diff options
Diffstat (limited to 'old/62802-0.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | old/62802-0.txt | 8229 |
1 files changed, 0 insertions, 8229 deletions
diff --git a/old/62802-0.txt b/old/62802-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 79c9e4e..0000000 --- a/old/62802-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,8229 +0,0 @@ -Project Gutenberg's The Golden Boys at the Haunted Camp, by L. P. Wyman - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: The Golden Boys at the Haunted Camp - -Author: L. P. Wyman - -Release Date: August 1, 2020 [EBook #62802] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK GOLDEN BOYS AT THE HAUNTED CAMP *** - - - - -Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This book was -produced from images made available by the HathiTrust -Digital Library.) - - - - - - - - - - THE GOLDEN BOYS AT THE HAUNTED CAMP - - - - -[Illustration: “Here’s something,” he cried as he stooped over to -examine the mark.] - - - - - THE GOLDEN BOYS AT THE HAUNTED CAMP - - By L. P. WYMAN, Ph.D. - - Dean of Pennsylvania Military College - - Author of - “The Golden Boys and Their New Electric Cell,” “The - Golden Boys at the Fortress,” “The Golden Boys - in the Maine Woods,” “The Golden Boys with - the Lumber Jacks,” “The Golden Boys on - the River Drive,” “The Golden Boys - Along the River Allagash,” “The - Golden Boys Rescued by - Radio.” - - A. L. BURT COMPANY - Publishers New York - Printed in U. S. A. - - - - - THE GOLDEN BOYS SERIES - A SERIES OF STORIES FOR BOYS 12 TO 16 YEARS OF AGE - By L. P. WYMAN, Ph.D - Dean of the Pennsylvania Military College - - The Golden Boys and Their New Electric Cell - The Golden Boys at the Fortress - The Golden Boys in the Maine Woods - The Golden Boys with the Lumber Jacks - The Golden Boys on the River Drive - The Golden Boys Rescued by Radio - The Golden Boys Along the River Allagash - The Golden Boys at the Haunted Camp - - Copyright, 1924 - By A. L. BURT COMPANY - - THE GOLDEN BOYS AT THE HAUNTED CAMP - - Made in “U. S. A.” - - - - - THE GOLDEN BOYS AT THE HAUNTED CAMP - - - - - CHAPTER I - - A STRANGE PROPOSAL. - - -Go to sleep. G-o-t-o s-l-e-e-e-e-e-p. - -The last note of “taps” rang lingeringly through the corridors of -The Fortress and died away just as a knock sounded on the door of -the room occupied by Bob and Jack Golden. - -“Come in,” Bob shouted. - -The door opened and the aid stuck in his head. - -“Undressed?” he asked. - -“No, we have ten o’clock lights tonight.” - -“Well, you’re wanted on the phone down stairs.” - -“Thanks.” - -A moment later and Bob was standing before the officer-in-charge. - -“Pass down to the phone, sir?” he asked. - -“You are called?” - -“Yes, sir.” - -“All right, then.” - -Bob saluted and stepped back into the corridor. - -“Pass off the corridor, sir: officer-in-charge’s permission?” he -asked saluting the aid. - -“Yes, sir.” The aid returned the salute. - -“That you, Bob?” - -He at once recognized the answer to his “hello.” - -“Sure is, Rex. How’s the boy?” - -“All to the good. Sorry to pull you out of your downy cot so late.” - -“If you’d sleep in it once you’d find that it isn’t so very downy -but as it happens, I wasn’t in it,” Bob laughed. “Have ten o’clock -lights tonight.” - -“What a fearful dissipation. But I called you up to tell you that a -friend of mine, a man by the name of Stokes, is coming down to see -you and Jack tomorrow. He’s got a proposition he wants to put up to -you. No, I’ll let him explain it himself, but I rather think you’ll -bite. What time can you see him?” - -“Any time between four and six.” - -“Good! I’ll tell him to get the three forty-five out of Broad -Street. That ought to get him up there about half past four. How’s -Jack?” - -“Fine and dandy as usual.” - -“That’s good. I’ll try and run down in a few days myself. Mighty -busy just now. Won’t keep you out of that downy cot any longer. -Remember me to Jack. Bye-bye.” - -“Who was it?” Jack asked as soon as Bob had reported his return to -the corridor and re-entered the room. - -“Rex. He says a man named Stokes is coming down tomorrow afternoon -to see us.” - -“What does he want?” - -“Rex wouldn’t say.” - -“Then I reckon we’ll have to wait and see.” - -“Your reckoner is right on the job this time all right,” Bob laughed -as he began to undress. “But you’d better get a hustle on or you’ll -have to undress in the dark. It’s five minutes to ten now.” - -“It wouldn’t be the first time,” Jack grinned as he pulled off his -blouse. But before he had time to get into his pajamas a light tap -sounded on the door and the aid called softly: - -“Lights.” - -“Told you you’d get caught in the dark,” Bob chuckled from between -the sheets. - -As soon as drill was over the next afternoon the two boys hurried to -their room where they changed from service to dress uniform. - -“We’ll go down by the gate and wait for him,” Bob suggested. - -They did not have long to wait for they had hardly reached the broad -gateway to the Castle grounds when a middle aged man with a pleasant -face turned in from the sidewalk. - -“Pardon me,” he said as he saw them, “but can you tell me where I -can find the Golden boys?” - -“You won’t have to look very far,” Bob smiled. - -“Then you are Bob and Jack?” - -“Yes, sir, and you are Mr. Stokes.” - -“The same,” the man smiled holding out his hand which they grasped -in turn. - -“We are very glad to meet a friend of Rex Dale,” Bob assured him. - -“That’s as good a recommendation as one could well wish,” Mr. Stokes -smiled. - -“Indeed it is. Rex is the the best ever,” Jack declared. - -“A very fine young man,” Stokes agreed. “But may we go somewhere -where we can have a talk? Perhaps Rex informed you of the object of -my visit.” - -“No, sir, he only said that you had a proposition you wished to put -up to us,” Bob replied leading the way toward the building. “We can -go into the reception room. There’s not likely to be anyone there at -this time of day,” he added. - -“Now then,” Mr. Stokes began as soon as they were seated in the cool -reception room, “my proposition, as Rex called it, is this. Late -last fall I purchased a camp at Chesuncook Lake up in Maine. I -suppose you’ve been there?” - -“A number of times,” Bob replied. - -“This camp is situated on the right side of the lake as you go up -and is about ten miles from the Ripogenus Dam. It consists of a -large central building containing the office, kitchen and -dining-room. Then there are ten log cabins of different sizes each -having a sitting room and from two to five bedrooms. There are two -log stables or, perhaps, you would call them barns, and a fair sized -boat house. I have been going there for a number of years and, -having, what I thought, an excellent opportunity to buy the place, I -took advantage of it intending to run it as an investment. - -“The man of whom I bought did not manage it himself and I thought I -was fortunate to secure the services of the same man who had run it -for a number of seasons. He is a half-breed but a most capable man -and thoroughly knows his business. Jacques opened the place early in -May as quite a number of patrons like to come there for the early -spring fishing. - -“I left everything to him as he knows much more about the place than -I do. But three weeks ago I received a letter from him which was so -startling in its import that I left at once. I found the place -almost deserted although Jacques assured me that he had opened with -a much larger number of guests than usual.” - -“What was the matter?” Bob asked as Mr. Stokes paused. - -“You’ll probably laugh at me when I tell you but the truth of the -matter is the guests were scared away by a ghost.” - -“A ghost!” - -Bob and Jack uttered the exclamation in the same breath. - -“Yes, it seems that the camp is haunted.” - -“But—” Bob started to ask a question but Mr. Stokes interrupted: - -“No, of course, I don’t believe in ghosts, but there’s something -mighty strange going on up there.” - -“Such as what?” Jack asked. - -“Well, this ghost is a most accomplished one it seems: does about -all the tricks you ever read of ghosts doing: groaning in a most -frightful manner, pulling the bed clothes off one in the middle of -the night, banging doors and all the rest of the stunts. I spent -nearly two weeks trying to catch it or him and couldn’t learn a -single thing. A number of guests came while I was there but the -bravest stayed only two nights. Now you can easily see that unless a -stop can be put to it my investment is ruined. I can’t keep guests -and I doubt if I could give the place away as things are now.” - -“It’s too bad, that’s a fact, but I hardly see where we come in,” -Bob said as he paused. - -“You will in a minute. What I want is for you two boys to go up -there and solve the mystery.” - -“But if you couldn’t—’ Bob began, but Mr. Stokes interrupted: - -“Remember I’ve talked with Rex Dale about you boys and he has told -me some of the things you have done, so it seems to me that getting -the best of a few ghosts ought to be a simple matter for you.” - -“Well, I don’t know about that,” Bob shook his head. “Rex is very -apt to exaggerate about some things but, of course, we’ll be glad to -do what we can for you, eh Jack?” - -“What you say goes for me,” Jack grinned. - -“Then that’s settled,” and Mr. Stokes heaved a huge sigh of relief. -“Now I’ll tell you what I think will be best. You can go up there as -boarders paying the regular rates which, of course, will be returned -to you, and not let anyone know that you are working for me. You’ll -find the fishing good, as you probably know, even in the summer, and -I don’t think the time will hang heavy on your hands. Now as to -terms, how will this suit you? I’ll engage you for one month and -will pay you five hundred dollars whether or no and if you succeed -I’ll give you a thousand.” - -“That’s altogether too much,” Bob declared and Jack nodded his head -in agreement. - -“Please let me be the judge of that,” Mr. Stokes smiled. “I am -ashamed to say that I’m a pretty rich man and the money doesn’t -count. Buying the place was just a fad, but I hate to fail at -anything I undertake, so we’ll say no more about the money end of -it.” - -“If that’s the case we’re more than satisfied and we’ll do our best -to earn the thousand,” Bob said. - -“I’m sure of it and I certainly hope you will succeed.” - -“But have you any suspicion as to who’s at the bottom of it?” Bob -asked. - -“Not a glimmer,” Mr. Stokes declared. “Of course someone is at the -bottom of it, as you say, and I think I know why even if I do not -know who. - -“Why, then?” - -“What would you consider the most likely reason? I’d like to see if -your idea agrees with mine.” - -“Well, I should say that someone wants to get hold of the place -cheap and thinks that he’s taking a good way to do it.” - -“My idea exactly. I hardly think there can be much doubt about it as -I have no enemy in that part of the world who might be trying to -injure me.” - -“How about the man who’s running it? Jacques, I believe you said his -name is,” Jack asked. - -“Yes, Jacques Bolduc. Of course, I’ve considered him, but I’m pretty -sure he’s not guilty. In the first place he’s run it for several -years and has always been perfectly honest so the man who sold it to -me assured me. And then, when I bought it, I offered to let him have -a half interest in it and pay for it out of the profits.” - -“And he turned down an offer like that?” Bob asked. - -“Yes. He thanked me very prettily, but said he’d always worked for -wages and would rather keep on that way. I thought it rather strange -but you know those fellows well enough to understand that there’s no -accounting for the way their minds run.” - -“That’s true too,” Bob declared, “but it seems strange that he -should turn down so good an offer as that.” - -“And there’s no one else you suspect?” Jack asked. - -“Not a soul, and mind, I didn’t mean that I suspect Jacques. It was -only an idea. You see, although I’ve been going up there for some -years I really know but a few people, almost no one you might say.” - -“That’s not strange seeing it’s a pretty wild and unsettled -country,” Bob suggested. - -“And how soon can you get up there?” - -“Let’s see,” Bob mused. “Commencement is day after tomorrow, which -will be Wednesday. We’ll start for home early Thursday morning and -we ought to get there Friday night or Saturday at the latest. We’re -going to make the trip on our motorcycles which we had shipped to us -a few days ago.” - -“You run them with an electric cell. I think Rex told me,” Mr. -Stokes broke in. - -“That’s right. We’ll have to spend a few days with the folks and -it’ll probably be about the middle of next week when we get there.” - -“That’ll be all right. I don’t want to hurry you although you can, -of course, understand that the sooner the matter is cleared up the -better it will suit me.” - -“Well, as I said before, we’ll do our best but I hope you haven’t -got your expectations up too high. We may fall down on the job, you -know, and I’d hate to have you disappointed,” Bob smiled. - -“If you do I’ll know it’s not your fault,” Mr. Stokes assured them. -“But I’m betting you won’t. And now I’ll not keep you any longer, -only I want you to know that my mind’s at rest now that you’ve taken -the job.” - -“What do you think of it?” - -They had accompanied Mr. Stokes as far as the gate and were walking -slowly back to the building. It was Jack who asked the question. - -“That’s a hard question,” Bob replied slowly. “You see we haven’t -much of anything to come and go on so far. It may be a simple thing -and then again it may not.” - -“And I’m rather inclined toward the latter view,” Jack declared -decisively. - -“Why?” - -“How did Mr. Stokes strike you?” Jack asked instead of answering -Bob’s question. - -“Like a pretty keen business man.” - -“Well, that’s the answer. He impressed me about the same way and I -figure that if he couldn’t find out who’s cutting up those monkey -shines, it’s not going to be a very simple problem.” - -“Your reasoning’s good all right: no doubt about that,” Bob assured -him. “I reckon we’ll have our work cut for us fast enough. But, tell -me, do you think it’s that fellow, Jacques?” - -“Hardly. What do you think?” - -“Same thing.” - -“Well it won’t be the first time we’ve had a run in with ghosts,” -Jack laughed. - -“But not just this kind,” Bob reminded him. - -“I reckon we’ll find that this or these are not so much different -from the others,” Jack insisted. - -“Maybe not. If we’re successful I believe I would write a book -entitled, ‘Ghosts I have met’.” Bob laughed as they mounted the -steps at the front entrance. - -“What did you think of my friend Stokes?” - -The last taps following the sham battle of commencement day had -sounded and Bob and Jack had hurried to greet their friend Rex Dale -whom they had spied in the stand. They had not seen him for several -weeks and had hurried him up to their room and he was sitting on one -of the “downy cots” while they were getting into “cits.” - -“He impressed me as being a mighty fine man,” Bob replied. - -“Same here,” Jack added. - -“I’m very glad to hear that,” Rex told him. “He is a fine man, one -of the best and, if you’ll turn your heads so as to hide your -blushes, I’ll tell you that he was very favorably impressed with -you.” - -“I wish you were going up with us,” Bob declared a little later, -after they had talked over the matter of the “ghost.” - -“Don’t I? But it’s impossible just now. You see we’re tremendously -busy at the office and father’s not at all well and I’ve simply got -to stick for awhile. Maybe in a couple of weeks I can get away for a -few days and if I can be assured you’ll see me just as quick as I -can get there. I can smell the spruce and the pine right now to say -nothing of the fun of hunting down that ghost.” - -“Mr. Stokes said he was a rich man, is that right?” Bob asked. - -“He’s worth several millions. Why?” - -“Well, you see, he offered to pay us a thousand dollars in case we -are successful and five hundred if we’re not and it’s a pretty big -sum of money to pay a couple of boys and—” - -“Don’t you worry about that,” Rex interrupted laughingly. “The -money’s nothing to him and you needn’t hesitate to take it. I fancy -he’d pay a million right this minute to have the mystery cleared -up.” - -“That’s all right then. I just wanted to be sure about it.” - -“I suppose Sherlock has the matter all figured out,” Rex laughed -nodding at Jack. “You notice that he hasn’t said much. Regular -‘still waters run deep’ sort of fellow.” - -“But when he does talk it usually makes sense,” Bob declared with a -proud look toward his brother. - -“I’ll tell the world it does,” Rex said hitting Jack a resounding -whack on the back. - -“My natural modesty, of course, prevents me from taking part in the -conversation at this point,” Jack said soberly. - -Rex had insisted on taking the boys up to his Philadelphia home for -supper and afterward to the theatre so it was after twelve o’clock -when they got back. They were to leave early so they lost no time in -getting to bed after setting the alarm clock for four o’clock. - - - - - CHAPTER II - - GOING HOME. - - -Day was just breaking when the two boys sprang into the saddles of -their motorcycles and with a farewell wave of the hand toward “Old -Main” headed for Philadelphia. Noiselessly they turned into the -pike, for the wheels, equipped with electric motors in place of the -usual noisy gas engine, gave forth no sound as they sped through the -morning mist. - -“There’ll be no traffic for three hours and we