The Outdoor Chums on a Houseboat; Or, The Rivals of the Mississippi

for a repetition of the strange sound. His heart was beati

o lean out of the lower bunk. And he also congratulated himself that the choice of sleeping qua

r. He knew that they had tied up in a rather lonely spot; but it was hard

countries of apes and monkeys, were able to try the

conscious of the fact that Will had also heard the sound, and was listening in

se he knew just where he had placed the weapon. It was a double-barreled shotgun, a hammerless, that had been gi

t he was doing, for he caught the intak

he would do. He had not the slightest idea of shooting at any intruder, his sole intention being to give the

air being needed, it is also advisable to keep out intruders. But Frank happened to know that one of these had been only partly

without any

nded loud in the confined s

his elevated berth, doubtless under the impression th

torch, which he had kept within reach of his hand, in case he wanted to see the time

n Frank snapped on the bright ray of light, when they imm

miling to see the blank expression on the faces of the pai

he words of one who was looked up to as the leader of the set, he

," repli

ou, Frank," ventured Jerry. "If it were Bluff here, I'd think that was the ca

ank shot it through one of the windows!" Will declared,

ou see to do it, with the night

ined, "but it was no animal at all,

re's a bolt on the door, as well as a padlock outside; and that we thought to shoot it home. But

o think I'd aim at a human being, when there was no need of it. I just banged away

uggested the impetuous Bl

ioned Frank; "better get your shoes on, too, boys

andished, one might think they anticipated finding the deck fairly swarming with river pirates; and that a serious mix-up was in store. Will carried the hatchet;

now?" demanded the impa

gun of yours," warned Frank, who kne

gun; and Frank still had that useful little electric hand-torch in commission, so that there promised to

the summer stars. The river whined and gurgled as it continued to run against an obstruction in the way of the broad houseboat; little wavelets lapped the shore close by; but

aimed Bluff, looking around him, and blinkin

ere on the deck. He believed that sudden roar of his gun woul

nd him here," he remarked, castin

wing, a rat maybe, fooled you bad, I supp

asked the one addresse

ody trying to open the door. First I thought of panthers and alligators and all those things; but now I just know it must hav

p. Tried the door, did he? Wanted to come in and join the Outdoor Chums! Perhaps if we'd left that d

the nervous Will, upon seei

pick some object from the deck, just where

ere, I reckon?" he remarked, hold

slouch one at tha

marked Bluff

y, after he had taken one good look at the head covering, which diff

we can set it down as pretty sure the fellow who crept aboard the Pot Luck whil

ction in his voice; for he evidently wa

, as he bent closer to examine. "But see here,

echoed Jerry,

ver the inside; and there, sure enough, the boys discovered thr

believe their eyes, and there was a goo

of one mind there; "M. T. S. it says, fellows; and don't you see those letters stand for Marcus Stackpole, the very man Uncle Felix warned us never to let