The Young Oarsmen of Lakeview. Stratemeyer Edward

at the unexpected interruption, the rowdies fell back. Then Towser leaped forward and caught Si Peters by his trowsers.

      “Save me!” yelled Si, in terror. “The dog is going to chew me up!”

      “Good, Towser!” returned Jerry. “Hold him fast!”

      And Towser did as bidden.

      In the meantime Mr. Upton ran after the boys who had been holding Jerry. He caught two of them, and before they knew it, knocked their heads together so forcibly that they saw stars.

      Jerry, delighted at the unexpected turn of affairs, turned upon Wash Crosby. Si Peters had dropped the tar brush, and this Jerry secured.

      Bang! whack! Crosby received a blow over the head, and one in the ear, which left a big black streak of tar.

      “Oh, don’t! please don’t!” he screamed. “Let up, Jerry! It was only a joke! We weren’t really going to tar and feather you!”

      Then the fellow ran for his very life.

      During this time Si Peters was trying his best to get away from Towser, who held on with a deathlike grip.

      Around and around the camp fire the two circled, until Jerry came up.

      The youth called off the dog and went at Si in about the same manner as he had treated Wash Crosby.

      Si wanted to run for it, and in his hurry rushed through the fire, knocking over the kettle of tar.

      The sticky mess emptied itself over his clothing. Then the young oarsman tripped him up, and over he rolled among the loose feathers.

      “Now you can see how you like it!” cried Jerry.

      And growling and panting for breath, Si Peters ran away after the others.

      The Rockpoint rowdies were thoroughly demoralized.

      CHAPTER XI.

      OFF FOR HERMIT ISLAND

      It took Jerry and his father some little time to get back their breath sufficiently to leave the woods and make their way to the road.

      “You came in the nick of time, father,” said the lad. “In another five minutes I would have been tarred and feathered.”

      “Tell me about the whole affair, son,” said the old farmer; and Jerry did so.

      “The good-for-nothing rascals!” cried the old farmer. “If they touch you again I’ll have ’em all up before the squire.”

      “That won’t help us, father,” replied Jerry. “They are rich, you know. They would get off somehow.”

      “Then I’ll take it out of their hides.”

      Mr. Upton told how Towser had led the way into the woods. Jerry had always loved the farm dog, but now he thought more of him than ever.

      “Good boy,” he said. “You shall go with us when we take our outing – that is, if father will let you go.”

      “Yes, Jerry, take him along. He may help you out of some more trouble,” replied Mr. Upton.

      It was rather late when they arrived home. Mrs. Upton was shocked to learn of what had occurred, but glad to learn that Jerry had escaped his enemies.

      The next day the young oarsman told Harry Parker and the other boys of his adventure. Harry was very indignant.

      “Those Rockpoint boys ought to be driven out of the state.”

      “I dun racken I’ll carry my hoss pistol after dis,” said Blumpo. “Da don’t cotch dis chile for to tar and feather him!”