ought to make a -hundred miles in that time,” Bob had said just before they started. - -They did better for it was but a few minutes after six o’clock when -they drove on to the ferry boat at Dykeman Street a hundred and -fifteen miles from their starting point. - -“At this rate we’ll be home easy tomorrow night,” Jack declared as -he shut off his motor. - -“But we can’t go so fast the rest of the day,” Bob cautioned him. -“We don’t want to get pinched and you know the cops are pretty -plenty along the Boston Post Road.” - -“I know, but we’ve got a dandy start and ought to have no trouble in -making Uncle Jim’s by six easy. It’s only about three hundred miles -from here.” - -“But that’ll be averaging pretty close to thirty miles an hour.” - -For another hour they found the traffic light and it still lacked a -few minutes to eight o’clock when they reached New Haven. - -“Half an hour for breakfast,” Bob announced as he brought his wheel -to a stand in front of a restaurant. - -“Sounds good,” Jack declared as he joined his brother. - -“And here’s hoping it’ll taste better,” Bob laughed as he pushed -open the door. - -A couple of miles outside of Hartford, Jack had a bad blowout in his -front tire and it took the better part of an hour to make the -repair. - -“I told you you’d better get a new shoe for that wheel before we -started,” Bob said as he rode slowly back to where Jack was looking -at the hole. - -“And you were right as usual,” Jack laughed. “Lucky I’ve got a good -strong patch.” - -The remainder of the day’s trip was uneventful and it was just -beginning to get dark when they rode up to their uncle’s home in -Winthrop a few miles outside of Boston. - -It was nearly ten o’clock before they could get away the next -morning. Jack had been down to the town before going to bed and -purchased a new shoe for his front wheel and it took some time to -put it on and a much longer time to convince their Uncle and Aunt -that it was impossible for them to stay over a few days. - -“But we’ll make you a good long visit the first of September, before -we go back to college,” Bob promised as they mounted the wheels. - -“Two hundred miles to go,” Jack cried as they got under way. “We -ought to make it by supper time.” - -“Either that or jail,” Bob laughed back. - -The traffic through Boston was very heavy and, do their best, it was -over an hour before they were outside the city limits. - -“I’d like to see the cow that laid out the streets of Boston,” Jack -declared as he pulled up alongside his brother as the traffic began -to thin out. “I’ll bet it was a blind cow or at least one with the -blind staggers.” - -“The streets aren’t exactly what you’d call straight.” - -“Straight! I know my way about fairly well, but honestly all the way -through I was expecting to meet myself coming back.” - -“Twenty-five miles an hour along here,” Bob shouted about three -hours later. - -Jack, who was a few yards ahead, slowed down and allowed Bob to pull -up beside him. - -“What’s the idea?” he asked. “This is a good straight road.” - -“That’s just the idea, it’s too good and the cops are right on the -job along here. You see it’s only about five miles into Portland and -it’s a favorite ‘pick ’em up’ stretch. Don’t you remember Slim Jones -telling how he got pinched last year for doing thirty-eight and it -costing him thirty-seven dollars and ninety-two cents? Well it was -right along here that it happened. Safety first, you know.” - -Put-put-put-put-put-a-put put. - -“There’s one of ’em now,” Jack said as he turned his head. “Hope to -goodness he isn’t after us.” - -A few minutes later the approaching motorcycle drew up alongside and -the driver, a young fellow about the age of Bob, dressed in the -uniform of the cycle corps of Maine, waved his hand for them to -stop. - -“Say, for the love of Mike, what kind of machines have you got -there?” he asked as they dismounted. “At first I thought you were -coasting but when you went up that hill a piece back I knew you -couldn’t be, but you didn’t make a bit of noise. What kind of a -muffler you got?” - -“None at all.” Bob smiled. “You see these wheels are run by an -electric motor.” - -“But how about the battery? I don’t see any place for one.” - -Bob opened a small case strapped behind his saddle and took out a -brass cylinder about eight inches long and an inch thick. - -“This is the kind of cell we use.” - -“Where’d you get it?” - -“We made it.” - -“Then you must be the Golden boys.” - -Bob smilingly acknowledged the accusation. - -“I’ve heard of you and I’m mighty glad to meet you,” and the officer -held out his hand. - -“And we thought we were pinched,” Jack grinned as he grasped his -hand. - -“Not this time,” the officer smiled, “and you can go the limit for -all of me but you’d best not go over thirty-five as I’m not the only -cop along here.” - -Bob took several minutes explaining the working of the motor to the -officer and then he accompanied them into Portland. - -“If you ever get held up along here send for Jim Pratt,” he told -them as he bade them good bye in front of the Congress Square hotel. - -Bob invited him in to the hotel to take dinner with them, but he -refused on the ground that he was on duty and might get into -trouble. - -“Pretty nice chap, that,” Jack said as they entered the hotel. - -“Yes, he seemed to be, but you might not have thought so if he’d -happened along a little sooner when we were doing forty-five,” Bob -declared. - -A few minutes later Bob gave his brother a kick beneath the table -just as the latter was conveying a juicy bit of steak to his mouth. - -“What’s the—” Jack began and then stopped warned by the look on -Bob’s face. - -“Don’t turn around now, but in a minute look back of you at the man -sitting close to the door,” Bob whispered. - -A moment later Jack dropped his napkin and, in picking it up, cast a -hasty glance toward the door. - -“Ever see him before?” Bob whispered as he straightened up in his -chair. - -“It’s King.” - -“You sure?” - -“I’d know that mug if I saw it in Egypt.” - -“He’s been watching us for some minutes.” - -“Did you lock your wheel?” Jack asked referring to a switch, -cunningly hidden beneath the saddle, which made it practically -impossible for anyone to start the motor. - -“Sure.” - -“Then I guess they’re safe. But what do you suppose he’s doing -here?” - -“Don’t know, but he’s going now.” - -“Well, I hope we don’t see him again.” - -They continued with their dinner for a few minutes then suddenly Bob -jumped up from his chair and, without a word, rushed from the room. -Too surprised to follow at once Jack reached the steps of the hotel -just as Bob was hurrying back. - -“He’s got it,” he gasped. - -“You mean the bikes?” - -“No, I mean that cell I was fool enough to leave in my saddle bag.” - -“Great guns in the morning!” Jack’s face was the picture of despair. - -“Oh, what a fool I was,” Bob groaned. “After all we’ve been through -to keep those cells out of his hands to go and leave it there for -him to take.” - -“What’ll we do?” - -“What can we do? He’s got it and goodness knows where he is now. Of -course we’ll report it at the police station, but I doubt if it’ll -do much good. He’s tried too hard to get hold of one of those cells -to make any false moves now that he’s got it.” - -Too downhearted to finish their dinner they paid their bill and a -few minutes later were giving a description of the man who, they -believed, had taken the cell, to the chief of police. - -“I know the man,” the chief assured them. “He escaped from prison -about a year ago and not a trace of him was found. Are you sure it -was he?” - -“Absolutely,” Bob replied. “Of course he’s changed a lot and I doubt -if many would recognize him, but you see I got to know him pretty -well and I’m sure I couldn’t have been mistaken.” And he told the -officer about the time when King had kidnapped him and had tried to -force him to disclose the secret of the cell. - -“We’ll do our best to catch him of course,” the chief promised. -“Leave your address and if we get him I’ll let you know.” - -“It’s a pretty slim chance that they’ll catch him,” Bob said -gloomingly as they left the station house. - -“But I’m banking on that chance so cheer up, old man. It’s never so -bad, but that it might be worse, you know,” Jack grinned as he -hopped to his saddle. - -They had nearly reached Brunswick, a small town some twenty miles -from Portland and were riding side by side when Bob spied an -automobile in the middle of the road some distance ahead. - -“Someone having engine trouble I guess,” he said as he noticed a man -leaning over the raised hood. - -Evidently the man did not hear them as they rode up behind him and -stopped for he did not look up or turn his head. - -“Anything we can do to help?” Bob asked. - -The man gave a sudden start and turned around and the boys found -themselves looking into the eyes of the man King. - -“You?” the man growled, and then by an effort tried to efface the -look of surprise from his face. “Pardon me,” he said. “At first I -thought you were someone I knew.” - -“I guess you made no mistake about that,” Jack told him. - -“Anyhow we know you all right,” Bob added. - -“You are mistaken, I tell you. But who do you think I am?” - -“Your name was King the last time we saw you,” Jack replied. - -“I told you, you were mistaken. My name is Long and always has been -Long,” the man snapped. - -“Well, no need to get mad about it,” Bob said easily as he moved -around toward the rear of the car. “We all make mistakes, you know. -And I suppose this man’s name never was Nip,” he cried as he leaned -over the side of the car and saw a man with a hunched back crouching -on the floor. - -“Suppose it is or suppose it isn’t, what are you going to do about -it?” the man demanded as he came close to Bob’s side. - -“Then you acknowledge that his name is Nip?” - -“I acknowledge nothing.” - -“All right, suit yourself about it,” Bob smiled. “I know who you are -and you know that I know it, but if it suits you to deny it I’m sure -I’ve no objection.” - -“Well, what do you want?” King snapped. - -“We want the cell you stole from my saddle bag.” - -“And I suppose you think you’ll get it,” King sneered. - -“I’m not quite sure about that,” Bob said slowly, “but one thing I -am sure and that is that the police will get you in a very short -time if we don’t.” - -King started violently. - -“What do you mean?” he asked. - -“You heard me the first time,” Bob’s voice was stern. - -For a moment the man hesitated as though undecided what to do then, -with a shrug of his shoulders, he said as he turned again to his -engine: - -“You’d better run along now. You can’t bluff me and I’ve wasted all -the time on you that I intend to.” - -“As you please,” Bob said as he took hold of the handle bars of his -wheel. Then, turning to Jack, he added: “Come on, Jack, we’re late -now.” - -But as he spoke he gave his brother a wink which the latter was -quick to understand. King was leaning over the engine of his car as -Bob pushed his wheel past and, before he knew what happened, the boy -had caught him by the shoulder with his left hand and pulled his -head around and, before he had time to defend himself, a well -directed blow, delivered to the point of his chin, stretched him on -the ground. - -“I hated like the dickins to sneak up behind him and hit him like -that,” Bob afterward confided to Jack, “but I figured it would be -wrong to let him get away, let alone the fact that he had the cell.” - -For the moment Bob had forgotten the hunchback in the back of the -car, but he was reminded of his existence by a loud shout from Jack -just as King fell. - -“Look out, he’s got a gun!” - -As Jack uttered the cry he sprang for the running board of the car -letting his wheel drop in the road. - -Bang! - -The revolver spoke but Jack had struck the hunchback’s wrist just as -his finger pressed the trigger and the bullet flew harmlessly into -the air. Before he could aim again Jack was over the side of the car -and had snatched the gun from his hand. With a snarl of rage the -hunchback threw his arms about Jack’s neck and dragged him to the -floor of the car. As he went down the boy threw the revolver over -the side of the car and as he went down he was doing his best to -keep the man’s hands away from his throat but, in spite of his -efforts, the hunchback’s big right hand closed over his windpipe -and, as he felt his grip tighten, he realized that, so far as he was -concerned, the fight would be short unless he was able to break the -hold. He was gasping for breath when, after what seemed a long time, -he got both hands around the man’s wrist. Exerting all his strength -he pushed against the arm and was relieved to note that his grip was -loosening. Then with a sudden jerk he dragged the hand away and at -the same time drew into his lungs a great gulp of air. It gave him -new strength and in another second he was on top and his hands were -clasped over the throat of the hunchback. - -Meanwhile, Bob, having confidence in Jack’s ability to take care of -himself, had been busy tying King’s hands behind his back with a -piece of stout cord which he had taken from his saddle bag. King had -not yet opened his eyes when, judging from the sounds proceeding -from the car, that Jack might need his help, he sprang to the -running board. But he found the battle over so far as Jack was -concerned. The hunchback was gasping for breath and had ceased to -struggle. - -“Let him up now, Jack.” - -“Righto,” and Jack got to his feet leaving the hunchback gasping on -the floor. - -“Get up, Nip. You’re not dead yet,” Bob ordered. - -The man slowly sat up. - -“Where’s King?” demanded in a week voice. - -“He’s taking a nap just now,” Bob laughed grimly. - -The entire affair had not occupied more than three minutes and not a -car had passed then although they were on a main road. But just then -the chug of motorcycle came to their ears and a moment later a cycle -officer drew up beside them. - -“What’s going on here?” the officer demanded looking suspiciously at -the two boys. - -Before they could answer King weakly cried out: - -“These robbers did their best to—” he began when Bob interrupted -him. - -“Let me tell—” - -But the officer in turn interrupted him. - -“One at a time here. You have the floor,” he said, nodding to King, -who was now sitting up and leaning against the front wheel of the -car. Making his voice sound as weak as possible King told how his -car had broken down and the two boys had happened along and, at the -point of a gun, had demanded his money. It was a plausible story as -he told it and more than once the boys saw the officer look askance -at them. When he had finished he turned to Bob. - -“Now I’ll hear your side.” - -Bob told him the truth in a few words and as he finished the officer -said: - -“You say those wheels run by an electric motor?” - -“Yes, sir.” - -“Then let’s see one of the cells and if he’s got one like it it’ll -go a good ways toward corroborating your story.” - -“That’s all we ask,” Bob declared as he pulled the cell out beneath -his saddle. “Here’s the one I’m using and the one he stole is -exactly like it.” - -A brief search disclosed the missing cell in one of the rear pockets -of the car and Bob pulled it out with an exclamation of -satisfaction. - -“What have you to say now?” the officer asked King. - -“Nothing except that it’s a plant. I never saw the thing before.” - -“I’m afraid it won’t wash,” the officer shook his head. “I’m -satisfied that you’re all right and have told the truth,” he added -turning to Bob. “But I’ll have to ask you to go into town with me.” - -“That’s all right,” Bob assured him. “We’re going that way anyhow.” - -“Wonder what’s the matter with his car?” the officer said as he bent -over the hood. - -While they had been talking several cars had passed and one or two -had half stopped, but the officer had waved them ahead. - -“Maybe we can locate the trouble,” Bob said as he got into the car -and pressed the starter. - -“No spark,” he declared as he leaped out and went around to the -other side. “Put down that hood a minute, Jack, till I get at the -magneto. Nothing but a broken wire,” he said a moment later as he -again got into the seat. - -And this time the engine started at once as he pressed the starter. - -“Can you run it in if I lead your wheel?” the officer asked. - -“Sure.” - -“All right, then. Now you get in back there and mind, no funny -business, because I’ll be right alongside,” he added turning to -King. - -King obeyed the order sullenly all the bravado gone from his face. - -It was only a few miles to the town and in a few minutes they drew -up in front of the police station. Neither King or the hunchback had -spoken a word during the trip, but the former gave Bob a look as he -was ordered out of the car which made the boy shudder. - -“Please come in a minute,” the officer asked the boys and they -accompanied him into the office of the chief of police. - -As soon as the latter had heard the story he called the police -station at Portland and, after a brief conversation, told them that -an officer from that city, who knew King by sight, was on his way to -identify him. He arrived in a little over a half hour and, as soon -as he was shown the prisoners, declared that he recognized them. - -“If I’m not mistaken there’s a reward for that fellow King,” the -chief told them as they returned to his office. - -“They deserve it,” the policeman declared but both boys insisted -that any reward should be divided into three parts and that the -officer should have one part. - -It was