecontrol. 

Then our hero staggered out of the bushes with his hand on his neck, wherea big lump was rising. 

"Where are they?"

"Gone! Did they rob you, Jerry?"

"No. "

"Then you are in luck. "

"What do you mean, Harry?"

"Crosby took my gold watch and chain. "

"Never!"

"He did. Jerry, those two chaps have turned nothing but common thieves, "went on Harry, bitterly. 

"It certainly looks so, Harry. What shall we do now?"

"Jump in and we'll go after them. "

Jerry was soon beside Harry, and they turned up the side road taken by thefugitives. The moon was out full, making the way as light as day, yetnothing was to be seen of the rascally pair. 

This was not to be wondered at, for after running along the road but a fewhundred feet, Si Peters and Wash Crosby had taken to an open field. Crossing this, they came out upon a railroad track. A freight train wascoming along slowly, around the bend of the lake, and they had had smalltrouble in boarding this. Inside of an hour they were many miles away fromthe vicinity. 

Jerry and Harry searched for the pair until midnight, and then gave up thehunt and returned to Lakeview. Once again the authorities were notified, and the detectives started on a fresh hunt for the evil-doers. Yet it wasdestined to be a long time before Si Peters and Wash Crosby were heard ofagain. 

About this time the Lakeview boat club was organizing another series ofrowing races, and both Harry and Jerry were easily persuaded to enter acontest, which was to take place between a number of local oarsmen. 

A prize of a fine bicycle had been put up, also several other articles ofmore or less value, and Jerry and Harry immediately went into training, with a firm determination to win. 

There were seven entries, all by young fellows of Jerry's age, and as theyouth looked at his opponents he felt that the race would be no easy one. 

Saturday afternoon, the time appointed for the contest, came, bright andclear, and it found the lake front crowded to its utmost capacity. Manycame over from Rockpoint, but it was noticed that those who had belongedto Si Peters' crowd were absent. 

The race was to be two miles long, up the lake and back again. The boatswere all drawn up in a line, and everything was made ready for a start. Jerry was at one end of the line, with Harry at the other, and theremaining five contestants between them. 

Bang! went the gun on the judges' boat, and away shot the seven rowerslike one man; and the race was begun. 

For over half a mile the seven contestants kept almost side by side. Thenthree of them were seen to drop behind. 

"Gravling is ahead!"

"Harry Parker is second. "

"Phil Raymond is a close third!"

"Jerry Upton is crawling up!"

So the shouting went on, as the four leaders swept past. When the turningpoint was reached, Harry led, Raymond came second, Gravling third, andJerry fourth. The remaining three felt they were out of the race, androwed back to the boathouse. 

"Good for you, Harry!"

"What's the matter, Jerry? You're not doing as good as the day you beat SiPeters!"

"Hurry up, Gravling!"

"Pull for all you know how, Raymond!"

On and on came the four, their long blades flashing brightly in thesunshine. They were making fast time, and, no matter who won, the lakerecord was likely to be broken. 

Half way down the homestretch, Harry still led, with Gravling but half alength behind him. A length further back came Raymond and Jerry, side byside. 

But the terrific speed was now beginning to tell upon Raymond, and slowlybut surely he fell behind, despite the urgings of his friends. Then Jerryset to work to overtake Gravling. 

"See Jerry Upton crawling up!"

"Oh, but isn't that a beautiful stroke!"

"Gravling can't shake him off!"

"They are a tie!"

The last cry was true. When still a dozen lengths from the finish Jerryhad overtaken Gravling. But they did not remain tie long. Half a dozenstrokes and Jerry shot ahead and the bow of his craft overlapped Harry'sstern. "Jerry Upton is second!"

"He's going to shake up Harry Parker for first place!"

On came the two friends, but now it was noticed that Jerry, although hestill rowed his best, seemed to be losing his interest in the race. 

"It will be no fun to beat Harry, " was the thought which ran through hishead; and then, with a yell from three thousand throats, Harry crossed theline a winner, with our hero not quite half a boat length behind. 

"Hurrah for Harry Parker!"

"Hurrah for Jerry Upton!"

Cheer after cheer rent the air, and both lads were immediately surroundedby their friends. Jerry was one of the first to shake his chum's hand. 

"You won it fairly, Harry, " he said. "What kind of time did we make?"

He was greatly pleased to learn that the lake record for two miles hadbeen lowered by forty-three seconds, and that he had helped lower it byforty-two seconds. 

That evening the club held a meeting, and Harry was presented with thebicycle, something he had been wishing for for some time. Jerry's prizewas a silver watch and chain. 

"This just suits me, " he said. "Now, when I'm away from home, I'll be ableto tell what time it is. "

The celebration was at its height, when a message came for Jerry from hishome, stating that his father had been kicked by one of the horses and wasbadly injured. 

This news shocked the youth a good deal, and bidding his friends a hastygood-night, the young oarsman set off for the farm on a run. 

He found his father lying on a couch in the dining-room. A doctor had justarrived, and he was doing all that he could for the sufferer. 

"Where did the horse kick him, mother?" he questioned, hurriedly. 

"In the side, right under the heart, " replied Mrs. Upton. "Oh, I do trustit is not serious!"

"So do I. What can I do?"

"I don't know. We must see what the doctor says. "

The medical man, after a long examination, declared that several ribs hadbeen fractured, and that Mr. Upton was suffering from shock. Some medicinewas administered, and the patient was carefully carried upstairs andplaced upon a bed. 

No one in the farmhouse slept that night. Mrs. Upton sat by her husband'sside, and Jerry came and went, ready to do anything that might be asked ofhim. 

Two days later the doctor pronounced the wounded man out of danger. Buthis injuries were severe, and it would be a long while before Mr. Uptonwould be able to go around as before. 

His enforced idleness made the farmer fret a good deal. It was true thatthe harvest work on the farm was over, but he had wished to do much more. 

"And I reckon that trip to New York is now out of the question, " Jerryheard him say to Mrs. Upton. 

"Why, father, were you going to New York?" asked the boy, in muchcuriosity. 

"I had an idea that way, son, " returned Mr. Upton, slowly. "I was going onbusiness, " he added, after a pause. 

At this Jerry was more curious than ever. New York was over two hundredmiles from Lakeview, and he had never heard of his parent having businessin the metropolis. 

"You see it's this way, Jerry, " said Mr. Upton, noticing his look. "Whenyour uncle Charley died he left all his property to me. Some time ago Iwas cleaning out one of his old trunks and I ran across some deeds toproperty in California. From what I can make out the land must be nigh tothe city of Sacramento. "

"And the property belongs to you?" cried Jerry. 

"No, I can't say that exactly. As near as I can figure it, your uncleCharley owned an interest in it. The property was in the hands of a landboomer named Alexander Slocum, and there was a letter in the trunk fromthis Alexander Slocum which was dated from New York. I think this boomerholds other papers relating to the land, and I was thinking of making atrip to New York and hunting him up, if he is still there. "

"Why not let me go to New York in your place, " suggested Jerry, quickly. It had always been the ambition of his life to pay a visit to the greatmetropolis. 

"Well, I was kind of thinking of that, son, " returned the sick man, slowly. "I'll see about it in a day or two. "

CHAPTER XXIII. 

JERRY STARTS ON A JOURNEY. 

Now that the matter had once been talked over, the young oarsman was veryanxious to know all about the property in California, and his motherbrought forth the deeds and other papers found in the old trunk. 

The boy studied the documents with care. He knew but little of the law, yet he felt that if the land mentioned in the papers was valuable hisfather's share, as heir to his uncle, must be considerable. 

"I would like to ask Mr. Parker about this, " he said to his folks, but Mr. Upton shook his head. He was a very retired man and never brought hisaffairs to the ears of any outsider. 

"The whole thing might prove worthless, " he said, "and then we would belaughed at by our neighbors. "

"I'd risk it, " said Jerry, but his father only shook his head again. 

Nevertheless Mr. Upton appeared to be favorably impressed with the idea ofJerry's going to New York to hunt up Alexander Slocum. 

"It won't do any harm, " he said to his wife. "I have money for the fare inthe house, and it will give Jerry a chance to see a bit of the world. "

Mrs. Upton was doubtful, but when Jerry begged to go she finallyconsented. Long talks about the western land and Alexander Slocumfollowed, and the youth prevailed upon his folks to let him take the deedsand papers with him, promising that he would take the best of care ofthem. 

"And while I'm in New York I'm going to look around for a situation, andearn a little money, " said Jerry. "Who knows but what I may strike even abetter opening than that Mr. Parker has promised me at his shoe factory. "

"It's not likely a lad off the farm can strike much, " smiled his mother, yet she was pleased at Jerry's earnestness. 

Three days later Jerry was off, valise in hand. He had bid good-bye toHarry and Blumpo, telling them he was going to New York on some privatebusiness for his father. His mother saw him to the train and kissed himaffectionately. 

"Take good care of yourself, Jerry, " she said. "And remember, New York isan entirely different place from Lakeview or Rockpoint, and you must haveyour eyes and ears open to avoid trouble. "

"I'll take care of myself, don't worry mother, " and two minutes later thetrain came along and he was off. 

Yet it must be confessed that our hero felt just a bit strange as hesettled back in the cushioned seat, with his valise beside him. He wasgoing over two hundred miles from home and among total strangers. 

"I suppose it will be different from knocking around Lakeview, Rockpointor even Long Lake, " he mused. "I'll have to brace up and watch myself, orthey'll take me for a regular greeny. "

As the train moved on, Jerry revolved the situation in his mind. He knewhe would arrive in the metropolis late in the afternoon, and determined toseek a boarding-house first of all, knowing it would be useless to huntfor any trace of Alexander Slocum after office hours. 

At last the run through green fields and small towns and cities came to anend, and the train ran into the Grand Central Depot at Forty-secondStreet, and Jerry alighted in a crowd and made his way to the street. 

"Cab! coupe! This way for the Central Hotel! Evening paper! Sun orWorld!"

A hundred cries seemed to start up all in an instant, making Jerry's earsring. The rattle of the carts and trucks on the pavement was also new, andfor the moment, the Lakeview boy did not know which way to turn. 

"Carry yer baggage?" queried a bare-foot boy, and almost caught his valisefrom his hand. But the young oarsman pulled it back and shook his head, and got out of the crowd as quickly as he could, starting eastward for hehad heard that the cheaper boarding houses lay in that direction. 

It was not long before the boy came to several places which displayed thesign, Boarding. But the first two were too elegant, and Jerry passed themwithout stopping. Then came a third, and ascending the steps Jerry rangthe bell. 

An elderly lady answered the summons, a sharp-faced woman with powderedhair. 

"You take boarders here?" queried Jerry. 

"We do, young man, " she answered, in a voice that made our hero far fromcomfortable. 

"I expect to stay in New York a week or two, and I--"

"We don't take transients, " she snapped. "Only regular boarders withfirst-class references, " and she shut the door in Jerry's face. 

He was glad enough to escape to the pavement, feeling satisfied that hewould not have cared to have boarded there, even had she been willing totake him in. 

A block further on was another place, a modest brick residence, set backbehind a small plot of green. Thinking this looked inviting, and notreasoning that the spot of green was as valuable as a brown-stone buildingwould have been, Jerry entered the garden and made known his wants to theservant who was dusting the piazza chairs. 

She called the lady of the house, who on hearing what Jerry had to say, smiled in a motherly way. 

"I hardly think I can take you in, my boy, " she said. "Do you know howmuch I charge a week?"

"No, ma'am. "

"Twelve to fifteen dollars for a single room and not less than tenotherwise. "

Jerry almost gasped for breath. 

"That is twice what I can afford to pay, " he returned. "Gracious! I had noidea rates were so high. "

"That is not high, here in New York. But perhaps I can direct you to aplace that will suit. I have a friend three blocks over. Here is hercard, " and she handed it over. 

Thanking her, the young oarsman got out without delay. He was glad she haddirected him, for now he was certain he would at least strike a place thatwould fit his pocket-book. 

Jerry went on until he came to an avenue down which the elevated cars wererunning. They were a great novelty and he paused on the corner to watchseveral of the trains rattle along overhead. 

As Jerry was about to move on, he heard a wild cry of alarm from thesecond story window of a house opposite. Looking in the direction, he sawa girl pointing up the street to where a baby-carriage had rolled from thepavement to the gutter, overturning itself and spilling a little childinto the street. 

The youth ran in the direction with the idea of picking the child up. Ashe did this an ice-wagon came along at a furious speed, the driver on theseat trying in vain to stop his horse. 

The ice-wagon was heading directly for the child and unless something wasdone the little one would be run over and most likely killed. With hisheart in his throat our hero threw down his valise and leaped to therescue. In another instant the runaway horse was fairly on top of thelad. 

CHAPTER XXIV. 

THE WORK OF A REAL HERO. 

Jerry's heart was in his throat when he sprang to the rescue of the littlechild in the street. He saw that the horse attached to the ice-wagon couldnot be stopped and realized only too well what it meant should he bestruck down. 

Yet the sight of that innocent face nerved him on, and in less time thanit takes to write it he had the child in his arms. Clinging to the littleone, he flung himself backward, and like a flash the horse sprang past, dragging the ice-wagon so close that the wheels scraped his leg. 

A shout went up from the crowd, but Jerry did not hear what was said. Staggering up, he ran back to the sidewalk, leaving the baby-carriage awreck behind him. 

In another moment the girl who had given the first cry of alarm was atJerry's side. 

"Is he hurt? Is little Tommy hurt?" she cried, as she snatched theyoungster from Jerry's arms. 

"Me fell in the dirt, " lisped the little one. "Me ain't hurt, but me awfuldirty. "

"Never mind the dirt, dear, " cried the girl. "I am thankful you escaped. Mary, why didn't you take better care of him?"

The last words were addressed to an Irish girl who had just sauntered up. 

"I went to get a hoky-poky at the corner, " replied the girl. "I don't careto mind yer brother any more anyway, " she added, and darted out of sightinto the crowd. 

Seeing the little boy was uninjured, the crowd moved on, and presently theyoung oarsman found himself alone with the girl, who appeared to beseveral years older than himself. 

"You are a brave boy, " she said, warmly. "I would like to reward you, butI am poor. "

"I don't want any reward, " replied Jerry, stoutly. "It was a close shave, though. "

"You look like a stranger around here. "

"I am--I just arrived in New York and I am looking for a boarding-house. Can you tell me where this one is?" and Jerry showed her the card the ladyhad given him. 

"Oh, yes; it is one block over to your left--a real nice house, too. May Iask your name?"

"Jerry Upton. "

"Mine is Nellie Ardell, and this is my brother Tommy. We are alone here. "

"Haven't you any folks?"

"No. Mother was with us up to last winter, but she had consumption anddied. "

The tears stood in Nellie Ardell's eyes as she spoke. Jerry saw at oncethat she had had a hard struggle of it. 

"What do you do for a living?" he ventured to ask. 

"I do sewing and mending for my neighbors--principally mending for thegirls who work in the stores. "

"And can you make much that way?"

"Not a great deal. But I try to make enough to pay the rent and storebills. May I ask what you are going to do in New York?"

"I came to find a real estate dealer named Alexander Slocum. I want to seehim about some property left by my uncle to my father. Have you ever heardof him?"

"Heard of him?" she cried in surprise. "He is my landlord. "

Jerry was dumfounded by this unexpected bit of information. 

"You are certain?"

"Why, of course I am. He was around to see me only day before yesterdayabout the rent. I am a bit behind, and I had to put him off. "

"And what kind of a man is he?"

"I think he is very hard-hearted. But then, that may be because I ambehind in my payment. He threatened to put me out of my rooms if I didn'tpay when he called again. "

"How many rooms have you?"

"Only two, and I pay six dollars a month for them. "

"And how far behind are you?"

"I only owe for the month. "

"And he won't trust you even that long? He certainly must be mean, " Jerryrejoined warmly. 

"You said something about property belonging to your father, " said NellieArdell. "Has Mr. Slocum an interest in it?"

"He has and he hasn't, " the boy replied, and he told his story in a fewwords as they walked along to the entrance of the house in which shelived. 

"Well, I trust you get your right, Jerry Upton, " said the girl. "Come andsee me some time. "

"I will, " and after Jerry had procured Alexander Slocum's office addressfrom her, the pair separated. 

