CHAPTER XXVIII
PREPARED FOR THE WORST
"She's just walking up hand over fist; eh, Paul?" asked Jud.
"No question about it, Jud," came the reply as the scout master cast anapprehensive look across the half-mile of water that separated them fromthe outlet of the lake. "I'd give something to know what's happened downthere, to dam this water up, and just how far it's going to rise on us."
"Tell you what," said Bobolink, who had followed Paul when he left thetent, as had also the rest of the occupants, "I wouldn't be a bitsurprised if that awful explosion shook the shoulder of earth and rockdown, that we saw hanging above the mouth of the Radway River where sheleaves the lake."
"You've hit it, I do believe!" cried Paul, exultantly; "and that's justwhat did happen, chances are, fellows."
"But if the outlet is filled up," said Jud, "and this water keeps pouringin on four sides, it's dead sure the blooming lake will fill up in shortorder. What had we better do, Paul?"
"That's just what I'm trying to figure on, Jud," answered the other;"it's one of two things--either hike out for the hill, where we'll besafe until the water goes down; or else get our things aboard the boats,and stay here."
"That last strikes me as the best of all!" declared Jack.
"Besides," broke in Nuthin, "we don't want to lose those boats, you know.They were loaned to us and if we let 'em go to smash, wouldn't it take usa long time to pay the bill, though? Besides, we'll need 'em to get awayfrom here."
"That isn't the worst of it," remarked Paul, who was very serious.
"Why, what is there besides?" demanded Bobolink.
"Suppose the water does get up so as to cover the island, all but thehill," the scout master went on deliberately, as though making sure ofhis ground as he talked; "and then, all of a sudden the weight of itbroke through the dam; don't you see the suction, as the water rushedout, would be something _terrific_. No rope ever made, I reckon, couldhold these boats back. They'd sure be drawn through the gap, and carriedon the flood, any old way, even upside-down, maybe."
"Whew!" whistled Bobolink; and as for some of the other fellows, theybegan to lose their usual color as they realized what Paul was saying.
"Now, that's just an idea that came into my mind," Paul went on, seeingthat he had alarmed some of the scouts. "It may never happen, youunderstand. But you know the motto we believe in is 'be prepared!' Thatmeans never to take things for granted. Keep your eyes and ears always onguard, and see lots of things, even before they swoop down on you. So,it's up to us, fellows, to get our tents and other fixings loaded up assoon as we can. After that we'll go aboard ourselves, and try to prepareagainst a sudden break in the dam."
"And lookin' at that water creeping up," remarked Jud, "the sooner we getbusy, the better."
Accordingly, they all hastened back to the camp. It was found thatalready the water seemed to be creeping into the sink. Those in the othertwo tents were talking it over, and wondering what was about to happen.
When they heard the latest news, their faces indicated both astonishmentand not a little alarm. But under the direction of the scout master, theystarted to convey all their belongings to the boats.
First the blankets and clothes bags were taken over; then the food andcooking utensils; and finally the tents came down in a hurry, for theboys were working in water almost up to their knees when this last partof the job was concluded.
Once out of the sink, they found plenty of high ground to walk on, whilecarrying the wet tents to the landing where the boats were lying.
After they were all aboard, the scouts packed the stuff as best theycould, so that it would take up as little space as possible. MeanwhilePaul and Jack, with both the other patrol leaders, were trying to figureout just what would be the best course for them to pursue.
"Makes me think of old Noah, when he went aboard the ark, and the animalsthey followed two by two," said Bobolink, with a chuckle.
"Huh, call yourself a kangaroo, or a monkey, if you like," spoke up OldDan Tucker, "but as for me I'd rather play the part of Ham, or one of theother sons."
"Sure thing!" assented Bobolink, cheerfully; "never saw the time yetwhen you raised any kick about takin' the part of Ham. Sounds good,don't it, Dan?"
It was pretty hard to keep the spirits of Bobolink from sizzling andgushing forth like a fountain when the water is turned on. He could joke,even while the several leaders of the expedition were consulting gravelyabout their chances of holding the boats against the frightful suction ofthe current, when the obstructions in the outlet of the lake gave way,which they hoped would not be suddenly, but by degrees.