after five o’clock before they were again on their way but -with less than a hundred miles to go they felt sure they could make -it before dark. - -“That is, unless we run up against another adventure,” Jack laughed -as he leaped into his saddle. - -“And here’s hoping we don’t,” Bob added following suit. - -His hope was realized and shortly after eight o’clock they turned -into the driveway at home and in another minute were greeting their -parents and sister. - - - - - CHAPTER III - - RIPOGENUS DAM. - - -“It’s a good thing your mother and I are worry proof.” - -Mr. Richard Golden laughed as he pushed his chair back from the -table and looked across at his two sons. During the meal they had -acquainted the family with the story of their adventure on the way -home, and the remark had followed its conclusion. - -“Which same takes a big load off my mind,” Bob declared with a sly -wink at his mother. - -“I think I shall put you both in a glass case this summer and never -let you out of my sight,” Mrs. Golden smiled. - -“Then someone would be sure to throw a rock and break the glass and -we’d be certain to get all cut up,” Jack laughed. - -“By the way, what’s on the program for the summer?” Mr. Golden -asked. “Are you going to capture bootleggers, or hunt for buried -treasure or some other simple little thing of the sort?” - -“We’re going to hunt ghosts,” Jack replied pulling a long face. - -“Hunt what?” Mrs. Golden cried. - -“Ghosts.” - -“Where did you lose them?” their sister, Edna, asked. - -“Trying to be funny, ah,” Jack said with mock severity. - -“Not at all,” Edna assured him. “You don’t hunt for a thing unless -it’s lost, do you?” - -“Fooling aside,” Mr. Golden asked. “Just what do you mean, Jack?” - -“Just what I said. Your elder son and I have taken a contract to -free the big Maine woods of ghosts.” - -“Big or little ones?” Edna gibed. - -“We do not go after small things,” Jack replied sternly. - -“Promise to bring me home the first one you catch. I’ve always -wanted a nice little ghost to play with,” Edna laughed. - -“But I told you that we are after only big ones.” - -“Bob, will you kindly tell us what he is raving about?” Mr. Golden -asked, making a great effort to keep his face straight. - -So Bob explained about the offer Mr. Stokes had made them. - -“Well, I don’t suppose you’ll be in any more danger than usual,” his -father sighed when he had finished. “When do you start?” - -“Tuesday morning, if you are willing.” - -“And if I’m not?” - -“Then we don’t start at all, sir.” - -“Thanks, son, but it seems like a worthy object, only I want you to -promise that you’ll both be careful and not take unnecessary -chances.” - -“We’ll do that,” both boys replied together. - -Tuesday morning came in due time and, after an early breakfast, they -were ready to start, having packed what things they would be apt to -need the night before. - -“Don’t forget your promise,” Mr. Golden cautioned as they jumped -into the saddles of their motorcycles. - -“We won’t,” both shouted back, waving their hands. - -“And don’t forget my little ghost,” Edna called after them. - -But they were too far away for her to catch their answer. - -Moosehead Lake, the largest body of water in Maine, lies about sixty -miles to the north of Skowhegan. Their way was by a dirt road but as -it was in fairly good shape and there was but little traffic they -made excellent time and it was but a few minutes after nine o’clock -when they rode into Greenville, a small town at the foot of the -lake. - -“Two hours flat,” Bob glanced at his watch as they stopped in front -of the general store where, he had often declared you could buy -anything from a toothpick to a second hand pulpit. - -Entering the store they made a few purchases and in a few minutes -were again on their way. After making a sharp turn to the left on -the outskirts of the town they climbed a long hill and at its top -Bob, who was slightly ahead, held up his hand as a signal that he -was about to stop. - -“That’s what I call a view,” he declared pointing toward the north. - -“I’ll say it is,” Jack agreed enthusiastically. - -Before them stretched the broad expanse of Moosehead Lake, its -surface dotted with many small islands and bordered with rugged -mountains whose tops lost themselves in the blue haze thirty miles -away. Half way up the lake Mount Kineo reared its rocky head while -the Kineo House, one of the finest summer hotels in the country, -nestled at its foot. - -“I’ll bet Europe has got nothing on this,” Jack declared. - -“If it has I’d sure like to see it. But that reminds me of a story.” - -“Go ahead if it isn’t too long,” Jack told him. “But make it -snappy.” - -“Once upon a time,” Bob began, “an American was travelling in Europe -and turning up his nose at everything his companion, an Englishman, -showed him. ‘We’ve got a bigger one than that in America,’ he would -say. Finally they came to Mount Vesuvius, which, at the time was -belching out volumes of smoke. ‘There,’ asked the Englishman, ‘have -you got a bigger volcano than that in America?’ The American -hesitated a moment then said, ‘Mebby not but we’ve got a waterfall -that would put the blamed thing out in two minutes.’” - -“Three cheers for that guy,” Jack laughed. “He had the right -spirit.” - -Leaving the town behind they struck into the forest. - -“Say good bye to civilization,” Bob cried. “We won’t pass another -house except three summer camps and a log cabin for forty miles.” - -The road was an excellent one having been constructed by the Great -Northern Paper Company and opened to the public only a short time -before. - -“Any speed limit up here?” Jack asked as he increased his pace. - -“Not unless you see a cop,” Bob laughed. - -Faster and faster the wheels sped until Bob’s speedometer registered -fifty miles an hour. - -“This is fast enough,” he shouted. - -“Righto,” Jack shouted back. “Keep her steady.” - -A few minutes later they flew past the Lilley Bay House and then for -miles only the unbroken forest lined the road, until about twelve -miles further on they came to a small log cabin, the headquarters of -the Maine forester. On the left side of the road was a small spring -house and they stopped for a drink of water. - -“Seems as though there must be ice in that water,” Jack declared -after he had taken a good drink. - -“It’s not much above freezing for a fact,” Bob agreed. - -“Thirty-six degrees all der time.” - -The boys jumped at the sound of the voice and saw a man evidently -about thirty years old, standing by the edge of the road. His face, -though dark as an Indian’s was pleasant of mien and, although he was -evidently a half-breed, the feeling was instinctive that here was a -man one could trust. - -“And it’s as good as it is cold,” Bob smiled. - -“Oui, eet ver’ bon. But what dem bike you ride? Me no hear sound.” - -Bob explained the construction of the wheels and the man showed -great interest. - -“Dem ver’ fine bikes,” he declared as he finished. - -“Are you the forester?” Jack asked. - -“Oui, dat me, Pierre Beaumont.” - -“But I thought the state always appointed an American.” - -“Me American. Geet papers, oui,” the man drew himself up proudly. -“Me een big war.” - -“Shake,” and Jack held out his hand and Bob quickly did the same. - -“Don’t you get lonesome here all by yourself?” Jack asked after they -had talked of the war for several minutes. - -“Non, no geet lonesome. Plenty work most all time. But whar you two -go?” - -“We’re going up to Chesuncook to Jacques Bolduc’s camp to catch -trout,” Bob explained. - -Instantly a strange look came to the man’s eyes and he quickly shook -his head. - -“You no go to dat camp.” - -“Why not?” Jack asked. - -“She one ver’ bad camp,” he answered still shaking his head. - -“But what’s bad about it?” Bob asked. “I thought he kept a good -camp.” - -“Oui, Jacques, heem keep bon camp. Heem frien’ to me. Heem fine -feller, but you no go to heem camp. Heem got ghost dar.” - -The man spoke rapidly and the boys could see that he was very much -excited. - -“Maybe we’ll catch the ghost,” Bob laughed. - -“No catch heem ghost. No can shoot heem.” - -“What do you know about it?” Bob asked. “We’ve heard there was a -ghost up there.” - -“My brudder, Baptist, heem work up dar for Jacques two-tree year, -but heem no work dar no more. Heem come here two-tree week ago an’ -heem tell me ’bout dat ghost. Heem see heem one dark night. Heem -big, ten feet mebby twelve, all white an’ fire. Heem say heem ver’ -bad ghost, oui. You no go that camp.” - -“But did you ever hear of a ghost hurting anyone?” Bob asked. - -The man scratched his head slowly as if thinking deeply. - -“My fader, heem see ghost an’ heem die one week after.” - -“What did he die of?” Jack asked. - -“Heem geet ver’ bad fever, heem die. You no go, eh?” - -Neither of the boys laughed. They had too much respect for the man -to let him see that they thought him foolish in his fear of ghosts. -It is a common belief among the half-breeds and cannucks of northern -Maine and very few of them are free of it. So Bob was perfectly -sober as he told him that they were not afraid of the ghost and -would go. The forester showed deep concern and again shook his head -as he said: - -“You ver’ brave boys, but you no stay dar long. You see heem ghost -you come away ver’ queek, oui.” - -After another hour’s ride through the deep forest broken only by two -summer camps they reached the huge Ripogenus Dam, a mighty structure -of cement, the third largest in the United States, also built by The -Great Northern Paper Company. The dam, at the foot of Chesuncook -Lake, 308 feet long and 78 feet high, is so wide that three -automobiles can be driven abreast across it. At one end is a chute -down which the logs are sluiced in the spring following the winter’s -cut. - -It was not their first visit to the dam, but they never tired of -gazing down into the deep gorge where now only a small stream of -water leaped from rock to rock. - -In the distance, but seemingly so near that it appeared to be -guarding the entrance to the gorge, rose Mount Katahdin, the highest -mountain in the state, its sides heavily wooded almost to the top. - -“This is almost as grand a view as that other one,” Bob declared as -he leaned his wheel against the wall of the dam. - -“In a way it’s greater,” Jack insisted and Bob did not dispute him. - -“Do you know how far it is to Katahdin?” Jack asked. - -“A little over seven miles, I believe.” - -“It doesn’t look more than a mile at the most.” - -“Distances are very deceptive in this clear air,” Bob told him. - -“Guess I know that. But this isn’t getting up to camp. I wonder -where the dam keeper is.” - -“What kind of a keeper did you say?” Bob almost shouted. - -“I said the dam keeper, why?” - -“Nothing only it sounded kind of funny coming from you.” - -“Oh, I see,” Jack laughed. “But I didn’t put an N on the word.” - -While talking they were walking slowly toward the end of the dam -where there was a small house. Bob knocked on the door and it was -opened almost immediately by an old Irishman. - -“Good morning, sir,” Bob began. - -“The top uv the mornin’ ter yess,” the old man grinned holding out -his hand which Bob was quick to grasp. “An’ whot kin I be after -doin’ fer yess?” - -“We want to get up to Jacques Bolduc’s camp.” - -“Ye don’t say. Don’t believe thar’s bin a blessed soul up thar fer -over a week. Whot wid all the talk aboot ghosts it’s scared ’em all -away, an’ it’s a shame so it is.” - -“I was wondering if there was a canoe we could hire around here.” - -“Thar is not, but it’s meself as has one thot ye’re welcome to.” - -“That’s very kind—” Bob began but the old man interrupted. - -“Tut, tut me bye, it’s welcome I said ye was.” - -After a few minutes during which the old man told much the same -story concerning the camp as the forester had related, with the -exception that he made it plain that he did not believe in ghosts, -he led the way down around the end of the dam to a small boat house. - -“Thar ye be,” he said as he threw open the door. “An’ it’s a good -one.” - -“We’ll be very careful of it and bring it back this afternoon,” Bob -assured him. - -“Not a bit uv it. Iny time widin a week’ll do. I don’t use it once -in a dog’s age.” - -“Would you mind if we leave our wheels here in the boat house?” Bob -asked. - -“Niver a bit.” - -“There’s a genuine gentleman for you,” Bob declared a little later -as they were paddling up the lake. - -“You said it,” Jack agreed. - -There was only a light wind blowing and the canoe moved rapidly -through the water as they dug deep with the paddles, anxious to -reach the camp where they hoped excitement awaited them. - -“If we get time while we’re up here we must climb Katahdin,” Bob -said after they had gone a couple of miles. - -“We’ll do that thing,” Jack agreed. - -Chesuncook Lake is about twenty miles long and for the most part -narrow, the distance across being not more than two miles in the -widest place, so they were never very far from land. The shore is -heavily wooded, the giant spruces growing almost to the water’s edge -except where huge rocks gave their roots no chance. It is a wild -country, the camp to which they were going, being the only one -within many miles. - -“I’ll say this looks like a good haunting ground for ghosts,” Jack -laughed as he rested for the moment. - -“And a place where they’re apt to be pretty hard to find,” Bob -added. - -“I reckon that must be the camp,” Bob cried a little later, pointing -with his paddle. - -“Must be since it’s the only one on the lake,” Jack agreed as he -swung the canoe toward the shore. - -It was a place of surpassing beauty. The large central building, -built of unpeeled logs, occupied the highest point of a large knoll -which was surrounded by trees so large that their branches almost -met over the roof. Nestled among the pines and spruces but a short -distance away were the small log cabins containing the sleeping -quarters and sitting-rooms. - -“The place seems deserted,” Bob declared as the canoe slowly -approached the shore where a small wharf reached out a few feet into -the lake. - -“Well, you didn’t expect a crowd to meet us after what we’ve been -told, did you?” - -“No, but somehow it doesn’t seem natural not to see a soul about.” - -The canoe touched the wharf and the boys sprang out, and dragged the -craft from the water. - -The light breeze had failed entirely and not a sound broke the vast -silence as they stood looking up at the large cabin. - -“Well, let’s not stand here and moon,” Jack said after several -minutes had passed. - -They walked slowly up the narrow path which led from the wharf to -the central house about a hundred yards distant. - -“Be careful that you don’t let slip something that might give us -away,” Bob cautioned as they approached the house. - -“Mum’s the word. But do you suppose there’s anybody here?” - -“That man Jacques must be somewhere about, I should suppose.” - -They were about to step onto the porch when the door suddenly opened -and a man came out. He was a large man, one of the largest the boys -had ever seen standing all of six feet four and built in proportion. -That he was powerful was plainly to be seen. His face was dark and a -scowl which seemed permanent gave to it a most unpleasant cast. He -was dressed in corduroy trousers and a dark blue shirt open at the -neck revealing a hairy chest. On his feet were a pair of Indian -moccasins. - -“We are looking for Jacques Bolduc,” Bob announced. - -A deep rumble, which seemed to start away down in the man’s throat, -ended with the words: - -“Me heem.” - -“Then—then you have charge of the camp?” Bob asked almost too -surprised to speak. - -“Oui. Me boss here.” - -The two boys looked at each other before Bob spoke again. Each was -wondering why Mr. Stokes had not told them more about the sort of -man they would find in Jacques Bolduc. - -“Can we get board here for awhile?” Bob asked. - -“Oui. Dis camp she open for business.” - -“You don’t seem to have many guests,” Jack declared before Bob could -nudge him. - -“Non. No guests now.” - -The man’s face was a study as he spoke the words. Whether anger or -sorrow caused the expression Bob was unable to determine. - -“How long you stay?” - -“Why, er I hardly know. Maybe a few days, maybe a few weeks. Is the -fishing good?” - -Instantly the man’s face lighted up although the scowl did not -entirely disappear. - -“Oui, she be bon. Come back an’ me show you.” - -They followed him around to the back of the house and into a small -shed like structure which evidently served as the kitchen. He -pointed to a table in the middle of the room and they saw three of -the largest trout they had ever seen. - -“They’re sure beauties,” Jack declared, lifting the largest up by -the gills. “This fellow must weigh all of twelve pounds.” - -“Heem fourteen pounds.” - -“I don’t doubt it.” - -“Me catch um dees morning.” - -“Can we have some for dinner?” Bob asked. - -“Oui. Me cook um. No geet cook now. Heem geet scared, run off. Me -have do all work.” - -“That’s too bad,” Bob assured him. “But you won’t find us hard to -suit so long as the fishing is good.” - -“Me bon cook.” There was no hint of braggadocia in the man’s voice. -He was simply stating what, the boys were soon to learn, was a fact. - -“Come an’ me show you whar you sleep.” - -He led the way down a path to the right of the house and threw open -the door of a small cabin built under the spreading branches of a -giant spruce. - -“Dees suit, oui?” - -“Fine.” Both boys spoke the word at the same time. - -“Bon. Me go geet dinner. Blow horn when she ready.” - -He left them and