The Rival Campers; Or, The Adventures of Henry BurnsSmith, Ruel Perley
General
The Rival Campers; Or, The Adventures of Henry Burns
Smith, Ruel Perley
Boats and boating -- Juvenile fiction; Camping -- Juvenile fiction
“I know one man who won’t turn you out-of-doors, when you produce those
diamonds,” answered George.
“Well, George,” returned the other, “you mustn’t lose sight of this
stranger, although I almost know he won’t attempt to leave the island for
several days. I remember that yesterday he got a letter, and I have no
doubt it was from his confederates, saying when they would arrive. They
are coming in a sailboat, for he has said so. Now, if they were coming
to-night or to-morrow, he would not have hidden that box over there in
the old house. You may be sure he did not expect them for a day or
two,—but still you boys must keep him in sight, for one never knows what
is going to happen.
“If he goes over to the bluff, you know what to do. You must get Captain
Sam, the constable, to have him arrested at once. By to-morrow night I’ll
be back with everything arranged to capture the whole three. I think you
and I will see lively times around this harbour before many days are
over.”
“Speak of the evil one and he appears,” said George Warren. “And, as true
as I live, here comes Mr. Kemble. You do the talking, Henry, for I feel
as though I should give him cause for suspicion if I said a single word
to him.”
“Leave him to me,” replied Henry Burns. “He’s playing a bold game, and so
must we;” and, as the stranger guest hobbled down to the wharf, groaning
and wincing, as though racked with pain, Henry Burns gave him a cheery
greeting.
“Good morning, Mr. Kemble,” said he. “I see you’re out bright and early.
I declare, you have begun to look better already than you did the night
you arrived.”
“Oh, I’m very miserable—very miserable,” answered Mr. Kemble, most
dejectedly. “My rheumatism is something awful. I’d give everything I
possess in the world if I could run around and be as active as you young
men.”
“You will, I’m sure, in a few days,” answered Henry Burns.
“How’s that?” asked the man, turning upon Henry Bums sharply, while a
strange look, that he could not conceal, stole over his face.
George Warren turned away precipitately, and, taking a fishing-reel from
his pocket, dropped a line over the side of the wharf.
“There’s something peculiar in this island air,” continued Henry Burns,
looking Mr. Kemble full in the eye, with the most innocent expression on
his face. “No matter how bad a person feels when he first comes here, it
puts new life into him. The first thing he knows he begins to feel like
rowing boats, and going fishing, and all that sort of thing. I come here
sick every summer, and I go away feeling strong.”
“Well,” replied Mr. Kemble, uneasily, but looking relieved, “I hope it
may do as much for me. If it does, I’ll buy a cottage here.”
“You won’t find any cottages to sell, I’m afraid,” said Henry Burns. “But
there are several old farmhouses that could be bought cheap, and they
make over as good as new.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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