joe the hotel boy-第6节

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side；　gazing　down　into　the　clear　waters　of　the　lake；　gave　a　shriek。

〃Oh；　save　me！〃　came　from　her；　and　then　she　went　over；　with　a　loud　splash。

Joe　was　startled；　and　the　ladies　left　in　the　boat　set　up　a　wail　of　terror。

〃She　will　be　drowned！〃

〃Oh；　save　her！　　Save　her；　somebody！〃

〃It　is　my　fault！〃　shrieked　the　plump　young　lady。　　〃I　tipped　the　boat　over！〃

Joe　said　nothing；　but　looked　over　the　side　of　the　boat。　　He　saw　the　body　of　Mabel　Mallison　not　far　away。　　But　it　was　at　the　lake　bottom　and　did　not　offer　to　rise。

〃It's　queer　she　doesn't　come　up；〃　he　thought。

Then　he　gave　a　second　look　and　saw　that　the　dress　of　the　unfortunate　one　was　caught　in　some　sharp　rocks。　　Without　hesitation　he　dived　overboard；　straight　for　the　bottom。

It　was　no　easy　matter　to　unfasten　the　garment；　which　was　caught　in　a　crack　between　two　heavy　stones。　　But　at　the　second　tug　it　came　free；　and　a　moment　later　both　our　hero　and　Mabel　Mallison　came　to　the　surface。

〃Oh！〃　cried　two　of　the　ladies　in　the　row…boat。　　〃Is　she　drowned？〃

〃I　trust　not；〃　answered　Joe。　　〃Sit　still；　please；　or　the　boat　will　surely　go　over。〃

As　best　he　could　Joe　hoisted　Mabel　into　the　craft　and　then　clambered　in　himself。　　As　he　did　so　the　unfortunate　girl　gave　a　gasp　and　opened　her　eyes。

〃Oh！〃　she　murmured。

〃You　are　safe　now；　Mabel！〃　said　one　of　her　companions。

〃And　to　think　it　was　my　fault！〃　murmured　the　plump　young　lady。　　〃I　shall　never　forgive　myself　as　long　as　I　live！〃

Mabel　Mallison　had　swallowed　some　water；　but　otherwise　she　was　unhurt。　　But　her　pretty　blue　dress　was　about　ruined；　and　Joe's　new　suit　did　not　look　near　as　well　as　it　had　when　he　had　donned　it。

〃Let　us　row　for　the　hotel；〃　said　one　of　the　young　ladies。　　〃Are　you　all　right？〃　she　asked　of　Joe。

〃Yes；　ma'am；　barring　the　wetting。〃

〃It　was　brave　of　you　to　go　down　after　Mabel。〃

〃Indeed　it　was！〃　cried　that　young　lady。　　〃If　it　hadn't　been　for　you　I　might　have　been　drowned。〃　And　she　gave　a　deep　shudder。

〃I　saw　she　was　caught　and　that's　why　I　went　over　after　her；〃　answered　our　hero　simply。　　〃It　wasn't　so　much　to　do。〃

All　dripping　as　he　was；　Joe　caught　up　the　oars　of　the　boat　and　sent　the　craft　in　the　direction　of　the　hotel　at　a　good　speed。　　That　she　might　not　take　cold；　a　shawl　was　thrown　over　Mabel's　wet　shoulders。

The　arrival　of　the　party　at　the　hotel　caused　a　mild　sensation。　　Mabel　hurried　to　her　room　to　put　on　dry　clothing；　and　Joe　was　directed　to　go　around　to　the　kitchen。　　But　when　the　proprietor　of　the　place　had　heard　what　Joe　had　done　for　his　niece　he　sent　the　lad　to　a　private　apartment　and　provided　him　with　dry　clothing　belonging　to　another　who　was　of　our　hero's　size。

〃That　was　a　fine　thing　to　do；　young　man；〃　said　the　hotel　proprietor；　when　Joe　appeared；　dressed　in　the　dry　garments；　and　his　own　clothing　had　been　sent　to　the　laundry　to　be　dried　and　pressed。

〃I'm　glad　I　was　there　to　do　it；　Mr。　Mallison。〃

〃Let　me　see；　aren't　you　Hiram　Bodley's　boy？〃

〃I　lived　with　Mr。　Bodley；　yes。〃

〃That　is　what　I　mean。　　It　was　a　terrible　accident　that　killed　him。　　Are　you　still　living　at　the　tumbled…down　cabin？〃