Jerry was very thoughtful as he proceeded on his way. By a turn of fortunehe had gotten on Slocum's track much quicker than expected. The questionwas, how should he best approach the man?

"I'll settle that after I have procured a boarding place, " he thought, andhurried to the address given him. 

Mrs. Price, the landlady, was a very nice old person. She had a top roomin the back she said she would let with board, for five dollars a week, and Jerry closed with her without delay, paying for one week in advance. 

This finished, our hero found he was hungry, and after a washing-up, atesupper with a relish. He could not help but notice that the vegetables andmilk served were not as fresh as those at home, but remembered he was nowin the city and not on a farm, and did not complain. 

Mrs. Price had taken in another new boarder that day, a tall, slim man, possibly thirty years of age. He was introduced as Mr. Wakefield Smith, and he did all he could to make himself popular. Jerry felt that a goodbit of his pleasantry was forced, but as there was no use in findingfault, he became quite friendly with the man. 

"Supposing we take a walk out together this evening?" Wakefield Smithsuggested. "No doubt you would like to see the sights. "

"I'll go out for an hour or so, " answered the young oarsman, and theystarted while it was yet light. 

Mr. Wakefield Smith knew the metropolis from end to end, and as the paircovered block after block, he pointed out various buildings. He smokedconstantly, and several times invited Jerry to have a cigar, but the youthdeclined. 

"Supposing we have a drink, then?" he urged. 

Again Jerry declined, which made the man frown. He insisted Jerry shouldat least have some soda water with him, and at last the boy accepted, andthey entered rather a modest looking drug store on a side street. 

"Hullo! what's that crowd on the street?" exclaimed Mr. Wakefield Smith, as the glasses were set out, and as Jerry looked out of the doorway hefancied the man shoved up close to where his glass was standing and made amovement as if to throw something into it. 

Jerry saw nothing unusual in the street, and the man's manner made himsuspicious, so that he hesitated about drinking the soda. He swallowed asmall portion of it and threw the remainder in a corner. 

"What's the matter, don't you like it?" demanded Wakefield Smith, almostroughly. 

"No, it's bitter. "

"Humph!" He growled something under his breath. "I'll not treat youagain, " he went on, as they came out on the street. 

What Jerry had taken of the soda had made his head ache, and this causedthe young oarsman to grow more suspicious than ever. He had read in adaily paper about folks being drugged by friendly strangers, and resolvedto be on guard. 

The pair passed on the distance of a block, and then Jerry announced hisintention of returning home to the boarding-house. 

"Oh, don't go yet, " urged Mr. Wakefield Smith. "Come on across the way. There are some beautiful pictures in an art store window I want to showyou. One of the pictures is worth ten thousand dollars. "

He caught our hero by the arm and hurried him over the way and into thecrowd. Jerry was jostled to the right and left, and it was fully a minutebefore he squeezed himself out to a clear spot. Then he looked around forMr. Wakefield Smith, but the man was gone. 

Like a flash Jerry felt something had gone wrong. He put his hand in hispocket. His money was missing!

CHAPTER XXV. 

A FRUITLESS SEARCH. 

"Less than half a day in New York and robbed! Oh, what a greeny I havebeen!"

Thus Jerry groaned to himself as he searched first one pocket and thenanother. It was all to no purpose, the money was gone and he was leftabsolutely penniless. 

The young oarsman was certain that Mr. Wakefield Smith had robbed him. Hehad been wary of the man from the start, and now blamed himself greatlyfor having given the rascal the chance to take the pocket-book. 

Without loss of time Jerry darted into the crowd again, looking in everydirection for the thief. He was so eager, he ran plump into an oldgentleman, knocking his silk hat to the pavement. 

"Hi! hi! stop, you young rascal!" puffed the man, as Jerry stooped andrestored the tile to him. "What do you mean by running into me in thisfashion?"

"Excuse me, but I have been robbed! I want to catch the thief. "

"Robbed?"

"Yes, sir. "

The gentleman nervously felt to see if his money and watch were safe. Several others heard the words, and they gathered around Jerry. 

"Who robbed you?"

"How much did you have?"

"Why didn't you hold the thief?"

Before Jerry could answer any of the questions a policeman came forwardand touched him on the shoulder. 

"Are you the boy said he was robbed?"

"Yes, sir. "

"What were you robbed of?"

"A pocket-book containing nearly thirty dollars. "

"Did you see the thief?"

"I believe it was a man I was walking with. He called himself WakefieldSmith. "

The policeman questioned Jerry closely, and then took a good look aroundfor the individual. Later on, boy and officer walked to Mrs. Price'sboarding-house. 

Here it was learned that Mr. Wakefield Smith had not paid any board money, giving as an excuse that he had nothing less than a one-hundred-dollarbill and that he would pay in the morning. It also came to light that hehad walked out with Mrs. Price's silver-handled umbrella, worth eightdollars. 

"The villain!" she cried. "I hope the police catch him!"

"You don't wish it more than I do, " returned the young oarsman, dolefully. "He took my last dollar. "

Acting on the policeman's advice, Jerry walked around to the nearestprecinct station and made a complaint, giving the best description of Mr. Wakefield Smith he could. 

"We will do our best to capture him, " said the captain in charge, and withthis promise the youth had to be content. 

My readers can imagine our hero did not spend a restful night. He layawake for several hours speculating on the turn affairs had taken. Hisboard was paid for a week, but that was all. He did not even have money topay car fare back to Lakeview. 

"I wonder what mother and father would say if they knew?" he thought. "Iwon't let them know until there's nothing else to do. "

Jerry arose early the next day and got breakfast before any of the otherboarders. 

"I must find something to do without delay, " he explained to Mrs Price. "Afellow without a dollar in his pocket can't afford to remain idle. "

"You have a week's board coming to you, " she said, with a faint smile. 

"Yes, but I haven't even the price of a car fare in my pocket. "

"Well, Mr. Upton, I like your looks, and if you'll accept it I'll loan youa couple of dollars. I suppose it was partly my fault that Smith robbedyou. But don't blame me, I've suffered, too. "

"I will accept the loan gladly, Mrs. Price. I don't like to go aroundwithout a cent. I will pay you back as soon as I can. "

"I know you will. I may have been deceived in that Smith, but I am certainI am not in you, " added the landlady. 

With the two dollars tucked away in a safe place, Jerry left the house. Heknew it would be useless to go to Alexander Slocum's office at such anearly hour, and determined to look around in the hope of strikingsomething whereby he might earn at least enough money to last him whilestopping in New York. 

"I won't write home unless I have to, " he muttered to himself. "My time ismy own and I'll make the most of it while I'm here. "

Getting one of the dollar bills changed, Jerry bought a morning paper andlooked over the Help Wanted--Males--column, and noted several addresses. 

"I'll try them and lose no time, " he thought, and hurried to the neareststore where a boy was wanted. 

He was surprised to find a dozen applicants ahead of him. Worse than that, a boy had already been hired; so all of the others were forced to leave. 

Jerry next tried a florist's establishment. But here a boy was wanted whounderstood the city thoroughly, and he was quickly told he would not do. 

Jerry walked from one place to another for three hours without success. Somewhat disheartened, he strolled into a park close to Broadway and satdown. 

The situation was certainly a serious one, and the young oarsman wasdecidedly sober in mind as he sat there, staring vacantly at the hurryingthrong. 

"Well, young man, how did you make out last night?"

The question came from a bench just behind Jerry. Looking around, he sawsitting there the gentleman he had run into while trying to find WakefieldSmith. 

"I didn't make out at all, sir. "

"Couldn't find him, eh?"

"No, sir. "

"Those pickpockets are slick chaps, and no mistake, " went on thegentleman. 

"Did you lose much?"

"All I had--nearly thirty dollars. "

"Phew! that is too bad. Well, I wouldn't sit down to mope about it. Youmight as well get to work and earn the amount over again. "

"The trouble is, I can't find any work, " answered the boy, earnestly. "Iwould work fast enough if I could only find it to do. "

"You are out of a situation?"

"Yes, sir. "

"Since when?"

"Since I came to New York, " answered Jerry. 

"You are about as bad off as I was some forty years ago, " said the man, with a broad smile. "At that time I found myself in this city, with justtwenty-five cents in my pocket. But I struck employment, and rose from oneplace to another until now I am my own master, with a bookbinding-shopwhere I employ nearly fifty hands. "

As he spoke he gazed at Jerry curiously. 

"You were going to ask me for a job, weren't you?" he went on, and Jerrynodded. "What can you do?"

"I'm not used to any such work, sir. But you'll find me willing andstrong--and honest. I would like to earn a little before I went back to myhome. "

"Well, those three qualities you mention are sure to win, my boy. PerhapsI can find an opening for you. Here comes a friend I have been waitingfor. I am going out of town with him. Call at my shop to-morrow morning, if you don't strike anything in the meantime. "

And, handing out his card, Mr. Islen walked rapidly away. 

Fifteen minutes later found Jerry on the way to Alexander Slocum's office. In an inner pocket he carried the papers his father had unearthed from thetrunk in the garret at home. 

CHAPTER XXVI. 

ALEXANDER SLOCUM IS ASTONISHED. 

Jerry felt that his mission to the real estate man was a delicate one. What would he have to say when he learned who the youth was and what hehad come for?

The boy resolved to be on guard. He might be from the country and green, but no one should catch him napping, as had Mr. Wakefield Smith. 

The distance to the address furnished by Nellie Ardell was nearly a dozenblocks, but Jerry was used to walking and made the journey on foot. 

The young oarsman found Alexander Slocum's set of offices located on thetop floor of an old-fashioned four-story office building. There was anelevator, however, and this Jerry used and soon found himself in front ofa ground-glass door, which bore the sign:

 Alexander Slocum, Real Estate and Fire Insurance. Loans Negotiated. 

There was a hum of voices from within, but the hum ceased as Jerryknocked. 

"Come in, " was the short invitation, and the boy entered, to find a largeapartment, comfortably furnished with desks, stuffed chairs and otherthings which went to show that the man he had come to interview was doingwell. 

Near an open window sat two gentlemen dressed in black. One was much olderthan the other, and Jerry rightfully guessed that he was an officeassistant. 

The other man was well preserved, with a waxed mustache and piercing blackeyes. He held a silk hat in his hand, as if he had been on the point ofleaving. 

"Well, young man, what can I do for you?" questioned the office assistant, as he regarded Jerry indifferently. 

"I came to see Mr. Alexander Slocum, " replied our hero. 

"I am Mr. Slocum, " put in the other man. "What is it you want?"

"I came to see you on a bit of private business, sir. "

"Yes. Well, Mr. Casey here knows all about my affairs; so you need have nohesitation in speaking in front of him, " laughed the real estate mansomewhat harshly. 

"I am Jerry Upton, and I came from Lakeview. My uncle, Charles Upton, whois now dead, was once interested in a colonization land scheme that youstarted. "

Jerry watch Mr. Slocum narrowly as he spoke, and saw that the man wasgreatly astonished. He started back, and for an instant the assuring lookhis face wore faded. 

"Jerry Upton from Lakeview, " he murmured slowly. Then he cleared histhroat. "I--I did not expect to see you. "

"I suppose not, sir. "

"What is it you want?"

"I want to find out how matters stand in regard to the land in California. My father heard you had gone to Europe. "

"I did go to Europe, but not to escape inquiry, " added Slocum, hastily. "You see, that scheme failed utterly, " he went on slowly. "Why, I lostnearly every dollar I possessed in it. What your uncle lost was nothing incomparison. "

"It was to him, Mr. Slocum. To whom does the land belong?"

"Why, it--er--it reverted to its original owners, some mine speculators ofDenver. "

"Where is the land located?"

"Not far from the city of Sacramento. "

"Can't you give me the precise location?"

At this Alexander Slocum glared at our hero savagely. 

"It would do you no good to spend money on hunting the matter up, " heanswered. "That affair was settled long ago. The money was lost, and thatis all there is to it. "

"Not if I know it, Mr. Slocum. I intend to sift the matter to the bottom. I am convinced that all was not carried out as it should have been. "

"You appear to be a very foolish boy. "

"That may be your opinion, but it won't alter my intention. I have myuncle's papers with me, and, unless you will give me some particulars ofhow the scheme fell through, I shall place the matter in the hands of alawyer. "

Alexander Slocum winced at this, and Jerry fancied he was hard struck. Hemade a movement as if to clutch the youth by the arm, then drew back. 

"You have your uncle's papers?" he asked cautiously. 

"Yes. My father is his sole heir. "

"I should like to see them. Perhaps I spoke hastily; but really you aremistaken in thinking it can be of any use to bring that old deal up again. The money was lost, and there is no chance of getting it back again. "

"But, either you are responsible for the amount, or else my uncle'sinterest in the land still holds good, " said Jerry. 

"Let me see the papers. "

Mr. Slocum made a movement as if to take them. But Jerry drew back andshook his head. 

"I prefer not to let them go out of my possession. "

"Do you mean to say you won't trust me?"

"You can put it that way, if you wish, Mr. Slocum. "

The real estate man bit his lip. Then he made a movement to his assistant, who at once slid behind Jerry, towards the door. 

"What are you going to do?" the young oarsman asked, in alarm. 

Without replying, the assistant locked the door and slipped the key intohis pocket. 

"Don't grow excited, " said Alexander Slocum, coldly. "I want to see thosepapers, that's all. Show them to me at once!"

Like a flash Jerry realized he was trapped by the enemy. 

CHAPTER XXVII. 

JERRY'S CLEVER ESCAPE. 

Jerry saw at once that things were growing warm. From the look on his faceit was plain to see that Alexander Slocum was in deadly earnest when hesaid he wanted to see those papers. 

His manner made our hero feel that the papers would not be safe in hishands. If he gave them up he might never see them again, and without thedocuments the claim on the land in California would fall flat. 

"Did you hear what I said, Upton? I want you to let me see those papers, "Slocum went on, after a second of intense silence. 

"What do you mean by locking that door?" Jerry demanded of the elderlyassistant, without paying any attention to the real estate dealer'swords. 

Casey made no response. Instead, he took his stand by his employer's side, as if awaiting further orders. 

"You act as if you were afraid of me, " sneered Slocum. "I won't hurtyou. "

"You won't--not if I can help it, " answered Jerry. "But I want you tounlock that door. I am not to be treated as a prisoner. "

"I only wanted to secure us against interruption. So many agents come uphere, and they are a regular nuisance. "

Slocum advanced and held out his hand, as if expecting Jerry would dropthe precious papers into it. Instead, the boy retreated and took up aposition behind a flat-top desk in the centre of the office. 

At this the real estate dealer grew furious behind his well-waxedmustache. He had expected to intimidate our hero easily, and now he wasnonplused. 

"Are you going to let me see those papers?" he fumed. 

"No; at least not now. "

"Why not?"

"I prefer not to answer that question. "

"You think you have a case against me--that you can place me in a tighthole. "

"Well, if all is straight you have nothing to fear. "

"Don't preach to me, boy. All is straight. I lost my money as well as theothers did. "

"This doesn't look as if you had lost much, " ventured Jerry, as he glancedabout the elegant apartment. 

"Oh, I have made money since, in a lucky real estate deal in Brooklyn. Iwon't keep your papers. "

"I want that door unlocked. "

Slocum muttered something under his breath, and his face grew suddenlyred. Like a flash he placed his hands on the flat desk and leaped overit. 

"I'll bring you to terms, you young country fool!" he cried, and made aclutch for Jerry's collar. 

Had our hero not turned like a flash he would have had the lad. But Jerrywas on guard and fled to the office door. Raising his foot he gave thebarrier a kick that caused it to crack heavily. 

"Stop that!"

"I won't. Let me out, or I'll kick the door down. "

"Casey, catch the young rascal!" cried Slocum. "I'm going to teach him athing or two. "

Anxious to obey the command of the man who held him completely under histhumb, Casey ran forward. Seeing him coming, Jerry fled behind a largescreen. Here rested a heavy cane, and he picked it up and brandished itover his head. 

"Keep back! Advance at your peril. "

"I'm afraid to go near the young fool, " said Casey. 

"I'll fix him. Stand aside. I never yet saw the boy that could get thebest of me, " muttered Alexander Slocum. 

"He may kill you, Mr. Slocum. "

"I'll risk it. "

Running around the desk, the real estate dealer came for the youngoarsman. As he approached, the boy pushed the screen against him and hewent down, with the heavy object on top of him. 

