Between eight and nine o'clock they were ready to start. They parted with the friendly loggers, and tramped briskly across the clearing.

"I say, youngsters," Thomson yelled after them, "if you should run acrost that sneakin' Sparwick, jest show a bold front, an' you'll have him. He's a coward at heart, an' hates a gun barrel worse than pisen."

CHAPTER XVIII.

HAMP'S PERIL.

Neither Brick nor his companions expected to overtake Kyle Sgarwick.

They knew that what Thomson said was true. The thief was many hours ahead, and possessed an intricate knowledge of the wilderness.

"I'll have to let the watch go," said Brick, in a resigned tone. "I hated to lose it, because it was a present from my father."

"We may recover it at some p.a.w.nshop in Bangor, when we go back," replied Jerry.

This cheered Brick up a little, and the conversation turned on brighter topics. For mile after mile the boys tramped steadily down the Mallowgash. The air was bitterly cold, but not sufficient to freeze the dashing current and tumbling waves.

"We ought to be near Chesumcook," said Hamp, at length.

"We are," replied Jerry. "The logging camp is a good four miles behind us. Pretty soon we'll get a view of the lake."

"And what then?" asked Brick.

"Well, I guess the best plan will be to get across the Mallowgash, and push up this side of Chesumcook until we strike a good camping-place."

"That's just the thing," a.s.sented Hamp. "Come on. Let's walk faster."

Accordingly the boys quickened their pace. The roaring of the near-by stream drowned the slight crunching of the snowshoes and sleds.

At length they reached a bit of a clearing that faced the Mallowgash.

Here they paused, startled and pleased by the strange sight that met their gaze.

In the center of the stream was a submerged tree, drifted there by some powerful flood. Only its upper limbs projected from the water. Caught in these was a partly sunken boat. Its bottom had evidently been impaled on one of the sharp, spiky branches. In the precarious and slanting front-end of the craft stood Kyle Sparwick.

The rascal was naked, and in one hand he held his clothes, rolled tightly into a pack. His back was toward the boys, and for half a minute they watched him in silence.

"Serves the rascal right," muttered Hamp. "He must have struck there hours ago. He couldn't get the boat loose, and now he's going to wade."

"I don't envy him," whispered Jerry. "He'll nearly freeze to death."

"I wish I had my watch and money," replied Brick; "but I don't see any way to get them."

Just then Sparwick stepped from the boat onto the submerged trunk of the tree. He shivered like a leaf, but without hesitation he lowered himself into the icy water. It came almost to his neck. Holding his clothes high overhead, he waded slowly toward the opposite sh.o.r.e.

"Stop, you thief!" shouted Brick, with all his might.

Sparwick nearly lost his balance. He recovered himself, and turned his head. His eyes snapped with fear and danger when he saw the boys. Jerry lifted his rifle, and leveled it across the stream.

"We want that stolen property," he yelled. "I've got the drop on you.

Wade over to this sh.o.r.e as quick as you can."

Sparwick stood still. He tried to speak, but his teeth chattered too much. Then he did a bold and venturesome thing. He flung his clothes safely beyond the heavy fringe of bushes that skirted the opposite bank of the stream. The next instant he vanished before the eyes of the amazed boys. He had dived clear under water.

"Watch for him!" yelled Jerry.

"Pepper him when he comes up," cried Brick, excitedly.

For half a minute there was silence. The boys eagerly scanned the opposite sh.o.r.e. Then, thirty feet diagonally down stream, something white slipped out of the water, and dodged like a flash into the bushes.

"What beastly luck!" cried Jerry. "I never dreamed of his coming up away down there. He's out of reach now."

"And we can't get across," moaned Brick. "Good-by to the watch. I wish I had fired when I had the chance."

"Hold on!" suddenly cried Hamp. "We've got a show yet."

He ran swiftly down stream to a point some twenty feet below, and opposite to the place where Sparwick had left the water.

Jerry and Brick followed at a slower pace, wondering what was in the wind. They understood as soon as they caught up with Hamp. Here the Mallowgash abruptly widened. It was frozen hard from sh.o.r.e to sh.o.r.e with the exception of a six-foot channel in midstream. Through this the water poured with a swift, steady rush.

"Don't be a fool," expostulated Jerry. "You'll throw your life away."

"The watch ain't worth the risk," added Brick. "Let it go."

"Don't worry about me," cried Hamp. "That's an easy jump. Don't you fellows try to follow me, though."

Before his companions could prevent him, he dashed forward, rifle in hand. He sped swiftly over the first stretch of ice. With an agile leap, he cleared the gap of rushing water, and landed on firm ice beyond.

Suddenly Sparwick crashed through the fringe of bushes. He was attired only in a red flannel shirt. His face was blue with cold, and his beard was a frozen ma.s.s of icicles. He glared at the daring lad, and uttered a hoa.r.s.e cry. In one hand he held a great clod of frozen snow. He drew it back and let fly.

The whole thing was so sudden that Hamp did not have time to lift or use his rifle. The heavy missile struck him forcibly on the breast. He reeled to one side and slipped on the smooth ice. With a piercing cry, he plunged into the swift water.

Sparwick instantly vanished behind the bushes. Well for him that he did so. Had he lingered but a moment Brick or Jerry would have shot him in their wrath.

Finding the ruffian out of reach, the two boys turned their eyes anxiously on the open channel.

Hamp's head and shoulders bobbed to the surface half-a-dozen feet below where he had fallen in. He still retained his hold on the rifle. He made a gallant struggle for life, and succeeded in reaching the rim of ice nearest his companions. He threw the rifle forward, and clung tight.

"Help! help!" he cried. "I'm nearly played out, boys. I'll have to let go."

But Brick and Jerry were prompt to the rescue. With great strides they crossed the ice, and soon had Hamp safely beside them. They dragged him over to the bank, and dropped him in a clump of bushes. He was blue and speechless with cold.

"Bring the sleds here, Brick," cried Jerry. "Quick, while I make a fire.

Hamp must have dry clothes and blankets right away."

Brick dashed off at full speed. When he returned, a moment later, Jerry had heaped up a pile of brush and twigs. Hamp was taking off his dripping clothes as fast as his numbed fingers would allow.