they looked about the rooms, two in number. - -“They’re good and clean,” Jack declared passing into the tiny -bedroom which held two single beds and nothing else. - -However, the living-room was very comfortably furnished with three -large easy chairs, a table and a sofa in one corner. A fire place of -rough stones occupied nearly the whole of one end of the room while -the other was taken up by a broad seat on which were lying a couple -of bear skins. - -“What do you think of our host?” Bob asked in a low voice as he sat -down in one of the chairs. - -“He’s not much for looks except for his size. Goodness knows he’s -big enough.” - -“He’s no dwarf for a fact. But his face?” - -“Not exactly pleasantly featured. Still he must be all right or Mr. -Stokes wouldn’t have praised him up so.” - -“And we have that forester’s testimony to boot. Still it’s funny -that neither of them said anything about his looks.” - -They had brought their bags with them and for a time were busy -getting settled although, as Jack laughingly declared, it wasn’t a -very long job as they were travelling light. - -It was just an hour later that they heard the welcome sound of the -dinner horn. - -“Be careful what you say,” Bob cautioned, as they started for the -big cabin. “We want to find out what he knows about the business -without having him suspect that we know anything about it. I’m not -at all sure that he’s so innocent in spite of Mr. Stokes’ belief in -him.” - -“I wouldn’t trust him with a plugged nickle so far as his looks go,” -Jack agreed. - -“One thing’s sure,” Bob declared a little later as he reached for -another helping of trout, “he told the truth when he said he could -cook.” - -Jacques, who at their invitation, had been eating with them, had -gone to the kitchen for something and it was while he was absent -that the boys found opportunity to exchange a few words. - -“You’re right about that,” Jack agreed. “But you haven’t got very -far in finding out what he knows about the funny business.” - -“Well, I didn’t want to be in too much of a hurry. It might arouse -his suspicion but I’ll say something pretty soon.” - -Jacques returned just then bearing an immense apple pie. - -“My, but that looks good enough to eat,” Bob laughed. - -“If he can cook as good pie as he can fish we’ve got a treat ahead -of us,” Jack declared as he passed his plate for a helping. - -The breed seemed pleased at the words of praise and the scowl -lightened, but did not entirely vanish. - -“Business seems kind of quiet, doesn’t it?” Bob ventured as he -passed his plate for a second piece of pie. - -“Beesiness heem rotten,” Jacques scowled. - -“Is it because your place is so far north?” - -“Non. She no too far away.” - -Bob was feeling his way carefully to avoid arousing the breed’s -suspicion. - -“Fishing been good all the time?” - -“Oui.” - -“You’ve got a fine place here.” - -“Oui.” - -By this time Bob was sure that the man was undecided whether or not -to tell them of his trouble. - -“I’m sure no one could find any fault with the board,” he encouraged -him. - -“No kick ’bout grub.” - -“Then I don’t see—” - -“It’s dat ghost,” Jacques interrupted suddenly. “Heem scare all -people away.” - -“What do you mean, ghost?” Jack asked. - -“Dees camp, heem haunted.” - -Both boys laughed and Bob said: - -“But you don’t believe in ghosts?” - -For a moment the man made no reply, but looked steadily at his -plate. - -“Me no used to,” he declared finally. “Now me no know. You no -believe um, eh?” - -“Not on your life,” Bob laughed. - -“There ain’t no such animal,” Jack added. - -Jacques shook his head sadly it seemed to the boys. - -“Mebby you stay here some time you change mind, oui.” - -“Maybe, but I doubt it,” Bob declared as the man got up and began to -clear away the dishes. - -It was evident that enough had been said on the subject for the -present and they returned to their cabin after telling their host -that they would try fishing later in the day. - -“Well?” - -“Well?” - -“I spoke first,” Jack laughed. - -“All right. I suppose you want to know what I think of him now.” - -“You guessed it.” - -“Well, I think he’s all right.” - -“You mean you don’t think he’s in it?” - -“Exactly.” - -“But why? What did he say to change your opinion?” - -“Nothing. But I never said I thought he was guilty.” - -“But you did all the same. I mean you thought so.” - -“I won’t deny that I did have a sneaking impression that way, but -something in the way he spoke made me change my mind. Oh, I know -he’s not very prepossessing so far as looks go but, son, there’s -something in his face when he talks that tells me he’s honest. Of -course, I may be wrong, but that’s the way things stand in my mind -just now.” - -“Well, I’m neutral,” Jack said after a moment’s thought. “But what -shall we do now, take a walk or a nap? I’m not sleepy.” - -“Nor I, so I vote for the walk.” - -They were gone a little over two hours during which time they made a -pretty thorough canvass of the immediate neighborhood. - - - - - CHAPTER IV - - THE GHOST SHOWS UP. - - -“I’ve got one.” - -Bob was rowing the flat bottomed boat and, as Jack spoke, he dropped -the oars and picked up the landing net. - -“Is it a big one?” he asked. - -“He’s pulling pretty hard,” Jack replied, rapidly reeling in his -line. - -“It’s a salmon,” Bob shouted a moment later as the fish broke water -a hundred feet away. “And it’s a big one too; you’ll have to play -him.” - -For three quarters of an hour the battle raged, the big fish being -at times almost within reach of the landing net only to make a fresh -dash for freedom which more than once ran out nearly all the line, -despite the generous use of the drag, before Jack was able to check -it. But at last the boy’s skill won and the big fish lay gasping on -the bottom of the boat. - -“Some fish.” - -“And some fighter,” Jack added. “What’ll he weigh?” - -“Fifteen pounds if an ounce.” - -At the supper table that night Bob tried adroitly to draw the big -half-breed out regarding the ghost but, for some reason best known -to himself, he was loath to talk about it and the boy did not dare -to press the matter too far. So they learned nothing more that was -of any use to them. - -“If he’s innocent why doesn’t he want to talk about it?” Jack -demanded as they were getting ready for bed a couple of hours later. - -“Ask me something easy,” Bob smiled. “I tell you he’s a deep one, if -I’m any judge but, just the same, I don’t believe he’s guilty.” - -“Maybe not, but it’s my bet that he’ll bear watching.” - -Each boy had a flashlight and an automatic beneath his pillow that -night when he crawled into bed. - -“Now let ’em come,” Bob whispered in a sepulchral tone as he blew -out the light. - -But nothing happened and they were somewhat chagrined when, after a -dreamless sleep, they awoke to find the sun two hours high. - -“Guess the ghost must be taking a vacation,” Jack laughed as he -threw a pillow at his brother. - -“And you’ll be taking one in a hospital if you don’t behave -yourself,” Bob growled hurling the pillow back. - -As soon as breakfast was over they started down the lake, in one of -the canoes belonging to the camp, towing the borrowed one after him. -It was a beautiful morning with the slightest hint of coolness in -the clear spruce laden air and they had not gone a mile before Jack -proposed that he get into the other canoe and that they have a race -for the dam. - -“How much handicap do you want?” Bob asked. - -“Not a foot.” - -“But—” - -“No buts about it. I’ll beat you even.” - -But Jack knew that he was talking, as Bob would say, “through his -hat,” but he would accept no favors. - -“Dig in and do your best,” he shouted a while later after they had -covered about half the distance. “There’s no friendship in this -race.” - -“All right, if you feel that way about it,” Bob laughed and almost -immediately he began to forge ahead. - -Jack exerted himself to the utmost but, although he was fully as -skillful as his brother in the use of the paddle he lacked -considerable when it came to a matter of strength. So he was not -disappointed when Bob reached the dam nearly a quarter of a mile -ahead. As he came out on the dam he found Bob talking with a man -about forty years old. - -“Mr. Sleeper this is my brother, Jack,” Bob introduced him as he -came up. - -“Mr. Sleeper was just telling me that he wants to go up to the -camp,” he explained. - -“Yes,” the man added. “You see I engaged board during the winter and -I do not understand why there is no boat to meet us. The letter -stated that a motor boat made regular trips to the dam.” - -The two boys looked at each other uncertain what to say for fully a -minute then Bob, realizing that the situation was becoming awkward, -said: - -“Well, you see, there are no boarders there now except us and I -guess they have not been running the boat lately.” - -“But I understood from the letter that the camp was filled all the -time.” - -“It isn’t now: in fact there’s no one at all there except my brother -and I.” - -“But why? I don’t understand it,” he insisted. - -“Ghosts,” Bob said with a smile. - -“Ghosts!” - -“Yes, sir, ghosts. At least that’s the report, but we haven’t seen -any.” - -“And how long have you been there?” - -“We only came yesterday.” - -“How about the help?” - -“They’ve all gone. In fact there’s no one there except the manager, -a half-breed named Jacques Bolduc.” - -“Can he cook?” There was much eagerness in the man’s voice as he -asked the question. - -“I’ll say he can,” Jack broke in. - -“Then that’s fine. He’ll take us won’t he?” - -“Why, I suppose so,” Bob replied. - -“Then I’ll tell my wife. She and Helen went down to look at the -gorge just below. She’ll be tickled to death.” - -“Because Jacques can cook?” Bob asked somewhat puzzled. - -“No, although that will help, of course, but it’s the ghost I had -reference to. You see,” he explained as he noted the puzzled -expression on the boy’s face, “my wife is er—well, I guess I might -as well call it a spiritualist. Believes in ghosts and all that sort -of thing, you know. Of course, it’s all bunk, but she’s got the bug -all right.” - -Just then a woman, accompanied by a girl about fifteen years old, -appeared in the path just below the dam. - -“There they are now,” the man cried. “Hurry up, Mary,” he called -waving his hand. “I’ve got some wonderful news for you.” - -Mr. Sleeper introduced the boys as soon as his wife and daughter -joined them and then proceeded to tell them about the haunted camp. - -Mrs. Sleeper, a charming woman some years younger than her husband, -clapped her hands with delight. - -“Isn’t that lovely?” she said turning to Bob. “Have you seen them?” - -“No, mam, not yet,” he replied. “But we only came yesterday.” - -“Maybe you’re not sympathetic,” she ventured. - -“I don’t know about that, I’m sure,” Bob smiled. - -“But how are we to get up there? How far is it?” Mr. Sleeper asked. - -“It’s about five miles up the lake,” Bob told him. “We’ve got a good -canoe that will easily carry us all and we’ll be glad to take you up -if you’re not afraid to trust yourselves to us.” - -“Not a bit of it, we can all swim,” Mrs. Sleeper assured him. - -“Then if you’ll excuse us while we put a canoe we borrowed yesterday -in the boat-house we’ll be all ready.” - -They did not see the keeper of the dam until they had the canoe -stowed away in its place. Then he joined them entering the house at -a back door. - -“Well, well, an’ the ghosts ain’t got ye yit?” - -“Not yet,” Bob laughed. - -“Did ye seen ’em?” - -“Narry a ghost so far.” - -After a few minutes’ talk with the old man they thanked him for the -loan of the canoe and hastened back to their new friends. - -“We’ll have to come back later for your baggage,” Bob told them as -he glanced at the trunk and bags which were piled at one end of the -dam. - -“But—” - -“Oh, it won’t be a bit of trouble. There’s a good motor boat at the -camp and we’ll come down in that. Perhaps you’d rather wait here -while we go back and get it.” - -“No, no,” Mrs. Sleeper declared. “I just love a canoe and I’m not a -bit afraid.” - -The five made a good load for the canoe and the boys kept as close -to the shore as possible fearing their passengers might become -frightened as a fairly stiff breeze was blowing. But they showed no -signs of fear and appeared to be enjoying the trip. Mrs. Sleeper -talked almost continually about the ghost and Bob told her all he -knew omitting only the object of their mission. - -Jacques was on the wharf as they rounded the point of land just -below, and the boys could see from the expression on his face that -he was not at all pleased as he caught sight of their passengers. - -“My, what a cross looking man,” Helen whispered to her mother, but -loudly enough for Bob to hear. - -“He’s no beauty, that’s a fact, but he’s all right,” he assured her. - -The breed received them kindly, but shook his head when Bob told him -that they wished to stay at the camp. - -“Me sorry but—” - -“Oh, we’re not a bit afraid of ghosts,” Mrs. Sleeper assured him. -“And we’ll try not to be too much trouble. Please let us stay.” - -Her kindly smile won the man completely and after explaining that he -had no help and that they would have to put up with what he could do -himself, he made no further objection and the Sleepers were soon -domiciled in the cabin next to the one the boys occupied. - -“We’ll run down and get your luggage right away,” Bob said. - -“Can I go?” Helen asked. - -“Sure, if your mother is willing,” Bob told her. - -“You’re sure she won’t be in the way?” Mrs. Sleeper asked. - -“Not a bit. We can all go if you like.” - -But Mr. and Mrs. Sleeper decided they would stay at the camp and -rest. - -“You want to look out that you don’t fall in love,” Jack grinned as -they were pushing the motor boat out from the boat-house. - -“No danger,” Bob smiled. “But she is a beauty, isn’t she?” - -“You said something, but what do you think of her folks?” - -“They seem all right. Her mother is one fine lady if I’m any judge -and her father is all to the mutton.” - -“But I’ll bet she’ll yell if the ghost shows up.” - -“Maybe.” - -Helen was waiting on the wharf as they pushed the boat up and sprang -in before they had time to help her. - -“Isn’t this a dandy boat?” she cried. - -The Loon was a twenty-foot boat equipped with a two cylinder Buffalo -engine and Jacques had assured them that she would make fifteen -miles an hour. - -“All right. Turn her over,” Jack shouted as he pushed off from the -wharf. - -The engine caught at the first turn and in another moment they were -speeding down the lake. - -“This beats paddling,” Jack declared as he leaned back against the -leather cushion. - -“But I love to paddle,” Helen told him with a bright smile. - -“Do you love ghosts too?” Jack asked. - -“I—I don’t know. You see I never saw one, did you?” - -“No, I never did.” - -“But don’t you believe there are ghosts?” - -“No, do you?” - -“Well, I don’t know for sure. You see mamma says there are and daddy -is just as certain that there aren’t, so I’m kind-of on the fence.” - -“Ready to jump either way,” Bob laughed. - -“I guess so,” she smiled. - -“Hope I’ll be there to catch you when you do,” Jack said and they -all laughed. - -“Does that man at the camp, Jacques, I think you called him, believe -in them?” - -“I’m not quite sure about that,” Bob told her. “He says that he does -not, but most all of the French and half-breeds around here do. Of -course he may be an exception. You see he’s really quite an -intelligent fellow even if he is a breed.” - -They found the luggage where it had been left and, quickly getting -it aboard, they made a speedy run up the lake getting back to the -camp just as Jacques was blowing the dinner horn. - -“That’s some engine,” Jack declared as he passed the trunk up to -Bob. “Didn’t miss a stroke all the way.” - -Three days passed and, much to the disgust of the boys, nothing -happened that even remotely suggested ghosts. Mrs. Sleeper was -plainly disappointed, but her husband took it as a matter of course, -giving it as his opinion that the whole thing had probably been -nothing more than a boyish prank. But the time had by no means hung -heavily on their hands. Despite her years they found the girl, -Helen, as Jack declared, a regular sport. She fished with them and -they were amazed at her skill with the fly rod. She swam with them -and Jack, who was rightly proud of his attainments in the water, had -to exert himself to the utmost to keep ahead of her in the many -races which they had. - -“She ought to have been a boy,” he confided to Bob one day as he -watched her slender form enter the water, making hardly a ripple, as -she dove from the top of a precipitous rock nearly twelve feet above -the lake. - -“Oh, I don’t know,” Bob replied. “She’s pretty nice just as she is.” - -“Ahem.” - -“Nothing like that,” Bob laughed. “But you’ll agree that she is all -to the good.” - -“And then some,” Jack nodded his head. - -It was the fourth night of their stay at the camp when Bob awoke -suddenly. It was an unusual thing for him to wake up in the night -unless disturbed so the first thought to enter his mind was that -something had happened. He lay perfectly still and listened, but no -sound save Jack’s deep breathing came to his ears. He raised his -head slightly and looked about the room, but the darkness was so -intense that he could see nothing. He was about to turn over and go -to sleep again concluding that everything was all right, when his -eye caught a bright spot on the wall of the room opposite his bed -and just above that of his brother. It was a very bright