Chapter V Meeting Old Enemies - The Rover Boys under Canvas by Edward Stratemeyer
"Slugger Brown and Nappy Martell!" The cry came from all of the Rover boys simultaneously.
"What were those fellows doing here?" continued Jack.
"Did they dare to speak to you?" demanded Fred.
"Of course they spoke to us--you can't stop fellows like Brown and Martell from doing that," answered Ruth. "But you can be sure we gave them both the cold shoulder."
"What did they want here?" questioned Jack.
"I don't know what they wanted or where they came from," continued Ruth. "Their appearance gave us such a shock we didn't know what to do at first."
"We were on our way from the school to the boathouse, and were just crossing the roadway when Slugger and Nappy came along in a runabout,"
said May. "The minute they saw us they stopped and jumped out. They asked us a whole lot of questions about how we were getting along at school and if your sisters were here."
"Our sisters!" cried Fred. "What business have they got to ask about Martha and Mary?"
"Of course we didn't answer their questions, and Martha and Mary had gone on ahead, so Brown and Martell didn't see them," said Ruth. "They tried to act in a friendly manner, but we gave them to understand that we wanted nothing to do with them. Then they jumped into the runabout again and drove off."
"Did they go toward Haven Point?" questioned Randy.
"Yes."
"Those fellows certainly have their nerve with them--to show themselves anywhere near Colby Hall after what happened!" burst out Andy.
"One would think they wouldn't want any of their old classmates to see them," remarked Fred.
"They are not that kind," replied Jack. "Both of them are too thick-skinned to be sensitive. More than likely they have been telling their friends that we did our best to get them into trouble and that they were not to blame."
"Oh, Jack! if you go back to Colby Hall by way of the town, I hope you don't get into any trouble with those horrid fellows," said his sister.
"Don't worry about that, Martha," answered her brother quickly. "I'm not afraid of Slugger or Nappy either. They have got to behave themselves; otherwise we may bring up one of the old charges against them."
Of course the girls wanted to know more concerning what had happened to the Rover boys while they were out on the lake, and they related many of the particulars.
"And do you really think those two Germans that that Jed Kessler spoke about set fire to the munition plant?" questioned Ruth.
"I don't know what to think, Ruth," answered Jack. "One thing is certain: If the first explosions weren't accidental, then they must have been due to some underhand work."
During the time the boys spent with the girls at the boathouse there were no more explosions, and now the fire on the opposite shore of the lake was dying out, while only a small part of the pall of curious-colored smoke remained.
"I guess it's about over," was Randy's comment.
Feeling that those at Clearwater Hall would be safe, at least for the time being, the Rovers decided to return to Colby Hall, knowing that Colonel Colby and his assistants would be anxious concerning the welfare of all the cadets.
Spouter and those with him had taken one automobile, but the other remained, and, bidding the girls good-bye, the Rover boys jumped into this and were soon off. Jack was at the wheel, and in spite of the numerous machines on the road, for the blowing-up of the shell-loading plant had caused great excitement for many miles around, he drove the car with considerable speed in the direction of Haven Point.
"Let us stop at the town for a few minutes and find out, if we can, just how bad this affair has been," said Fred.
"That's it!" returned Randy. "I'd like to know if anyone has been killed or seriously hurt."
They stopped on the main street close to where were located a number of the stores and also the moving-picture theater where the cadets had first met Ruth Stevenson and her chums.
"It's a pretty bad affair," said one of the storekeepers, with whom in the past the boys had done some trading. "I was just down to police headquarters, and they say there that two workmen were killed and about fifteen injured. It certainly is a rascally piece of business, and the fellows who did it ought to be strung up."
"Then they are pretty certain that it is the work of some German sympathizers?" questioned Jack quickly.
"They can't figure it out any other way. The boss of the plant, and likewise two of his head foremen, have been closely questioned, and they declare that every possible precaution against accidents was taken. More than that, they say that there were two separate explosions occurring almost at the same time--one down on the railroad tracks and another in a storehouse quite a distance away."
"Yes, we heard that, too, from one of the dockmen of the plant,"
answered Fred. "He said he thought two men who looked like Germans and who had been hanging around the plant might be guilty."
"Yes, I've heard that story, too. I think it was started by old Jed Kessler, wasn't it?"
"That's the man," said Randy.
"I think I saw those two fellows here in Haven Point," continued the storekeeper. "They were heavy-set, round-faced men, and each had heavy black hair and a heavy black beard, just as Kessler described them.
They were here several times. I think they had business at one of the machine shops, although I'm not certain about that."
The Rover boys spoke to several other people of the town and gathered a little additional information regarding the destruction of the shell-loading plant, and then reentered their automobile and started once more for the military academy. With them went Bart White and Frank Newberry, who had come down to the town directly after the ball game.
"It's too bad this affair had to happen just as it did," declared Bart White. "It kind of takes the shine off of our victory over Hixley High."
"So it does," said Jack. "But that can't be helped."
"If you put it up to the shell-loading people they would probably have been willing to postpone the blowing up indefinitely," remarked Andy dryly.
"I suppose the newspapers here will be full of nothing but this affair," said Fred wistfully; "and they won't give our game with Hixley High more than a brief mention."
"Oh, well, what of it?" cried Randy gaily. "We walloped 'em, and that's the main thing."
"Right you are!" came in a chorus from several of the others.
At one of the street corners, owing to the excitement, there was a congestion of traffic, and Jack had to bring the car to a stop. As he did this there was a sudden yell from behind, and then came a slight bump followed by a jingling of glass.
