The Sandy Steele Mystery MEGAPACK®: 6 Young Adult Novels (Complete Series). Roger Barlow
approvingly. “But you got too tense toward the end. Head for shore and we’ll go through again.”
Sandy flashed the boy a grin and struck out for the near bank where Mike, looking mournful and disgusted with himself, was hauling himself out of the water. As Sandy reached shore, Mike leaned down and held out a hand.
“I won’t need a drink for a week,” Mike announced, pulling Sandy up beside him. “I just managed to swallow half the river. A couple more tries like that and there won’t be any rapids to go through.”
Sandy ran a hand through his dripping hair and looked back at the rapids. Half a dozen rafts were shooting through them with ease. He shook his head in admiration. “Look at them,” he said purposefully. “If they can do it, so can we.”
Mike nodded vehemently. “Now you’re talking. Let’s go!”
Two hours and over a dozen tries later, Doug was ready to graduate both of them from the Kindergarten Rapids. “See,” he said, spreading his hands in a gesture of finality, “all it takes is a little practice. You fellows could get through there now blindfolded.”
“Maybe,” Mike admitted. “But I’ll wait for a while before I try it.”
They were standing near the dock, toweling themselves vigorously after four successful runs in a row, pleased at having mastered a new skill. The crowd had grown since early morning and, along with the younger boys, there were a number of older teen-agers dressed in flashy cowboy boots and sombreros. The older boys eyed Sandy and Mike from under their hats.
“Who are the characters?” Mike demanded.
Doug squinted over at them and made a wry face. “Oh, those! Don’t pay any attention to them. I guess they heard you were around and came over to see the fun.”
“Well, the show’s over,” Sandy said as he picked up his raft. “We’ve got to get back to your father’s.”
“I’ll go along with you,” Doug said. Suddenly he stopped and ran forward. “Hey!” he cried. “That’s my paddle!”
One of the older boys was walking away with Doug’s ash-wood paddle. He stopped when he heard the challenge and turned insolently.
“Prove it,” he snapped.
Doug planted himself in front of the boy and made a grab for the handle. “There’s a notch up there on the hand grip. Give it to me and I’ll show you.”
The older boy winked at his companions and held up one hand. “I’ll look,” he said. Carefully shielding the handle so that Doug couldn’t see it, he stared down at the wood. When he looked up, he was grinning. “You’re wrong, kid. There’s no notch. Now beat it.”
Sandy felt a sudden surge of anger as he moved forward to stand beside Doug. “Let me take a look at it,” he said slowly. He could feel his face flush in an attempt to hold down his temper.
The older boy turned to Sandy and stared at him rudely. A faint smile twisted at the corner of his mouth. “Well, well,” he drawled. “A real river expert, now, eh? Know all about rafts and paddles and such. Little Doug here got you through the course.”
“He did all right,” Sandy snapped. “Now, let’s see the paddle.”
“Are you going to fight for it?” The question came as a mocking taunt.
“If I have to.”
The older boy made a clicking sound with his tongue and shook his head reproachfully. “That’s no way to act. Suppose we settle this with a little bet.”
“What kind?”
The older boy dug the paddle into the ground and leaned on it easily. “Now that you’re such an ace in white water, let’s you and me go through some rapids. Whoever gets dumped loses. The winner gets to keep the paddle.”
Sandy shook his head firmly. “The paddle doesn’t belong to either of us, win or lose.”
“Afraid?” The question came like a slap in the face.
“No.”
“I think you are.”
Sandy breathed heavily, but managed to keep his temper. “All right,” he said, biting off each word separately. “I’ll go through any rapids with you. But we’ll settle the business about the paddle afterwards.”
“Done!”
Doug shook his head and grabbed Sandy’s arm. “Don’t do it!” he pleaded. “He’s not going to take you down the Kindergarten.”
“That’s right,” the older boy nodded. “I wouldn’t ask an expert like you to go down a playground for kids. We’ll try something more interesting.”
Mike moved up beside Sandy and grabbed his shoulder. “Take it easy, Sandy,” he said softly. “Don’t get stampeded into anything.”
Sandy’s face was white and stubborn. He shook his head doggedly. “Thanks, Mike, but this is the way I have to do it.” He turned to the older boy. “Where is this white water of yours?”
“It’s right down the bend of the river near a place called Dog Leg Falls.”
There was a gasp from Doug. “Don’t do it, Sandy!” he begged. “Forget about the paddle. You don’t know that part of the river. Two men got drowned there last year.”
Sandy looked steadily into the older boy’s grinning face, then walked over and picked up his raft and paddle.
“I’m ready whenever you are,” he announced in a quiet voice.
CHAPTER THREE
Dog Leg Falls
The boy standing opposite Sandy grunted. “Okay, champ,” he said mockingly. “Follow me.” He swung the paddle up over his shoulder and was halfway up the embankment when Mike’s voice rang out.
“Just keep walking. We’ll find our own way.” Mike was amazed at the edge in his words. He hadn’t realized he was so angry.
The boy stiffened in exaggerated surprise and turned. He did it so slowly that it was more of an insult than an acknowledgment. A sneering smile played over his face as he stared at Mike.
“Well, well,” he drawled. “Another county heard from. Maybe you’d like to ...”
“Cut that kind of talk and get out of here!” Mike’s tone was curt and hard. He took a few steps up to the boy and looked at him squarely.
The boy dangled the paddle carelessly from one hand and came down a few steps toward Mike. “You wouldn’t be thinking about running out—now would you?”
“I don’t think I’d ask that question if I were you.” Mike’s tone was deceptively soft but there was no mistaking the fire in his eyes. He glanced over at the boy’s paddle. It was swinging in a wider arc, drawing closer to him with each step. “And I’d put that paddle down before somebody gets hurt.”
For a moment Mike thought the boy was going to charge him. He shifted his weight and got himself ready, but the attack never came. The paddle suddenly stopped as the boy spun around on his heel and moved back up the embankment, motioning for his friends to follow. Silently they trooped along.
Mike took a deep breath and relaxed. Then he turned and joined Sandy and Doug at the dock.
“Whew!” Doug whistled admiringly. “You really gave it to him!”
“It didn’t take much, Doug,” Mike replied, keeping his eyes on Sandy’s worried face. “Hey, Sandy,” he said softly. “You sure you want to go through with this?”
Sandy flashed him an amused look. “Want me to run away?”
“No, but ...”
“Then I guess that’s it. I’m in too far