CHAPTER III
THREE CHUMS ON THE RIVER
Down at the boathouse the three boys procured a round-bottomed rowboat,and were soon on the river. Roger took one pair of oars and motioned toPhil to let Dave take the other.
"Let him do the most of the rowing--it will help him to forget histroubles," he whispered, and Phil understood.
It was a beautiful afternoon in the early summer, with just the faintestbreeze stirring the trees which lined the river bank on either side. Theboys pulled a good stroke, and Roger purposely kept Dave at it, untilboth were thoroughly warmed up.
"You're improving in your stroke," remarked Dave, as they came to a bendin the watercourse and rested on their oars for a minute. "Perhaps youare training for the boat races."
"Well, I shouldn't mind going into a race," returned the senator's son."It would be lots of sport, even if I didn't win."
"I am going into some of the field contests this summer," said Phil."That is, if they come off before I go away."
"When do you expect to start?"
"I don't know yet. It depends upon when one of my father's vessels getsback to San Francisco and ships her cargo."
"I've heard a rumor that the Hall is to be shut up early this summer,"said Dave. "The doctor is thinking of building an addition before thefall term begins, and he wants to give the masons and carpenters as muchof a show as possible."
"Do you remember that day we were on the river, and Gus Plum ran into uswith that gasoline launch?" observed Phil. "My, what a mess we were in!"
"I've had trouble with him ever since I clapped eyes on him," answeredDave.
"Oh, let's talk about something else!" cried Roger. "No matter where westart from, we always end up with Gus Plum. And, by the way, do younotice how thick he is with Nat Poole since Macklin has refused to toadyto him?"
"They are almost of a stripe, Roger," answered Dave. "I know Nat Poolethoroughly. The only difference is that Poole is more of a dandy when itcomes to dress."
"Poole says he is going in for athletics this summer," said Phil. "Ioverheard him telling Luke Watson so."
"Is Luke going into training?"
"I don't think so. He loves his banjo and guitar too much."
"Well, I'd love them, too, if I could play as he does," returned Dave.
"Luke told me he had noticed something strange about Shadow," put inRoger. "He asked me if I knew what made Shadow so worried. He said hehadn't heard a funny story out of him for a week, and that's unusual,for Shadow is generally telling about a dozen a day."
"It is possible that he may be fixing for a regular spell of sickness,"was Dave's comment. "That's the way some things come on, you know."
The boys resumed their rowing, and Roger put on a burst of speed thatmade Dave work with a will in order to keep up with him. Then, of asudden, there came a sharp click and the senator's son tumbled overbackwards, splashing the water in every direction.
"Whoop! look out!" yelled Phil. "I don't want any shower-bath! Did youcatch a crab, Roger?"
"N--no, I didn't," spluttered the senator's son, when he had regained asitting position. "There's the trouble," and he pointed to a brokenoarlock.
"That's too bad," declared Dave. "Boys, we shall have to have that fixedbefore we take the boat back to the boathouse--or else we'll have totell Mr. Dale." The man he mentioned was the first assistant instructorat the Hall.
"Let us row down to Ike Rasmer's boathouse and see if he will sell us anoarlock," suggested Roger. "He ought to have plenty on hand."
"All right," said Phil; "and, as both of you must be tired now, I'lltake my turn," and he motioned to Dave to change seats with him, whileRoger drew in his remaining oar.
The man whom Roger had mentioned was a boatman who rented out craft ofvarious kinds. His boathouse was about half a mile away, but Philcovered the distance with ease. They found Rasmer out on his littledock, painting a tiny sloop a dark green.
"How do you do, boys?" he called out, pleasantly. "Out for an airing?"
"No, we came down to see if you needed any painters," answered Dave.
"Well, I dunno. What do you think of this job of mine? Ain't it prettyslick?" And Ike Rasmer surveyed his work with evident satisfaction.
"It's all right, Ike," answered Roger. "When you give up boating, taketo house-painting, by all means."
"House-painting?" snorted the man. "Not fer me! I ain't goin' to falloff no slippery ladder an' break my neck. I'd rather paint signs. What'sthat you've got, a broken oarlock?"
"Yes, and I want to know if you'll sell me one to match?"
"Sure I will," answered Ike Rasmer, with a twinkle in his eye. He threwdown his paint brush and walked into his boathouse. "Here you be, myboy!" And he held up the parts of a broken oarlock.
"Well--I--I didn't want a broken one," stammered the senator's son.
"Didn't ye say you wanted one to match? Ho, ho! I reckon I cotched youthat trip, didn't I?" And the man continued to laugh, and Dave and Philjoined in.