It was certainly a condition that confronted them, and not a theory. Paulwas really more worried than he showed; for he kept his feelings undercontrol, knowing that if some of the others realized how much he wasconcerned, the fact might create a panic.
"If I really thought the worst would come," Paul said, in a low tone, toJack, after it had been concluded that they would stay by the boats, anddo the best they could, "why I'd be tempted to give the order to just cutfor the hill, and leave everything but some food behind. Once up there,we would be safe, and that's what we can't say is the case now."
"But even if the water goes out with a rush, it can't tear a tree likethis one up by the roots; can it?" asked Jack, pointing to where thecables of the boats had been secured as strongly as possible.
"That's so," replied the scout master; "but then, think of the ropes, andwhat a terrible strain would come on them. I'm afraid both would snaplike pipe-stems. To hold tight, we'd need a big chain; or a hawser likethat one the switching engine on the railroad uses to drag cars on aparallel track. But then, the water may be nearly as high, right now, asit will get We'll hope so, anyhow."
That was Paul's way of trying to look on the bright side, although henever failed to prepare for the worst, even while expecting the best.
"If we could only think up some way to help ease the strain, it would bea good thing," observed Jack, thoughtfully.
"I wish you could. It would ease my mind more than I care to tell you,"was Paul's answer.
"One thing, the storm is over," called out Jud, just then; "see, there'sa break in the clouds, and I reckon the sun will be peepin' out soon."
"But the water will keep on rushing down the sides of the hills away offyonder," Paul remarked, "and filling up this cup until it runs over. Theysay that the Radway River drains three times the amount of country thatour own Bushkill does. And by the way the water comes in here, I believeit. Look out there on the lake, will you; it shows that it's gettingwider right now."
"Why, in another half hour, if it keeps on the same way, it's going tolap over pretty much all the lower part of the island," Jack declared.
Everything else was neglected now, and the scouts gathered along the sideof each boat, watching the lake. It was as if they half expected to seethe water suddenly take to rushing toward the spot where they knew thepeculiar outlet lay, not more than twenty feet across, and with abruptsides, one of which had been partly overhanging the water at the timethey entered.
It was, of course, this section which must have been dislodged by theblast which shook the surrounding territory, filling the bed of thestream, and causing the rapidly accumulating waters of the lake to backup, since they could find no place to discharge, as usual.
It was while they were moodily watching the waste of waters that one ofthe scouts, who had wandered across to the other side of the _Comfortt_suddenly sounded a fresh alarm, that sent another thrill to the hearts ofthe already excited boys.
"Hey! here's a lot of men comin' down on us, fellows I They're meanin' tocapture our boats, just like pirates. Boarders ahoy! Get busy everybody.Clubs are trumps!"
As they rushed to the other side, some having to clamber over the heapsof duffle that took up so much room aboard, the scouts saw that it was nofalse alarm. A number of men were hurrying toward them, splashing throughwater that was in places almost knee deep, even
when they took the upperlevels. Should they make a blunder, and stray off the ridges, it waslikely they would speedily have to swim for it.
Paul was considerably aroused at first. They did not know very muchabout these mysterious people of the island; and after their recentrough experience, most of the boys were decidedly averse to knowinganything more of them. And yet, here they were hurrying toward thetwo motor-boats, as though they might indeed have some desperateidea in view.
Perhaps they meant to capture the boats, so as to insure their escapefrom the rising waters. And then again, it seemed at least possiblethat they might want to keep the scouts from telling what strangethings they had seen.
So the first thing Paul did when he had that glimpse of the oncoming men,was to hasten to possess himself of his double-barreled shotgun. Not thathe expected that there would be any necessity for firing it, but it wasapt to inspire a certain amount of respect.
And the balance of the scouts had made haste to arm themselves withwhatever they could find that would help hold the enemy at bay. Some hadbrought their clubs aboard, others seized upon the push poles, while onegrabbed up the camp axe, and another seized upon the hatchet.
When eighteen husky and determined lads line the sides of two boats,prepared to give a good account of themselves, it must needs be brave menwho would dare try to clamber aboard.
And it was about this time, when things were looking rathersqually around the floating homes of the scouts, that Paul noticedsomething singular.