"Hi, you! what do you mean by stopping so suddenly?" yelled an irate voice from the rear.
"They've busted one of our headlights!" added another voice in surly tones.
Those in the tonneau of the Rovers' automobile looked around quickly.
"Nappy Martell and Slugger Brown!" ejaculated Fred in surprise.
"They must have been following us!" added Randy quickly.
"Say, I didn't know those fellows were anywhere around here!" burst out Frank Newberry.
"I thought from what you fellows told us those fellows would steer clear of this vicinity," added Bart White.
By this time Jack and Andy, who were on the front seat, were also looking back to see what had happened. They beheld a runabout standing close up to their own car. The collision had not been sufficient to do any more damage than to break the glass in both of the headlights of the runabout. They had struck the framework holding an extra shoe on the rear of the Rovers' car, and for this reason the other automobile had not suffered any damage whatsoever.
"You fellows will pay for this damage!" grumbled Slugger Brown, who was at the wheel of the runabout.
"You did it yourself," answered Bart White quickly.
"You fellows had no business to stop so suddenly!"
"They did it on purpose!" burst out Nappy Martell.
As was usual with the youth, he was loudly dressed, wearing a light checkered suit with a cap to match and a flaming red tie. He looked somewhat dissipated.
"I'll attend to this," said Jack to his cousins and the others. And without delay he leaped from the front machine and walked back to the other.
"Just see what you've done, Jack Rover!" began Slugger Brown. But then the stern look in Jack's face caused him to come to a stop.
"I'm glad I met you, Brown--and you too, Martell," said Jack in a low, steady voice. "I was hoping I'd see you before you had a chance to leave Haven Point."
"Wanted to see us, eh?" said Slugger; and now a somewhat uneasy look took possession of his face.
"Don't let him talk himself out of paying for the damage done," put in Nappy loftily. He was puffing on a cigarette and blew the smoke high into the air as he spoke.
"We're not going to pay for any damage done," said Jack. "This little accident is your own fault, for you had no business to be driving so close behind our car."
"We'll see about that," grumbled Slugger.
"What I want to talk to you about is another matter," went on Jack, without raising his voice because he did not wish to have any outsider hear. "You took the trouble a while ago to stop at Clearwater Hall and speak to some of the young ladies attending that school."
"Well, what of it? Haven't we got a right to do that if we want to?"
"I guess we can speak to our lady friends any time we feel like it,"
added Nappy.
"Both of you know very well that none of those young ladies want anything to do with you," continued Jack. "You've had your warning before. Now I want you to leave them alone."
"Huh! you talk as if you were our master," growled Slugger, an ugly look coming into his eyes.
"Never mind how I talk, Brown. You just listen to what I'm saying, and you mind me. If you don't, you'll get into a whole lot of trouble, just as sure as you are born."
By this time Fred had also left the forward car and was standing beside Jack.
"You fellows asked about my sister and about Jack's sister," said Fred. "Why did you do that?"
"That's our business," answered Nappy.
"I know why you did it," went on Fred quickly. "You did it because you thought you might make some sort of trouble for the girls. I know you!
Jack," he continued, turning to his cousin, "I think the best thing we can do is to have them both arrested for that affair on Snowshoe Island."
"You can't bring up those old things--they are past and gone!" cried Nappy Martell, his face showing sudden uneasiness. "Old Barney Stevenson agreed to let the whole matter drop provided he was allowed to remain on the island."
"Oh, he's only bluffing, Nappy," broke in Slugger. "They can't do a thing, and they know it!"
"We can and we will unless you leave all the girls at Clearwater Hall alone," declared Jack stoutly. "Not a one of them wants anything to do with you."
"How do you know what they want?"
"Because they told us."
"I don't believe it, Rover."
"You can suit yourself about that, Brown. But just you remember this: If you or Martell attempt to do anything in the future to annoy my relatives or any of our girl friends at that school, I'll see to it that you are punished, and punished heavily."
"Say, do you know what I think?" cried Andy, who had come to the rear of the front car. "I think we ought to give them both a good licking."
"It might do them both good," answered his twin.
"I don't see how you fellows can show yourselves around here,"
remarked Frank Newberry. "After the way you acted at Colby Hall and up on Snowshoe Island I should think you'd want to keep out of sight."
"What right have you got to butt in here, Frank Newberry?" cried Slugger Brown wrathfully.
"I've got a good deal of right, and you know it, Brown! You and Martell were a disgrace to Colby Hall, and every cadet at the academy is aware of that fact. And I, too, know for a fact that none of the young ladies at Clearwater Hall wants to have anything to do with you."
"Aw, you fellows make me tired!" growled Slugger Brown.
By this time a small crowd had collected, anxious to find out how the damage to the headlights of the runabout was to be settled. Then a policeman pushed his way forward.
"Any trouble here?" he asked.
"No trouble that I know of," answered Jack. "I stopped my car, and this fellow came up behind me so suddenly that he smashed his headlights."
"I see." The policeman turned to Slugger Brown. "Your own fault, was it?"
"It was his fault! He stopped too quickly," grumbled Slugger.
"But--er--I--I--won't make any complaint--at least not--not now," he said lamely. "I'll take this up later."
"And we'll get what's coming to us--you see if we don't!" put in Nappy Martell.
Then Slugger Brown started up the engine of his runabout, backed up a few feet, and turned out into the roadway. He ran around the nearest corner and up the road, and was soon out of sight in the distance.