Inland waterways

Front matter

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Chapter I. The Tow Line

Near Market Street Ferry, in the city of Philadelphia, is located the shipping and commission house of Gilman & Baker ; and lying at the pier directly opposite, on a certain day this summer, was a jaunty but oddlooking yacht, thirty-five feet in length, with the name Restless in gilt letters on her bow.

In general design she was not different from the ordinary steam yacht ; but the short smokestack rising from the hurricane deck aft caused her to appear, as the cook of a tugboat nearby expressed it, “like she had been stripped half naked.” Every one who saw her stopped for a moment at least, and several, on learning that she was what is known as a “naphtha launch,” pronounced most emphatically against the use of such power.

the firm of Gilman & Baker, authorizing the delivery of the outfit on board the yacht Restless.

The work of provisioning the craft was to be performed by Mr. Gilman himself, therefore the boys had nothing more to do but receive and stow away the goods, a task which was not finished until late that evening.

A space of about three feet long directly abaft the cabin and forward of the engine was to be used as a kitchen, and here the cooking utensils were packed in a locker. The tent, cot beds and hammocks were stored in the standing room, while the remainder of the outfit, together with the wardrobe, was distributed among the many receptacles in the cabin. The extreme bow was occupied by the oil tank, therefore it became necessary to put the provisions wherever they could best be kept clean and dry.

Both Philip and Harry owned double-barreled fowling pieces, and, as a matter of course, these, together with a generous supply of ammunition, were added to the outfit

It was not until ten o’clock on Friday morning that all the preparations were completed, and the boys wanted to begin the cruise at once, paying but little attention to the warnings of an old shipmaster who contended that it was “unlucky ” to weigh anchor on that day.

“Better hold over till Monday,” he said, wfith a prophetic shake of the head. ‘ ‘ I’ve known more trouble to come of a Friday sailin’ than could be told in a year’s time. When I was in the China trade we left Hong Kong ”

The boys left the would-be story-teller just as he was clearing* deck for action,” because time was too valuable just then to be wasted listening to yarns. Their belongings were all on board the Restless, and there appeared to be no good reason why even an hour should be spent in any other manner than journeying toward the proposed destination.

“ If you really want to leave port on what sailors call an unlucky day, I see no particular argument against it,” Mr. Gilman said, in reply to Phil’s urgent request that they be allowed to depart without loss of time. ‘ ‘ Who is to be captain ? ”

“ Phil,” Harry and Nat replied in chorus.

“Then it shall be as he says. And now, in case of any trouble, remember that it is better to follow one poor plan to the end rather than half execute three thoroughly good ones. Obey orders until the majority are firmly convinced that the safety of all demands a change, w'hen you are at liberty to depose the leader. In event of dissensions, and some will arise before the voyage of four months is ended, consult with us at home before proceeding to extreme measures, unless the matter should be so urgent that there is no time to be lost. You are almost men and, I believe, can govern yourselves; consequently there is nothing more for me to say. If the captain believes it is well to begin the cruise in defiance of all superstition, I will make no objection, since you are the ones who must gain or lose by the result’'

The boys hesitated no longer. In anticipation of leaving port on this morning, all the good-byes had been spoken, and it only remained to take leave of Mr. Gilman, who represented Messrs. Baker and Hinkle in to

INLAND U^ATERH^AYS, the matter of attending to the details of the voyage.

As a common fund the young yachtsmen had one hundred dollars, and after this had been paid to them by Gilman & Baker’s book-keeper, they went on board the Restless, which was dancing about on the swell caused by a ferry-boat as if to prove her right to the name.

The city clocks were striking the hour of twelve when the hawsers were finally cast off, and under full pressure of naphtha vapor the yacht left her dock, bound for the St Lawrence River and beyond.

There was no attempt made to ** speed” the little craft during the run up the river ; it was sufficient for the voyagers that they were under way, and the yacht steamed leisurely on until Bordentown was reached late in the afternoon. Here she was made fast at the most convenient point for entering the canal at an early hour next morning, and the boys set about preparing their first meal on shipboard.

The alcohol stove worked like a charm, and Nat, who had assumed the duties of cook, declared that it would be no more than sport to provide the party with three “ square ” meals each day. When the time for washing the dishes arrived, however, his position did not appear quite so pleasant, and but for the assistance rendered by the other members of the crew, his labors would have been prolonged until a very late hour in the evening.

