by Charles King
CHAPTER IX.
_A BRAVE RESCUE._
Sam was a fairly good swimmer, and as soon as he found himself in thewater he struck out for the shore, paying no attention to any one elseuntil he had assured his own safety.
One of the gentlemen in the other craft did the same selfish thing,while the other, unable to help even himself, was trying to keep hishead above water by resting his chin on an oar and piece of planking.
The women were in imminent danger of being drowned, for there was noother boat near at hand which could be sent to the rescue, and thethrong of spectators was in that unreasoning state of fear andexcitement which prevents people from being of any service at such atime.
When Teddy and Dan came to the surface after having been thrown fromtheir seats, they were within a few feet of each other, and the latterasked:
"Can you swim?"
"Yes; don't pay any attention to me, but do what you can toward savingthose women."
"Will you help me?"
"Of course; but I can't take care of more than one."
Both boats had disappeared, and nothing save a few fragments showedwhere they had gone down.
Teddy thought only of aiding the struggling women, for there was noquestion that the man with the oar could take care of himself, at leastuntil those on the bank should be sufficiently composed to do somethingeffective, and he swam to the nearest struggling being, clasping herfirmly under one arm as he said:
"Don't make a row; but keep perfectly quiet, an' I'll take you ashore."
Half-unconscious as she was, the woman attempted to grasp him by theneck, and for several seconds he had all he could do to prevent her fromchoking him to death; but after two or three kicks judiciouslyadministered, he succeeded in making her understand that her life aswell as his own depended upon her remaining passive, and from thatmoment all went well.
The employees of the company which had the boats on exhibition flunginto the water several life-saving arrangements of cork and canvas, andby dint of much persuading he induced her to trust to one of these whilehe went to the assistance of Dan, who had been carried beneath thesurface more than once by the struggles of the woman whom he was tryingto save.
By this time a boat was brought up from around the point, and as thesetwo helpless ones were taken on board both the boys swam to the rescueof the last of the party who had sunk beneath the surface for the thirdtime.
Teddy, now nearly exhausted by his efforts, was the first to grasp her;but if it had not been for Dan the struggle would have been useless,since his strength was so far spent that he could not have brought herabove the water unaided.
By their united efforts, however, she was taken on board the boat in astate of unconsciousness, and they made their way to the shore cheeredby the shouts of the assembled multitude.
Weak, almost exhausted beyond the power to stand upright, they landed afew seconds in advance of the craft, and the reception received wasenough to have nerved stronger men to a semblance of strength.
It was not until they were in the private apartments allotted to theDavis Company that either fully understood how weak he was, and thenwilling hands aided them to recuperate.
Hot flannels, warm drinks, and dry clothes were contributed by thedifferent exhibitors, until, as Teddy said, they looked like "circusclowns;" but they were in fairly good bodily condition, and it appearedas if the involuntary bath had done them no real injury.
Outside the building the people were shouting themselves hoarse inpraise of the two boys who had saved three lives, and Sam stood bowingacknowledgments as if he had been the chief actor in the thrillingscene.
The difference between the real and the pretended life-savers wasreadily understood, however, when Dan and Teddy made their appearance,looking decidedly the worse for their struggles, and the cheers whichwent up would have been ample reward for the most praise-loving personin the world.
They looked like anything rather than reputable employees as theyappeared in the borrowed garments; but as Teddy said, they couldn't stayin the building until their clothes were dried, and it was absolutelynecessary he should attend to his business.
Dan's duties necessitated his remaining near the creek; but Teddy wasforced to go back to his cane-board, and the crowd which followed himwas good evidence of the money he would make.
During two hours after he returned from this thrilling adventure thecane-board had more customers than could conveniently be attended to,and it is safe to say that he then handled a larger amount than he hadever before seen.
"At this rate it won't take long to square up things, and you shall havea fair portion of the profits, Tim," he said, when there was anopportunity for him to speak with his clerk without being overheard bythe customers.
"It's a lucky thing for us that them boats were smashed," Tim said,devoutly, as he handed his employer half a dollar to change. "We mighthave stood here with our tongues hangin' out all day an' never seen aquarter of this money if you hadn't known how to swim."
