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

e me, eh? Rather nice of you, too, consider

ered Frank and Bluff into the cabin of the big and commodious power houseboat; and immediately

ent, Frank thought, as he backed a little, so as t

gh his eyes were flashing with the sp

at, nothing could have tempted me to come in here, or bother you at all. But your friend told us it was

here," replied the other, with a careless shrug of his shoulders. "Looked as if fortune wanted to just play the who

it a sort of trap, and do you expect to jump

it so coolly. Perhaps he had even hoped to hear F

scores is a fine one, since we're two to

or tried to interfere with your business when in college. In fact, on several occasions, I've

a scowl. "It looked as if you felt a contempt for me, and couldn't even bear to be seen i

ome fellows had made up their minds to bring us to blows. Now, fighting isn't at all to my taste, though I'm sorry to say I've had to do my

Ossie!" exclaim

d up here, where we can give him what he ought to have gotten long ago, he sets up a

in the face

since you knocked down that half-witted Bailey boy, and bruised his face because he said something you didn't just like. When I heard of it I said to myself that some fine day, if the chance comes, I'm goi

like to see them do it, that's all! And what's more, right now I want to give solemn warning that the fir

swung that menacing weapon of his, first toward Oswald, who ducked, and then

uff had been even then on the way to have it mended, could hardly keep from l

ll wonder that there was a suspicious quiver to his voice, for B

so that it began to point toward him, unable to stand the strain any

othing was to be

tonished young man from St. Paul, who had been witnessing these thi

her, hastening to comply; "queer how some p

bring his gun along, we might be having a parrot and monkey time of it right now. Step to one side,

otten free from the cabin than he turned, and "broke" his gun, to show the disgusted

to the shantyboat where the sign of the locksmith hung. After a look at the pump-gun, the man said he could fix it i

look outside, seeing that it would be necessary for them to pass the pleasu

g that boat. If they make any sort of a move against us, I'll let fly a load in the air first to warn

ep in close touch with his hot-headed comrade, so that in an emergency he

grinned as they passed by, and Frank thought he nodded to them in a sort of friendly way, as

ked Bluff, in a friendl

nd if we send back to St. Paul for a casti

g at the heels of his leader; and Frank, for that matter, echo

supper was well under way, and that the two who ran th

ly wished that Oswald had run up against Frank's fist, both Will a

d when he heard Frank admit that if it had not been for his having his "terrible weapon" along at the time, the chances were t

going to be no sort of sport made of this noble weapon. Today it saved Frank and myself a mauling. When they saw what it was, they cringed like a pack of cowards. Why, w

e!" shouted Jerry, in his enthusiasm, pretending

long as I carry this prize cannon along!" continue

!" said Will, holdin

hinking it was the fellow behind the gun, and not that weapon itself, that deserves the praise.

Frank ready to sail in and help; and Ellis crawling under the table! I'm the most unfortunate fellow you ever heard tell of, to miss such glorious chances. I wish you'd only tell