spot not -more than an inch in diameter. For some minutes he watched it half -fascinated. Then it began slowly to move upward. Up, up it went so -slowly that at first he was uncertain as to whether it was really -moving at all. It ascended until it had reached a point not more -than a foot or two from the ceiling and there it paused for several -minutes. Then as slowly it began to move to the right but only for a -short distance before it began to descend. Down it came until it was -at the level from which it started, and then, after a short pause, -it moved to the left until it came to rest in the same place where -it had first appeared. - -Bob was not frightened, but a peculiar sensation, which he was -unable to analyze, took possession of him as he watched the spot. It -did not move again but continued to glow for some minutes and then -began, imperceptibly at first and then more rapidly to fade. Just as -it disappeared entirely he thought he heard what sounded like a -mocking laugh away off in the deep woods. But it was so faint that -he was not sure that he had really heard it at all. - -For a long time he watched the wall but the spot did not return and -finally he fell off to sleep. The sun was up some distance when he -awoke again and Jack was nearly dressed. At first he thought he -would not tell anyone of his experience, but on second thought he -concluded that it would be hardly fair to Jack, so he decided to -tell him. - -“Jack,” he said as he pulled on his clothes, “I’m not sure but I -rather think I saw that ghost last night.” - -“What!” - -“Don’t get excited. I merely said that I think I saw the ghost.” - -“Where was it?” - -“Why, in the room here of course.” - -“And you let it get away?” - -“Well, it didn’t hardly seem a thing you could catch, you know.” - -“How do I know? What did it look like?” - -“It was just a spot of light on the wall.” - -“Huh.” It was evident that Jack was disappointed not to say -disgusted. “What kind of a ghost do you call that?” - -“I don’t know I’m sure,” Bob smiled. - -“Why didn’t you wake me up?” - -“To tell the truth I never thought of it.” - -“Well, what did it do?” - -Bob explained its movements. - -“Sure you didn’t dream it?” Jack demanded. - -“To be perfectly honest, no, but I thought I was awake.” - -“Pinch yourself?” - -“No. You see it was so strange that I didn’t seem to think of -anything.” Then, as Jack said nothing, he told him about the laugh -he thought he had heard. - -“Seems kind of fishy to me,” Jack declared after a moment’s thought. - -“Same here,” Bob agreed. “Perhaps I dreamed the whole thing. It -wouldn’t be at all strange if I did.” But deep down in his heart he -was quite certain that it had not been a dream. - -“Will you tell the Sleepers about it?” Jack asked. - -“What do you think?” - -“Well, seeing that you’re not sure about it I’d let it go and say -nothing. If it wasn’t a dream it’ll come again and then will be time -enough.” - -“I reckon that will be best.” - -Despite his lack of help, Jacques was making them all very -comfortable. - -The camp was well stocked with provisions and the meals were -excellent. Mr. Sleeper spent a good part of his time writing on a -book which, he told the boys, was to be a text book on Chemistry, -while his wife, when she was not reading, was roaming about in the -woods although she never went far from the camp. Almost every -evening after supper they all went for a sail about the lake in the -Loon. It would usually be dark before they returned to the camp, -but, as the boat was equipped with a good headlight, they did not -mind it. - -“It seems like a good night for ghosts,” Mr. Sleeper said as they -were returning from their sail the night after Bob’s experience. - -“Why do you say that, George?” Mrs. Sleeper asked quickly. She was -never quite sure as to whether or not her husband was serious. - -“Oh, it seems so still like,” he laughed. - - - - - CHAPTER V - - CLUES. - - -That night Bob again awoke. Wide awake in an instant he glanced -toward the wall opposite, but there was no spot of light there. -Remembering that the spot had not appeared the night before until he -had been awake for some time he waited. Slowly the minutes passed -until he judged that he had been awake fully a quarter of an hour -before it appeared. Remembering that he had promised to call Jack in -case the spot came, he whispered loudly. - -“Jack.” - -Jack was a heavy sleeper and he had to call several times before he -succeeded in arousing him. - -“What’s the matter?” - -“You wanted to see the ghost. Look on the wall over your bed,” Bob -whispered. - -He could hear the bed creak as Jack raised himself. - -“Well, what do you know about that?” - -“Sure you aren’t dreaming?” Bob asked. - -“Just a minute till I pinch myself. No, I felt it all right,” Jack -declared. - -“Now watch it.” - -The spot had begun to move as on the previous night and took the -same path. Neither spoke or moved until it had made the journey and -returned to its first position. Then Bob heard Jack getting out of -bed. - -“What you going to do?” he asked. - -Jack made no reply but a second later he had pulled down the shade -on the window on the side of the room at the foot of Bob’s bed. -Instantly the spot disappeared. - -“Guess that proves that it comes from outside,” Jack chuckled as he -sat down on the foot of Bob’s bed. - -“Good boy. I never thought of that,” Bob declared. - -“Well, haven’t I always told you that I used my head for something -else than a hat rack?” Jack asked. - -“I never disputed it. But suppose you raise the shade again and see -if it’s still there.” - -Jack quickly did as his brother suggested but the spot did not -reappear. - -“Now listen,” Bob ordered. - -Two or three minutes passed then, seemingly from a great distance, -came that same weird laugh. - -“Did you hear it?” Bob asked. - -“Sure did.” - -“Then I didn’t dream it.” - -“Not this time anyhow,” Jack assured him. - -“Well, I never heard of a ghost that could be stopped by anything so -thin as a window curtain so that makes it certain that it’s due to -some human agency. Not that I ever thought otherwise,” he hastened -to add, “but it’s kind of comforting to have positive evidence.” - -“You bet,” Jack agreed. - -They talked for some time longer, but as the spot did not again -appear, Bob finally said: - -“Well I reckon the show’s over for tonight so we might as well go to -sleep again.” - -“Guess that curtain kind of fazed his ghostship,” Jack chuckled as -he groped his way back to his bed. - -But he came back before reaching it to say: - -“How about getting up early and reconnoitering a bit?” - -“Good idea. What time is it?” - -“Half past one,” Jack replied glancing at the luminous face of his -wrist watch. - -“All right, I’ll call you about four and we’ll scout around.” - -Bob possessed the faculty of being able to awake at any time fixed -in his mind on going to sleep so he had no fear of oversleeping and -in a few minutes they were both once more in the land of nod. - -The eastern sky was just beginning to redden when he shook his -brother. - -“Come on if you’re going ghost hunting with me,” he said. - -“Be with you in the shake of a dog’s tail,” Jack replied as he -sprang from his bed. - -“Which way’ll we go?” Jack asked as soon as they were out of doors. - -“Which way did you think that laugh came from?” - -“It seemed to be from up the lake.” - -“Same here. Suppose we go that way.” - -“Suits me.” - -“And we want to be careful not to overlook anything,” Bob cautioned. - -“You bet. Say, Bob, we ought to have Kernertok and his dog, Sicum, -here. I’ll bet he’d track ’em or it down.” - -It was still dark in the thick woods, but the light was increasing -every minute and, as soon as they were well away from the camp, Bob -proposed that they sit down and wait a little until it got lighter. - -“We might miss something in the dark,” he said. - -“Probably you mean, that is, if there’s anything to miss,” Jack -agreed. - -In half an hour Bob declared that it was light enough and they -started off through the thick forest paralleling the shore of the -lake. They went very slowly searching every foot of the way for some -sign that would serve as a clue: a fresh foot print, a newly broken -twig or some other indication of the recent passing of human beings. - -“It’s been so dry lately that I’m afraid foot prints wouldn’t show -anyway,” Bob declared after they had gone about a hundred rods and -had found nothing. - -“If we only had a nose like a dog’s now we might be able to do -something,” Jack added. - -A few minutes later Bob stooped and picked something from the ground -with an exclamation of satisfaction. - -“What is it?” Jack, who at the moment was a few feet behind him, -asked. - -Bob held out his hand and in it was the stump of a cigarette about -an inch long. - -“Huh, is that all?” - -“But it means that someone has been here.” - -“Sure, but how long ago?” - -“Since the last rain. You can see that it has never been wet because -the paper would have turned brown if it had and there’s not the -least trace of it except at the end where it was in someone’s -mouth.” - -“I reckon you’re right there, Sherlock,” Jack admitted. - -“And Mr. Sleeper doesn’t smoke and Jacques always smokes a pipe. At -least I never saw him smoke a cigarette.” - -For the better part of an hour they searched the ground all around -the place but in vain. No other trace could they find. - -“It beats me,” Jack declared finally. “I thought we knew something -about woodcraft and all that sort of thing, but the fellow who -dropped that stub has us skinned a mile.” - -“Unless he dropped it from an air ship,” Bob suggested. - -“Are you serious?” - -“Hardly. Still I suppose it might have happened that way.” - -“Well, let’s go on. We don’t need to be back for a couple of hours.” - -After they had covered perhaps a mile more with no results, Bob -suggested that they cut over to the lake and follow the shore back. - -“We might find where a boat was pulled up,” he said. - -For the greater part of the way the trees grew close to the water’s -edge and they found it very hard going, but they were used to -pushing their way through places where it seemed almost impossible -to pass. - -“One thing’s sure,” Jack panted as he climbed over a fallen tree, -“No one could have landed along here and got through this stuff -without leaving some marks.” - -They were about half way back when they came to a place where there -was a bit of beach. It was rocky but between the rocks were patches -of sand and Bob’s quick eye caught sight of a foot print imbedded -deeply in the soft sand. - -“Here’s something,” he cried as he stooped over to examine the mark. - -For some minutes he gazed at the print while Jack was eagerly -hunting for others. But in this he was unsuccessful. That one was -the only foot print on that part of the shore. - -“Looks as though he had tried to step only on the stones and had -made a single misstep,” he said as he came back to where Bob was -still kneeling. - -“That would be easy,” Bob agreed as he straightened up. - -“Well, what do you make of it, Sherlock? How tall was he and what -was the color of his hair?” Jack grinned. - -“You ought to know that it takes at least two foot prints to judge a -man’s height by and we’ve only one, but look at it yourself and see -if it tells you anything.” - -“Hum, ’bout a number eight and it wasn’t a moccasin. That’s about -the limit of my deductions,” Jack declared a moment later. - -“You hit all except the important points,” Bob smiled. - -“Such as what?” - -“Well, in the first place, that print was made by a heavy man and—” - -“I might have mentioned that except that I thought it was too -obvious,” Jack interrupted. - -“And again it was made by a man from the city.” - -“Not necessarily. He might have found those pointed toed shoes or -they might have been given to him or—” - -“Deductions are seldom absolute,” Bob broke in. “I’m only stating -what is probable and you never saw a native with a pair of shoes, -that would make that mark, on his feet.” - -“My error. Pray proceed.” Jack humbly apologized. - -“And most significant of all that print was made within the last -twelve hours.” - -“How do you know that?” - -“It’s easy. As you see it is not more than a foot from the water and -if you’ll remember there was a strong wind blowing this way just -before sundown yesterday.” - -“And there must have been surf enough to have washed the print out -if it had been there then,” Jack finished. - -“Exactly.” - -“But I don’t see how he got away from here without leaving a trail.” - -“Neither do I and that fact rather downs my theory that he was a -city man,” Bob acknowledged. - -For another half hour they searched the surrounding neighborhood but -without any result and finally started back arriving at the camp -just as Jacques blew the rising horn. - -“What’s next?” Jack asked when they were back in their cabin. - -“Seems to me our best bet is to be outside tonight.” - -“My idea exactly.” - -For the first time since they had been there the day passed slowly -to the boys anxious as they were for the night to come. They had -decided not to tell the Sleepers what they had seen deeming it best -to keep it to themselves for the present at least. - -That night was very dark as there was no moon and the stars were -obscured by thick clouds so they were unable to see more than three -or four feet ahead of themselves as they stole softly out of the -cabin shortly after eleven o’clock. The window at the foot of Bob’s -bed faced the north and it was in that direction they turned their -steps. The forest began not more than forty feet from the cabin so -they had but a short distance to go. - -“He or they must have been about here,” Bob whispered as they paused -beneath a large spruce. - -“Couldn’t have been much further back,” Jack agreed. - -“Then suppose you take this tree and I’ll get one a bit over this -way.” - -“Righto.” - -Jack quickly swung himself into the lower branches of the tree while -Bob moved off to the right. About ten feet above the ground he found -a convenient crotch and proceeded to make himself as comfortable as -circumstances would permit. How still it was. No breeze stirred the -branches and save for an occasional croak of a frog no sound broke -the silence. An hour passed and Jack was finding it difficult to -keep awake. He wondered how Bob was making out in his perch a few -yards away, and if he was as sleepy as he was. - -He had just glanced at his watch and noted that it was a quarter -past twelve when a shrill cry rang through the forest. It was a cry -of fear or pain, he was not sure which and, for a moment he waited -uncertain what to do. Then he heard Bob’s voice from beneath the -branch. - -“What was that cry?” - -“Just what I was going to ask you.” - -“Did you think it came from the Sleepers’ cabin?” - -“Shouldn’t say so. It sounded farther off than that.” - -“I’m not so sure about that.” - -“Then I reckon we’d better go see,” Jack said as he dropped lightly -to the ground. - -They made their way as rapidly as possible toward the cabin, not -daring to make use of their flash lights, and had nearly reached it -when a voice ordered: - -“That’s near enough.” - -At the same instant a beam of light sprang from the porch. - -“That you Mr. Sleeper?” Bob asked in a low tone. - -“Is that you, Bob?” The man asked instead of replying to his -question. - -“It’s me all right,” Bob said as he stepped forward. - -Mr. Sleeper had a rain coat over his pajamas and in his hand was a -revolver which he slipped into the pocket of the coat as the boys -came up on the porch. - -“Did you hear that yell a few minutes ago?” he asked. - -“Yes, sir, we heard it and wasn’t sure but what it came from your -cabin. That’s why we came to see,” Bob told him. - -“You got dressed mighty quick.” - -“Because we were not undressed,” Bob explained. - -“Been roosting out in the trees,” Jack added. - -“Roosting in trees! I don’t quite understand.” - -“I’ll tell you all about it,” Bob said and explained what had -happened. - -“This bids fair to be quite an interesting problem,” Mr. Sleeper -declared as soon as he had finished. “That yell didn’t come from -this cabin, but it wasn’t a great way off. Haven’t I read that a -wild cat makes a cry like that?” - -“That was no cat,” Jack assured him. “It’s a fact that they do sound -something like it, but there’s a difference.” - -“You have heard them?” - -“Lots of times. If you’d ever heard one you could tell the -difference.” - -“Then you think it was a man?” - -“Either a man or a woman. No four-legged animal around here makes a -noise like that.” - -Just then the door of the cabin opened and a voice asked: - -“Did you catch it, daddy?” - -“Not yet, kitten.” - -“Well, please take this.” - -In the dim light the boys saw her hand her father a small object and -the next moment he burst into laughter. - -“That kid’ll never learn to be serious I’m afraid,” he said as he -held the thing out for the boys to see. - -It was a small salt shaker. - -“Thought you’d better put some on its tail,” Jack laughed. - -“It’s the only way he’d ever catch anything except a cold,” the girl -chuckled loudly enough for them all to hear. - -“I’ll catch you if you don’t get back to bed,” Mr. Sleeper tried to -make his voice stern as he started toward the door but it slammed -almost in his face and he laughingly turned back. - -“She carries too many guns for me,” he sighed. - -Suddenly Jack grasped Bob by the arm. “Look over there toward -Katahdin,” he ordered. - -As Bob turned his eye quickly caught what had caused Jack’s -exclamation. Far