The boys drifted slowly on the river that day, taking in the wild scenery and stopping now and then at cosy little landings on the Kentucky side. It was a warm, clear day in September, and the world never looked brighter to them than it did at that time.
They passed river craft of all shapes and sizes during the day. There were monstrous steamers having the appearance of floating hotels, there were great freight boats loaded to the guards, there were house-boats, motor boats, and great coal tows which dominated the stream as they passed.
“There’s a boat,” Clay said just before twilight, “which looks to me like a river saloon and I think those on board are watching the _Rambler_.”
“If it is,” Case suggested, “we’d better take to our heels. We don’t want any more experience with river pirates.”
“I should say not!” broke in Alex. “Those fellows don’t own the river. We’ve got just as much right here as they have. If they try to come aboard, we’ll set Teddy on them.”
The suspicious steamer checked her speed as the boys slowed down on the _Rambler_, and it was soon evident that those in charge of the whiskey boat were desirous of speaking with the boys.
“Hello, boys!” called a voice from the cabin deck of the steamer.
“What do you know about our bear?” Case demanded.
“I was on the _Hawk_ last night,” was the reply.
“Did you see those two men head for the water?” Jule asked with a snicker.
“Funniest thing I ever saw!” the other answered.
There was a short silence and then another voice called out from the steamer:
“Some of our people want a look at the dog and bear!” the first speaker said. “So, if you don’t object, we’ll come on board.”
“We’ll see about that!” came from the boat.
The steamer shot ahead so as to come up to the port side of the _Rambler_.
“Keep off!” ordered Clay. “We don’t want any of that whiskey crowd on board! If you try to put foot on our deck, we’ll shoot.”
While Clay had been talking with those on board the steamer, Case had been at work with the motors, and the _Rambler_ now shot ahead at full speed, drawing swiftly away from the steamer.
There was an instant commotion on the deck of the saloon boat and then she, too, shot ahead at a good rate of speed.
Given a clear stretch of water, the _Rambler_ would soon have been out of sight of the steamer, but on turning a bend, a monster coal tow came into view. There were rows on rows of barges heaped high with coal, all headed for the Mississippi. In the rear was a gamey tug swinging from side to side in order to keep the fleet under control.