"You--you villain!" he spluttered. 

To this Jerry made no answer. Taking advantage of the time afforded him, he looked around for some means of escaping his enemies. To remain amoment longer in the office he felt would be perilous in the extreme. 

Near the corner to which Jerry had retreated was an open window. Glancingout of it he saw that the roof of the next building was but six or eightfeet below the window sill. 

Without stopping to think twice, our hero leaped out of the window and onto the roof below. 

"Stop! stop!"

Both Slocum and his assistant called after Jerry, but he paid noattention. Leaving the vicinity of the window, he ran along the roof tothe rear. Here there was an addition to a tin-shop underneath, and hedropped down and found himself within twelve feet of a narrow alleyway. 

"Are you coming back?" bawled Alexander Slocum; and then, as Jerry lethimself down over the edge of the roof, he suddenly disappeared from thewindow. 

Guessing he was coming down to head him off, the youth lost no time indropping to the ground. 

Once down, it was an easy matter to gain the street. As he came out on thepavement, Slocum came running up all out of breath. 

"You're a fine boy!" he cried. "Come back to the office, and let us talkmatters over. "

"Not to-day, " answered Jerry. "I've had enough of a dose for thepresent. "

"You are making a mistake. "

"I don't intend to put my head into the lion's mouth. "

While the two were speaking Casey came up, and, as the two appeared as ifthey wanted to drag Jerry back into the building just left, the youthretreated. 

Alexander Slocum followed for a block, and then gave up the chase. Seeingthis, Jerry walked on more leisurely. 

Our hero's visit to the real estate dealer had set him to thinking deeply. The man's anxiety concerning the papers made the boy feel sure there wasmore at the bottom of the land speculation than either his parents or hehad suspected. 

Perhaps the land was still held by this man and was of great value. Ifthis was so how was he to go to work to establish his father's claim?

Pondering over the affair, the young oarsman thought of Mr. Randolph Islenand of his kindness. He resolved to tell that gentleman his story and seewhat he would have to say. 

This conclusion reached, Jerry felt in his inner pocket to see if theprecious papers were still safe. To his horror they were gone. 

CHAPTER XXVIII. 

SOMETHING ABOUT A TRAMP. 

"Gone!"

The cry burst involuntarily from Jerry's lips, and for the moment hisheart seemed to stop beating. The precious papers were missing. 

What had become of them? With great haste he hunted all of his pockets, not once but a dozen times. Then he felt in the linings, and in fact inall places where the packet might have become concealed. 

It was useless; they were gone; that was all there was to it. 

Had he dropped them in Slocum's office, or during his hasty flight to thealleyway?

Our hero retraced his steps, with eyes bent to the ground, in hopes thatthey would be found lying on the walk. In doing this he ran into half adozen folks, many of whom did not take kindly to the collision. 

"Look where you are going, boy. "

"Hunting for a pin or gold dollars?"

Jerry paid no attention to the remarks. Reaching the alleyway, he turnedinto it and continued the search, but without success. 

"Say, wot yer doin' in here?"

The question was asked by a youth in the tin-shop. He was red-headed andhad a freckled face, but not an unpleasant one. 

"I was looking for something I lost, " said the young oarsman. "Have youseen anything in here of a flat, white package with a black shoestringtied around it?"

"Why, yes, I did, " he answered. 

"And where is it?"

"A tramp had it. I saw him walk out of der alley wid it not five minutesago. "

"A tramp? What kind of a looking man?"

"Tall and thin, with a grizzly beard. Oh, he was a regular bum. "

"Where did he go?"

"Up the street, I think. Was the bundle valuable?"

"Indeed it was, to me, " replied Jerry, and hurried off. 

He could see nothing of any tramp, and, after dodging around among thetrucks for several minutes, returned to the youth. 

"Please describe that tramp to me, will you?" asked Jerry, and thetinner's boy did so, as well as he was able. 

"I think da call him Crazy Jim, " he concluded. "He don't come down herevery often. He belongs uptown somewhere. "

"Well, if you ever see him again, please let me know. My name is JerryUpton, and here is my address, " and our hero handed it over. 

"All right, I will. My name is Jerry Martin. Wot was in de package?"

"Some papers belonging to my father. "

The boy wanted to question Jerry for further particulars, but the youngoarsman did not care to say too much, and hurried off, to seek the trampagain. 

That evening found our hero at Mrs. Price's, footsore and downhearted. Hehad seen nothing of Crazy Jim, and it looked as if the precious packet wasgone for good. 

Jerry could not help but wonder what Alexander Slocum's next move wouldbe. Would the man endeavor to hunt him out or would he write to hisfather?

The next morning, on his way to Mr. Randolph Islen's place of business, Jerry met Nellie Ardell. 

"Did you find Mr. Slocum's?" she asked. 

"I did; and had a very disagreeable visit, " returned our hero. 

"I knew you would have, " she went on. "I wish he was not my landlord. "

Jerry asked her how Tommy was, and then they parted, and five minutes morebrought our hero to the book-bindery. 

Mr. Islen was not yet in, but he soon arrived, and smiled as Jerrypresented himself. 

"On hand, I see, my young friend. Well, how did you make out? Did youobtain a position?"

"No, sir. "

"It's rather hard. Mr. Grice!" he called out. 

The foreman of the book-bindery came in and Jerry was introduced to him. Quite a chat followed, at the end of which Jerry was hired to work in thestock department at a salary of six dollars a week. 

The salary was not large, but it would pay his expenses, and that was allhe wished for at present. 

"I won't have to write home for money, " he thought. 

Mr. Grice wanted Jerry to come to work immediately, but our hero begged tospeak to Mr. Islen in private for a moment, and when they were left alonetold his story from beginning to end. 

The rich book-binder listened with interest, and tapped meditatively uponhis desk when Jerry had finished. 

"This is rather a strange story, Upton, " he said. "What would you like meto do?"

"I would like you to give me some advice, sir. What had I best do?"

"You can do a number of things. What would be the best I cannot say. Youmight hire a lawyer to look into the case, and again you might have thisSlocum arrested for locking you in the office. The loss of the packetcomplicates matters. Did it have your name on?"

"Yes, sir. "

"Then you had better wait, and in the meantime advertise for the packet, offering a reward. That tramp may be watching for such an advertisement. "

This was sound advice; but Jerry had no money, and said so. 

"I will pay for the advertisement and take it out of your pay, " said Mr. Islen; and the notice was written out without delay and sent off by theoffice boy. 

The young oarsman now felt a trifle lighter in heart. He reasoned that thepacket would be of no value to the tramp and that he would be glad tosurrender it in hope of a reward. He did not remember at the time that hehad written Alexander Slocum's name and address on the outside wrapper;yet such was a fact. 

When Jerry entered the bindery he found several pairs of curious eyes bentupon him from boys of about his own age. Without delay Mr. Grice set ourhero to work. 

"What is your name?" asked one of the boys, as soon as he had a chance. 

"Jerry Upton. What is yours?"

"Dick Lenning. Say, do you know you have got the job Grice was going togive my brother?"

"No, I don't. "

"It's so. Jack was coming to work to-morrow. It ain't fair to take thebread out of a fellow's mouth like that, " growled Dick Lenning. 

"I fancy Mr. Islen gave me my position--" Jerry ventured. 

"Oh! So it was the boss put you in. Well, it ain't fair anyway. Where doyou come from--Brooklyn?"

"No, Lakeview. "

"Never heard of it. Must be some country village. You look like ahayseed. "

As Dick Lenning spoke he gazed around to see if Mr. Grice had gone. Thenhe added in a whisper:

"You have to set up the drinks for the crowd before you can work here, see?"

"Drinks, " repeated our hero. 

"Sure; all the new hands do that. "

"I--I rather think I won't. "

"You are too mean. "

"It's not that; I don't drink. "

"You are a country jay, and no mistake. "

Dick Lenning leaned forward and shoved Jerry with his elbow, at the sametime putting one foot behind the youth. He wanted to trip our hero up, butJerry was on guard, and, resisting him, the young oarsman caused him toslip down against a bench upon which rested a pot of book-binders' glue. 

The glue tipped over and part of it went down Lenning's leg, causing himto yell like a wild Indian. 

CHAPTER XXIX. 

MR. WAKEFIELD SMITH AGAIN. 

"I'll hammer you for that!"

"What did he do, Dick?"

"Knocked the glue over me. You country jay, you!" howled Dick Lenning, and, leaping up, he bore down on Jerry. 

Lenning was a good deal of a bully. He was tall and strong, and evidentlyhe thought he could make our hero submit to his will easily. 

"Take that!" he fairly hissed, and aimed a blow at Jerry's ear. The youthdodged it and caught his arm. 

"Hold on!" Jerry ejaculated. "I don't want to fight. You will only maketrouble. "

"Let go!"

"Not until you promise to keep quiet. "

"I'll promise nothing, " stormed Lenning, and began to struggle moreexcitedly than ever. 

But he soon wore himself out, when Jerry got behind him and clasped handsover his breast. The bully was about to call on his friends to assist him, when a cry went up. 

"Cheese it! Grice is coming this way. "

As if by magic the boys who had gathered around ran off to their work, leaving the bully and Jerry alone. Our hero released his opponent, and, turning around, Lenning glared at him vindictively. 

"I'll get even with you for this, see if I don't, " he muttered in a hoarsewhisper. 

Then he followed his friends; and Mr. Grice came up and took Jerry toanother part of the shop. 

"I have changed my mind about letting you work here, " he said. "I want youto get used to the place before I put you among those other boys. "

Evening found our hero a good deal worn out, not so much by the work as bythe close confinement of the bindery. How different life in the greatmetropolis was to life in the green fields of the country!

After supper Jerry determined to take a walk uptown, to get the outdoorexercise and also in hope of seeing something of the tramp who had takenthe packet. He knew that looking for the tramp in the metropolis was agood deal like looking for a pin in a haystack, but imagined that eventhat pin could be found if one looked long and sharp enough for it. 

The young oarsman sauntered forth toward Broadway, and thence past theForty-second Street depot and up to Central Park. It was a long walk, buthe did not mind it; in fact, it seemed to do him good, for it rested hismind. 

The window displays interested Jerry not a little, and he took ineverything that came along. So the time flew quickly, until, coming to ajeweler's window, he saw it was after ten o'clock. 

"I'll have to be getting back, " he said to himself, and was on the pointof returning when he saw that which surprised him greatly. A cab whirledpast the corner upon which he was standing, and on the back seat herecognized Mr. Wakefield Smith. 

The pickpocket was alone, and ere Jerry could stop him the cab rolled downthe side street out of hearing. 

Our hero did not stop long to consider what was best to do, but took tohis heels and followed the cab as best he could. 

The cab gained a distance of nearly two blocks, and Jerry was almost onthe point of giving up, when it came to a halt in front of what lookedlike a private club-house. Wakefield Smith alighted and paid the cabman, who went about his business without delay. 

"Stop there!" cried Jerry to the pickpocket, as the man mounted the stepsof the house. But whether the man heard our hero or not, he paid noattention. When Jerry reached the spot he was standing on a low porch. 

"Did you hear me?" went on Jerry, and, to prevent Smith from entering theplace, our hero caught him by the button of his coat. 

To Jerry surprise, the rascal offered no resistance. Instead, he came downthe steps backward, and fell on his back on the sidewalk, his hat rollingtoward the gutter. 

"Shay, waz you do that fer?" he hiccoughed. 

Jerry gazed at the pickpocket in wonder. Then the truth flashed over ourhero. The man who had robbed him was beastly intoxicated. 

CHAPTER XXX. 

AN UNLOOKED FOR ADVENTURE. 

It would be hard to express Jerry's feelings when he found Mr. WakefieldSmith was suffering heavily from intoxication. For the moment he could donothing but stare at the man as he lay helpless on the pavement. 

"Waz you mean, boy?" went on Smith, and he tried in vain to get up. "Wazyou knock me down for, I demand to know?"

"Do you recognize me?" said our hero sharply, as he looked the pickpocketsquarely in the face. 

"No--don't know you from Adam, 'pon my word. "

"I am Jerry Upton, the boy you robbed the other night. "

At the words Smith straightened up for a moment and a look of alarmcrossed his face. 

"Jerry Upton, " he repeated, slowly. 

"Yes. What have you done with my money?"

"Ain't got a dollar of your money. "

"If you haven't, you've drank it up, " Jerry ejaculated. "You ought to beashamed of yourself. "

"Zat's all right, m'boy, all right, I assure you. Come on and have a goodtime with me. "

With great difficulty Wakefield Smith arose to his feet and staggeredtowards the house he had been on the point of entering. Jerry pulled himback and held him. As our hero did this he saw Smith drop a ten-dollarbill. Jerry picked it up. 

"You are not going in there--you are going with me. "

"Where to?"

"To the nearest station house. "

The pickpocket gave a hiccough and a cry of alarm that was very much likea whine. 

"To the station house?"

"Yes; come on. "

"Never. "

Smith struggled feebly to get away, but the boy held him with ease. Overcome, the man finally sat down on the curbstone and refused to budge. 

"Shay, let us compromise, " he mumbled. "It was all a mistake. "

"It was no mistake. "

"If I give you ten dollars, will you call it off?"

"No. "

"Then you don't git a cent, see?"

And with great deliberation the pickpocket closed one bleared eye andglared at Jerry. 

"We'll see about that later, " cried our hero, hotly, and catching therascal by the collar the youth yanked him to a standing position. "Nowcome on, and no nonsense. "

Seeing that the youth was not to be fooled with, Wakefield Smith tried todicker again, getting himself badly twisted in his plea that he would makeeverything all right. Jerry would not trust him and forced him to walkalong until the nearest corner was reached. Here he suddenly made a clutchat an electric-light pole and held fast. 

"Help! help! help!" he cried out at the top of his lungs. "Police!"

The young oarsman did not know what to make of this appeal for assistance, for it seemed to him that the authorities were the very people Mr. Wakefield Smith wished to avoid. He was destined, however to soon learn atrick that was brand new to him. 

The pickpocket had hardly uttered his cry when a bluecoat put intoappearance and came running to the spot. 

"What's the trouble here?" he demanded. 

"Shay, officer, make that young fellow go away, " hiccoughed Mr. WakefieldSmith. 

"What is he up to?"

"Trying to rob me, officer; reg'lar slick Aleck. "

At this cool assertion Jerry was dumbfounded. 

"So you're trying to rob this gent, eh?" said the bluecoat, turning to ourhero and catching his arm. "I reckon I came just in time. "

"It's a falsehood; he is the pickpocket, " rejoined Jerry as soon as hecould speak. 

"He looks like it, " said the officer, sarcastically. 

"He didn't rob me now, he robbed several nights ago. I just ran acrosshim. "

"He's a slick Aleck, " went on Mr. Wakefield Smith. "Don't let him take mywatch, officer!"

"No fear of that. Come along with me, young man. "

"If I have to go I want him to go, too. "

At these words Mr. Wakefield Smith's face changed color. 

"I can't go, officer; have an important engagement at the--er--club. "

"He is a pickpocket and I'll prove it at the station house, " said Jerry, warningly. "It is your duty to make him go along. I'll help you carry himif it's necessary. "

"And you'll skip out, too, if you get the chance, " remarked the policeman, grimly. 

"If you think that, handcuff me to this fellow. "

"Do you mean that?"

"I do, sir. "

"Hang me if I don't think you are honest, after all. "

"He's a big thief!" bawled Mr. Wakefield Smith. 

"Keep quiet and come along. They can straighten matters out at theprecinct. "

The officer took Mr. Wakefield Smith by the arm and started to walk theprisoner away. With a dexterous twist the intoxicated man cleared himselfand plunged down the street. 

The bluecoat and Jerry made after him as quickly as they could, but adrawing school in the neighborhood had just let out, and they weredetained by the crowd. Mr. Wakefield Smith stumbled across the street anddown a side thoroughfare that was very dark. The officer and our hero wentafter him, but at the end of the second block he was no longer to beseen. 

"Now you've let him escape, " said Jerry to the policeman. "I have a goodmind to report you. "

"Go on with you!" howled the officer in return. "I reckon it was a put upjob all around. Clear about your business or I'll run you in fordisorderly conduct!"