〃No；　sir。　　I've　just　sold　off　the　things；　and　I　am　going　to　settle　in　town。〃

〃Where？〃

〃I　haven't　decided　that　yet。　　I　was　going　to　hunt　up　a　place　when　Ike　Fairfield　gave　me　the　job　of　rowing　out　the　young　ladies。〃

〃I　see。　　You　own　the　boat；　eh？〃

〃Yes；　sir。〃

〃You　ought　to　be　able　to　make　a　fair　living；　taking　out　summer　boarders。〃

〃I　suppose　so；　but　that　won't　give　me　anything　to　do　this　winter。〃

〃Well；　perhaps　something　else　will　turn　up　by　that　time。〃　　Andrew　Mallison　drew　out　a　fat　wallet。　　〃I　want　to　reward　you　for　saving　Mabel。〃

He　drew　out　two　ten…dollar　bills　and　held　them　towards　our　hero。　　But　Joe　shook　his　head　and　drew　back。

〃Thank　you　very　much；　Mr。　Mallison；　but　I　don't　want　any　reward。〃

〃But　you　have　earned　it　fairly；　my　lad。〃

〃I　won't　touch　it。　　If　you　want　to　help　me　you　can　throw　some　odd　rowing　jobs　from　the　hotel　in　my　way。〃

〃Then　you　won't　really　touch　the　money？〃

〃No；　sir。〃

〃How　would　you　like　to　work　for　the　hotel　regularly？〃

〃I'd　like　it　first…rate　if　it　paid。〃

〃I　can　guarantee　you　regular　work　so　long　as　the　summer　season　lasts。〃

〃And　what　would　it　pay？〃

〃At　least　a　dollar　a　day；　and　your　board。〃

〃Then　I'll　accept　and　with　thanks　for　your　kindness。〃

〃When　can　you　come？〃

〃I'm　here　already。〃

〃That　means　that　you　can　stay　from　now　on？〃

〃Yes；　sir。〃

〃I　don't　suppose　you　want　the　job　of　hauling　somebody　from　the　lake　every　day；〃　said　Andrew　Mallison；　with　a　smile。

〃Not　unless　I　was　dressed　for　it；　Mr。　Mallison。　　Still；　it　has　been　the　means　of　getting　me　a　good　position。〃

〃I　shall　feel　safe　in　sending　out　parties　with　you　for　I　know　you　will　do　your　best　to　keep　them　from　harm。〃

〃I'll　certainly　do　that；　I　can　promise　you。〃

〃To…morrow　you　can　take　out　two　old　ladies　who　wish　to　be　rowed　around　the　whole　lake　and　shown　every　point　of　interest。　　Of　course　you　know　all　the　points。〃

〃Yes；　sir；　I　know　every　foot　of　ground　around　the　lake；　and　I　know　the　mountains；　too。〃

〃Then　there　will　be　no　difficulty　in　keeping　you　busy。　　I　am　glad　to　take　you　on。　　I　am　short　one　manor　will　be　by　to…night。　　I　am　going　to　let　Sam　Cullum　go；　for　he　drinks　too　much。〃

〃Well；　you　won't　have　any　trouble　with　me　on　that　score。〃

〃Don't　you　drink？〃

〃Not　a　drop；　sir。〃

〃I　am　glad　to　hear　it；　and　it　is　to　your　credit；〃　concluded　the　hotel　proprietor。



CHAPTER　VII。


BLOWS　AND　KIND　DEEDS。


Several　days　passed　and　Joe　went　out　half　a　dozen　times　on　the　lake　with　parties　from　the　hotel。　　All　whom　he　served　were　pleased　with　him　and　treated　him　so　nicely　that；　for　the　time　being；　his　past　troubles　were　forgotten。


At　the　beginning　of　the　week　Ned　Talmadge　came　to　see　him。

〃I　am　going　away　to　join　the　folks　out　West；〃　said　Ned。

〃I　hope　you　will　have　a　good　time；〃　answered　our　hero。

〃Oh；　I'm　sure　to　have　that；　Joe。　　By　the　way；　you　are　nicely　settled　here；　it　would　seem。〃

〃Yes；　and　I　am　thankful　for　it。〃

〃Mr。　Mallison　is　a　fine　man　to　work　for；　so　I　have　been　told。　　You　had　better　stick　to　him。〃