Tired though the boys were, sleep did not come at their bidding. The novelty of the situation was sufficient to keep all eyes open until past midnight, and when they awakened next morning the fleet of boats

If which had arrived during the evening were being hauled toward the lock, the captain of each doing his best to get in first

‘‘We can't stop for breakfast now,” Phil said as he made a hurried toilet “If we wait for all these clumsy crafts to go through, it will be nine o'clock before it is possible to get under way.”

Harry went on shore to pay the toll of ten dollars while Phil and Nat warped the Restless toward the lock, it not being deemed advisable to start the engine until she was inside the gates.

Until this moment the yacht's captain had not fancied there could be any difficulty in navigating his craft on a canal ; but as the lock tenders insisted on his pulling the little boat between two unwieldy barges, either one of which would have crushed her like an egg shell had it swung down upon her, he began to have serious misgivings as to the chances of reaching New York without an accident It was useless to shout to those near by, for not a man paid the slightest attention to his fears, and when the water was let in, the huge hulks swayed from side to side with many a resounding bump against the light timbers of the yacht

“Phil, you and Nat stand by with the fenders while I get up steam so that we'll have a show of slipping past these boats at the first opportunity. Keep your eyes open, for if they jam us too hard this cruise will be ended before it has really begun.”

“ If they swing in toward us, it's precious little we can do to prevent it,” Nat said apprehensively, and then he shouted to the skipper of the nearest boat :

Can't you take in the slack of that bow line? Ouf

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craft won't stand much of this kind of squeezing.*

“That's your lookout,” the man replied gruffly, and in a manner which proclaimed unmistakably the fact that with him it had been “two pulls at the whisky flask and one on the hawsers,” while the crew of the other boat appeared to think the request very comical.

“ There won’t be anything to laugh about if you stave two or three timbers for us,” Phil called out sharply.

“Why didn’t you stay back till the big boats got through, if you’re so much afraid ? ”

“ Because we had the right to come in ahead of the others,” Phil replied angrily, and after assuring himself that there was no immediate danger, he turned once more to the engine.

Meanwhile the canal boatmen were making preparations for leaving the lock, and the crew of the Restless were so busily engaged in caring for their craft that neither took note of the fact that the men had passed a tow line directly under the yacht’s stern.

The one great advantage of naphtha for both fuel and power is the celerity with which the necessary pressure can be obtained. Before the gates of the lock were opened Phil had everything in readiness for the start, and calling Harry to stand by the engine, he went to the wheel.

Once the barriers were opened, the skippers of both barges were eager to get out ; the lock tender shouted for Phil to go ahead in order that the steamer waiting in the canal might enter without loss of time, and every one in the vicinity seemed to think it necessary he should add to the general din by shouting at the full strength of his lungs.

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Phil rang the bell for the engineer to open the injector, and the Restless darted forward, as if rejoicing at escaping from such undesirable company.

She had hardly cleared the gates, and the freight steamer outside was heading directly for her, when the onward motion suddenly ceased, even though the screw continued to revolve at full speed. At the same time it appeared as if a series of heavy blows were dealt the hull, causing the little craft to quiver from stem to stern.

“ Hold on I ” Harry shouted frantically, “The screw has caught up the canal-boat's tow line, and you'll have the timbers stove if the propeller isn't stopped I ”

“Close the injector!” Phil cried. “You are handling the engine, not me. ”

For a few seconds it seemed as if the Restless would come to grief between the steamer and the barges, for her crew had “lost their heads,” and the end of the tow line was beating against the hull with a force that could be felt very perceptibly.

It was Nat who proved himself to be a valuable member of the party in such an emergency. While Phil and Harry were shouting to each other, he dropped the fender, ran aft and closed the injector, shut off the supply, and reached the bow again in time to do his share toward averting the impending collision.

During these few seconds the unwieldy boat, propelled by two-mule power, had forged out of the lock, and was now pulling the Restless around stern foremost, while a chorus of cries from the loungers or boatmen in the immediate vicinity, as each gave orders at the same time to the nearly bewildered boys, only served to make the confusion greater.

‘‘Cut the rope ! Phil shouted as he did his best to push the yacht’s bow from the steamer, and the boatman who was the cause of all the trouble cried angrily :

“Til knock the head off the first one who puts a knife to that tow line ! I don’t count on buyin' sich things for every greenhorn who comes along to whittle. ”

“If you’d kept it where it belonged, there wouldn’t have been any trouble,” Nat retorted. “Now that our screw has picked it up through your own foolishness I’ll use a knife or something, so take good care not to be in the way. ”

It appeared very much as if there would be a rough and tumble fight, for the skipper of the boat, having armed himself with a stout club, was preparing to leap on board the Restless ; but the impatience of those in the rear caused them to insist that something definite should be done without delay, and Nat had plenty of assistance in his work of severing the rope.