And he made such a savage dash at the young oarsman with his long clubthat our hero was glad to retreat. 

He continued the hunt for the pickpocket alone, but without avail, and, much disheartened, finally returned to his boarding-house. He was afraidhe had seen the last of Mr. Wakefield Smith, and was glad he had gotten atleast ten dollars from the pickpocket. 

CHAPTER XXXI. 

NELLIE ARDELL'S TROUBLES. 

On the following morning Jerry went to work at the bindery as if nothinghad happened. When he went in, Dick Lanning glared at our hero and stoppedas if to speak, but changed his mind and walked off without saying aword. 

During the day the young oarsman became much better acquainted with hiswork and began to like it. 

That night, on leaving the bindery by the side entrance, which opened on anarrow lane, our hero saw Dick Lanning and several of his friends waitingfor him. 

He attempted to pass but Lenning put out his foot, and had Jerry notstopped he would have been tripped up. 

"Let me pass, " said he, sharply, but instead of complying, Lenning took astand in front of him and hit the youth on the shoulder. 

"I said I'd git square, " he hissed, savagely. "If yer ain't afraid, standup and fight. "

"I'm not afraid, " replied Jerry, and pushed him up against the wall. 

Without delay a rough-and-tumble fight ensued. 

"Give it to him, Dick!"

"Do the hayseed up!"

"Knock him into the middle of next week!"

These and a dozen other cries arose on the air, and the crowd keptincreasing until fully a hundred spectators surrounded the pair. 

Dick Lanning had caught Jerry unfairly, but the youth soon managed toshake him off, and, hauling back, gave him a clean blow on the end of hisunusually long nose, which caused the blood to spurt from that organ in astream. 

"He's tapped Dick's nose!"

"My! wasn't that a blow, though!"

"The country lad is game!"

Wild with rage, Dick Lanning endeavored to close in again. Jerry stoppedthe movement this time by a blow on the chest which sent him staggeringback several feet into the crowd. 

"What's the matter, Dick?"

"Don't let him use you like that. "

"I'll fix him!" howled the bully, and rushed at our hero a third time. 

Again he hit Jerry, this time in the chin. But our hero's blood was nowup, and, calculating well, he struck a square blow in the left eye thatknocked the bully flat. 

"Dick is knocked out!"

"That country jay is a corker!"

"Git up, Dick. Yer eye is turnin' all black!"

"Better let him go, he's too much for you!"

Dick Lanning was slow in coming to the front. The eye was not only black, but it was closing rapidly. 

"He's got a stone in his fist--he don't fight fair, " he growled to hisfriends. 

"I have nothing in my fist, " retorted Jerry. "If he wants anymore, I fancyI can accommodate him, although I don't care to fight. "

Dick Lanning was uneasy. He glanced toward his friends and passed a signalto one of his cronies. 

"Police! skip!" cried the crony. "Come on, Dick, you don't want to gitcaught!"

And he dragged Dick Lanning away, while the crowd scattered like magic. Nopoliceman was in sight, nor did any appear. It was only a ruse to retirewithout acknowledging defeat. 

But that fight taught Dick Lanning a severe lesson. He still remained downupon the young oarsman, but in the future he fought shy of our hero, knowing that Jerry would not stand his bullying manner. 

On Saturday the shop closed down early, and, having nothing else to do, Jerry walked down to the newspaper office in hope of receiving some answerto the advertisement for the missing papers. 

But no answer was forthcoming and, disappointed, he retraced his steps andsauntered in the direction in which Nellie Ardell and her little brotherTommy lived. 

"I'll call on them and see how she made out about her rent, " he said tohimself, and mounted the stairs to her apartment. 

There was a murmur of voices in the kitchen. The door was partly open andJerry saw the girl and her little brother standing there, confronted by aburly man. 

"That rent has got to be paid, that's all there is to it, " the man wassaying. 

"I cannot pay to-day, " replied Nellie Ardell. "I will try to pay Monday. "

"It won't do. I've given you notice, and if you can't pay, you have got toleave. "

At this the girl burst into tears. 

"Would you put me on the street?" she wailed. 

"I'll have to--it's orders, " replied the burly man doggedly. 

"Whose order?"

"Mr. Slocum. "

"Mr. Slocum is a very hard-hearted man, " cried the girl, indignantly. 

"That's so, " Jerry put in as he entered. 

"Oh, Jerry Upton!" Nellie Ardell cried, when she saw our hero. "This manwants to put me out of my rooms. "

"It's a shame. "

"Who are you?" demanded the burly man. "Do you live here?"

"No. I am this young lady's friend, however. Did Mr. Slocum say to put herout?"

"Yes. "

"What shall I do if they put me on the street?" wailed Nellie Ardell. 

"I'm sure I don't know. But Slocum sha'n't put you on the street if I canhelp it, " went on Jerry, suddenly. 

"What will you do?"

"How much do you owe him?"

"Twelve dollars. I have four, but he won't take it. He wants the entireamount. "

"I will let you have ten dollars, " said our hero, and brought out the billWakefield Smith had dropped. 

"Oh, won't that be robbing you?" cried Nellie Ardell, but her eyesglistened with pleasure. 

"Never mind; take it and pay this man off. "

Nellie Ardell accepted the amount without further words. 

"Now, " she said, as she paid the man, "I am going to move. "

"Move! What for?"

"I can get better rooms for less money just across the way. "

The burly man's face fell. He was Alexander Slocum's agent, and he knewthat to get tenants for the rooms Nellie Ardell occupied would bedifficult. 

"It ain't right to move now--in the middle of the summer. "

"You intended to put me out--if I couldn't pay the rent. "

"That is different. "

"I have paid up promptly for many months. Mr. Slocum could have been a biteasier for once. "

"He is more than mean, " put in Jerry. "I would advise you to move by allmeans. "

"You seem to know a great deal about him, " sneered the agent. 

"I do--and I'll know more some day. "

The agent began to growl, but, seeing he could do nothing, he went off toinform Alexander Slocum that Nellie Ardell intended to move. 

CHAPTER XXXII. 

A CRAZY MAN'S DOINGS. 

"You are more than kind to me, Jerry Upton, " exclaimed Nellie Ardell, whenthey and her little brother were left alone. 

"I didn't want to see you thrown out of your home, " said Jerry, soberly. 

"I shall pay you back that money as soon as I possibly can, " she went on. "I expect to get about twenty dollars for sewing next week. One of theladies I work for is out of town, but is coming back on Wednesday. "

"All right--take your time. When will you move? Maybe I can help carrysome things for you. "

"I've a good mind to move this afternoon. Those other rooms are allready. "

"Then do it, and I'll pitch right in, " and in fun the young oarsman pickedup several chairs. 

"I will. Will you be kind enough to stay with Tommy a few minutes?"

"Certainly. "

Nellie Ardell went off at once, and was back in ten minutes. When shereturned she had rented three small rooms for less money than she nowpaid. 

She had not many articles of furniture and it did not seem the least bitlike working to our hero to assist her in transferring them across theway. The two worked together, and as they labored they talked, Jerrytelling her a good deal about his mission to New York and the girlrelating her own experiences in keeping the wolf from the door. 

"We were not always poor, " said Nellie Ardell. "When father was alive welived in our own home in Brooklyn. But he grew interested in a Westernland scheme and it took all of his money. "

"That was our trouble. I came to New York to see what I could do towardmaking Alexander Slocum give an accounting of the money he put in aCalifornia land scheme for my uncle. "

"Why, my father was in Slocum's land scheme!" she ejaculated. 

"Perhaps it was the same. This land scheme I speak of was called the JudgeMartin--why, I don't know. "

"It is the same. It was so called because the land once belonged to aJudge Martin of Colorado. "

Of course, Jerry was deeply interested, and, the moving finished, he andshe sat down to talk the matter over. 

From what our hero learned of Nellie Ardell he came to the conclusion thatAlexander Slocum was every inch the villain he had taken him to be. 

The real estate dealer had hoodwinked the girl completely, and she hadsurrendered to him all the documents her parent had left behind at thetime of his death. 

"It's too bad, " said Jerry. "We must work together against him. Butnothing can be done until my missing papers are recovered. "

Before he left, another matter was discussed and settled. In her newquarters Nellie Ardell had a small room she did not really need, and sheoffered to board Jerry at three dollars and a half a week. As this wouldbe an acceptable saving just at present, our hero accepted the offer andagreed to make the change on the following Monday. 

Sunday passed quietly. Jerry spent part of the day in writing a longletter home, telling the folks just how matters stood and urging them notto worry, as he felt certain all would come out right in the end, and thathe was quite content to remain in New York and support himself until hehad settled matters with Alexander Slocum. The letter was finished late inthe afternoon, and after taking supper he went out to post it. 

The novelty of life in the city had not yet passed, and, the letter putinto a corner box, the young oarsman sauntered on and on, taking in themany strange sights. 

He had gone a distance of half a dozen blocks when he came to a church. The doors were wide open, and as the congregation were singing, he stoppedto listen to the music. 

When the music stopped, our hero passed on down the street, which seemedto grow poorer as he advanced. The new houses gave place to those thatwere very old, and on all sides Jerry could see the effects of grindingpoverty. 

"It's a great city, " he thought. "And it is true that one half doesn'tknow how the other half lives. "

"Please, mister, will you give me five cents?"

Jerry stopped in his walk and looked down to see who had addressed him. Itwas a little girl, and she was crying bitterly. 

"Five cents?" he repeated. 

"Yes, mister; please don't say no. I've asked so many for the moneyalready and they won't give me a cent. "

"What are you going to do with five cents?"

"I've got to bring it home to daddy. "

"To daddy--you mean your father?"

"He's a sort of a father, but he's not my real papa, " sobbed the littlegirl. "He took me when papa died. "

"What does your--your daddy want with the five cents?"

At this question the little girl's face flushed. 

"I--I daren't tell you--daddy would whip me, " she whimpered. 

"Does he drink?"

"I daren't tell you. "

"Does he send you out very often to beg?"

"He sends me out when he's--when he's--but I daren't tell you. He wouldwhip me most to death. "

"Where do you live?"

"Over there. "

And the little girl pointed to a long row of rear tenements, the veryworst-looking in the neighborhood. 

"And what is daddy's name?"

"His real name is James MacHenry, but the folks around here all call himCrazy Jim, " she answered. 

Jerry started back in surprise. Crazy Jim was the tramp who had been seenwalking off with his packet of documents!

"So you live with Crazy Jim?" said our hero, to the little girl, slowly. 

"Yes, sir. "

"How long have you lived with him?"

"Oh, a long while, sir. "

"Take me to him. "

At this request she drew back in horror. 

"Oh, I can't do that, indeed I can't, " she faltered. 

"Why not?"

"I took a man to him once--a charity officer--and daddy--whip--whipped mefor it. "

"Then show me where he lives, " went on Jerry after a pause. "You needn'tlet him see you. I must have a talk with him. Perhaps I'll give him somemoney. "

The little girl still hesitated, but finally led the way up the streetinto a horrible-looking alley and pointed to a dingy tenement-house. 

"Daddy is up there on the top floor in the back. "

"And is that where you live?" asked Jerry, with a shudder he could notrepress. 

"Yes, of course. "

"It's not a nice place. "

"Oh, no, " and something like a tear glistened in the girl's eye. 

"Here is ten cents for you, " added Jerry. "You had better keep it foryourself. Are you hungry?"

"A little. I only had some bread to-day for dinner and supper. "

"Then go down to the restaurant on the corner and get something to eat forthe money. You need it. "

The little girl ran off to do as bidden, and our hero entered thedilapidated tenement. Four dirty men and women sat on the stoop smokingand drinking from a tin pail. 

"Who are ye lookin' fer?" asked one of the men, roughly. 

"Crazy Jim, " answered Jerry, briefly, and brushed past him. 

The hallway was dark, and it was with difficulty that the young oarsmanfound the rickety stairs, every step of which creaked as he trod upon it. 

Arriving at the top floor, the youth noticed a shaft of light streamingfrom beneath a door in the rear. He knocked loudly. 

There was a movement within, the door was flung back, and Jerry foundhimself confronted by a tall, round-shouldered individual, with long, unkempt hair and a wild look in his small black eyes. 

CHAPTER XXXIII. 

THE LITTLE NOBODY. 

"Well!" demanded the man laconically. 

"Is this James MacHenry?"

"That's me, boy. "

"I would like to see you on business, " Jerry went on, as he brushed pastand entered one of the barest living apartments he had ever seen. 

"On business?"

"Yes, a few days ago you picked up a packet downtown belonging to me--apacket containing some documents and letters. "

"Who said they belonged to you?"

"I say so. My name is Jerry Upton, and I dropped the packet in thealleyway where you found it. "

The man stared at our hero. 

"Say, is this a game?" he demanded, harshly. 

"What do you mean?"

"Are you trying to get me into trouble?"

"No, I am trying to keep you out of trouble, " replied the young oarsman, warmly. 

"You say that packet belonged to you?"

"Yes. "

"It didn't have your name on it. "

"No, it--" Our hero stopped short. "It had Alexander Slocum's name on it!"he burst out. 

"Exactly. "

"You don't mean to say you delivered that packet to him?" gasped theyouth. 

"I did--not an hour ago. "

Jerry fell back into a chair and breathed heavily. The packet wasgone--into the hands of the enemy!

"The man said it was his package, " said Crazy Jim. "He gave me a reward offive dollars for returning it to him. "

"It was mine. He wanted to steal it--and now he's done it, " cried Jerry. "You let him have it but an hour ago?"

"Yes. "

"Where did he go?"

"I don't know. "

"Did you open the packet?"

"Yes, but I couldn't make nothing out of it--'cos I ain't eddicated. Iread his name on it and got another fellow to write a postal cardyesterday afternoon. He came here, examined the papers, and seemed muchpleased. "

"No doubt he was pleased, " groaned the young oarsman. 

"Was the thing worth much?"

"It was worth a good deal. I would have given five dollars to get itback. "

"What does he want with it?"

"Wants to do my father out of some property, " answered our hero. "By theway, who is that little girl who lives with you?"

At this question Crazy Jim's face darkened. 

"That ain't none of your business, " he growled. 

"You shouldn't send her out on the street to beg. "

"Wot! has she been blabbin' again? I'll break every bone in her body!" andoff the man started out of the room and down the narrow stairs. 

Jerry had noticed that his breath smelt strongly of liquor. He was notonly a drinking man, but also one who was not quite right in his head. 

"Don't hurt her, you brute!" called out the boy, and followed him out ofthe alleyway into the street. At the nearest corner stood the little girl, and Crazy Jim rushed up to her fiercely. 

"You good-fer-nothin'!" he bawled. "I'll teach ye a lesson! Didn't I tellye ter keep yer clapper still about me? Take that! and that!"

He raised his heavy hand and struck her a cruel blow on the side of thehead. She staggered back, and he was about to repeat his unjust action, when Jerry thought it about time to interfere. Catching him by the arm, our hero hurled him backward with such force that he fell flat in thegutter. 

At once a shout went up from those who saw Jerry's action. 

"What are yer doin'?"

"Who is that boy?"

With a fearful exclamation, Crazy Jim arose to his feet. 

"I'll fix ye fer that!" he hissed, and sprang forward. "You ain't got noright ter interfere between me an' the gal. "

"You are a brute!" burst out our hero. "This little girl has done nothingto deserve such punishment. "

"Who set you over me?" howled the infuriated man. "I'll fix ye!"

He tried his best to hit Jerry with his fist, but the young oarsman dodgedhim and took a stand in front of the little girl. 

"You had better run away, " Jerry whispered to her. "He is in a terriblemood just now. "

"Where shall I go?" whimpered the girl. 

"Anywhere. Up two blocks. I will join you soon. "

Without delay the little girl ran off. Crazy Jim tried to follow her, butJerry headed him off. 

Seeing he could do nothing with his hands, the savage man looked aroundfor some weapon. A heavy stone was lying handy, and he picked it up. Thenext moment it was launched at our hero's head. 

Luckily, Jerry was quick at dodging, or he might have been seriouslywounded. The missile went sailing over the lad's head and flew with acrash through the front window of a neighboring store. 

The smashing of the pane of glass was followed by a shout of alarm fromthe storekeeper, who sat in a chair on the pavement. 