away, seemingly nearly a mile high in the heavens, -a light was flashing. It would appear and disappear a few times in -rapid succession and then would go out for a time only to begin -again a moment later. - -“It’s a signal of some sort,” Bob declared, “and unless I’m mistaken -its Morse. Hold your flash here quick.” - -Searching his pockets he quickly found a pencil and a scrap of paper -and began writing down the letters as the strange light spelled them -out. - -L-F-P-A-S-T-E-L-E-V-E-N-T-O-M-O-R-R-O-W - -Then the light stopped and although they waited for some time it did -not reappear. - -“You got ’em just in the nick of time,” Jack declared as Bob passed -the paper to him. “That first word’s half, of course.” - -“And the fellow who was signaling must have been on the very top of -Katahdin,” Bob asserted. - -“Have you any idea what it means?” Mr. Sleeper asked. - -“Only that something’s due to happen at eleven thirty tomorrow -night.” - -“Why not at eleven thirty in the forenoon?” Jack asked. - -“It’s possible, of course, but it’s more likely to be at night,” Bob -insisted. - -They talked a while longer and then, as nothing more happened, the -boys returned to their own cabin. - -“Suppose we go up in the morning,” Bob said as they were undressing. - -“Up where?” - -“Up Katahdin, of course.” - -“Just the ticket. We may find out something and we’ll have the trip -anyway.” - -As soon as breakfast was over they asked Jacques to put them up a -lunch telling him that they were going to climb Katahdin. Was it -fancy or did Bob detect a strange hint of fear in the half-breed’s -eyes as he told him their destination? He was not sure for his -expression changed almost instantly and a smile of assent took its -place. - -“She ver’ hard climb,” he warned them. - -“I reckon,” Bob agreed. - -“Mebby you wait go some other day. Look lak rain today.” - -Bob was not sure but fancied there was a note of eagerness in the -man’s voice. - -“Oh, well, we can’t any more than get wet,” he declared and the man -offered no more objection. - -“It’s a good thing we brought those pocket radios with us,” Bob said -when they were back in the cabin. - -“Why, what you going to do with them?” - -“We’ll leave one with Mr. Sleeper and take the other with us.” - -“Good idea.” - -The radios mentioned were a recent invention which they had worked -and were very compact, a small selenium plate taking the place of -the ordinary aerial. - -Mr. Sleeper displayed great interest when they showed him the outfit -and explained how it worked. - -“Sure I’ll keep one and if you get into any trouble just let me -know,” he said as soon as they had told him their plans. “I’d like -to go with you but I’m afraid I couldn’t stand it. I’m not much of a -walker. Broke my leg a few years ago and it never was set right. -Gives out if I attempt to walk very far.” - -“But my legs are all right and I want to go.” - -“I was afraid you were listening behind that door.” - -“But I can go?” Helen asked eagerly. - -“Not this time, kitten. This is no trip for a girl.” - -“We’ll take you up there before the summer’s over,” Bob promised. - -“Did you notice anything peculiar about Jacques when I told him -where we’re going?” Bob asked as he pushed the canoe off and dug his -paddle deep in the water. - -“No, why?” - -“I just wondered.” - -“But did you?” - -“Well, I hardly know. Perhaps I just imagined it but it seemed to me -that he wasn’t very anxious for us to go.” - -“But what earthly reason could he have?” - -“Haven’t an idea unless he’s mixed up in this mess in some way.” - -“But you don’t think—” - -“No I don’t think he is but you never can tell, you know,” Bob -interrupted. - -It was shortly after eight o’clock when they reached the dam. - -“Have ye seed thot ghost yit?” the keeper asked them as they drew -the canoe from the water. - -“Not yet,” Bob smiled. - -“Where you goin’?” - -“Going to climb Katahdin,” Jack told him. - -“Thot’s a pretty stiff climb so it is but it’s meself as guesses -ye’re good fer it. But by the way, ye’d better kape yer eyes open -’cause that’s someone up thar.” - -“What do you mean?” Bob asked. - -“Faith an’ I mane whot I say. I seen a light up thar most ivery -night fer a wake or more.” - -“What kind of a light?” - -“I dunno, but it was a flashing light, like as if somebody was -makin’ a signal.” - -“Well, we’ll be on the look-out,” Bob promised as they started down -the gorge. - - - - - CHAPTER VI - - THE CAVE ON THE MOUNTAIN. - - -The foot of the mountain was seven miles from the dam and the going -very rough especially through the gorge where they were obliged to -leap from one big rock to another as they followed the bed of the -stream. - -“Good thing Mr. Sleeper didn’t come if he’s got a game leg,” Jack -panted as they stopped to rest a moment. - -“Reckon he’d have found it pretty rough sledding.” - -They soon started on again and about eleven o’clock reached the foot -of Katahdin where they again stopped to rest. - -“It’s going to be some climb on a hot day,” Jack declared wiping his -forehead. - -“We’ll take it easy, there’s lots of time.” - -“What are you doing here?” - -Both boys started violently at the sound of a strange voice. A few -feet away, leaning against a big pine, stood a man only a few years -older than Bob. He was dressed in a rough tweed knicker suit with a -cap to match. His face, although pleasant enough, bore plainly the -signs of dissipation; the eyes slightly bloodshot and puffed lids as -well as the red nose evidenced the life he had led. - -“I beg your pardon,” Bob said politely, “but were you speaking to -us?” - -“Who did you suppose I was speaking to?” the man demanded angrily. - -“Well really, I supposed you were talking to us only I wanted to -make sure, you know,” drawled Bob. - -The man’s arrogant tone had maddened him and he put into his voice -all the contempt possible. - -“Don’t you get fresh.” The man took a step forward and Bob got up -from the log on which he had been sitting. “I want to know what you -are doing here.” - -“What we are doing here,” Bob repeated slowly. “Well now that’s -funny.” - -“What’s funny about it?” - -“Oh, just a thought I had. It really doesn’t matter, you know.” - -Jack was having all he could do to keep from laughing as he heard -his brother fencing with the stranger. He could see that the latter -was rapidly losing control of his temper and knew that that was just -what Bob was after. - -“Are you going to answer my question?” - -“Why sure, we’re just sitting here, that’s all. What are you doing?” - -“That’s none of your business.” - -“No?” - -“Certainly not.” - -“And might I ask you why it’s any more your business what we’re -doing?” - -“Because I choose to make it.” - -“Oh.” - -“I’ll ‘Oh’ you,” the man snapped taking a step forward with clinched -fists. - -But he evidently thought better of his intention when he saw that -Bob also took a step to meet him and that his fists were also -clinched. - -“Are you going up the mountain?” he demanded, falling back to his -former position. - -“Maybe.” - -“Well, you’d better not.” - -“If not why not?” Bob tantalized. - -“Because I say so.” - -“And you think that’s a good reason?” - -“You’ll find out if you try it.” - -“Thanks, I only was asking for information. Come on Jack, we might -as well be on our way.” - -As they turned to go Bob glanced back in time to see the man reach -his hand back to his hip pocket but he evidently thought better of -it for he drew the hand away empty. - -“Nice pleasant fellow,” Jack said as soon as they were out of -hearing. - -“Very. Did you see his shoes?” - -“Can’t say I noticed them, why?” - -“Nothing only they looked as though they might have made that track -in the sand we found yesterday.” - -“But what do you suppose he’s doing away off here?” - -“Ask me something easy. But unless he was bluffing we’re likely to -find out unless we keep our eyes open.” - -If the going had been bad so far it was worse now. The mountain was -heavily wooded nearly to the top and there was a good deal of -underbrush through which at times they had to literally push their -way. Then, in places, it was very steep and they were obliged to -pull themselves up by grabbing hold of branches. They had pushed on -in this way for a half hour when Bob, who was slightly in the lead, -stopped and held up his hand. - -“Listen,” he whispered. - -“I don’t hear anything,” Jack said after a moment’s pause. - -“Perhaps I was mistaken but I was sure I heard a bush crack off -there to the right.” - -“A deer maybe,” Jack ventured. - -“No, a deer wouldn’t have made just one crack like that. I’ve had -the feeling ever since we left that fellow that we were being -followed.” - -“Think it’s he?” - -“Maybe. You stay here a minute. I’ll be right back.” - -Bob got onto his hands and knees and noiselessly disappeared in the -thick brush. It was perhaps fifteen minutes before he returned as -silent as he had gone. - -“Guess I was mistaken,” he said. “I couldn’t find a trace of -anyone.” - -“Then I guess there was no one there.” - -“Maybe not, but keep your eyes peeled. I have a hunch that there’s -someone on our trail.” - -“Mighty funny there’s no path up this mountain,” Jack puffed a few -minutes later, as he paused to wipe the sweat from his face. - -“There probably is only we haven’t struck it,” Bob smiled. - -For another half hour they pushed on, now climbing over rocks and -the next moment forcing their way through heavy underbrush. Suddenly -Bob, who at the time was a few feet ahead, stopped and held up his -hand. - -“What’s wrong?” Jack whispered as he crept up to him. - -“Peep out there,” Bob told him holding the low branch of a tree -aside. - -Through the opening Jack could see the front of a rough shanty only -a few feet away. - -“Did you see anyone?” he asked drawing back. - -“No.” - -“Then why all the caution?” - -“Better to be careful than sorry,” Bob whispered. - -“Well, shall we investigate or go around?” - -“What do you think?” - -“I say investigate.” - -“Come on, then, but keep your eyes open.” - -As they crept forward they saw that the building, evidently many -years old and constructed of rough boards, was built so that its -back was close against a cliff the top of which reached thirty or -more feet above the roof. There was no sign of life about the place -and, as they drew nearer, they saw that the door was open a few -inches. - -“Looks kind of spooky,” Jack whispered. - -They were close to the door and Bob, after listening a moment, -pushed it open and entered, closely followed by Jack. A hasty glance -about told them that the place was empty so far as living beings -were concerned. And the same statement was nearly true as regards -other things. An old table so rickety that it seemed about ready to -fall to the ground, and the remains of two or three chairs completed -the inventory. - -“Not much here,” Jack declared. - -“Does look rather forlorn,” Bob agreed. - -As he spoke his eye caught sight of a door at the back of the room. - -“Wonder where this door goes to,” he said as he started across the -room. - -Unlike the rest of the building the door appeared to be of recent -construction. The boards were thick and much newer than those of the -shack proper and it was closed by a heavy bar across the middle. - -“Take a look outside while I see if I can open it,” Bob said, as he -placed his hand on the bar. - -The bar fitted so snugly that it required some effort to remove it -and Jack was back just as he succeeded in pulling it out. - -“All quiet along the Potomac,” he announced. - -The door dragged a bit on the bottom but they soon had it open. -Stygian darkness greeted them as they looked in, but both had flash -lights with them and in a moment were throwing the rays about. They -were in what appeared to be a natural cave some thirty feet wide and -twice as long as the roof being very irregular but averaging about -ten feet from the ground. The place was entirely empty, so far as -they could see. - -“What do you know about it?” Jack asked. - -“It would make a good prison,” Bob replied. - -“I’ll say it would.” - -“Looks as though there might be a passage in the back part there,” -Bob said as he started for the back of the cave. - -He had taken but a single step, however, when a startled exclamation -from Jack caused him to wheel about. By the light of his torch he -saw that his brother was struggling in the grasp of a man and as he -sprang to his assistance he received a heavy blow on the side of his -head which stretched him senseless on the floor. - -When consciousness began slowly to drift back he was at first aware -only of a severe headache. Slowly he opened his eyes but he might as -well have kept them closed. It was so dark that he could see -absolutely nothing. For a moment he wondered what it was all about, -then memory came back with a rush and he whispered: - -“Jack.” - -There was no answer and he tried it again a little louder. This time -he was relieved when his brother answered. - -“Thank God, you’re alive, Bob. I was afraid they had killed you.” - -“Where are you, Jack?” - -“Over here, tied up.” - -Then Bob realized that he too was tied. His hands were bound behind -his back and his feet securely fastened together. A bit of straining -at the bonds soon convinced him that whoever had done it had made a -good job. - -“Are you all right?” Jack asked anxiously. - -“I guess so. Head’s a bit sore and it aches like fury, but I don’t -think it’s broke. Can you roll over this way?” - -“Guess so,” and a moment later Jack’s body bumped into him. - -“What happened?” Bob asked. - -“Can’t tell you much it was so sudden. I didn’t hear a thing, but a -man grabbed me from behind and I tried to shout. Then I saw you go -down and although I made things lively for a minute or two I was no -match for the two of them and they soon had me trussed up.” - -“Did you get a look at them?” - -“Not enough to amount to anything. I wouldn’t know them from Adam -but I don’t think I ever saw them before but I’m not sure. How’s -your head?” - -“Sore, but it feels a bit better.” - -“Are you tied tight?” - -“Sure am. How about you?” - -“Got a little slack. I remembered your method and did the best I -could.” - -Bob was an expert in getting free from bonds. His hands were smaller -than most boys when compared with the size of his wrists and long -practice had enabled him to set his muscles in such a way that no -matter how tightly they were bound together he could, on relaxing, -get enough slack to free himself. But now, having been tied while he -was unconscious, he was unable to obtain the least bit of slack. - -“If only my hands weren’t so large,” Jack groaned as he strained at -the rope. “I don’t suppose you can get a mite of slack.” - -“Not a bit.” - -“Then I reckon it’s up to me.” - -Bob could hear him as he pulled and strained. - -“Take it easy,” he cautioned. “It’s mighty easy to rub the skin off -and that makes it harder.” - -“I can almost do it but not quite,” Jack announced a few minutes -later. - -“Roll over here and let’s see if I can help any with my teeth.” - -He found that Jack’s hands were tied with a piece of half-inch rope -which seemed to be nearly new. At any rate it was so stiff that, -although he worked until he could taste the blood from his gums, he -could not make the slightest impression on it. - -“I’m afraid it’s no use,” he said sadly. - -“How about trying with your hands?” - -“We’ll try it,” Bob agreed as he rolled over and hitched forward -until he could touch the rope with his fingers. - -“My hands are tied so tight that they’re numb,” he said after a few -minutes of vain effort. - -“Well, let me work at it again. I may do it in time.” - -For a time the only sound to be heard was Jack’s grunting as he -tugged at the rope. Bob hoped almost against hope that he might -succeed and more than once he breathed a silent prayer. - -“There, at last,” Jack grunted. “And I don’t believe I peeled off -more than about a yard of skin.” - -“You got it?” - -“Sure have. Just a minute and I’ll tend to you.” - -“But suppose they come back?” - -“Gracious, I never thought of that. I suppose we’d better play it -safe and wait a bit.” - -“I think so, but I do wish you’d see if you can loosen up this rope -a trifle. It hurts like the dickins.” - -After he had worked at the rope on Bob’s wrists for a few minutes he -managed to loosen it enough to give him considerable relief. “It’s -no wonder you couldn’t get free,” he declared as he slipped his hand -back into the loop and stretched out on the floor. - -All the time Bob had been listening for a sound on the other side of -the door but had heard nothing. - -“Did they search us?” he asked a moment later. - -“I’ll say they did. Took everything we had I guess.” - -“Then they got the radio?” - -“Yep.” - -“That’s too bad. If they’d missed it we could have called Mr. -Sleeper.” - -“And if wishes were horses beggers could ride,” Jack quoted. - -For some time they were silent then Bob said: - -“Do you know, Jack, there’s something funny about this business.” - -“That just occurred to you?” Jack asked. - -“No, but I’m serious.” - -“Serious? I hope to goodness you don’t think I’m fooling.” - -“Well, what do you make of it?” - -“Just what do you mean?” - -“I mean is there any connection between the fellows who’ve got us -tied up here and whoever is cutting up monkeydidoes at the camp?” - -“My, but you do have a wonderful faculty for asking easy questions,” -Jack declared after a moment’s pause. - -“Well, of course—” - -Bob started to speak but just then his ear caught a sound and he -stopped. - -“Someone’s at the door,” he whispered. - -A