"Ike must have swallowed a whetstone this morning," observed Dave.
"A whetstone?" queried the old boatman. "Why?"
"You're so awfully sharp."
"Ho, ho! That's one on me, sure enough." The man slapped Dave on theshoulder. "You Hall boys are the cute ones, ain't ye? Well, if you wanta good oarlock, you shall have it," and he brought forth a number, thatRoger might make his selection. The senator's son did so, and paid forit out of his pocket-money.
"We ought to pay for part of that," said Dave, always ready to do whatwas fair.
"Oh, don't bother, Dave; it's only a trifle," answered his chum.
"Say, some of you boys are out pretty late nights," observed Ike Rasmer,as he resumed his painting, and while Roger was adjusting the newoarlock to the gunwale of the Hall boat.
"Out late?" queried Phil.
"Yes, mighty late."
"I haven't been out for a month."
"Nor I," added Dave and Roger.
"I see that young Hamilton not long ago--the fellow that tells storieswhenever he can get the chance. And I saw Gus Plum, too."
"Together?" asked Dave, with sudden interest.
"Oh, no. But they were out the same night."
"Late?"
"I should say so--after twelve o'clock."
"What were they doing, Ike?" asked Phil.
"Rowing along the river. Each had a small boat--I guess one from theschool. It was bright moonlight, and I saw them quite plainly when theypassed Robbin's Point, where I was fishing."
"And each was alone?"
"Yes. Hamilton was right ahead of Plum, and both rowing along at goodspeed, too. I thought it was mighty strange, and made up my mind I'd askyou boys about it. But, say, I don't want you to get them into trouble,"added the old boatman, suddenly. "They are both customers of mine,sometimes."
"I shan't say anything," answered Roger. "But this puzzles me," hecontinued, turning to his friends.
"Each boy was alone in a boat?" queried Dave.
"Yes."
"And Plum was following Hamilton?"
"He seemed to be. Anyway, his boat was behind the other."
"Was anybody else around?" asked Phil.
"I didn't see a soul, and the river was almost as bright as day."
"Did you see them a second time?" asked Dave.
"No, for I was getting ready to go home when they came along. I don'tknow where they went, or when they got back."
Ike Rasmer could tell no more than this, and as it was getting late thethree boys lost no time in shoving off once more and pulling for theHall boathouse.
"This stumps me," declared the senator's son. "What do you make of it?Do you think Shadow and Plum are up to something between them?"
"No, I don't," answered Dave, decidedly. "Shadow is not the fellow totrain with Gus Plum. He doesn't like the bully any more than we do."
"No wonder Shadow feels sleepy, if he spends his nights on the river,"said Phil. "But I can't make out what he is up t
o, I must confess. If itwas some fun, he would surely take somebody with him."
The boys pulled with all their strength, yet when they arrived at theHall boathouse, they found that they were exactly twelve minutes behindthe supper hour.
"No time to wash up," said Roger. "We'll be lucky if we can slip intothe dining room without being observed."
With all speed they tied up their craft and ran for the school building.They were just entering the side door when they were brought face toface with Job Haskers, the second assistant teacher and a man who wasvery dictatorial in his manner.
"Stop!" cried Job Haskers, catching Dave by the shoulder. "What do youmean by coming in at this hour?"
"We were out on the river and broke an oarlock, Mr. Haskers," repliedDave.
"Humph! an old excuse."
"It is the truth, sir," and Dave's face flushed.
"I broke the oarlock," said Roger. "We got back as soon as we could--assoon as we got a new lock at Ike Rasmer's boathouse."
"We cannot allow pupils to come in half an hour late," went on JobHaskers, loftily. "Directly after supper, report to me in classroom 7,"and he passed on.
"We are in for it now," grumbled Phil. "It's a shame! It wasn't ourfault that the oarlock broke."
"Wonder what he will make us do?" came from the senator's son.
"Something not very pleasant," answered Dave. He had encountered thesecond assistant many times before and knew the harsh instructor well.
They were soon in their seats at the table. Some of the other studentslooked at them inquiringly, but nothing was said. Not far from Dave satGus Plum and Nat Poole, and both favored the poor boy with a scowl, towhich Dave paid no attention.
The meal finished, Dave, Phil, and the senator's son brushed up a bit,and then hurried to classroom 7, located in an angle of the building.They were soon joined by Job Haskers.
"The three of you may remain here and each write the word 'Oarlock' twohundred times," said the second assistant. "As soon as all of you havefinished, ring the bell, and I will come and inspect the work. It mustbe neatly done, or I shall make you do it over again." And then he leftthem to themselves, going out and closing the door tightly after him.