"Here, vot's dot?" he yelled. "Vot you means py preaking mine vinder, hey, you Crazy Gim? I vos got you locked up. Ain't it? Bolice! bolice!"

The German storekeeper continued to yell so loudly that it was not longbefore an officer appeared. Seeing this, Jerry backed out of the crowd andhurried off. He saw the policeman catch Crazy Jim by the arm, and a wordywar followed. A minute later the fellow was being marched off to thestation-house. No doubt the policeman would have liked it had he foundJerry, but our hero kept at a safe distance. 

It was now quite dark, and it was with some difficulty that Jerry againfound the little girl. She stood by a hitching post, sobbing bitterly. 

"Where is he?" she asked, choking back her sobs. 

"The policeman took him off. Don't cry any more, " Jerry added, soothingly. 

"But where shall I go?" she asked. "I can't go back. "

"Have you no friends?"

"No. Crazy Jim and I came to New York alone when papa died. "

"Where did you come from?"

The little girl shook her head at this. She had been too young toremember. 

"What is your name?"

"Dottie. "

"Dottie what?"

"Nothing, only Dottie. "

Jerry was in a quandary. To a certain degree he felt responsible for herpresent forlorn condition. Suddenly an idea struck him. 

"If you will come with me, I'll see to it that you have a good bedto-night, and breakfast in the morning, " he said. "And after that I'll seewhat I can do for you, Dottie. "

"Who are you?"

"My name is Jerry Upton. "

"You look like a nice boy and I'll go with you, " and she placed her handconfidently in that of the young oarsman. 

Jerry took the little one to Nellie Ardell's apartments. Of course she wasmuch surprised, and, sitting down, our hero had to explain everything asfar as he was able. Nellie Ardell agreed instantly to take the little girlin. 

"You can stay here until we can do something for you, " she said. "I knowhow it would feel to have little Tommy on the streets homeless. "

And soon after that Dottie was put to bed, very well content. Her hardlife with Crazy Jim had made her used to ups and downs that no ordinarylittle girl could have endured. 

The reader can well imagine that Jerry did not sleep much that night. Hecould not forget that Alexander Slocum had the precious packet of papers. Bitterly he regretted not having taken better care of the documents. 

"I will call on Slocum, and come to some sort of an understanding, " Jerrysaid to himself. "Perhaps when I tell him that both Nellie Ardell andmyself are ready to proceed against him he will be willing to come toterms. "

The next day was a busy one at the book-bindery, and our hero got nochance to call on Slocum. During that time he learned that Crazy Jim hadbeen locked up for resisting the officer and had been sentenced to thirtydays on Blackwell's Island. 

The young oarsman did not know what to do about little Dottie, but NellieArdell solved this question. 

"I have received a whole lot of new work, " she said. "So for the presentwe can keep her to mind Tommy while I am dressmaking. "

So the little girl stayed on. Jerry never dreamed of how much she had todo with his future life. 

On Thursday Mr. Islin's brother died and the bindery was closed forseveral days. Jerry took the opportunity to walk down to AlexanderSlocum's offices. 

The real estate man was alone, and greeted our hero with a sinistersmile. 

"So you have seen fit to call again, young man, " were his first words. 

"Mr. Slocum, let us come to business, " Jerry replied firmly. "What are yougoing to do about my father's claim?"

Alexander Slocum laughed harshly. 

"Your father's claim?" he repeated. "I don't recognize the fact that yourfather has any claim against me. "

CHAPTER XXXIV. 

ALEXANDER SLOCUM SHOWS HIS HAND. 

Alexander Slocum's statement was no more than Jerry had expected, so hewas not taken back by the words. He looked the man steadily in the eyes. 

"So that is the position you are going to take now--since you received mypacket from James MacHenry, " said Jerry, deliberately. 

Slocum started and winced, and the young oarsman saw that Crazy Jim hadspoken the truth. 

"I haven't anything belonging to you, Upton. "

"It is useless for you to deny it, Mr. Slocum. He found the packet anddelivered it to you for a reward of five dollars. "

"The packet he delivered to me was my own. It contained some legaldocuments belonging to this office. "

"You may make others believe that, Mr. Slocum, but--"

"But what, boy? Remember, I want none of your insolence here. I willlisten to you, but you mustn't grow impertinent. "

"I'm only speaking the truth. You virtually robbed me, just as you robbedmy father and Mr. Bryant Ardell. "

"Ha!" Slocum leaped to his feet. "Who--where did you hear of BryantArdell?" he asked, excitedly. 

"I have met Nellie Ardell several times--in fact, I am boarding withher. "

"Did she set you to hounding me?"

"No; we met by accident after I had come to New York almost on purpose tosee you. "

"She is an impudent young woman. "

"She told me that you had her land papers, just as you now have mine. "

"It's a falsehood!"

"If both of us go to court with our story, we may prove that it is not afalsehood. "

"Ha! are you going to combine to ruin my reputation?" cried the realestate dealer, growing pale. 

"We are going to try to obtain our rights. "

"You'll gain nothing. I'll--I'll have you locked up on a charge ofblack-mail!" Alexander Slocum began to pace his office nervously. "Seehere, Upton how much do you want to go off and leave me alone?" hequestioned, suddenly. 

"I want what is due my father. "

"You'll not get it!" he whispered, hoarsely, throwing his mask aside. "Doyou think I have plotted and worked all these years for nothing? Not much!All that property is mine, do you hear? Nobody else shall ever own a footof it. Now, I'll tell you what I am willing to do. I'll give you a hundreddollars in cash and we'll call it square. Mind you, I don't admit yourclaim. I only want to avoid trouble. "

Jerry looked at the man and drew a long breath. He could see throughSlocum's words as clearly as he could see through the window. His father'sclaim was worth a fortune!

"Come, what do you say?" demanded Slocum as Jerry did not answer him. 

"I say this, Mr. Slocum, " rejoined our hero. "I won't accept yourproposition, and before I am done with you I'll have our rights and you'llbe in state's prison. "

With a snarl very much like that made by a fretful tiger, the man leapedtoward the boy as if to grab him by the throat. 

"You fool! I'll make you come to terms!"

His hand touched Jerry's collar, but the young oarsman evaded him andplaced the flat-top desk between them. When the man ran around the desk, Jerry picked up a heavy brass-bound ruler. 

"Stop, or I'll crack you with this!" cried our hero, and, seeing theweapon, Slocum halted. 

"Don't be a fool, boy!"

"I don't intend to be. "

"You can do nothing against me. "

"That remains to be seen. "

"Who will take your word against mine? Nobody. You are a mere country lad, while I am a well-known New York citizen. "

"Mr. Ardell was also well known in his day. "

Again Alexander Slocum's face grew pale. 

"Nellie Ardell has no doubt urged you to attack me, " he growled. "I mustsee her. Why didn't she come with you?"

"She is busy. "

"I will explain matters to her in detail. Really, the claim is not worthanything, but I wish to avoid trouble, and--"

"You might as well stop, Mr. Slocum, for it's too late to say that now. Iam positive our claims are of great value. Since you won't do the rightthing, I shall advise my father to bring action in court to compel you tocome to terms. "

While speaking, Jerry had walked to the door, and now placed his hand onthe knob. 

"Stop! stop!"

"No, I have had enough for the present. "

"You villain!"

Slocum ran toward Jerry, who opened the door to step out, but found theway blockaded by Casey, his book-keeper. 

"Here, what's up?" cried the man, in wonder. 

"Don't let him get away, Casey!" cried Alexander Slocum. "He is going tomake trouble, sure!"

"Let me go!" burst out our hero as the book-keeper caught hold of him. "Let go, or I'll----"

Jerry never finished that sentence. Alexander Slocum had picked up theruler the youth had dropped, and leaped to the front. Down came the weaponon the young oarsman's head; he felt a sharp stinging pain--and then heknew no more. 

When Jerry came to his senses all was dark around him. He was lying on adamp, cement floor, evidently that of a cellar. 

His head ached greatly, and for several minutes he could not remember whathad happened. 

Then came back that scene in Slocum's office. He staggered to his feet. 

Where was he and how long had he been there?

The first question was readily answered. Stepping forward, Jerry stumbledover some loose coal. He was in a coal-cellar. Around and above were brickwalls. The door was of sheet-iron, and it was tightly closed and barred. How had he come to that place? Probably his enemies had carried himhither, although how they could do it without being seen was a question. 

As soon as our hero felt strong enough he looked about for some means ofescaping from his prison. With great care he examined the walls and triedthe door. 

Finding no outlet on any side, he turned his attention to the pavementsabove. From one spot there came a faint glimmer of light, in a circle, andhe rightfully guessed that the coal-hole was located there. 

How to reach the hole was a problem. It was several feet above our hero'shead, and there was nothing in the coal-vault to stand upon. 

Jerry considered the situation for a minute, and then, standing directlyunder the cover of the hole, leaped upward, sending his hand over his headas he did so. 

The cover was loose, and the force of the blow caused it to fly upward. Another blow and it fell away entirely, and in a second more the youngoarsman was clambering out of the opening. 

It was drawing towards evening, and the street was full of people, some ofwhich eyed the boy curiously. Restoring the cover to its place, he leftthe spot. 

The question now was, should he return to Slocum's office or seek outsideassistance? He decided upon the latter course. To attempt to bring therascally real estate agent to terms alone would be foolhardy. 

Jerry's head ached so much he could think only with difficulty, and hedecided to return to Nellie Ardell's apartments. It was a hard walk, andhe was glad when the place was reached and he could sit down. 

"What's the matter--are you hurt?" cried the young woman. 

"I was knocked out, " replied the youth, with a sorry little laugh. "I'vegot a pretty big lump on the top of my head. "

Sitting down, he told his story, to which Nellie Ardell listened withbreathless attention. 

"The wicked man! He should be locked up!" she burst out, when Jerry hadfinished. "It's a wonder he didn't kill you. "

"That's true. As it was, the blow was awfully hard. "

"What will you do now?"

"I really don't know. "

"Won't that Mr. Islen whom you work for, help you?"

"Perhaps he will, " returned the youth, struck with the idea. "The troubleis his brother is dead, and that has upset him. "

"One thing is certain, Jerry, the property is valuable. "

"Yes, and another thing is certain, " added our hero. "We want our sharesof it. "

"It would be a great help to me to get some money out of it, " said NellieArdell, with a sigh. "This sewing constantly day in and day out is wearingon me. "

The two talked for over an hour, and then Jerry felt compelled to liedown. It was nearly morning before his head stopped aching and he got somerest. 

CHAPTER XXXV. 

A STRANGE DISAPPEARANCE

On the next day the bindery was opened as usual, but Mr. Islen did notappear, having gone to Philadelphia. Jerry worked throughout the day, wondering what Alexander Slocum had thought and done after he haddiscovered the escape. Little did the young oarsman dream of what the realestate dealer was then doing. 

Our hero was proving himself to be skillful at the work assigned to himand the foreman often praised him. 

"You'll be worth a raise in wages, " he said. "I never saw a boy take holdas you do. "

Jerry never delayed after the day's work was over. He washed up, put onhis coat, and hurried forth to his boarding place. 

When Jerry reached the house he found little Dottie on the stoop, withTommy in her arms. Tommy was crying for something to eat, and the littlegirl was having her hands full with him. 

"Where is Miss Nellie?" asked our hero in surprise. 

"I don't know, " returned the girl. "She sent me out with Tommy afterdinner, and when I tried to get in after a while the door was locked andshe was gone. "

"And you have been sitting here ever since?"

"Yes. "

"Come up. I'll open the door. "

Jerry led the way, and with a night key opened the door to the kitchen. 

A cry of surprise burst from his lips. Everywhere were the signs of adesperate struggle. Two of the chairs were overturned, the table-clothhung half off the table, and Nellie Ardell's sewing was strewn in alldirections. 

"This is Slocum's work!"

Those were the words which arose to the youth's lips as he surveyed thesituation in the kitchen. 

Alexander Slocum had tried to get him out of the way, and now he had triedthe same plan upon Nellie Ardell. 

There had been a fierce struggle, of that there was not the slightestdoubt. 

But the girl had been overpowered in the end and taken off. 

To where?

That was the all important question. 

While our hero was gazing around the room, little Tommy was crying at thetop of his lungs. 

To quiet him, Jerry gave him his bowl of bread and milk, and also gaveDottie her supper. 

Then Jerry began a minute examination of the rooms. 

There was mud on the oil-cloth--the tracks of four boots. 

"Slocum and Casey, his book-keeper, " he said to himself. 

Going below he interviewed Mrs. Flannigan, a good-natured Irish woman wholived on the nest floor. 

"Did you see Miss Ardell this afternoon?"

"Sure, an' Oi did not Oi was out, " she replied. 

He next tried the janitress, who lived in the basement. She was a pepperyold woman who seldom had a pleasant word for anybody. 

"Did I see her? Yes, she went out with two men about two hours ago, " shesaid. 

"What sort of looking men?"

"I can't say--I'm not taking notice of everybody who comes and goes. "

"But this is important, Mrs. Foley. I am afraid something has happened toMiss Ardell. "

"They were tall men, and I guess both had big black mustaches andbeards. "

"Where did she go with them?"

"Into a carriage. All of 'em seemed to be in a big hurry. "

"Which way did the carriage go?"

"Down towards the Brooklyn ferry. "

In a thoughtful mood, the young oarsman walked back upstairs. He met Mrs. Flannigan outside of the door. 

"What's wrong, Mr. Upton?"

"That is what I am trying to find out. Miss Ardell is missing. If I goout, will you look after the children?"

"Sure, Oi will, bless the dears, " she said. Her heart was as large as herruddy, full-blown face. 

Without waiting longer, Jerry ran down into the street and endeavored totrace the carriage down to the ferry. In this he was successful, andlearned that the turnout containing two men and a young lady, who appearedto be ill, had crossed to Brooklyn. 

By this time night had set in, and all efforts to follow the carriageproved unsuccessful. Yet unwilling to give up, Jerry spent over two hoursin Brooklyn, hunting in every direction for a clew. 

Our hero had never been across the East River before, and in huntingaround it was but natural that he should get lost. At the end of thesearch he found himself a good distance from the river, in a neighborhoodthat looked anything but respectable. 

"It's time I got back, " thought the youth, and started to make inquiries. 

"You're a dozen blocks out of your way, " said a man. "Go down that waythree blocks, and turn to your left. "

As Jerry walked along a somewhat gloomy street, he noticed three menwalking ahead of him. One was a tall, finely built man, wearing a largeround hat, of the western type. 

The other men were short fellows, each with a red mustache. They carriedheavy canes and walked on either side of the tall individual. 

"Aren't we almost there?" Jerry heard the tall man ask, as he drew closerto the trio. 

"Yes, it ain't but a step further, " was the reply from one of the shortmen. 

"You are certain this Crazy Jim is the man I am after?"

"Oh, yes. "

The mentioning of Crazy Jim's name interested Jerry. Crazy Jim was stillup on Blackwell's Island. It was possible, however, that they referred tosome other individual. 

To hear what further they might have to say the young oarsman kept closeto the party. 

"It's been a long hunt for me, gentlemen, " said the tall man, and by hisspeech Jerry felt sure he was a westerner. "But if I am on the righttrail, things will soon come out right. "

"What do you want to find Crazy Jim for?" asked one of the short men. 

"I'm not saying any thing about that just now, " was the cool response. 

"Oh, excuse me, of course not. " The short fellow looked around, but failedto catch sight of our hero. "Jack, how about a smoke?" he said to theother short fellow. 

"Strike a light, " was the answer. 

The words were evidently a secret signal, for hardly were they spoken whenone of the short men caught the westerner from behind and held his arms. 

"Here, what's the meaning of this?" cried the man, in alarm. 

"Keep still, old man, and we won't hurt you. Raise a row and you'll getknocked out. Quick, Pete, with his diamond pin and that roll of bills inhis left pocket!"

At this command the man in front rushed in and caught hold of the man'spin. Out it came in his hand, a beautiful affair, worth at least a hundreddollars. 

"Stop! stop!" yelled the westerner. "Police! police!"

"Shut up!" hissed the man who held him. "Pete, crack him over the head. Wecan't afford to take any chances here. "

Thus ordered, the man who held the diamond pin slipped it into his pocket. Then he raised his heavy cane and started to do as bidden when Jerryrushed at him. 

"Stop! Don't hit that man!"

