Luck and Pluck 48

Luck and Pluck 48

"Less than half an hour ago. He can't have got much over a mile. If you

keep on, you'll be sure to overhaul him."

 

"I'll do that with a vengeance," said Mr. Huxter.

 

"Thank you for your information, Mr. Jones. I'll do as much for you

some time."

 

"All right. Stop on the way back, won't you?"

 

"Well, I don't know but I will. I only took a mouthful of breakfast, I

was in such a hurry to pursue this young scamp."

 

"Well, it's an ill wind that blows nobody good," thought the landlord.

"The boy's running away has brought me two customers. I had no idea he

was such a young rascal."

 

"I might as well get a good breakfast," soliloquized Mr. Huxter. "I can

charge it to Jane. She can't expect me to chase John Oakley over hill

and dale on an empty stomach!"

 

Mr. Huxter began to indulge in pleasing anticipations of what he would

do to John when he had captured him, forgetting the good old rule, that

before cooking a hare you must catch him.

 

 

 

 

CHAPTER XXV.

 

THE VALUE OF A BOAT.

 

 

Meanwhile John was plodding along at a moderate pace. He had no idea of

the danger that menaced him. He was now ten or eleven miles away from

Jackson, and this gave him a feeling of security; not that the distance

was so great, but that, of the many directions in which he might have

gone, he saw no reason to think that Mr. Huxter would be likely to

guess the right one.

 

On the whole, John felt in very good spirits. It was a bright, pleasant

morning in September, with a clear, bracing air, that lent vigor to

his steps. He decided to stop in Redport until after dinner, and then

inquire his way more particularly. He determined to take the stage or

cars, if he found any that ran across to Wilton. The expense would not

be any greater, probably, than the cost of the meal and lodging for

which, if he walked, he would be obliged to pay at the country inns.

 

He had got to the bottom of a hill when he heard the clattering of

wheels behind him, and was startled by the sound of a voice only too

familiar. "Stop, you rascal!"

 

John looked round, and his heart made a sudden bound when he recognized

the well-known face of Mr. Huxter projecting out of a chaise, which was

tearing down the hill at furious speed.

 

"So I've caught you, have I?" exclaimed his pursuer, in exultation.

"I've got an account to settle with you, you young scamp!"

 

John was no coward, but he knew that in a physical contest, he, a boy

of fifteen, would be no match for a man close upon six feet in height.

Discretion was evidently the better part of valor. If he could not

overcome his antagonist, could he elude him? He darted a quick glance

around, in order to understand the situation and form his plans.

 

He couldn't keep on, that was evident. To the right, at the distance

of a quarter of a mile, he saw a small pond gleaming in the sunlight.

It might have been a mile in circumference. Behind it was a belt of

woods. It occurred to John that he might find a boat somewhere along

the shore. If so, he could paddle across, and Mr. Huxter would be left

in the lurch. If he found no boat, his chances would be small. But at

any rate this seemed his only feasible plan. Mr. Huxter was already

within a few rods, so there was no time to lose. John clambered up on

the stone wall.

 

"Stop, you rascal!" shouted Mr. Huxter, as soon as he saw this movement.

 

"I'd rather not," said John, coolly.

 

"I'll give you the worst flogging you ever had!" said his pursuer,

provoked.

 

"That's no inducement," said John, as he jumped on the other side, and

began to run across the field.

 

"I'll make him pay for all the trouble he gives me," said Mr. Huxter,

between his teeth.

 

He stopped the horse, and jumped into the road. He would like to have

pursued John at once, but he did not dare to leave the horse loose,

fearing that he would not stand. Although chafing at the delay, he felt

that prudence required him to secure the horse, which was a valuable

one, before setting out after the fugitive. "The more haste the worse

speed," says an old proverb. So it proved in the present instance. Five

minutes were consumed in attaching the horse to the branch of a tree.

This done, Mr. Huxter jumped over the stone wall, and looked to see how

far John had got. Our hero had already reached the shore of the pond,

and was running along beside it. Mr. Huxter's eyes lighted up with

exultation.

 

"I'll have him yet," he muttered. "The pond is in my favor."

 

He began to run diagonally to the point John was likely to reach. But

suddenly John stopped and bent over.

 

"What's he doing?" thought the pursuer puzzled.

 

A moment revealed the mystery. Reaching the top of a little knoll, he

saw John jump into a boat, rowing vigorously from shore. He was only

just in time. One minute later, and Mr. Huxter stood at the edge of the

pond. He was excessively provoked at the boy's escape.

 

"Come back here!" he shouted, authoritatively.

 

"I would rather not," said John.

 

He rested on his oars a moment, and looked calmly at his pursuer. There

he was, only three rods distant, and yet quite out of reach. Certainly

it was very tantalizing. If there had only been another boat! But there

was not. The one which John was in was the only one upon the pond. John

felt very comfortable. He fully appreciated the advantage he had over

his antagonist.

 

"Come back here, I say!" screamed Mr. Huxter, stamping his foot.

 

[Illustration]

 

"Why should I?" asked John, calmly.

 

"Why should you? Because I'm your guardian."

 

"I don't think you are, Mr. Huxter."

 

"At any rate, you're under my charge."

 

"Suppose I come to the shore, what then?" asked John.

 

"I'll give you such a flogging that you won't dare to run away again."

 

"In that case," said John, smiling, "I think I'd better not come."

 

"You'd better come, if you know what is best for yourself."

 

"But I don't think a flogging would be best for me," said John, smiling

again.

 

Mr. Huxter was excessively angry; but he saw that he was on the wrong

tack. It was not easy for him to change it, for he felt too provoked;

but he saw that he must do it, or give up the chance of capturing John.

 

"Well," he said, after a little pause, "then I'll pass over the

flogging this time. But you must come to shore. I want to go home as

soon as I can."

 

"I am not going home with you," said John, composedly.

 

"Why not, I should like to know?"

 

"I should never be happy at your house."

 

"You're homesick. That will pass off."

 

John shook his head.

 

"I can't go back."

 

"Come, Oakley," said Mr. Huxter, changing his tone; "you think I bear

malice for the little accident that happened yesterday. I don't mind

confessing that it made me feel ugly when I fell into that tub of hot

water. You wouldn't have liked it yourself, would you?"

 

"No, I don't think I should," said John, smiling in spite of himself,

as the image of Mr. Huxter's downfall rose before him.

 

"You can't blame me for feeling mad. But I know it was an accident, and

I forgive you. You know it's your duty to come back."

 

"I don't know about that," said John.

 

"Your stepmother made the arrangement for your good, and it's your duty

to obey her."

 

"Mrs. Oakley has not treated me as I had a right to expect," said John.

"There was no reason for her sending me away from home."

 

"She thought it best for you," said Mr. Huxter, condescending to reason

with the boy, who was beyond his reach.

 

"She took me from school, though she knew that my father wished me to

remain there, and get ready for college."

 

"She thinks you know enough already. You know more than Ben."

 

"Ben doesn't care for study. He could have prepared for college if he

had wished."

 

"Well, perhaps you're right," said Mr. Huxter, with wily diplomacy. "I

didn't see it in that light before. If your father wanted you to go to

college, it's all right that you should go. I'll write to my sister as

soon as we get home, and tell her how you feel about it. So just come

ashore, and we'll talk it over as we go home."