Motor Boat Boys Mississippi Cruise or, The Dash for Dixie   By: Louis Arundel

MISSISSIPPI CRUISE

Or

The Dash For Dixie

by

LOUIS ARUNDEL

[Frontispiece: Jack was keeping his hand on the alert, ready to reverse his engine at even a second's warning.]

Chicago M. A. Donohue & Co. Copyright 1914 by M. A. Donohue & Co. Chicago

CONTENTS

I. ALL ABOARD FOR DIXIELAND! II. THE START III. A HANDICAP AT THE FIRST STATION IV. THE SUDDEN PERIL V. AROUSED AT MIDNIGHT VI. STARTLING NEWS FROM NEAR HOME VII. QUITE A SURPRISE PASTY VIII. LEFT IN THE LURCH IX. THE SWIFT RUN OF THE "TRAMP" X. IN A KENTUCKY COVE XI. TURNING THE TABLES ON THE BANK ROBBERS XII. "LUCKY JACK!" XIII. THE "WIRELESS" IN TOW XIV. SIGNS OF THE SUNNY SOUTH XV. BUSTER TAKES HOPE XVI. ERASTUS, THE HOUSEBURNER XVII. THE SHERIFF'S POSSE XVIII. AT THE MOUTH OF THE SUNFLOWER XIX. IN THE LAND OF COTTON XX. THE CASTAWAYS OF THE SWAMP XXI. BUSTER FACES STARVATION XXII. THE DISCOVERY XXIII. THE WINNER OF THE CUP CONCLUSION

[Transcriber's note: The following two short stories were in the original book, but are not related to the above story. No author was given for them.]

An Awakening at Alvin

Caught with a Scrap of Paper

THE MOTOR BOAT BOYS' MISSISSIPPI CRUISE;

or

A Dash for the Dixie Cup

CHAPTER I.

ALL ABOARD FOR DIXIELAND!

"Aw, quit your kidding, now, George. You know I said I'd stick by you to the bitter end; and nobody ever knew Nick Longfellow to back water, did they?"

"I guess you're right about that, Pudding. Your word is your strongest hold next to eating. I depend on you to be my boat mate on that long cruise, if so be we make a go of the race."

"Huh! even if Herb Dickson and Josh Purdue can't get a chance to enter this old tub of theirs which they call the Comfort , what's to hinder us from starting when Jack heads his dandy Tramp south; tell me that?"

"Nothing, Nick; only three boats would be better than two, and add to the fun of the race for the silver cup;" and the speaker, George Rollins, bent affectionately over the smart, bright engine of a new and exceedingly narrow motor boat undoubtedly built for speed alone, and carrying the significant name of Wireless .

"I'm told by Jack that the cup his father is having made is a jim dandy one, and has the word 'Dixie' engraved on it," the fat boy remarked. "He says it will be here by tomorrow. Perhaps when the other fellows show it to their folks, they'll get the word they're waiting for."

"Well, for one I'm not worrying about their not going along," remarked George, as he rubbed away with a bit of waste. "Why, you know there'll not be any school till away after Christmas this year, because the Dunker boys came down with smallpox, and the health board ordered the building closed. That gives us a hunky dory vacation. It was what made me think of going along with Jack in the first place."

"Yes," Nick went on; "he just has to be in New Orleans on the first of December, because that will of his daffy old uncle is to be read then; and the lawyer sent word that Jack Stormways was a big thing in the money that's left. And everybody that's mentioned has to be present when the will's read, or lose their share. That's a punk sort of a job, ain't it now, George?"

"Let up about that queer old uncle," remarked the other, in a low tone. "For there's Jack coming right now, with Jimmy Brannagan dangling at his heels. I guess Jimmy would go through fire and water for Jack, if he could only do him a good turn."

"Well," observed the fat lad, shaking his head in a positive way he had, "why shouldn't he when Jack has done so much for him? Ever since Jimmy's mother died he's lived at Jack's house, and had a chance to attend school; though for that matter I don't think he'll ever set the world on fire with his knowledge of books."