The rascal was surprised. 

"Who are you? Oh, it's only a boy. Clear out of here!"

"I won't! You let that man alone. "

"Don't leave me, " pleaded the victim. "They want to rob me. He has mydiamond pin!"

"Shut up!" howled the man in the rear. "Crack him, Pete, and crack theboy, too. "

Once more the heavy cane was raised. Our hero caught it in the center, andby a dexterous twist wrenched it from the rascal's hand. 

With a howl of baffled rage the rascal turned and caught Jerry by thethroat. 

"Give me that stick, boy, or I'll choke the life out of you!" he hissedinto the youth's ear. 

CHAPTER XXXVI. 

JERRY HEARS AN ASTONISHING STATEMENT. 

When the footpad, for the fellow was nothing less, attacked Jerry, ourhero felt that he had a tough struggle before him. 

The rascal's grasp on the young oarsman's throat was light, however, andJerry quickly shook it off. 

In the meantime the westerner began to struggle and shout at the top ofhis voice:

"Help! Police! police!"

In vain the fellow who held him tried to stop his cries. They grew louder, and soon footsteps were heard approaching. 

Jerry received a savage blow on the chest and struck out in return, hitting the footpad in the chin. Then the two clinched, and both rolled tothe pavement. 

Jerry's assailant was a strong man and he was slowly but surely gettingthe best of the youth when three men put in an appearance. They wereheavy-set individuals and were followed by a policeman. 

"What's up here?"

"Don't kill that boy!"

"He is a thief!" cried Jerry. "He has that man's diamond pin. "

"That's right, " put in the westerner, who had managed to turn and catchhold of his assailant. "This fellow is his mate. They just tackled me whenthe boy came to my help. "

"It is a falsehood, " roared the footpad who had attacked our hero. 

Saying this, he arose and tried to sneak away. But Jerry tripped him up, sending him headlong, and before he could rise the policeman had himhandcuffed. 

While this was going on the westerner and two of the new arrivals managedto make a prisoner of the other footpad. He used some terrible language, but this did not avail him. 

"I know them, " said the policeman, after the capture was effected. "Theyare Hungry Pete and Jack the Slick. They are wanted for a burglary atSheepshead Bay. How did you happen to fall in with them?"

"I met them up at Rumford's Hotel. They said they knew a man I was lookingfor. "

"Will you come along and make a charge against them?"

"Certainly. He has my diamond pin. "

The pin was brought to light and handed over to its owner, and then ourhero was asked to go along. 

Anxious to know what the westerner might want of Crazy Jim, Jerry agreed, and a minute later found the whole crowd bound for the neareststation-house. 

Here the westerner gave his name as Colonel Albert Dartwell. He said hewas from Denver and had come east on private business. 

"I have been sick for two months, " he said. "I am still weak. That is thereason I did not put up a better fight when those two men tackled me. "

Jerry told his story, and the upshot of the matter was that the twofootpads were held for another hearing before the judge in the morning. 

"My boy, I owe you something for your services to me, " said the westerner, as he and our hero came out on the street. "You did well for a boy. "

"I did the best I could, " replied the young oarsman "But I want to ask youa question. I heard you mention Crazy Jim. What do you want to see himfor?"

A look of pain crossed Colonel Dartwell's face at my words. 

"It's a long story, Upton. I am from the West and came many miles to seehim. Do you know the man?"

"I know one fellow called Crazy Jim, sir. "

"His right name is James MacHenry. "

"That's the man. "

"Ah! And where can he be found?"

"Most likely on Blackwell's Island. "

"He is in prison?"

"Yes. "

"What for?"

"For breaking the glass in a store window and creating a row. "

Colonel Dartwell drew a long breath. 

"Those footpads told me he was in a hotel in the neighborhood. You aresure you are right?"

"Yes, sir. To be truthful, I was mixed up in the scrape that took CrazyJim to prison. "

"Indeed. Would you mind telling me about it? You don't look like a boythat would do wrong. "

"It wasn't my fault. Crazy Jim had a packet belonging to me--a packetcontaining some valuable documents. I called for them and found he hadgiven them up to an enemy of mine. "

"And that led to the row. "

"Not exactly. He is a bad man, and there was a little girl living withhim, and he--"

As Jerry spoke Colonel Dartwell grasped him by the arm. 

"Stop! What did you say about a little girl?" he demanded, eagerly. 

"I said there was a little girl living with him. He used to send her outto beg. He got it into his head that she had set me against him, and hestarted to beat her. I told her to run away, and then he attacked me andgot arrested. "

"And what became of the little girl? Tell me, quickly!" And ColonelDartwell's voice was husky as he spoke. 

"I met her afterward and took her to where I was boarding, and she isstill stopping there. "

"Describe her to me. "

Seeing there was something behind the inquiry, Jerry gave him the bestdescription he could. The colonel listened with fixed attention. 

"It must be her!" he murmured. "My poor, lost Dottie. "

"Dottie! That's her name!" cried our hero. "And she is--"

"She is my daughter, " was his answer. 

"Your daughter!" ejaculated Jerry, in amazement. 

"Yes, my daughter. Take me to her at once. "

"I will, sir; but this is the strangest thing I ever heard. "

"I have no doubt of it. "

"Was she stolen from you?"

"Yes. It's a long story. I will tell it to you while we are on the way. She is well?"

"Yes, sir. But she has been misused, so you mustn't expect to see herlooking real good. She is very thin. "

"I have not seen her for four years, not since she was a mite of atoddler. "

The pair started for the ferry without delay, and as they proceeded, thecolonel related his story. 

He was a mine-owner and had lived in the West for fifteen years. His wifehad died when Dottie was born, and the child had been turned over to thecare of a colored nurse. 

At that time James MacHenry had been a prospector in the region and he hadopened a mine close to that located by the colonel. 

All went well until the MacHenry mine petered out as it is called, andthen the man's mind became deranged. He accused the colonel of havingcheated him out of a slice of the richest land and a bitter quarrelresulted. 

Two weeks later MacHenry disappeared, and shortly after that baby Dottiewas missing. A long search was made for the child, but without avail. 

Curiously enough, the colonel did not connect the disappearance of hischild with that of Crazy Jim. He started to hunt for the little one amongthe Indians and the outlaws in the mountains. 

Two years passed, and then one night a good-for-nothing miner named Duffywas shot in a quarrel over a game of cards. On his dying bed Duffyconfessed that he had once been intimate with Crazy Jim and that thelatter had acknowledged stealing Dottie. 

A hunt was at once made for the abductor. It was said he had gone to SanFrancisco, and later on he was traced to Chicago, but there the trail waslost until long after, when a tramp turned up who spoke of having seenCrazy Jim around New York. 

Without delay Colonel Dartwell had come East and scoured the metropolis. While here he had fallen in with footpads who had sought to rob him. 

CHAPTER XXXVII. 

A JOYOUS MEETING. 

By the time Colonel Dartwell's story was told he and Jerry had landed inthe metropolis, and a hurried walk of a few minutes brought them to NellieArdell's apartment. Mrs. Flannigan was waiting for our hero, having putboth of the children to bed. 

"An' did ye find Miss Ardell?" she asked, quickly. 

"No, Mrs. Flannigan. But I have found somebody else--the father of littleDottie. "

"Indade, now! An' ain't that noice'" she exclaimed, glancing at ColonelDartwell's well-dressed figure. "Well, the poor dear needs somebody, notbut what she got good care here, " she added, hastily. 

Tears stood in the colonel's eyes as he stepped up beside the bed uponwhich Dottie lay. He took the white-robed figure up in his arms and kissedher face. 

"It is she, " he said, in a choking voice. "The living picture of her deadmother!"

Dottie awoke with a start and was inclined to cry out. But Jerry and thecolonel quickly soothed her. 

"I am your papa, Dottie; don't you remember papa and big Ruth that used tobe with you?"

The little girl looked puzzled. Then she gave a cry. 

"Papa! papa! I know you! I knew you would come to me! Oh, papa, don't goaway again! Crazy Jim said you were dead! Oh, papa!"

And she clung to him convulsively. It was such an affecting scene Jerryhad to turn away, while Mrs. Flannigan, standing in the partly opendoorway, shed copious tears. 

An hour later the children had again retired, and the colonel and theyoung oarsman sat in the little kitchen talking. 

"And you say you think Miss Ardell was abducted?" he said. 

"I felt sure of it, sir. This Alexander Slocum wants to get her out of theway on account of some property he is holding back from her. I aminterested in the same property. "

And Jerry told him the particulars of affairs so far as they concernedSlocum. 

"If the land in question is near Sacramento it ought to be of greatvalue, " said the colonel. "Property in that section is booming. "

"I want to find Nellie Ardell, sir. I am afraid he will do her bodilyharm. He might even kill her to get her out of the way. "

"I will help you all I can, Upton. You have done me a great service, and Icertainly owe the young lady much for taking my child in and caring forher. "

Our hero and the colonel went over the matter carefully for fully an hourand decided to start on a hunt as soon as it grew light. The coloneloffered to employ a detective and this offer Jerry readily accepted. 

Jerry passed several hours trying to sleep, and at the first sign of dawnwas up and dressed. The colonel had rested in an arm-chair, not caring toseparate himself from his child by going to a hotel. 

Mrs. Flannigan was again called upon and readily agreed to take charge ofTommy and Dottie once more. She took them to her own rooms and wascautioned about letting strangers in. 

"Don't fear, they'll not take 'em from me, " she said, and in such adetermined way that Jerry was compelled to laugh. 

The call at a detective's office was soon over, and it was not assatisfactory as our hero had anticipated. 

"You mustn't expect too much, " laughed the colonel. "In spite of thethrilling detective stories published, detectives are only ordinary men, and cannot do the impossible. Mr. Gray will no doubt go to work in his ownway and do the best he can. "

Their next movement was to cross to Brooklyn. Here the pair started on thehunt for the carriage that had carried Nellie Ardell off. 

An hour was spent in a fruitless search. They were about to give it up, when they saw a carriage coming down to the ferry that was covered withdust and mud. 

"That looks as if it had been out in the country a good distance, "observed Colonel Dartwell. "I'll stop the driver and see what he has tosay. It can do no harm. "

Walking up in front of the team he motioned for the driver to halt. 

"Want a carriage, boss?"

"No, I want to know where you have been?" demanded the westerner. 

At this question the driver seemed plainly disconcerted. He looked around, and, seeing a clear space to his left, whipped up his animals and spedoff. 

"He's our man!" cried the colonel. "Come on, he must not escape us!"

He set off with all speed and Jerry followed. The driver drove as far asthe first corner and then had to halt because of a blockade in thestreet. 

"Come down here!" commanded Colonel Dartwell. 

"I ain't done nothin', " growled the fellow. "You let me alone. "

"I asked you where you had been. "

"Up to the park. "

"Who did you have for a fare?"

"An old man. "

"That's not true--you had two men and a girl. "

The carriage driver muttered something under his breath. 

"I--I--who said I had the men and a girl?" he asked, surlily. 

"I say so. Where did you take the young lady?"

At first the driver beat about the bush. But the colonel threatened himwith arrest, and this brought him around. 

"Don't arrest me, boss. I wasn't in the game. The men hired me to take 'emout--that was all. They said the girl was light-headed and the place was aprivate asylum. "

"Probably, " rejoined Colonel Dartwell, sarcastically. "Take us to thatplace without delay. But stop--drive to police headquarters first. "

Very unwillingly the fellow complied. At the headquarters help wasprocured in the shape of two ward detectives. All four of the partyentered the carriage and were driven off to effect Nellie Ardell'srescue. 

It was with deep interest that Jerry accompanied Colonel Dartwell and theofficers of the law in the search for the missing young lady. 

On through the crowded streets of Brooklyn drove the carriage, the drivernow apparently as willing to help the law as he had before wished to evadeit. 

The carriage was turning into one of the fine thoroughfares when Jerrycaught sight of a figure which instantly arrested his attention. Thefigure was that of Mr. Wakefield Smith. 

"Stop!" cried the young oarsman to the driver of the carriage. 

"What's up?" demanded the colonel. 

"Do you see that man over there by the paper stand?"

"Yes. "

"That is Wakefield Smith, the pickpocket. "

"Indeed! He ought to be arrested. "

"You know him to be a pickpocket?" questioned one of the detectives. 

"I do. He robbed me of over twenty dollars. I got back ten dollars. He's avery smooth and slick worker. "

"I think I know that chap, " returned the detective. "Don't he look likeCharley the Dude?" he asked of his companion. 

"By Jove! that's our man!" ejaculated the second detective. "I would knowhim anywhere by that peculiar walk. He has grown a heavy mustache since Isaw him last. "

"Will you stop and arrest him?" asked Jerry. "He ought to be locked up. ""We can get the policeman on the beat to attend to him. There is anofficer on the next corner. Just call him, Harrity. "

The carriage was brought up to the curb and our hero and the officersalighted, the Colonel remaining behind to keep an eye on the driver. 

Mr. Wakefield Smith was strolling down the street in a lordly way whenJerry tapped him on the shoulder. 

"So I've met you again, " he said. 

The pickpocket turned and his face fell. But only for a moment; then hegazed at the youth brazenly. 

"I don't know you, me boy, " he drawled in an assumed voice. 

"But I know you, Mr. Smith, " rejoined Jerry. "I want the balance of mymoney. I got ten dollars the night you were intoxicated, but that is notenough. "

"Boy, you are talking riddles. I never saw you before. "

"I can easily prove it, I fancy. "

"It's no use, Charley, " broke in the detective, who had followed me. "Weknow you well enough. "

"And who are you?" asked the pickpocket, much disconcerted. 

"I am a detective. You are the rogue known as Charley the Dude. You mayconsider yourself under arrest. "

"This is an outrage!"

"Hardly. "

By this time the second detective had arrived with a policeman. At sightof the bluecoat the pickpocket became nervous. Turning, he suddenlystarted to run. 

But the others ran for him, and soon he was handcuffed. Explanations tothe policeman followed, and the officer took him off, and Jerry and thedetectives continued on their way. 

It may be well to state here that the pickpocket, whose real name wasCharles Heulig, was later on convicted of several crimes and sent to stateprison for a term of years. Jerry never received a cent of the balance ofthe money due, but other events that followed made this loss seem atrivial one. 

CHAPTER XXXVIII. 

ALEXANDER SLOCUM IS BROUGHT TO BOOK. 

In half an hour after the arrest of the pickpocket the young oarsman andhis companions found themselves on the outskirts of Brooklyn and bowlingalong a smooth country road which the detectives said they knew well. 

On and on they went, until Colonel Dartwell asked the driver how muchfurther they had to go. 

"About half a mile, sir, " was the answer. 

His words proved correct. Turning into a side road, the carriage came tothe entrance to a large grounds, surrounded by a high board fence. 

Over the gateway was the sign:

 DR. HALCONE'S PRIVATE SANITARIUM. 

"A private lunatic asylum, " murmured Colonel Dartwell. 

"Yes, sir, " said the driver. "You know I told you they said the young ladywas a bit off. "

"What shall we do?" was the question put by the westerner to thedetectives. "Shall we go in boldly and order them to produce the girl?"

"Will they do it?" asked Jerry. "They may be in Slocum's pay, and hide heraway. "

"The young man is right, " said one of the detectives. "We'll drive on away and then sneak back and size the place up. "

This was done, and five minutes later found the colonel and our herowalking along a hedge which separated the grounds on one side from awoods. 

"Look there!" Jerry cried suddenly, and pointed to an upper window of thebrick building beyond. 

He had seen Nellie Ardell's face as the young lady walked about theapartment. As the others gazed upward Alexander Slocum appeared. He held asheet of paper and a pen in his hands. 

"He wants her to sign something, " cried our hero in a low voice. "See!see! he is going to force her. "

"Leave me be, Mr. Slocum, " those below heard Nellie Ardell exclaim. "Iwill not sign off my interest in that property. Leave me be! Oh, thatsomebody was at hand to help me!"

"Come on--there is no time to waste!" cried Colonel Dartwell, and pushedthrough the hedge. 

Jerry followed, and both ran for a side door of the building, which stoodopen. 

Here they found themselves confronted by a burly man of advanced age, evidently the proprietor of the sanitarium. 

"Here, what do you want here?" he demanded, roughly. 

"We want that young lady upstairs!" cried Jerry. 

