Dave Porter and His Rivals: or, The Chums and Foes of Oak Hall. Stratemeyer Edward
Читать онлайн книгу.
you dare to touch me, or I'll have the law on you!" screamed the money-lender's son.
"We'll fix 'em for you, Nat!" cried Nick Jasniff. "Come on, Link, get to work!" And leaping to one side of the roadway he dragged forth the dead limb of a tree and dropped it in front of the first car. Quick to understand, Merwell followed with another dead limb, and then with some stones.
"That's the stuff!" cried Nat Poole, his face brightening. "Pile it up, fellows!" And he, too, ran for some sticks and stones, with which to make the barrier in the narrow roadway more complete.
Had Dave elected so to do he might have gone ahead when first this work was done by the enemy. But there was danger of injury both to the big touring car and to those in the roadway, and he did not wish to take the risk. Besides, there was no telling if Roger could get through, and he would not leave the crowd in the second automobile in the lurch.
"Now, I reckon you'll have to turn back!" cried Nat Poole, in triumph, after so much had been piled in the roadway that passing was totally out of the question.
"Nat Poole, I believe you are the meanest boy in the whole world!" cried Jessie, and there was a suspicion of tears in her eyes as she spoke.
"Humph! You people needn't think that you are going to have the best of me all the time," growled Nat.
"We are not doing this against any of the young ladies," said Link Merwell, with a smirk at Laura that made Dave's sister turn away in disdain. "We are only doing it to square accounts with Dave Porter and his cronies. We owe them a good deal, – and this is the first installment."
"With a good deal more to follow!" added Nick Jasniff, with a wicked chuckle.
"To the best of my knowledge and belief, this is a public highway," said Dave, as calmly as he could. "You have no right to block the road, and I want you to clear that stuff away just as fast as you put it there."
"Hear him talk!" cried Link Merwell. "You'd think he was Governor of the State, wouldn't you?"
"Don't you mind what he says, Nat," said Jasniff. "If they start to take the stuff away we'll put it back." And then, looking around, he picked up a heavy stick which might be used for a club. He was spoiling for a fight, and only the presence of the girls, and the fact that he and his cohorts were but three against five, kept him from attacking Dave.
"Oh, Dave, what shall we do?" whispered Jessie. She was becoming more frightened every minute.
"I don't see how we are going to turn around," said one of the other girls. "The trees are too close to the sides of the road."
"We are not going to turn around," answered Dave, and his face took on a stern look. He turned to his chums. "How about it?"
"I'll fight them before I turn back!" answered Roger.
"So will I," added Phil. "I don't believe they have any more right to this road than we have."
"Oh, you mustn't fight," cried Laura.
"Do you want to let that crowd crow over us, Laura?" asked Dave, flatly.
"No, no, Dave! But – but – " And then Laura stopped short, not knowing what to say. She did not wish to see an encounter, nor did she wish her brother and his chums to give in to those who were so unjustly opposing them.
CHAPTER IV
AN UNEXPECTED ARRIVAL
"This is the time we get the best of Dave Porter!" whispered Link Merwell to his cronies. "I guess we have spoiled their picnic."
"I – I – don't think th – they'll fight," faltered Nat, as Dave leaped to the ground, followed by his chums.
"Better arm yourselves with clubs," suggested Nick Jasniff. "Remember, we are only three to five."
"Maybe we had better – er – go away," returned the money-lender's son, hesitatingly.
"No, I am going to see the thing out," answered Jasniff.
"So am I," added Merwell. "Don't go, Nat – they won't dare to fight – with the girls looking on."
"Whoa, there! Whoa!" came a cry from behind the two touring cars, and looking back the boys and girls saw a man drive up on a buckboard drawn by a spirited horse.
"Why, if it isn't Jed Sully!" cried Ben.
"Who is he?" questioned Sam.
"Sort of a roadmaster in these parts. I suppose he is going around, inspecting the roads and bridges."
"Then he ought to be able to tell us about this road!" put in Phil, quickly.
"Hello! What's the meaning of this?" demanded Jed Sully, after alighting. And he strode forward and confronted the boys.
"How are you, Mr. Sully?" said Dave, for he had met the roadmaster before.
"Oh, so it's you, Dave! Blocked up, eh?" And the roadmaster looked first at Dave and his chums and then at those standing on the other side of the barrier. "Who did this?"
"They did," answered Roger, and pointed to the other crowd.
"What for?" And the roadmaster's voice grew a bit hard.
"Nat Poole, there, claims that his father has a right to close this road," explained Dave. "He put up a barrier some distance back, but we passed it. Now he and his friends have put up this."
"And we want to know if they have a right to do it," added Ben. "I had an idea the new paper company bought only one side of the road."
"So it did," answered Jed Sully. "And even if it bought both sides it couldn't close off this road, which is a public highway." He turned to Nat. "Are you Aaron Poole's son?"
"Ye-as," faltered the youth addressed, and he commenced to look worried.
"Did your father give you orders to close off this road?"
"Why – er – he – that is," stammered Nat. "What business is it of yours, anyway?" he cried.
"It is a good deal of my business," responded Jed Sully, warmly. "I am the roadmaster for this district, and I won't allow you or anybody else to close off this road, or any other, without special permission. You had no right to put those logs across the road away back, and put up that sign, and I want you to take 'em away as soon as you can."
"Well, my father bought this land, and – "
"No, he didn't buy it; the paper company bought it," corrected Jed Sully. "But that gave 'em no right to close the road. You take that stuff out of the way, and at once, or I'll have you locked up." And walking around the barrier he caught Nat by the arm.
"Let go – don't you touch me!" screamed the money-lender's son, trying to jerk away.
"You let my friend alone," broke in Nick Jasniff, and made a motion as if to use his club.
"Here, none of that – or I'll have you all in the lock-up in jig time," said the roadmaster, so sternly that Jasniff allowed the club to drop to his side. He turned again to Dave and his friends. "Did you see these chaps put this stuff here?"
"Yes," replied the others.
"Then get to work and clear it away instantly, or I'll lock you all up, and these fellows can testify against you," continued the roadmaster, to Nat and his cronies.
"Good! that's the way to talk to 'em!" cried Roger, in a low voice.
"I guess Nat didn't expect to meet the roadmaster," returned Sam.
The money-lender's son and his cronies tried to argue the matter, but Jed Sully would not listen to them. He knew Aaron Poole, and had no love for the man who had on more than one occasion foreclosed a mortgage, and driven people out of house and home.
"I'll give you ten minutes to clear the road," he said, taking out a big silver watch. "If it ain't cleared by that time I'll take you over to Lumberdale and lock you up."
"I won't touch a stick!" cried Jasniff, defiantly.
"Nor I," added Merwell.
"Oh, but – er – I don't want to be locked up!" whined Nat.
"You