The little craft had been released none too soon ; already was the steamer crowding down upon the second boat, and in a few seconds the result might have been disastrous.

The drunken captain was using very forcible language as he threatened Nat, and the latter, believing discretion to be the better part of valor, started the engine once more.

Fortunately Phil had not left the wheel, and after describing a full circle at the expense of rubbing in a very unpleasant manner over the shallow side of the canal, the Restless darted ahead with the end of the tow line thumping and pounding against the counter in a manner which told of serious damage to be inflicted in case the obstruction was not speedily removed.

** We can’t stop here, or the whole fleet will be on top of us,” Phil said, in reply to Harry’s proposition to shut off the steam. “It is against the rules to tie up at a bulkhead, so we shall have to run until we come to a basin, and if the timbers are stove we can’t help it Slow down a little, Nat, so’s to make it as easy for her as possible.”

The cook obeyed orders ; but the thumping was not decreased materially, and the crew of the Restless felt quite positive she would not long be in condition to continue the voyage.

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INLAND IVATLRH^AYS*

Chapter II. Unpleasant Neighbors

Crippled though the yacht was, the boys found no difficulty in keeping ahead of the slowly moving fleet of laden boats, and after what seemed a very long while the Restless arrived at the little settlement known as Baker’s Basin, so called because of the pond-like body of water which leads from the canal.

“ It’s a case of going overboard to cut the rope from the screw,” Phil said, as he gave the signal to stop. “By opening this draw we can get in out of the way of other boats until such time as we are ready to continue the journey.”

None of the villagers were in sight ; but the boys knew there would be no offense given by helping themselves, under the circumstances, and in a few moments the yacht was moored inside the towpath, at the rear of a small storehouse.

There was no particular necessity to set about the work at once, and all three made preparations for an elaborate breakfast, the unusual and early exercise having whetted their appetites until an ordinary amount of food seemed all too small to allay their hunger.

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With but one stove, and that a small one, considerable time was required for the ordinary operations, therefore it was nearly noon before this very important portion of the day’s duties had been finished.

“If you’ll put the food away, Nat, and wash the dishes, Harry and I will try our luck on the screw. We must undress, of course, and I reckon it will be a cold job before we’re through. You see **

At that moment a rough-looking man came down the towpath, and, observing the yacht, turned in at the basin as if to make a social call.

He nodded familiarly, surveyed the Restless critically, and then said in a whining tone, as he stepped aboard without waiting for the formality of an invitation :

“ Say, boys, can't you give a feller some of that ’ere g^ub ? I’m a carpenter who has been on the tramp for a job, an’ it’s a good many days since I’ve seen such a layout as you’ve got there.”

He was not the sort of a person any of the boys would have cared to be brought into very close contact with ; yet as he had asked only for food, no one wanted to refuse him, and Phil replied ;

“You are welcome to what you need.”

“Now that’s what I call generous,” the man said, with a coarse laugh, and, instead of taking the food ashore, as Phil had supposed would be the case, he seated himself at the folding table in the standing room, beginning the meal in a provokingly leisurely manner.

Harry was about to make an angry protest, but Phil checked him with a gesture, and said :

“ Let’s get at the work. Nat will attend to matters

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here;** and when they were in the cabin, he whispered : ** He’s going it rather strong, but we won’t spoil his dinner by acting as if we thought he wasn’t good enough to be allowed on board.”

** If we are to run a floating restaurant for tramps, 1 suppose it’s all right ; but in the future they must be content to have their meals ashore.”

After this slight exhibition of temper he undressed himself, and in five minutes later the undesirable guest was almost forgotten as he and Phil stood in the water to their chins, discussing the best means of getting at the offending rope.

Both had sharp knives, and each in turn dove beneath the surface to work as long as possible at the manilla hawser, which was wound around the shaft so tightly as to be nearly as hard as metal. They could remain under water but sixty or seventy seconds at a time, and the work progressed very slowly, only two or three threads being brought up at each laborious effort.

* ‘ At this rate we shan’t get through before sunset, and won’t reach New York until to-morrow morning,” Harry said, as he stopped for a moment to rest.