"You can't have her. "

"We'll see about that, " put in Colonel Dartwell. "You have no authority todetain her here. "

"She is insane, and----"

"Help! help!" came from upstairs, and rushing past the burly doctor, Jerryskipped up the stairs, three steps at a time. 

The colonel came behind. The doctor was about to remonstrate when he foundhimself confronted by the two detectives. 

Our hero and the colonel soon found the proper door. It was locked, butputting his shoulder to it the young oarsman soon burst it open. 

Alexander Slocum stood at the table in the center of the room. He hadNellie Ardell by the wrist, and was endeavoring to force her to sign thepaper before them. 

"Leave her alone, you villain!" cried Jerry, and dragged him backward. 

"Jerry Upton!" exclaimed the young woman, and her tone was full of joy. "Oh, how thankful I am that you have come!"

"What--what is the meaning of this?" asked Slocum, turning deadly pale. 

"It means that you have been found out, Alexander Slocum, " replied ourhero. "We have learned--"

"Darnley the boomer!" burst out Colonel Dartwell at this point. "So thisis where you drifted to after the swindle at Silver Run. "

"Do you know him?" queried Jerry. 

"Only too well. He was in Colorado for several years under the name ofChester Darnley. He is a boomer and all-around swindler. "

"It's a--a falsehood, " burst from Alexander Slocum's lips, but his voicetrembled as he spoke. 

"I can prove all I say, " said the colonel. "There are witnesses enoughagainst you at Silver Run. "

Slocum was all but overcome. He sank in a chair, and a moment later one ofthe detectives came up and slipped a pair of handcuffs on his wrists. 

The proprietor of the so-called sanitarium was also arrested, and bothprisoners were driven down to the Brooklyn police station. A hearing washad, and the prisoners were held for trial. 

From Brooklyn the colonel, Nellie, and Jerry returned to New York. Nellieleft the party to go home, and Jerry and the colonel continued on toSlocum's office with an officer. 

The book-keeper, Casey, was found and arrested, and the office was placedin care of the authorities. The next day Jerry recovered his father'spapers and also those belonging to Nellie Ardell. 

The young oarsman lost no time in sending word home how matters hadturned, stating that the claim was probably worth a good deal of money. Headded that if his father was not well enough to come to the metropolis, Colonel Dartwell stood ready to take entire charge of the case and seethat they got their rights. 

An answer soon came back, written by Mrs. Upton. Mr. Upton was well enoughto sit up, but that was all, and he would be glad enough to do as his sonhad suggested. So the necessary papers were made out, and a suitinstituted against Alexander Slocum. 

In the meantime, Mr. Islen sold out his bindery, and by this turn ofaffairs our hero found himself out of employment. But he had had enough ofthe great metropolis for the present, and was glad enough to go back toLakeview while awaiting the time when Slocum should be brought to trial. 

The news of what he had accomplished had leaked out, and when he arrivedhe found Harry and Blumpo awaiting him at the depot. 

"You're a clever one, Jerry!" cried Harry, shaking his hand warmly. "Torun off on the quiet and come back with a fortune for your family. "

"We haven't got the fortune yet, " laughed the young oarsman. "But we hopeto have it before long. "

"I always said Jerry was de greatest boy dat eber was born, " ejaculatedBlumpo, with his face on a broad grin. 

"How is your father? Blumpo, " asked Jerry, to change the subject. 

"He's very well again. "

"You must tell us your whole story, " went on Harry. "I am dying to hearit. "

"I will--but I must get home first, " answered the young oarsman. 

He was soon on his way to the farm, where his parents received him withopen arms. A splendid dinner was awaiting him--such a repast as he had nothad since leaving--but none of the food was touched until his tale wastold from end to end, with all of its details as they have been presentedto my readers. 

"You did well, son, " was Mr. Upton's comment. "I don't believe anybodycould have done better. "

Mrs. Upton smiled fondly and put her arms about the boy. 

"He's our Jerry, father, " was all she said, but the simple words meant agood deal. 

His own story told, and the dinner finished, Jerry wanted to know the newsaround Lakeview, but his parents had little to tell. 

"I have not been out since your father was taken down, " said Mrs. Upton. "You'll have to asked Harry Parker and your other friends. "

"Have Si Peters and Wash Crosby been caught yet?"

"No, and I doubt if they ever do catch them, " responded Mrs. Upton. 

CHAPTER XXXIX. 

HARRY TO THE RESCUE. 

Early on the following morning Harry came over to take Jerry for a sail onthe lake in the Whistler. 

"We can sail and talk at the same time, " he explained. "I know you must belonging for a whiff of the water. "

"You are right there, Harry, " returned the young oarsman, "Lake Otasco isbetter than the hot pavements of New York City a hundred times over. "

The two boys soon set off. Harry had expected Blumpo to accompany them, but that youth was out in his own boat with a party that had hired thecraft for several days. 

"Blumpo is making money, " said Harry, "and I am glad of it. "

"So am I, " replied our hero. "He is an odd sort of chap, but his heart isof gold. "

The Whistler was soon on her way up the lake with old Jack Broxton at thetiller, and as the breeze was steady the boys had little to do but talk. Once again our hero related his story, and Harry proved a most attentivelistener. 

"That Alexander Slocum ought to go to prison for life, " he said, at theconclusion. "The idea of daring to make out that Nellie Ardell wasinsane. "

"It was a bold scheme, Harry. "

"It seems to me the world is full of bad people, Jerry. Look at such menas that Slocum and his tools, and then at such boys as Si Peters and WashCrosby. "

"Where do you suppose Crosby and Peters are?"

"The authorities don't know. But Blumpo told me a few days ago he wasalmost certain he had seen them on the north shore of the lake. He saidthey took to their heels in the bushes just about the time he spottedthem. "

"They are bound to be brought to justice sooner or later. "

"I don't know. But I do know one thing; I would like to get back my goldwatch. "

Thus the talk ran on, until Hermit Island was reached. Here they run infor a few minutes, to pass a word with Blumpo's father, who greeted themcordially. After this, they continued up along the south side of thelake. 

As they skirted the beautiful shore they gradually crept up to a largeexcursion boat. "Hullo, what's that boat doing here?" cried Jerry. 

"It's a Sunday-school excursion from Cedar Falls, " replied his chum. 

The steamboat was not a large one and she seemed to have more than herregular allowance of passengers aboard. Every deck was full of grown folksand children, dressed in their best. 

A band was playing a merry air, and some of the children were singing. 

"Let's give them a cheer, " suggested the young oarsman, as they drewcloser. 

"All right, " replied Harry, pulling out his handkerchief. "One, two, three. Hurrah! hur----"

Harry stopped short, as a cry of horror arose on board of the excursionboat. 

A young girl had been standing close to the rail on a camp stool at thebow of the boat. 

As the steamboat swung around the girl lost her balance. 

She tried to save herself, and, failing, pitched headlong into the water. 

Harry saw her go under the greenish waves. 

"She'll be struck by the paddle wheel, " he yelled, and then, splash! hewas overboard himself. 

Bravely he struck out to save the maiden. 

The order was given to back the steamboat. 

The wheels churned up the water into a white foam, but still the momentumcarried the large craft on. In the meantime Harry came up and struck outvaliantly for the girl, who was now going down for a second time. 

"Save her! Save her!" shrieked the mother of the girl, in an agony offear. 

Half a dozen life preservers were thrown overboard, but none came to wherethe girl could reach them. 

The mother of the girl wanted to join her daughter in the water but stronghands held her back. 

"The young fellow will save her, madam!"

"He's a true hero!"

Life lines were thrown over, but even these did no good. 

The steamboat swung around, but the run of the water washed the girlcloser and closer to the paddle wheel. 

She now came up a second time. Should she sink again all would be over. 

Harry was swimming with all the strength and skill at his command. 

At last he was within a yard of the struggling girl. 

The maiden threw up her hands and went under. 

As quick as a flash Harry dove down. 

A second passed. Then up came the youth with the girl clinging to hisshoulder. 

But now the current was apparently too strong for both of them. 

They were hurled up against the paddle wheel of the steamboat, and thendisappeared entirely from view. 

Jack Broxton gave a groan. 

"Harry is lost!"

Jerry shuddered. 

"It looks like it, " he replied. 

The captain of the steamboat did not dare to move his craft for fear hewould do more harm than good. 

The mother of the girl continued to struggle to free herself. 

But now a cry was heard. It came from the stern of the steamboat. 

"There they are!"

"The girl is safe and so is that brave young man. "

Jerry and Jack Broxton heard the cry, and immediately put about in theiryacht. 

Harry was swimming along on his side. The girl was too weak to supportherself, and he was holding her up well out of the water. 

It took the Whistler but a moment to run up alongside of the pair. Jerryreached over and caught hold of the girl and placed her on deck. 

In the meantime Harry secured a rope thrown by Jack Broxton and pulledhimself up. 

A cheer arose from those on the excursion boat. 

"She is safe now, sure!"

The girl was too exhausted to move, and both boys rubbed her hands and didwhat they could for her. 

Jack Broxton ran up alongside of the steamboat and a little later the girlwas placed on board. 

The mother clasped her child to her breast. 

"Go ahead, Jack, " said Harry in a low voice. "I don't want the crowd tostare at me. "

"But the mother wants to thank you, " began Jerry. 

But Harry would not listen. He was too modest, and made Jack Broxtonactually run away from the excursion boat. 

But five hundred people cheered Harry and waved their handkerchiefs. 

"How did you escape the steamboat?" asked Jerry, when the excitement wasover. 

"We went under part of her, " was the reply. "I swam for all I knew how, but it was a close call. "

After this Harry retired to the cabin and changed his clothing. He drankseveral cups of hot coffee, and half an hour later declared that he feltas well as ever. 

The remainder of the run down the lake was uneventful. They dropped anchornear the mouth of the Poplar River and started in to fish. 

They had all the necessary tackle on board, and procured bait at aboathouse near by. 

The yacht was anchored at a well-known spot, and then the sport began. 

"I've a bite!" cried Harry

And sure enough he had something. He began to reel in with greatrapidity. 

"First fish, " said Jerry. 

Scarcely had Harry landed his haul than click, click, click went Jerry'sreel. The line went off like a flash. 

Jerry began to reel in. That something big was on his hook was certain. 

The fish darted in every direction and Jerry had his hands full playinghim. 

"You'll lose him!" cried Harry, excitedly. 

"I'll do my best with him, " responded Jerry, quietly. 

After playing the fish for nearly five minutes he reeled him in rapidly. 

"Get the landing net, Jack, " he said, and the old tar stood ready themoment the fish came into view. 

"A bass! A three-pounder!" cried Harry. "By jinks! but that's a haul worthmaking!"

It was indeed a beautiful catch, and Jerry was justly proud of it. 

After this nothing was caught for twenty minutes. Then Harry landed a finefat perch weighing a pound. Jack was not fishing, but smoked and looked oncontentedly. 

Evening found them with a fine mess of bass and perch. 

"Not a bad haul, " said Jerry, as he surveyed the lot. 

"I reckon it's about time to be gitting back, " observed Jack Broxton. "Wewant ter make Lakeview afore dark. "

So the anchor was hoisted and away they went before a nine-knot breeze. 

The return was made along the north shore. Here there were numerous littleislands, separated from the mainland by a series of channels, some shallowand others deep enough to admit of the passage of a good-sized yacht. 

The Whistler was just passing one of these channels, and Jerry and Harrywere at the side, cleaning their fish, when suddenly old Jack Broxtonuttered a cry. 

"What is it, Jack?" asked the young oarsman, quickly, while Harry alsoraised up. 

"There's a boat over yonder, back of that island, and I'm certain I saw SiPeters and Wash Crosby on board, " was the old boatman's interestinganswer. 

CHAPTER XL. 

A STRUGGLE IN THE DARK. 

"You are sure?" demanded Jerry and Harry, in a breath. 

"Yes. The boat had the name Redeye painted on the stern. If I rememberrightly, she belongs to a tough crowd of fishermen from Long Lake. "

"Where is she now?" demanded Harry. 

"Back there, somewhere. "

"We must follow that boat; eh, Jerry?"

"I am willing, " replied the young oarsman. 

"You may have lively times with that crowd, " put in Jack Broxton with agrave shake of his head. 

"We'll risk it, " answered Harry. He was thinking of his missing goldwatch. 

The course of the Whistler was changed, and soon they rounded the shore ofthe island Jack Broxton had pointed out. 

Sure enough, there was the Redeye, with all sails set, making up thelake. 

Near the stern stood Si Peters, Wash Crosby and several rascally lookingmen. 

"They have discovered that we are after them, " cried Jerry, a few minuteslater. "See, they are crowding on all sail!"

The young oarsman was right. Leaving the vicinity of the islands, theother craft stood out boldly into the lake, and cut the water like aknife. 

"She's a good one, " observed Jack Broxton. 

The Whistler already had all sails out; and thus the craft went on, neither gaining nor losing for half an hour. 

Then darkness settled over the lake, and the wind fell flat. 

"We've lost them now, " said Harry, dismally. 

"It's a good thing the wind has fallen, " replied Jerry. 

"How so?"

"As soon as it is dark enough we can take the row-boat and follow inthat. "

"That's an idea. "

Soon night had settled over Lake Otasco. Then our hero and Harry lost notime in entering the tender of the Whistler. 

"Make as little noise as possible, " cautioned Jerry. 

He was in the bow peering ahead, while Harry was at the oars. 

So they went on a distance of a quarter of a mile. 

"See anything?" whispered Harry. 

"Not yet. Pull in a little closer to shore. I have an idea Peters andCrosby may land somewhere around here. "

"Like as not that is their game. "

On they went, the darkness growing more intense as they proceeded. Therewas no moon, and the stars shone but faintly in the blue vault overhead. 

Suddenly Jerry held up his hand as a sign to Harry to stop rowing. Instantly his chum raised the oars. 

"What do you see?" he whispered. 

"Something ahead--I can't make out just what yet. "

Several minutes of breathless silence followed. Then Jerry bent back. 

"The Redeye is just ahead, but I believe Si Peters and Wash Crosby havealready left her. "

A second later a low but clear cry rang out:

"You left that bundle behind, Crosby!"

"Never mind, I don't want the old suit, " was the reply, coming from somedistance in toward shore. 

"That settles it, " whispered Jerry. "Crosby and Peters are in a row-boatpulling for shore, beyond a doubt. "

"That's all right, " replied Harry. "I would rather tackle them than allthose on the Redeye. "

"So would I. "

The row-boat was headed for the west. 

How far off the shore was they did not know. 

They had located the voice of Crosby and now steered in the direction. 

Jerry at the bow continued to keep his ears on the alert. 

"A little to the right, now, " he said. "That's it. If you don't make toomuch noise we'll surprise them completely. "

"I think the best thing we can do is to follow them after they land, untilthey reach some place where we can have them locked up, Jerry. "

"That is certainly a good plan. It will save us the trouble of draggingthem off to jail, if we are fortunate enough to capture them. "

Harry's plan was accepted, and on they went. 

"Look!" cried Jerry, presently, and pointed down the shore. 

"I don't see anything, Jerry. "

"Don't you see the lights coming toward us?"

Harry strained his eyes. 

"I see them now. "

"It's a steamer coming this way. "

"My gracious, we'll have to get out of the way or we'll be run down!"

"She is close in shore, " went on Jerry. "I believe she'll pass between theother row-boat and ours. "

"Let us hold up a minute and see what she intends to do, " said Harry. 

He rested on his oars. Soon the craft came closer. It was the excursionboat on her return. 

"She is not coming near us, " said Jerry. "Pull on. "

Harry had just taken to the oars again, when a wild cry rang out. It camefrom the row-boat which held Peters and Crosby. 

"Stop! Don't run us down!"

"The steamboat is onto them!" ejaculated Jerry. 

Scarcely had he spoken when there came another cry, followed by a crash. 

"They've been struck!" yelled Harry. 

"Pull ahead!" cried Jerry. "Like as not they have either been killed orare drowning!"

He sprang to Harry's side, and with an oar each they sped on to theassistance of the unfortunate ones. 

In the meanwhile the steamboat stopped. 

"What's the trouble?" called a voice. 

No answer was vouchsafed, and a moment later the steamboat went on. 

"Like as not, Si Peters and Wash Crosby are dead, " observed Harry, as hebent to his oar. 

