Paul at last half forcibly seated
him on a block of wood on the steering oar and procuring a pole they
started on their voyage. All went well until they had passed under the
old Aqueduct Bridge. Then a crowd of Pittsburgh boys who were in a skiff
recognized Paid as the leader of their enemies from Alleghany and opened
up hostilities. Paul bravely kept them off with his pole and whenever
the chance offered propelled it nearer and nearer to his own side of the
river. When almost ashore they rammed the steering oar with the bow of
their skiff, struck Paul with the oar and tumbled poor Harvey into the
river. Paul never thought of himself; but seizing the son of his
aristocratic mistress, he swam in for the shore, then only a few feet
away. The Pittsburgh boys were satisfied with the prize they had
captured in the steering oar and towed it away to their own side of the
river. They were followed, however, by a shower of rocks hurled
by the infuriated Paul. A sad looking pair greeted the maid who
answered their ring. Paul turned young Harvey over to her, then sneaked
around to the alley to await developments. Hearing loud lamentations
coming from the direction of Mrs. C.'s room, he started for home
where he told his mother that the work was too severe for him and
fearing the lady would refuse to let him go, he left without bothering
her for a reference.
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