Bobby Blake on a Plantation; Or, Lost in the Great Swamp

s followed, and they were close on Bobb

e weather was becoming so cold that the lake offered no special attraction. One boat,

ed. "Some one get two pairs of oars from th

own and put in the boat and Bobby

push the boat down the slant

s," cried Bobby. "You, Fr

th excitement. "I've had a good deal of practice in

Bobby. "Into the wat

e float by Skeets and Shiner, while Bobby and his th

ush with the level of the lake, and the two who had been rowing had abandoned the oars, as it was impossible to drag the heavily laden water-logged boat through

lly, shouting to the boys in the sinking boat not to jump, and

were bending to the oars lustily and put

his face. "Don't stop to look behind. I'll take a look once in a while

gh the water with a speed that rapidly cut down the spac

ign of springing overboard, and were baling frantically, using their caps and sweaters an

ance behind showed him the awful danger. "Don't spare yourself, fellow

s a desperate cry from the inmates of the sinking boat, which was echoed from the watching crowd on the s

airly screamed, bending almost

benefit of those who have not read the earlier volumes of this series, to trace

village of Clinton. He was the only son of parents who were in comfortable circumstances. Bobby was frank, m

s good and generous of heart, and he and Bobby got on famously together. Fred was constantly getting into trouble of one kind or another, and Bobby was kept busy trying to prevent his friend from reaping the consequences of his qui

t of their being separated, when, to the delight of both, their parents decided to send them to Rockledge School together. The school was a fine one, located on a beautiful sheet of water called Monatook Lake. Here the chums found that they had to s

te were a source of good-natured fun for all the Rockledge boys. Here they had a great variety of sports, for the home was on the sea coast and th

them, the more so because at one time their ship had been reported as shipwrecked and lost. It was arranged that Fred should go with him, and the boys embarked in

us when we tell them all we've gone through,"

admitted Fred, "but I guess they'll believe us wh

rprising experiences. Many of these were due to the warm rivalry that existed between

ser" Pryde. This was up in the Big Woods. There were wildcats near there, to say nothing of a big bear that made lots of trouble for them

became members of the Rockledge nine, and it was Bobby's fine work as a pitcher in the most important game

of his hand," was the way Jimmy Ailshine, or "Shiner," as he

w Bangs. Here they made friends with the cowboys and learned to ride, and they also fell in with a moving picture company and took part in the making o

bile. A copperhead snake that took possession of their cave furnished an exciting feature of the trip, which was further enlivened by an encounter with gypsies. Th

Belden that they had to battle with, and they found their work cut out for them. In fact they came within an ace of losing the deciding game, but how Bobby rose to the occasion and carried t

working as he had never worked before, to save the inmates

he boat went down rose to the surface, dashed the

, but seemed to be so chilled and bewildered that he could make no progress. He did manage, however, to keep his hea

mmers grabbed the stern, as the boys suspended rowing. Bobby reached

d he was almost unconscious. Lee was the nearest one to him and reached over to grab him. He caught his hair, bu

surrendered the boy he was holding to Fred, and grasping an oar held it out

, indicating his helpless burde

at, the rescuers lifted the half drowned boy on board. Then came Lee's turn

ork like beavers to get back to shore. It's no joke to be soaked to the skin on so cold a

said Lee, "You

d I'm all in a sweat, and the work getting home will keep

suit with regard to the other boys, whom they made lie down in the boat so as

School was down at the shore, including Doctor Raymond, the head of the institution, and Mr. Leith and Mr. Carrier, t

e landing stage. The spectators had seen the figures dragged aboard, but

hands were outstretched to help, and great was the

their wet clothes were stripped from them and they w

ell the rescuers that he was proud of them and would see them later in his study. But

earest and the boat was handy and we piled in and rowed out to them. Any one else would have

notice just the same that when anything has to be done and d