You can’t get out of the canal after ten o’clock to-night on account of to-morrow’s bein’ Sunday,” a voice cried from the deck and looking up, the boys saw their unbidden guest seated comfortably on one of the forward lockers, filling a short black pipe, with the air of one who intends to extract the greatest possible amount of enjoyment from his surroundings.

The announcement that they would be forced to remain in that, or some other equall undesirable place for thirty-six hours, prevented Phil from paying any attention to the free and easy manners of their guest, and he asked in dismay :

“Isn’t it possible under any circumstances to get through the locks after ten ? ”

‘ ‘ I don't reckon the governor of this 'ere State could do it, 'cause them as tends the gate ain’t any more fond of workin' than other folks, an’ they’re bound to knock off whenever the rules allow 'em. This is a snug place for you, a good deal better’n can be found between here an’ Brunswick, so things ain’t so bad as they might be after all."

“We could go back to Trenton," Nat suggested. “It would be more pleasant staying there.”

“I don’t want to turn round after we have once started," Phil replied after some thought “If this is the worst hardship we shall run across during the cruise there won’t be much suffering,” and then looking up, as if noticing for the first time the occupation of their guest, he added, “ See here, stranger, we don’t fill pipes at the same table we eat from, and if you feel like smoking there’s nothing to prevent your going ashore.”

“That’s all right, my boy. If I’d knowed you was so pertic’lar I’d a' brought along some two for a dollar cigars ; but as you say, there ain't nothing to keep me aboard, an' I’ll toddle on. Hope you won’t get lonesome betwixt now an' Monday morning.”

Then he walked leisurely out to the towpath, nodding his adieux in a jaunty manner, and sauntered back in the direction from which he had come.

‘ ' It wouldn’t have done any harm if he'd thanked us for the five or six square meals he’s stowed away. There was enough on the table when he sat down for half a dozen hungry men, but it has all disappeared,” and Nat continued his work of washing the dishes.

Phil looked after the stranger an instant, and then said thoughtfully : “ We won’t feel sorry for having given a hungry man something to eat. But we may as well hurry up this job, even if it is necessary to stay all night, for the water chills a fellow through and through.”

From this time until late in the afternoon the boys worked with a will, Nat doing his share after the cook’s duties had been performed, and not until then was the hawser entirely removed.

There was no possibility of getting through the canal before ten o’clock, and they settled down with a certain degree of patience to the fact that the enforced halt could not be avoided.

A supper of ship’s biscuit, potted meats and hot tea was easily prepared, and after it had been disposed of they made themselves comfortable in the cabin. Harry urged that the tent be set up in order to try the experiment of shore living ; but both Phil and Nat were opposed to it because of the extra amount of labor involved, and the probability that their stay would be short. The cabin lockers could be lengthened by means of a sliding shelf until they formed reasonably roomy beds, and before nine o’clock these were called into service, for all hands were thoroughly tired.

It seemed to Phil as if he had but just fallen asleep when the motion of the yacht aroused him, and before his eyes were fairly opened the sound of voices came from the standing room.

** There’s only three of ’em on board, I tell you, an'

INLAND IVATERIVAYS.

we can bluff them into setting up whatever we want,** he heard someone say in cautious yet familiar tones. “If we work the thing right there’s nothin’ to prevent our travelin’ like swells from here to Brunswick.”

For a few moments Phil was literally bewildered, and then like a flash of light came the knowledge of where he had heard that voice before.

“ It’s the tramp whom we fed,” he said to himself, “ and it begins to look as if we might have a little trouble. ”

The fowling pieces were in the locker upon which Nat was sleeping, therefore it was necessary to waken his companions before it would be possible to prepare for any offensive measures, and to this end he stole softly across the cabin with the intention of covering the cook’s mouth to prevent any word that might tell the intruders their presence had been discovered.

In doing this, however, he made the fatal mistake of passing his hand from the sleeper’s forehead down, and before Phil could prevent him Nat started to his feet, crying loudly :

* ‘ What’s the matter ? Who are you ? ”

Phil hurriedly began to explain matters when the tramp replied, evidently believing the question had been addressed to him :

* ‘ Don’t get skeered ; it’s only me — the friend what took dinner with you this noon. I was kinder ’fraid some of these ’ere reckless fellers might make trouble, so I come to see if things was all right. ”

As he spoke he pushed back the sliding door, which the boys had not thought it was necessary to lock, and walked boldly in.

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INLAND WATERWAYS.

“Look here!” Phil cried angrily. “WeVe had enough of this, and I’ll give you two minutes in which to get on shore I ”

“Don’t get excited, my boy; I’m here to spend the night with you in a sociable manner, an’ this ain’t the right way to treat a friend,” the intruder replied, as he seated himself on the locker just vacated by Nat.