〃I　shallas　long　as　the　work　holds　out。〃

〃Maybe　he　will　give　you　something　else　to　do；　after　the　boating　season　is　over。〃

A　few　more　words　passed；　and　then　Ned　took　his　departure。　　It　was　to　be　a　long　time　before　the　two　friends　would　meet　again。

So　far　Joe　had　had　no　trouble　with　anybody　around　the　hotel；　but　that　evening；　when　he　was　cleaning　out　his　boat；　a　man　approached　him　and　caught　him　rudely　by　the　shoulder。

〃So　you're　the　feller　that's　took　my　job　from　me；　eh？〃　snarled　the　newcomer。

Our　hero　looked　up　and　recognized　Sam　Cullum；　the　boatman　who　had　been　discharged　for　drinking。　　Even　now　the　boatman　was　more　than　half　under　the　influence　of　intoxicants。

〃I　haven't　taken　anybody's　job　from　him；〃　answered　Joe。

〃I　say　yer　did！〃　growled　Cullum。　　〃It　ain't　fair；　nuther！〃

To　this　our　hero　did　not　reply；　but　went　on　cleaning　out　his　boat。

〃Fer　two　pins　I'd　lick　yer！〃　went　on　the　tipsy　boatman；　lurching　forward。

〃See　here；　Sam　Cullum；　I　want　you　to　keep　your　distance；〃　said　Joe；　sharply。　　〃Mr。　Mallison　discharged　you　for　drinking。　　I　had　nothing　to　do　with　it。〃

〃I　don't　drink；　leastwise；　I　don't　drink　no　more'n　I　need。〃

〃Yes；　you　do。　　It　would　be　the　best　thing　in　the　world　for　you　if　you'd　leave　liquor　alone　entirely。〃

〃Humph！　don't　you　preach　to　me；　you　little　imp！〃

〃Then　leave　me　alone。〃

〃You　stole　the　job　from　me　an'　I'm　going　to　lick　you　for　it。〃

〃If　you　touch　me　you'll　get　hurt；〃　said　Joe；　his　eyes　flashing。　　〃Leave　me　alone　and　I'll　leave　you　alone。〃

〃Bah！〃　snarled　the　other；　and　struck　out　awkwardly。　　He　wanted　to　hit　Joe　on　the　nose；　but　the　boy　dodged　with　ease；　and　Sam　Cullum　fell　sprawling　over　the　rowboat。

〃Hi！　what　did　ye　trip　me　up　for？〃　spluttered　the　half…intoxicated　man；　as　he　rose　slowly。　　〃Don't　you　do　that　ag'in；　do　yer　hear？〃

〃Then　don't　try　to　strike　me　again。〃

There　was　a　moment　of　silence　and　then　Sam　Cullum　gathered　himself　for　another　blow。　　By　this　time　a　small　crowd　of　boys　and　hotel　helpers　began　to　collect。

〃Sam　Cullum's　going　to　fight　Joe　Bodley！〃

〃Sam'll　most　kill　Joe！〃

With　all　his　strength　the　man　rushed　at　Joe。　But　the　boy　dodged　again　and　put　out　his　foot　and　the　man　went　headlong。

〃Now　will　you　let　me　alone？〃　asked　our　hero；　coolly。

〃No；　I　won't！〃　roared　Sam　Cullum。　　〃Somebody　give　me　a　club！　I'll　show　him！〃

Arising　once　more；　he　caught　up　an　oar　and　launched　a　heavy　blow　at　Joe's　head。　　For　a　third　time　our　hero　dodged；　but　the　oar　struck　him　on　the　arm；　and　the　blow　hurt　not　a　little。

Joe　was　now　angry　and　believed　it　was　time　to　defend　himself。　　He　edged　towards　the　end　of　the　dock　and　Sam　Cullum　followed。　　Then；　of　a　sudden　the　boy　ducked　under　the　man's　arm；　turned；　and　gave　him　a　quick　shove　that　sent　him　with　a　splash　into　the　lake。

〃Hurrah！　score　one　for　Joe！〃

〃That　will　cool　Sam　Cullum's　temper。〃

〃Yes；　and　perhaps　it　will　sober　him　a　little；〃　came　from　a　man　standing　by；　who　had　witnessed　the　quarrel　from　the　beginning。　　〃He　brought　this　on　himself；　the　boy　had　nothing　to　do　with　it。〃

Sam　Cullum　floundered　around　in　the　wa