"You are right to a certain extent; but I can't take all the credit ofthis spurt, because more than half the people are trying to get a canefor nothing."
"In the same way they thought to swindle Mr. Hazelton out of a watch," Timreplied, with a smile; "but we won't fight about what brings trade solong as it comes with the cash."
Up to this time Teddy had no very definite idea of how much money hadbeen taken in, and he was thinking it would be a good idea to ascertain,when a gruff, familiar voice from the rear asked:
"Are the wages of sin as much as they should be?"
Turning quickly he saw Uncle Nathan, and replied:
"I don't know exactly what they should be; but, perhaps, you do."
"Whatever I may know now, I remember that it was not allowed I shouldinsult my elders either by plainly spoken words or insinuations," theold man said, sternly.
"Neither would I have done such a thing if you had not given me theprovocation; but when I promised to pay three dollars for the use offifteen one week, you did not seem to think that amount would be thewages of sin."
"At the time I had no idea you would conspire with others to rob me ofmy hard-earned savings."
"You know very well, Uncle Nathan, that I haven't done any such thing.On the night your store was robbed I staid in the house, and hadn't leftit when you came to tell us the news."
"Every person of your class has some such excuse ready in case of anemergency; but that kind of talk will not do with me. If you meant to dothe square thing, why was I not told you lost the money I lent you?"
"Because I knew you would raise an awful row, thinking possibly it wouldnot be paid back."
"Have I yet any assurance that it will be?" the old man asked, in afury.
"Do you need it now?"
"I always need my own."
"And in this case, if I pay you at once, do you think it right to chargeme three dollars for the use of fifteen lent two days ago?"
"That was what you promised, and the world gauges a man by the way hekeeps his word."
"I owe the storekeeper in Waterville thirty dollars; but I told him youmust be paid first, and so you shall."
"Then give me the money now," Uncle Nathan snarled.
"That is exactly what I am willing to do," Teddy replied, calmly; "butif you can't trust me I have reason to be suspicious of you, so give mea receipt for the amount, and the matter can be settled."
The old man literally glared at his nephew for an instant, and then,eager to have the cash in his possession, he wrote a receipt, handing itto the young fakir, as he said, angrily:
"Now, let me see if you can settle the bill."
Since the mishap on the creek, where Teddy had covered himself withglory, business had been so good that he had more than twice thatamount, and, emptying the contents of his money bag on a board, heproceeded to select the required sum.
Uncle Nathan watched him jealously, his eyes twinkling enviously, andwhen the money was placed in his hand he
counted it twice over beforedelivering up the written acknowledgment.
"Are you certain all this has been honestly earned, Teddy?" he asked,gravely.
"How else could I have got it?"
"There are many ways. While I would not be willing to take my oath toit, several of these ten-cent pieces look very much like those I lostnight before last."
"Do you mean to say I had anything to do with robbing your store?" andnow that this particular debt had been canceled Teddy felt very brave.
"I know that such an amount of money has not been earned honestly, and,what is more, my eyes have been opened to the character of yourfriends."
"If you mean Mr. Hazelton, he is as much your friend as mine, for youwere with him all day Sunday."
"That is exactly who I do mean," Uncle Nathan replied, with provokingdeliberation. "I have seen his method of doing business since I cameinto this fair, and know he is nothing more than a deliberate swindler."
"But one with whom you were perfectly willing to go into partnership," avoice in the rear of Teddy cried sharply, and the jewelry fakir steppeddirectly in front of Uncle Nathan. "I told you exactly how I worked, andyou offered to put up even money with me, growing angry when I said youwould be of no use in the business. If it is swindling, you were mightyeager to have a hand in the same business."
"I don't want to talk with you," Uncle Nathan said, as he put Teddy'seighteen dollars carefully in his pocket.
"Then why do you come around here trying to bully this boy? He had noidea of what I was going to do until he saw me work, while youunderstood the whole plan. Make any trouble for him, and I will get uphere and tell every person who comes along that you wanted to be mypartner."
"Do it," the old man said, angrily. "After having cheated so many peopleout of their money, who will believe a word you say?"
At the same time, however, Uncle Nathan took good care to leave thisparticular spot, and Hazelton stepped to the rear of the board where hecould talk privately with Teddy.