Phil’s first thought was to grapple with the man and, by the aid of his companions, throw him out bodily ; but before he could make the first move toward carrying this into execution two other men entered the little cabin, filling it rather more than comfortably full, and by this very contraction of space preventing the young yachtsman from making an attack.

Neither Harry nor Nat had spoken ; the former stood near the after door, trying to decide upon some plan of action, while the latter began lighting the cabin lamps, a very necessary proceeding, whatever course might be adopted.

Even if Phil had not overheard the fragment of conversation from the standing room, he could have told by the actions of the men exactly what they proposed to do. All three had seated themselves on the lockers as if to show their determination to remain aboard, and to prove how thoroughly he felt at home, the spokesman deliberately lighted his pipe.

“I’m ’fraid you boys ain’t overly glad to see us,” the tramp said, as he began to puff great volumes of smoke, filling the cabin so full of the noxious vapor that it was with difficulty one could discern objects at the opposite end. “It’s only your good that we’ve come for, an’ the least that can be done is to give

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these gents, who are partic’lar friends of mine, a bite of something to eat/’

“If there is a constable in town I will give you free lodgings 1 ” Phil cried, no longer able to control his anger.

“Well, seein’s how there ain’t anything of the kind this side of Trenton, I reckon it’ll be better to treat us somewhere near civil, an’ then there won’t be any hard feelin’s on our part.”

“Do you intend to leave this boat?” Harry asked, in a voice trembling with rage.

“ Of course we don’t, after takin’ so much trouble to get here. Now listen to me,” and the man changed his tone of pleasantry for one of anger : “ We’ve come to stay till this craft reaches Brunswick, whether our company’s agreeable or not If there’s any kickin' you may be the ones who’ll have to go ashore, so the least you say an' the better we’re treated, the easier matters will be for all hands. Now fetch out something to eat ’'

The anger which the boys felt could not blind them to the fact that resistance would be useless while they were without weapons, and after a brief pause Phil replied, in a tone of apparent submission :

“You ate all the cooked food we had. It seems rather rough to be ordered around in this way aboard our own craft ; but since we can’t help ourselves I suppose it will be necessary to prepare supper for you gentlemen.”

“Now you're talkin' sense, young feller. Treat us square an’ you won’t find three more sociable men in the country ; but once our hair is rubbed the wrong way there’s no holdin'uSt**

The tramp grinned as he spoke, probably thinking himself a very witty fellow, and Harry whispered to Phil:

Are you going to obey that gang?*'

** Keep close to me, and be ready to follow my example when the time comes," Phil replied, as he opened one of the upright lockers to get the dishes. Then he added to Nat, “ bring out some of the potted meat, and help set the table.”

We’ll tend to that part of it,” the spokesman of the tramps said, quickly. “Pass the grub to me, an* I’ll see that it’s put where my friends can get at it handy like.”

“It will be necessary to eat in the standing room in order to admit of putting up the stove here where the wind won’t extinguish the flame,” and Phil produced the yacht’s cooking apparatus, placing it directly in the corner of the cabin.

Meanwhile Nat, warned by a peculiar look from his friend, began to take from the port locker the choicest of their provisions.

The tramps waited until Phil lighted the alcohol stove, and was breaking eggs as if to make an omelette, after which they went forward where the folding table was yet standing, the two strangers beginning their meal by devouring several biscuits plentifully covered with butter.

Phil continued his duties of cook until the men were seated, and then, with a meaning look at his companions, he said sharply :

“ Nat, get the bacon from the starboard locker.”

Before the order could be obeyed he raised the mab tress which covered it, opened the cover, and leaned over as if searching for something.

It was hardly a moment that he was thus occupied, and on standing erect once more his fowling-piece was at his shoulder with both hammers cocked.

“I will put two bullets into the first man who takes a step in this direction ! he cried, ‘‘and there will be one or two more dead tramps in this place if you are not on shore before I count ten ! ”

“ Don’t give them so long as that I Harry shouted, as he also appeared at the door with his weapon ready for immediate use. “Shoot first and order them away afterward. ”

This was a change in the aspect of affairs for which the unbidden guests were not prepared. There could be no doubt in their minds but the boys would do exactly as they threatened, for the law would uphold them in such a course, and they scrambled ashore in a hasty manner, tumbling over each other in their anxiety to get beyond range of the unfriendly-looking weapons.