moment later the door was swung open and someone stepped inside -closing it behind him. For an instant a beam of light played about -the cave until it rested on them, then the man came slowly toward -them. When he was close to them he spoke and both recognized the -voice as belonging to the young man they had met earlier in the day. - -“Well, I warned you that you’d get into trouble if you kept on, and -you see I was right.” - -“That’s so,” Bob agreed. - -“Your name’s Golden, isn’t it?” - -“Yes.” - -“And he’s your brother?” - -“Yes.” - -“I’ve heard of you.” - -“Such is fame.” - -“I suppose you’ve been wondering why we tied you up.” - -“Naturally.” - -“And you can’t guess?” - -“Haven’t yet.” - -“Well I’d save my breath if I were you.” - -“Thanks, but it doesn’t take much breath to think,” Jack broke in. - -“May I ask what you are going to do with us?” Bob inquired. - -“Nothing, if you are reasonable.” - -“And what do you call reasonable?” - -“I mean if you’ll do as I say.” - -“And what’s that?” - -“Go straight home and stay away from this part of the woods and keep -your mouths shut.” - -“That’s some sweeping order,” Jack broke in. - -“And suppose we don’t promise?” Bob asked. - -“Then you stay right here, that’s all.” - -“How long can we have to make up our minds?” - -“Well, I’ve got to go up the mountain a piece and you may have till -I get back, which will probably be in a half hour or so.” - -“Thanks. We’ll have our answer ready by that time,” Bob assured him. - -Before leaving the room the man examined their bonds and was -apparently satisfied with their condition. - -“I’ve heard that you couldn’t be tied so that you couldn’t get -away,” he told Bob as he bent over him. “But I guess Skeets did the -trick this time or else you haven’t tried.” - -“Oh, I tried all right but he tied me while I was unconscious and -that makes a lot of difference.” - -“I reckon so. Well, talk it over and let me know what you decide -when I get back. I really have nothing against you boys and have no -desire to injure you, but I’ve got to look out for number one, you -know, and just now it doesn’t suit me to have you around here.” - -He went out and they could hear him as he slipped the bar in place. - -“Wait five minutes and then free yourself,” Bob whispered. - -At the end of the time they had heard no sound and Jack set to work -and soon they were both free. - -“How about those other two fellows?” Jack asked as he loosened the -last knot about Bob’s ankles. - -“That’s a chance we’ll have to take,” Bob replied. “I’m going on the -assumption that they’ve gone off somewhere, but I may be wrong and -if I am—well we’ve taken chances before.” - -“Sure we have,” Jack agreed. - -“It’s darker than the ace of spades,” Bob declared as they groped -their way across the cave till they reached the side where the door -was placed. - -“We must jump him the instant he opens the door,” Bob explained. “He -had a business like looking automatic in his hand when he came in -and he’ll probably have it all ready this time.” - -“Well, here’s hoping he won’t have a chance to use it.” - -Slowly the time passed until they judged that he had been gone -nearly an hour although they could only guess at the time as their -watches had been taken away from them together with all their other -possessions. But finally they heard someone enter the outer room and -a moment later the bar was removed and the door pushed cautiously -open. The man did not enter at once but threw the light from his -flash into the cave. Knowing that he would at once discover their -absence from the spot where he had left them, Bob did not wait but -at once sprang for the opening. With a smothered cry the man tried -to draw back but Bob was too quick for him and almost before he -could make a move he had him around the neck and was bearing him -down to the ground. - -Bang! - -The gun went off with a sound which nearly deafened them but the -bullet fortunately did no damage and before he could again press the -trigger Jack, had seized his wrist and with a violent twist sent the -gun spinning several feet away. Feeling sure that Bob would be able -to handle him now that he was disarmed, he quickly retrieved the gun -and then turned to watch the combat ready to help if his brother was -in need of it. But, as he had thought, Bob was having no trouble in -handling the situation. He had the man flat on his back and one hand -was on his throat. In fact the stranger had ceased to struggle. - -“Might as well let him up now, Bob,” Jack told him. “I’ve got his -gun.” - -“Better see if he’s got another one first,” Bob suggested. - -The man said nothing nor did he make any resistance as Jack searched -him. - -“All right, you can let him up now. He has no other weapon.” - -They were just outside the door of the cave and it was fairly light -in the room although there was but a single small window. As the man -got to his feet he seemed perfectly composed, a fact which gave Bob -a feeling of insecurity. - -“We have decided not to give that promise,” he told him. - -“So I judged,” the man smiled. “It would seem that, for the moment, -the tables are turned, as they say, and I guess it’s my turn to ask -what you are going to do with me.” - -“I’m afraid we’ve hardly got that far in our plans. First would you -mind telling us where you have put the things you took from us?” - -“You’ll find them over in that corner,” nodding his head toward one -of the corners farthest away from the cave. - -“See if they’re all there, Jack.” - -“All here including the lunch,” Jack announced a minute later. - -“Good.” Then turning to the man he said: “I don’t suppose it will be -any good asking you what you’re doing up here and why you tied us -up.” - -“I’m afraid not,” the man smiled. - -“I thought not. Well ‘what’s sass for the goose’s sass for the -gander.’ If you’ll get that rope we’ll give him a taste of his own -medicine,” he said turning to Jack. - -The man made not the slightest objection while they bound him -securely. Rather he seemed inexpressibly bored with the proceeding. - -“I don’t know how expert you are at getting a rope off,” Bob said as -soon as they had finished, “But I rather think that will hold you -for awhile.” - -“If you are satisfied I guess I’ll have to be,” he smiled. - -Grabbing him by the shoulders Bob dragged the man into the cave and -then returned to the outer room closing the door behind him. After -he had slipped the bar in place he turned to Jack. - -“Well, what’s next?” - -“Lunch,” Jack declared without hesitation. - -“All right, but let’s make it snappy.” - -“Is there any rush?” - -“I think so. Didn’t you notice anything queer about that fellow?” - -“Only that he didn’t seem much worried.” - -“That’s it exactly. Why didn’t he?” - -“You mean he expects those other fellows to show up soon?” - -“Exactly.” - -“I reckon you’re right.” - -While they were talking they had been eating and they made a hasty -meal of it. - -“Now let’s beat it,” Jack proposed washing down the last mouthful -with a drink of water from a small thermos bottle. - -“I don’t quite like the idea of leaving him here,” Bob said slowly. -“Suppose he was only bluffing and they don’t come. He might starve -to death.” - -“Well, how about taking him with us?” - -“I hardly like to do that. Wouldn’t it be better to take the bar -away and fix those ropes so that he can work them off after a bit?” - -“All right.” - -Bob removed the bar and threw open the door at the same time -flashing the light onto the floor of the cave where he had left the -man. - -“Guess he’s been doing some rolling,” he said to Jack, who was just -behind him, as he failed to see him. - -“Well, he can’t be far,” Jack declared as he stepped into the cave -ahead of Bob. “Well, what do you know about that?” he asked a moment -later after the beam of light had searched the entire cave and had -failed to disclose the man. - -“He’s gone!” Bob gasped as he realized the fact. - -“But it’s impossible.” - -“I know, but it seems to be a fact nevertheless.” - -A hurried search of the cave gave them not the slightest hint as to -the manner in which the man had made his escape. The place, at the -back of the cave, which had appeared to be a possible means of -egress proved only a short cul-de-sac and so far as they could see -there was no other opening save the front door. - -“If you want my advice we’d better beat it right now while the -beating’s good,” Bob declared after they had made a complete circuit -of the cave and were once more in the outer room. - -“You said it. Come on.” - -Quickly they gathered up their belongings and, a moment later, -started off down the mountain as fast as they could go. - - - - - CHAPTER VII - - A WARNING. - - -The two boys arrived back at the camp shortly before five o’clock. -During the return trip they had not seen a single person, even the -keeper of the dam being away when they got there. - -“I don’t know about you, Bob, but believe me, I’m tired,” Jack -declared as he threw himself on his bed almost as soon as they had -entered their cabin. - -“I don’t feel exactly rested myself,” Bob smiled as he followed -suit. - -For half an hour neither spoke again then a knock sounded on the -door and Mr. Sleeper came in. - -“Well did you find the top of the mountain still there?” he asked. - -“We didn’t get to the top,” Jack grinned. - -“You didn’t?” - -“No. You see we ran across what you might call unsurmountable -obstacles, so to speak.” - -“But what—” - -“I’ll tell you all about it,” Bob interrupted, and proceeded to give -him a full account of their adventures. - -“Well, of all things,” Mr. Sleeper declared as he finished. “Why -didn’t you call me on that radio set?” - -“Well, you see, while we were tied up we couldn’t and after we got -free and got our things back we figured that we’d better get away -without any unnecessary delay,” Bob told him. - -“But you say there was no way to get out of that cave except through -the door?” - -“I said we couldn’t find any. Of course there must be a way. A man -can’t just naturally evaporate, you know.” - -“No, but isn’t it possible that there was some place in the cave -where he could hide?” - -“It’s possible, of course, but we didn’t find any,” Bob assured him. - -Just then the supper horn sounded and the boys hurried to wash up -for the meal. - -“Did you ever know a fellow called Skeets?” - -Supper was over and Bob and Jack had followed Jacques out into the -kitchen and it was Bob who asked the question. - -“Skeets?” the breed repeated. “Heem big fellow wid long black hair -and whiskers and nose bent, eh?” - -“I don’t know what he looks like.” Bob replied. “But I heard him -mentioned and just wondered if you know him.” - -“Oui, me know heem. Heem one ter’ bad mans. Heem keel man two tree -year ago, but no could prove, but me know.” - -“Have you seen him lately?” - -“Non, no seen heem most two year. Heem ver’ bad mans. Me no want see -heem.” - -“I would have liked to ask him if he knew about that cave but I -didn’t dare to.” - -It was shortly after nine o’clock and the two boys were alone in -their cabin after a short sail on the lake with the Sleepers. - -“You were wise not to,” Jack agreed. - -“I’m glad you think so,” Bob assured him. “You see we don’t know for -sure just how he stands and until we do we’ve got to be mighty -careful. Not that I think he’s mixed up in it but, of course, -there’s a chance.” - -“You going to sit up tonight?” - -“Not for all the ghosts this side of—of—” - -“Of where?” - -“Well, I guess I don’t know,” Bob laughed. “But it’s me for the -hay.” - -“Say, Bob,” Jack began a few minutes later after they had undressed, -“If I ask you a question, promise me that you won’t jump down my -throat.” - -“I promise. What is it?” - -“Has it ever occurred to you to wonder if the Sleepers are mixed up -in this ghost business? Careful now. You know you promised.” - -Bob had started up as though greatly surprised at the question, but -he lay back again on the bed and for a moment did not answer. - -“Well?” - -“Just what made you ask that?” - -“You answer my question first?” - -“Yes.” - -“Yes what?” - -“It has occurred to me. Now what made you ask the question?” - -“Because it occurred to me, I suppose. But you don’t think so, do -you?” - -“No. Do you?” - -“N-o-o-.” - -“You say that rather doubtfully.” - -“Well, there’s one thing about it that I can’t quite make out.” - -“And that’s?” - -“It’s Mrs. Sleeper not being afraid of ghosts. Why yesterday she -nearly fainted at the sight of an angle worm and she says she loves -ghosts. It doesn’t fit in somehow.” - -Bob made no comment for a few minutes then he said: - -“Well, it’s no use saying that the same thing hasn’t been in my -mind, for it has, but we must be very careful. The suspicion is far -from being proof or even evidence, you know. By the way I intended -to ask Jacques if any of the folks who had been seeing ghosts had -mentioned about that spot of light. You don’t think that would do -any harm, do you?” - -“Don’t see why it should.” - -“Well, we can ask him in the morning. Good night, sleep tight.” - -“And don’t let the bugs bite,” Jack finished as he blew out the -light. Then he added: “If you see anything of that spot or any other -ghostly manifestation, let me know, will you?” - -In less than five minutes both boys were fast asleep. Whether or not -the mysterious spot appeared that night they never knew for neither -awoke until the breakfast horn rang out at half past six the next -morning. - -“See any ghosts?” Jack asked rubbing his eyes. - -“Nary a ghost,” Bob replied as he jumped out of bed. “Come on, lazy, -make it snappy or you’ll be late to breakfast.” - -“Be dressed as—I say, Bob, what’s that paper on your bed?” - -Bob looked quickly around and saw, on the foot of his bed, a sheet -of paper folded once in the middle. - -“Well, I’ll be jiggered,” he said a moment later, as he passed the -paper to Jack. “What do you know about that?” - -Jack took it and read: - - “If you know when you’re well off you’ll leave - here before night.” - -There was no signature to the message which was printed in crude -letters. - -“How’d it get there?” Jack asked as he stepped to the door and tried -the lock. “This door is locked.” - -“Are you sure?” - -“Try it yourself.” - -“But you know—” - -“You’re wrong. I don’t know, any more than I know how that fellow -got out of the cave,” Jack interrupted. - -While he was talking Bob had been examining the window opposite the -door. - -“No marks of anything here,” he announced. “This screen doesn’t seem -to have been moved.” - -“Of course it hasn’t. You don’t think that ghost would be as clumsy -as all that, do you?” - -“But how—” - -“Tell me how he got out of the cave and I’ll tell you how that -letter got here—maybe.” - -“But, Jack, this is serious.” - -“You bet your life it is.” - -“And I’m going to show it to Jacques and to the Sleepers and I want -you to watch them closely when I spring it on them. We may get a -clue.” - -The other guests had not come in to the dining-room when they got -there and Jacques was busy at the table. Bob handed him the paper -without any word of explanation. The man looked at it, read it -several times, turned it over to look on the back and finally turned -to Bob. - -“Whar you geet heem, eh?” - -“It was on my bed this morning.” - -“Huh! You keep heem door lock?” - -“Yes the door was locked.” - -Jacques scratched his head in evident perplexity. - -“I dunno what tink,” he finally said. “What you do, eh? You go?” - -“Not so you’d notice it,” Jack replied and as he spoke Bob fancied -that a look of relief came to the breed’s face. - -“Maybe you geet hurt you stay here,” he said, but in a tone in which -Bob was sure there was only worriment. - -“We’ll take a chance on that,” he said. “The fishing’s too good here -to let a thing like that scare us away.” - -“And it’s probably only a joke anyway,” Jack added. - -Just then the Sleepers, including Helen, entered the room and after -greeting them Bob showed them the note. - -“You say you found this on your bed?” Mr. Sleeper asked after he had -examined it closely. - -“Yes,” Bob replied. - -“And do you lock your door at night?” - -“We have been doing it since we’ve been up here and it was locked -this morning.” - -“How about the windows?” - -“There was no sign to indicate that anyone had crawled in,” Bob -assured him. - -“But do you think it would have been possible?” - -“If you’d asked me that last night I’d have said no right off, that -is without us knowing it, but that note didn’t get there without -hands.” - -“That’s true, of course. But what are you going to do about it?” - -“Nothing, I reckon, except to keep our eyes open. You see we’ve been -threatened before.” - -“But aren’t you scared?” Helen asked anxiously. - -“I never heard of a ghost hurting anyone, did you?” Jack laughed. - -“But it wasn’t a ghost put that paper there,” she insisted. - -“It’s rather strange that it should have been printed, don’t you -think?” Mrs. Sleeper asked. - -“You mean it looks as though whoever did it was afraid they would -recognize the handwriting if it had been written?” her husband -asked. - -“Well it suggests that. Printing is a common way of avoiding -recognition, you know.” - -“True, but that suggests that it was done by someone whom they -know,” Mr. Sleeper declared with a questioning glance at Bob. - -“I see what you mean,” he answered, “but it hardly seems possible.” - -“Well, how about it, Sherlock?” - -Jack asked the question as soon as they were once more alone in -their cabin. - -“I don’t think Jacques knew anything about it,” Bob replied. “Do -you?” - -“If he did