CHAPTER XXIX.

A MIDNIGHT DISCOVERY.

About sunset something of a startling and unexpected nature occurred.

Its effect on the inmates of the cabin was pretty much the same as if a bombsh.e.l.l had suddenly fallen in the midst of them.

Outside were heard crunching footsteps, and the rustle of dry bushes.

Then a husky shout rang on the still, evening air.

The three men sprang to their feet. For an instant they were speechless with wonder and alarm. The intrusion had a different effect on the boys. They believed that it meant rescue and freedom.

Bogle s.n.a.t.c.hed his rifle.

"Stay here," he whispered to his companions. "Be ready if I need you."

He went swiftly to the door and opened it. He closed it partly behind him as he stepped outside. Half-a-dozen feet from the cabin stood a vigorous-looking man of sixty, clad in the garb of a typical Maine hunter and trapper. His kindly face was grizzled and bearded. He carried a rifle over his shoulder. Bogle went swiftly up to him and held out his hand.

"I'll swear if it ain't Jack Mowry," he exclaimed.

The stranger glanced keenly into the other's face. Then he uttered a long, hearty laugh that came from deep down in his chest.

"By Jingo, it's Joe Bogle! Wa-al, wa-al, this beats anything ever I heard on. Why, man, I ain't seen you fur near three years--not since that winter on Moosehead."

"Oh! this is a sort of a shooting den that Raikes and I put up," Bogle hastily explained. "Raikes is with me, and we are just ready to start away. Where are you bound, Mowry?"

"That's jest what I'd like ter know," returned the trapper, as he shot a puzzled glance toward the cabin. "I hev a camp 'bout a mile north of the swamp, an' this mornin' I tracked a deer into this dog-goned tangle o'

bushes. I lost my bearin's an' hev been wanderin' 'round ever since."

"That's hard luck," replied Bogle. "I'll tell you what I'll do now, Mowry. I can't ask you in to spend the night, because we are just leaving, and our provisions have run out. But I'll get a light and guide you back to your camp. I know every foot of the swamp. By the way, Raikes will be glad to meet you. You remember Silas, don't you? He was with you on Moosehead."

Without waiting for a reply, Bogle called aloud:

"Raikes, Raikes, come here."

As soon as Bogle went to the door, Raikes and Sparwick caught a glimpse of the stranger. Both recognized him at once, for he had long been a familiar figure in the Maine woods.

"I hope Bogle will know how to deal with him," muttered Sparwick.

"Trust Joe for that," replied Raikes. "I reckon I'll be needed in a minute. Suppose you attend to those lads yonder. They might make trouble and upset everything."

Accordingly Sparwick crossed the room and sat down at the foot of the bed.

"The first one of you that utters a sound," he whispered, savagely, "will get his face smashed. Mind that."

Under these circ.u.mstances, the boys were helpless. With tantalizing emotions they listened to the audible conversation outside. They heard Raikes summoned, and saw him hurriedly leave the cabin.

The next instant Bogle entered. He s.n.a.t.c.hed up a lantern and a pair of gloves.

"That's right, Sparwick," he whispered. "Don't let those chaps utter a sound. So far we're all right. Raikes will be back in a minute."

Then he left the cabin and closed the door tightly.

It was only a few seconds later when Raikes returned. He called Sparwick over to the fireplace, and there they conversed in low tones until long after dark. Finally they prepared supper and unbound the boys long enough to allow them to eat.

It was nearly midnight when Bogle returned. His boisterous entry wakened all three of the lads, who had dropped asleep. They lay still, however, and pretended to be still sleeping.

"It took you long enough," grumbled Raikes. "How did you make out?"

"It was a matter of four miles each way," replied Bogle. "I'm lucky to get back so soon. As for making out--well, I'm afraid Mowry has his suspicions. It couldn't be otherwise. We didn't ask him in or offer him a bite to eat. He knew there was something back of it all. I went clear to his camp with him. He was grateful for that, but there was a sort of a chilling coolness about him."

"It's hard luck," muttered Raikes. "He's a nosey old chap, and may come spying around here, now that he's found the way. What had we better do?"

"I'll tell you," whispered Bogle, as he glanced across the cabin. Then he added, in a tone that did not reach half-way to the boys: "At daybreak you will start on your journey, Raikes. After dinner Sparwick and I will move boys, luggage, and all to the Rock House. You will find us there when you return."

"By Jove! that's a clever thought," said Raikes. "Mowry will be neatly tricked."

"Where is the Rock House?" asked Sparwick.

"You'll find out soon enough," replied Bogle. "There are places in these woods that you never dreamed of. And now let's turn in. We've talked enough."

"Yes, and I need sleep for to-morrow's journey," added Raikes.

As has been stated, this last part of the conversation was not overheard by the boys. They knew that it must be about matters of special importance. But they had no chance of talking it over among themselves.

Their feigned slumber turned to real shortly after the men came to bed.

Raikes was up before dawn. He cooked himself a breakfast, ate it hastily and departed.

It was after nine o'clock when the boys got awake. They missed Raikes at once. Bogle was setting the table, and Sparwick was frying slices of venison. The boys were kindly treated during the day, but their arms were kept tightly bound, except at meal times.

They were now pretty much resigned to the situation. They knew that it was hopeless to think of escape or of preventing, by any means, the extortion of money from Mr. Larkins.

Brick, who by rights, should have been most concerned, was least so.

"Don't you fellows worry," he said. "My father will pay the money, and I don't suppose he'll mind it much. I'm only sorry that you should get into such a sc.r.a.pe on my account. But just as soon as the money comes we'll all be free."

This was but cold consolation. The day dragged along in so dreary and tedious a manner that the boys regarded a week or ten days of such captivity with the utmost horror.

The weather had moderated during the previous night, and in the middle of the morning a drizzling rain began to fall. So at dinnertime Bogle and Sparwick held a brief and secret conversation. As a result of this, they decided to postpone their removal to the Rock House until the following day.

Late in the afternoon the sky cleared, and the weather blew up cold again. At bedtime a stiff wind was howling around the cabin.

In the middle of the night Jerry got awake with a start. He felt restless and uneasy. The ropes on his arms pained him. He raised himself to a sitting posture and looked around.

Outside the moon was shining, and a few silvery rays crept through the crevices of the door and window-shutters. These, and a faint, rosy glow from the embers of the fire, shed a misty light on the interior of the cabin.

Next to Jerry, on the left, lay Hamp, and beyond him was Sparwick. On the right lay Brick and Bogle. Jerry was sandwiched in between the four. He looked at them intently. Their deep breathing indicated that all were asleep.

Jerry was about to lie down again when he heard strange sounds from outside the cabin. Slow, cautious footsteps crunched over the snow. Now they were on one side, now on the other. Then the door rattled slightly, and finally the shutters creaked.