"We'll soon know the truth, " replied the young oarsman. 

Both boys pulled a swift stroke, and were soon on the spot where thecatastrophe had occurred. 

In the meanwhile the steamboat was fast disappearing in the distance. Soonthe last light faded from sight. 

In the darkness of the night Jerry and Harry could see but little. 

"There is an oar, " cried Harry, pointing it out. 

"And there is part of the row-boat's bottom, " said Jerry. "It looks as ifthe row-boat was actually ground to pieces. "

"Then it isn't likely that Si Peters and Wash Crosby escaped. "

"Well, we'll take a good look around. "

The two continued to row about, but for a long while saw nothing but bitsof wreckage. 

Then our hero beheld a form floating just to their right. 

"Take both oars, Harry, " he said, "and be careful, for that is WashCrosby's body. "

Harry took the oars and began to row slowly. 

As he moved on, Jerry stood in the bow. 

At that instant a strange thing happened. Si Peters came up under theboat, giving it such a shove that Jerry was hurled overboard. 

Then, with a swiftness that was really surprising, Si Peters clamberedinto the row-boat. 

In his hand he held part of a broken oar. 

"Jump out after Jerry Upton!" he growled as he advanced upon Harry. 

Without replying, Harry leaped up to defend himself. As he did this he sawthat Jerry and Wash Crosby were fighting in the water. 

Neither Crosby nor Peters had been hurt by the collision, both having lefttheir craft before the steamboat struck it. 

Their one thought now was to get the good row-boat away from our twoheroes. 

Jerry, thinking Wash Crosby seriously hurt, was taken completely bysurprise. 

Crosby caught him by the shoulder and forced him far under the water, andthen did his best to hold him there. 

Crosby was a powerful fellow, and he well understood what defeat andcapture meant--a term in prison. 

But, as we know, Jerry's muscles were like iron, and his first surpriseover, he went for Crosby tooth and nail. 

With a powerful twist he freed himself from the rascal's grasp and swamsome distance away. 

Then coming up behind Crosby, the young oarsman let out with his rightfist. 

The blow took the Rockpoint bully behind the ear, and Crosby let out awild yell of pain, broken by a gasp for air, as he went under the bosom ofthe ocean. 

As he went down, our hero gave him an extra shove and then swam with allspeed for the row-boat, which had drifted several yards away. 

He saw Harry and Si Peters standing up in the boat. Peters had just struckat his chum, and Harry had partly dodged the vicious blow. 

But the broken oar landed on Harry's arm, causing him to cry out frompain. 

"Drop that, Si Peters. "

The command, coming so unexpectedly, startled Peters. He turned, to findJerry at the gunwale directly behind him. 

"Oh, Jerry, help!" cried Harry. 

Si Peters gave a low yell of rage. 

Again Harry sprang away, and now armed himself with an oar. 

"You can't frighten me, you fool!" shouted Peters. "Don't you dare to putyour hand on the boat!"

And as Jerry grasped the gunwale, Peters raised his heavy foot as if tocrush our hero's fingers. 

But Jerry was too quick for him. 

He dropped off. Then whizz! something dark flew through the air. 

It was part of the broken oar, thrown by Jerry, and it took Si Peters inthe neck. 

"Whack him one, Harry, while you have the chance!"

Harry needed no advice on the subject. He sprang in, and a second later aresounding crack laid Si Peters flat on his back. 

"That was a good one, " cried Jerry, as he clambered over the side. "Nowbind him before he comes to. "

"Haven't a blessed thing, " replied Harry. 

"Here is some cord. Tie his hands together. "

While Harry was doing this, Jerry began to look around for Wash Crosby. 

"This way! We are in trouble!" yelled Crosby. 

"Pshaw!" exclaimed Jerry. "He'll have that yacht down on us in anotherminute. "

But for once the young oarsman was mistaken. The men on the Redeye had nodesire, after befriending Si Peters and Wash Crosby, to fall into thehands of the law, and instead of coming up they allowed their craft tofloat off in an opposite direction. 

"There is Crosby!" shouted Jerry, a moment later, as he beheld the youthfloundering around in the water. "And look, here comes the Whistler. "

He was right. A slight breeze had sprung up and Jack Broxton had nursedthe yacht along with all of the skill at his command. 

The coming of the old sailor ended the battle, so far as the bad boys fromRockpoint were concerned. Both Si Peters and Wash Crosby were hauled onboard, and here they were tightly bound, to prevent their making furthertrouble. 

It was after midnight when Lakeview was reached and the prisoners werehanded over to the local police. Then Harry and Jerry separated, to gohome and tell of their fresh adventures. 

The following morning Si Peters and Wash Crosby were taken to Rockpointand an examination was held. The bad boys confessed robbing the hotel andthe larger part of the money taken was recovered, as was also Harry's goldwatch, which Si Peters had been bold enough to wear. Some time later theevil-doers were tried and sent to jail, and that was the last our heroesheard of them. 

CHAPTER XLI. 

A LAST RACE--GOOD-BYE TO THE RIVAL OARSMEN. 

"Hurrah, here they come!"

"It's going to be a dandy race, Harry. "

"Indeed it is, Dick. "

"There comes Hosmer!"

"Here comes Pinkney!"

"What's the matter with Villelet?"

"He's all right!"

The conversation took place on the bank of the Hudson River, not far fromPoughkeepsie. 

It was the day of the great intercollegiate boat races. 

The single-shell race had just been ordered. 

Among the number to compete in this race was Jerry Upton. 

Our hero was rich now--that is, his folks were, which amounted to the samething. 

On trial it had been proven what a villain Alexander Slocum was. All ofhis masquerading in the west under the name of Darnley was exposed, aswell as his fraudulent land schemes in the east. The real-estatemanipulator was sent to prison for a term of years, and the property inCalifornia was divided up between Jerry's father, Nellie Ardell andseveral others who held an interest in it. 

The land was found to be within the city limits of Sacramento, and theUpton share was computed to be worth forty-five thousand dollars. 

Mr. Upton was offered forty thousand dollars for it, but by the advice ofColonel Dartwell, who became his intimate friend, he concluded to keepit. 

"The investment is bringing in good interest, " he said, "and as it wasJerry who did the work in getting it, the lad shall have it just as itstands when I and my wife die. "

Immediately after these matters were settled up, Jerry began to study forcollege, and Harry did also, and both made the entrance examination withease. 

Jerry was a fine scholar and he was also one of the best oarsmen in hisclass. Harry likewise rowed a good deal, although not near as much asformerly. 

It was a perfect day and the river was filled with pleasure boats, loadeddown to the rails with sightseers. The banks of the stream were likewiselined with the crowds which had poured in to see the various collegeoarsmen compete for the supremacy in aquatic sports. 

In the crowd on short was our old friend Blumpo Brown. Blumpo was now inbusiness at Lakeview, letting out pleasure boats, of which he ownedseveral, and he was unusually prosperous. Just at present he was wearingthe colors of Jerry's college and "whooping her up" for our hero wheneverthe chance presented itself. 

At the given signal the single shells took their places at the startingpoint. 

The participants were the pick of the single-shell men, and Jerry realizedthat he would have a struggle to win. 

A puff of smoke, the report of a gun, and they were off!

"A fine start!"

"Hosmer leads!"

"He will lead to the finish!"

"Pinkney is a close second!"

"Jerry Upton is third!"

"My! but they are cutting the water!"

"Two to one that Hosmer wins!"

"Three to one that the record is broken!"

"Foah to one dat Jerry Upton wins dis race!" cried Blumpo Brown, waving abig college flag over his head. "Dat boy don't know what it is to lose!"

"Hear that chap talk!"

"Pitch him overboard to cool him off!"

"Dat's all right, it's Jerry Upton's muscle dat's talkin', not me!"growled Blumpo. 

Down the straight course came the single-shell oarsmen, each back bendingto a long and powerful stroke. 

The quarter stretch was past with Hosmer still in the lead. 

Behind him came Pinkney and Jerry, side by side. 

Then came the half stretch. The leaders still held the same positions. 

"Told you Hosmer would win!"

"Jerry Upton is falling behind!"

It was true. Pinkney had increased his stroke and was crawling up slowlybut surely to the leader. 

"Pull, Jerry, pull, " yelled Harry. 

"You dun got to win dat race, suah!" screamed Blumpo. 

Jerry heard them, but paid no heed. He was rowing the race of theyear--the race that would make his college chums shout with joy or lookglum for the balance of the season. 

And now the three-quarter mark was past. A quarter of a mile more and therace would be over. 

"See! Pinkney is drawing up to Hosmer!"

"Pinkney leads! Hosmer has dropped away behind!"

"Pinkney first and Jerry Upton second!"

"Villelet is crawling up!"

"He has passed Pinkney!"

And so the shouting went on. The end of the course was in sight. How theoarsmen were pulling! But now look at Jerry. 

How like a flash his back bends! How powerful is that broad stroke! Howquick his recovery!

In vain Pinkney tried to hold his lead. Jerry means to win and nothing canhold him back. 

He fairly flies past Pinkney and comes in a winner by a length and a half. His friends go wild. 

"Hurrah for Jerry Upton!" shouts Harry. 

And the cheers echo and re-echo along the water and back to the distanthills. 

Blumpo dances a breakdown for joy. 

"I told you he could do it, " he cries. "Da can't beat our Jerry nohow!"

"That's right, they can't!" adds Harry. "Hurrah! hurrah! hurrah!"

Jerry leaves his shell, and is hoisted up upon the shoulders of hisfriends and marched around the town. 

That night he is given a big reception by his fellow students. It is thehappiest moment of his life. 

And here we will leave him and Harry and Blumpo, and all of the rest, shouting as do our hero's many friends:

"Hurrah for the Young Oarsman of Lakeview!"

THE END

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Price, 50 Cents. 

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M. A. DONOHUE & CO. 407-429 Dearborn St. CHICAGO

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LIFE AND DEEDS OF ETHAN ALLENAND THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS

BY CHARLES WALTER BROWN, A. M. 

Author of "John Paul Jones, " "Nathan Hale, " "Lafayette, " "Pulaski, ""Washington, " "Abraham Lincoln, " "Sherman. "

16 ILLUSTRATIONS. 

The hero of Ticonderoga and leader of the Green Mountain Boys is bestknown for his characteristic demand upon the British garrison at FortTiconderoga, on Lake Champlain, to surrender "in the name of theContinental Congress and the Great Jehovah. " This book not only gives afull account of the exploits of Colonel Allen, but contains also a briefhistory of Vermont, formerly called the New Hampshire Grants, in hercontention with New York authorities, who opposed Vermont's admission intothe Union, but which was finally accomplished by Ethan Allen. "It is thebest 'life' of Ethan Allen published. " 12mo, cloth, size 5-5/8 x 7-7/8, nearly 300 pages. 

Price, Postpaid . . . . . . . . . . . $1. 00

LIFE AND DEEDS OFJOHN PAUL JONESOF NAVAL FAME

By Charles Walter Brown, A. M. 

12 Illustrations. 

American history gleams with the brilliant achievements of her adoptedsons. No historian ever wearies in telling of the glorious deeds andself-sacrifices of Lafayette, de Kalb, Pulaski, Kosciuszko, de Grasse, Rochambeau, Steuben, St. Clair, d'Estaing and John Paul Jones, who gave uphome and country to aid the struggling colonists in their fight forfreedom. This is one of the most patriotic books, both from a literary andartistic standpoint, ever issued. It is printed on a superior quality ofpaper with a dozen or more half-tone portraits of the principal actors, who participated in our struggle for independence, together with a chartand views of Jones' most daring exploits on the coasts of England and onthe Black Sea, with his portrait in the full uniform of Admiral of theUnited States Navy, of which he was the founder. Cover stamped in red, white and gold on a navy blue silk cloth, showing in beautiful colors thecolonial flags and American shield with its thirteen stars and stripes, with Jones' sword in gold as ornamental back stamp. Size, 5-5/8 x 7-7/8;nearly 300 pages; 12mo; cloth. 

Price, Postpaid . . . . . . . . . . . $1. 00

This set of 2 volumes, "Allen" and "Jones" sent to one address, expresspaid, for $1. 50

M. A. DONOHUE & CO. 407-429 Dearborn St. CHICAGO

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FAMOUS BOOKS FOR BOYS

Famous Frontiersmen, Pioneers and Scouts. 

A thrilling narrative of the lives and marvelous exploits of the mostrenowned Heroes, Trappers, Explorers, Adventurers and other Scouts andIndian Fighters, by H. G. Gattermole, A. B. 540 pages, over 250 full pageportraits and illustrations; bound in English Silk Cloth, stamped in Inks. List price, $1. 00. 

The Boy Spy. 

By Major Kerbey. A substantially true record of Secret Service during theRebellion. A correct account of events witnessed by a soldier attached toheadquarters. The only practical history of the war telegraphers in thefield. A full account of the mysteries of Signaling by Flags, Torches andRockets. Thrilling scenes of Battles, Captures and Escapes. Fullyillustrated by True Williams. Large 12 mo. Price, $1. 00

Boys' Life on the Frontier. 

By Frank W. Calkins. Containing Frontier Sketches, Indian Tales andHunting Stories. The most interesting series of experiences everpublished. All having originally appeared in the Youth's Companion, whichis a guarantee of their superior excellence in every way. Containing 403pages of large, clear type, and numerous illustrations, bound in cloth, stamped in Inks from unique dies. 

War Path and Bivouac;

or, The Conquest of the Sioux. A narrative of stirring personalexperiences and adventures on the frontier, and in the campaigns in theNorthwest in 1879, by John F. Finerty; containing 468 pages; numerousengravings and illustrations; bound in Cloth; stamped in Inks from uniquedies. One of the most interesting works on Frontier Life ever issued. Listprice, $1. 00. 

Marching Through Georgia. 

Being Pen Pictures of Every Day Life in General Sherman's Army, from thebeginning of the Atlanta Campaign until the close of the war. By F. Y. Hedley, Adjutant Thirty-Second Illinois Infantry, with Introduction byCharles Walter Brown, A. M. And with illustrations by F. L. Stoddard. Dedicated by permission to Mrs. John A. Logan; Autograph letter fromGeneral Sherman. 500 pages, large 12mo, cloth. Price $1. 00. 

For sale by all Book and Newsdealers, or will send to any address in theUnited States, Canada or Mexico, postage prepaid, on receipt of price, incurrency, money order or stamps. 

M. A. DONOHUE & CO. 407-429 Dearborn St. CHICAGO

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ONE THOUSAND WAYS TO MAKE MONEYOr, Things We Should Know

By Hon. Frank GilbertEx-Sub-Treasurer of the United States

Without doubt this is one of the most valuable books published for theyoung man or young woman who has not yet decided upon an occupation--tradeor profession. In addition to information of incalculable value to everyman, woman or child, the book is a most successful business guide for thesafe conduct of business. A copy of this book together with The CompleteLetter Writer should be in EVERY home, office and library. Each bookcontains 320 large pages, printed on a superior paper from new plates andbound in cloth, stamped in colors from original and appropriate designs. 

Price of each book is $1. 00 postpaid, or the two mailed to one address for$1. 50, express paid. 

THE COMPLETE LETTER WRITER

Being the only Comprehensive and Practical Guide andAssistant to Letter Writing Published. 

Edited by Charles Walter Brown, A. M. 

There are few books that contain such a fund of valuable information onthe everyday affairs of life. In addition to every conceivable form ofbusiness and social correspondence, there are letters of Condolence, Introduction, Congratulation, Felicitation, Advice and Favor; Lettersaccompanying presents; Notes on Love, Courtship and Marriage; Forms ofWedding Anniversaries, Socials, Parties, Notes, Wills, Deeds, Mortgages, Tables, Abbreviations, Classical Terms, Common Errors, Selections forAutograph Albums; Information concerning Rates on Foreign and DomesticPostage, together with a dictionary of nearly 10, 000 Synonyms and othervaluable information which space will not admit of mention. 

Paper Covers, 25c. Cloth, 50c. Cloth, 320 Pages, Price $1. 00

For sale by all book and newsdealers, or sent to any address in the U. S. , Canada or Mexico, postage prepaid on receipt of price in currency, moneyorder or stamps. 

M. A. DONOHUE & CO. 407-429 Dearborn St. CHICAGO