he’s a peach of an actor. No, I think he’s innocent. But -how about the others?” - -“Same verdict in my opinion.” - -“Mine too. It would take a lot to make me believe that they are in -it.” - -“But I thought you said you—” - -“I only said it seemed funny that she isn’t afraid of ghosts. I -didn’t mean that I really suspected them,” Jack interrupted. - -“Well, hurry up, there’s Helen all ready now.” - -Helen and the two boys had, the night before, arranged a fishing -trip up to a cove some six miles up the lake where Jacques had told -them he had caught the largest trout he had ever taken from the -lake, and soon they were speeding through the water, Bob at the -stern of the canoe and Jack in the bow, with the girl between them. -It was a beautiful morning clear and cool and, despite the -threatening letter, they were all in high spirits. - -“What kind of fly had I better use?” Helen asked when they had -reached their destination. - -“I’m afraid flies wouldn’t be much good here, not at this time of -year,” Bob explained. “You see the water’s very deep here and the -fish feed near the bottom, so we brought along some shinners.” - -“Then we’re going to troll?” - -“Yes, it’s the only way to get the big fellows this late in the -season. In May and early June they’ll take a fly all right.” - -“Mercy, are you going to hitch on all that lead?” she asked a moment -later as Bob took some heavy sinkers from his pocket. - -“Have to keep your hook down near the bottom, in fifty feet of -water,” he explained. - -Quickly the lines were made ready and soon Bob was using his paddle -just enough to keep the canoe barely moving, while he held his rod -between his legs. - -“Let out about a hundred feet of line,” he told her. - -“Do they bite very hard?” she asked. - -“Not very. You see a laker is not much of a fighter. A three or -four-pound square tail will put up more of a fight than a -twelve-pound laker. You can usually pull the latter in without -playing him at all. But you’re apt to get hold of a salmon and then -look out. They’re gamey enough.” - -He had just finished speaking when the girl’s rod bent sharply. -“I’ve got one,” she cried. - -Bob stopped paddling. “Reel him in if he doesn’t pull too hard,” he -ordered. - -“I guess he’s only a little one,” she declared a moment later after -she had recovered about half of her line. - -“You never can tell,” Bob cautioned as he picked up the landing net. -“Be on your guard for a rush though I hardly think he’ll make one.” - -“He’s pulling harder now,” she said and he could see that she was -having about all she could do to turn the handle of the reel. - -Foot by foot the line came in and finally Bob declared that he could -see the fish. - -“Steady now,” he cautioned. “Just a little more and I’ll have him.” - -Followed a swift thrust of the net and the fish was flopping in the -canoe. - -“Gracious, he isn’t so small after all,” Helen cried. - -“About eight pounds and two and a half feet long,” Bob said as he -hit the fish on the head with a small stick putting an end to its -struggles. - -“You were right when you said they weren’t fighters. Why I’ve had -more trouble landing trout not a third as large.” - -“But he’ll make up for it when you eat him,” Jack laughed. - -Bob started the canoe forward again as soon as he had put a fresh -shinner on Helen’s hook. They had gone only a few yards when Jack -announced that he had a strike and as Bob glanced back he saw a -streak of silver break through the surface of the lake, rise fully a -foot above the water and fall back with a loud splash which could be -plainly heard. - -“You’ve got a salmon and a big one, boy,” he shouted. “Play him easy -or you’ll lose him.” - -Jack was reeling in as fast as his multiplying reel would permit but -before he had the fish half way to the canoe a sudden rush jerked -the handle of the reel out of his fingers and before he could apply -the drag nearly all his line had disappeared. - -“Back her up,” he shouted to Bob, pressing the drag as hard as he -dared. “This line’ll never hold that whale.” - -Bob was quick to grasp the situation and just as the last few layers -of line were leaving the reel, the canoe began to move in the -direction the fish had taken. This relieved the strain so that Jack -was able to recover a few precious yards before a new rush in the -opposite direction nearly jerked the rod from his hands. - -“T’other way quick,” he cried. - -Again Bob was able to get the canoe in motion in time to save the -last few feet of line, but the manoeuver had to be repeated, with -many variations, several times before the big fish was finally -conquered. But after nearly an hour of battle he succeeded in -bringing the exhausted fish within reach of the landing net and in -another moment it was safe in the canoe. - -“My, what a fish!” Helen gasped. “How much will it weigh? About a -hundred pounds?” - -“Not quite, I’m afraid,” Bob laughed. “Knock off about eight-five -and you’ll be pretty near it.” - -“It’s your turn now,” Jack declared as the canoe began to move -again. “Better let me play engine for a while so you can—what was -that?” - -“What was what?” - -“Didn’t you hear that twang?” - -“No, I didn’t hear anything. You—” - -But at that moment a slight splash a few feet to the right of the -canoe caused him to turn his head. There, floating lightly on the -water, was an arrow. For an instant the two boys looked at each -other. - -“What do you know about that,” Bob gasped. - -“I told you I heard a bow string twang.” - -“But this is Maine and in the twentieth century.” - -“Look,” Helen suddenly cried, “There’s a piece of birch bark -fastened to it.” - -Another moment and Jack was removing the bark which had been tightly -bound to the shaft just above the feathered end. Carefully he -smoothed it out and bent his head to examine it. Scratched on its -surface, evidently with some sharp instrument, were two words: -“second warning.” - -He handed the piece of bark to Bob without a word. - -“May I see it?” Helen asked after Bob read it. - -He handed her the bark saying: “Looks as though someone was trying -to scare us.” - -“Of course the one who put that note on your bed is responsible for -this as well,” she declared after a moment’s thought. - -“I guess there’s not much doubt about that,” Bob agreed and Jack -nodded his head. - -“What are you going to do about it?” she asked. - -“Nothing, except that I think we’d better get back to camp as soon -as we can,” Bob replied with a wink at Jack which he evidently -understood for he seconded the motion at once. - -“But what’s the hurry?” Helen asked. - -“Well, you see,” Bob explained, “whoever shot that arrow might take -it into his head to shoot at us and he evidently’s a pretty good -shot even with a bow and arrow.” He was aware that the explanation -was pretty weak but it was the best he could think of on the spur of -the moment. Helen looked rather puzzled but offered no objection as -they began to reel in their lines. - -If she was surprised at the speed with which they sent the light -canoe through the water on the way back she said nothing about it, -except to caution them a couple of times to be careful or the -friction of the water might set the craft on fire. As they rounded a -point of land which stretched far out into the lake, and came in -sight of the little wharf in front of the camp both boys breathed a -silent sigh of relief as they saw the two Sleepers together with -Jacques just putting out in the motor boat. - -Helen shouted and waved her hand at them and Jacques shut off the -engine which he had just started. - -“You’re back earlier than we expected,” Mrs. Sleeper said as the -canoe drew up alongside. “We were just going up to see how you were -making out.” - -“Oh, we made out all right,” Helen told her, holding up the salmon -by its gills. “How do you like this fellow?” - -“Mercy, is it a whale?” her mother asked. - -“Not quite,” Helen laughed. - -“Did you catch it?” - -“No, but I caught this baby,” and she held up the trout for their -inspection. “Jack got the big fellow.” - -“I didn’t know they grew that large in the lakes of Maine,” Mr. -Sleeper said as he reached over and picked up the salmon. “This -fellow must weigh all of twenty pounds.” - -“Heem weigh fourteen, mebby fifteen pound. Bon feesh but some bigger -in here,” Jacques told him. - -“Well, I’m not going to be cheated out of my sail,” Mrs. Sleeper -declared. “It’s not quite eleven yet and we’ll have time for a short -one before Jacques has to start dinner. Anyhow, if it’s late it’ll -be all right as we’re the only ones to please. Come on Helen and you -too, boys.” - -The boys were anxious to be alone in order to compare notes, but -they could not well refuse the invitation so they accepted with no -show of hesitation. They were gone for an hour and it was but a -little past noon when they were back in their own cabin. - -“Well, I reckon that lets ’em all out, eh?” Jack asked as soon as he -had closed the door. - -“So far as that arrow is concerned, yes,” Bob agreed. “Whoever shot -it couldn’t have got back here in the time we made, unless he had an -airship or something of the sort. No, there’s somebody else, but -whether or not any of them are mixed up in it is another question.” - -“And one which we ought to be answering before long. We know just -about as much about the matter as we did before we came up here.” - -“And not much more. That’s a fact, but I hardly see how we could -have done any more than we have. I tell you, son, whoever’s at the -bottom of this game is deep, mighty deep.” - -They talked until the dinner horn rang through the forest and -decided on a course of action which they hoped would be productive -of results. - -“Did you save that piece of bark?” - -They had joined the Sleepers in the big diningroom and it was Mr. -Sleeper who asked the question. “Helen has told us about it,” he -added as Bob reached in his pocket and drew it out. - -He examined it carefully and then passed it to his wife. - -“Do you think it is from the same party?” she asked, then, turning -to the boys, she added: “Mr. Sleeper is quite an expert on -hand-writing.” - -“I don’t think there’s any doubt about it,” he said at once adding: -“Of course, it would be impossible to say that both were printed by -the same person so far as the printing itself is concerned since one -is on paper and the other on birch bark, but it’s hardly likely that -there are two parties up here in the woods trying to scare the -boys.” - -“I think you’re right, sir,” Bob agreed. - - - - - CHAPTER VIII - - WHERE IS JACK? - - -“Isn’t it about time for the show to start?” - -The boys had taken a long nap after dinner as they had determined to -stay awake all night in an effort to accomplish something toward -clearing up the mystery. Since dark they had been sitting in the -little cabin not speaking above a whisper and it was Jack who asked -the question. - -“Five minutes to twelve,” Bob replied. - -He had hardly whispered the words when a soft but distinct rap, -repeated four times, was heard. - -“S-s—h,” Bob cautioned. - -For a moment they waited and then the raps were repeated. - -“Where is it?” Jack whispered. - -“Sounds like it was on the head of my bed.” - -“On the wall you mean.” - -“Maybe, it’s hard to tell.” - -Three more times the raps came and then a weird hollow groan -followed seemingly in the room. At the same time the mysterious spot -of light sprang into view directly over Jack’s bed. - -“They’re giving us a little variation this time anyway,” Jack -whispered. - -After remaining stationary for two or three minutes during which -time it seemed to increase in brightness, the spot began to slowly -move toward the ceiling. When near the top of the wall it moved to -the right about two feet and then began to descend and finally came -to rest in the place where it first appeared. - -“Of all the fool—” Jack began but stopped as the raps started again. - -“Come on,” Bob whispered. “It’s time we were off.” - -They had been sitting side by side in the center of the room so that -there was a clear space between the window at the foot of Bob’s bed -and the wall opposite. Now they quickly got down on their hands and -knees and crept across the floor until they reached the end of the -room close by the head of the bed. They had removed the netting from -the window in that end of the cabin and in another moment they were -both crouching close to the ground outside. The night was intensely -dark as the moon had set early in the evening and a south wind had -covered the sky with thick clouds so that not a star was visible. -For a long moment they listened. The heavy boughs over head sighed -and moaned as they swayed in the breeze but no other sound reached -them. - -“Keep close behind me and don’t make a sound,” Bob cautioned as he -got to his feet and started. - -“It’s dark enough to cut,” Jack replied. “But you can’t lose me.” - -Noiselessly they stole through the thick forest, their feet making -not the slightest sound on the ground, thickly carpeted with pine -needles. Every few steps they stopped to listen. Once a sharp crack -brought them to a sudden halt and they heard a large animal as it -bounded off between the trees. - -“Only a deer,” Bob whispered. - -“Sure, a ghost doesn’t make that kind of a noise,” Jack chuckled. -“But aren’t we round pretty near far enough?” - -“We must be nearly in line with that window, I should say, but it’s -pretty hard to be sure in this pitch blackness.” - -He turned slightly to the right and went ahead for about thirty feet -when he again stopped. - -“Jack,” he whispered as the sound of his brother’s breathing did not -reach him. - -There was no answer. - -“Jack.” - -This time he whispered as loudly as he dared, but again there was no -answer. - -“That’s mighty strange,” he thought. “He was right behind me only a -moment ago.” - -Carefully he retraced his steps whispering his brother’s name almost -continually. But Jack had disappeared as completely as if the ground -had opened and swallowed him. For fully fifteen minutes Bob searched -using his flash light regardless of consequences and calling his -name aloud. But no slightest trace of the missing boy could be -discovered. It was baffling and a hot wave of anger surged up within -him as he paused and mopped his forehead. What was he to do? That, -in some way, his brother had fallen into the hands of their enemies, -he felt sure, but how he could have been spirited away without a -sound when he was so near was a question he could not answer. It was -one of the few times in his life when he felt absolutely helpless. -It added to his sense of helplessness when he realized that he had -lost all idea of direction. Which way was the cabin? Versed as he -was in woodcraft and accustomed to finding his way through the -trackless forest with little save his sense of direction, now, in -the intense blackness which surrounded him, he realized that he was, -for the time being, as completely lost as could have been the merest -child. He had turned so many times in his search that he was -entirely ignorant as to the points of the compass. - -Not that he had any fear regarding his own safety. He knew that he -had only to remain where he was until the first streak of dawn -showed in the east to be able to find his way back with ease. But, -meantime, what of Jack? - -“Guess I might as well be hunting around as standing still,” he -thought as he threw the light from his flash about him. - -And then he stopped and strained his ears as, from what seemed a -great distance, through the vast forest, came the sound of weird -mocking laughter. - -For a long time he stood leaning against a spruce tree and trying to -figure out what it meant. How could it have been possible for anyone -to have captured Jack when he was so near without the slightest -indication of a struggle? He well knew that he was not one to submit -tamely to an attack made upon him, but the thought brought him no -relief, rather it added to his fear. To search further in the -darkness he felt would be useless and he sank down at the foot of -the tree to wait for morning. On his knees he fell and the prayer -which he offered, that God would keep his brother from harm, was -fervent indeed. - -Somehow he felt better after the prayer and the thought that He who -notes the sparrow’s fall was watching over them comforted him. He -was not sleepy at first, but gradually the sound of the branches, -swaying softly overhead seemed to be singing a lull-a-bye to him -and, before he was aware of it he was asleep. - -Suddenly he started up wide awake in an instant. Had he heard his -name called? He was not sure but he thought he had heard Jack’s -voice. - -“Jack.” - -There was no answer and, after he had repeated the call several -times, he decided that it had been a dream. He saw that the darkness -was less intense and knew that daybreak was close at hand. Slowly -the light grew as he leaned back against the tree, impatient for the -time to come when he could see clearly enough to pick up the trail -of whoever had been responsible for Jack’s disappearance. - -As soon as he felt that there was light enough he set to work. He -knew that he had gone but a short distance from the place where he -had missed his brother, although he was not sure in what direction -the spot was. For an hour he searched, going around in ever widening -circles examining every foot of the ground. He knew that he had to -deal with a man or men who were versed in forest lore for none other -would have been able to sneak up on them in the darkness unheard and -he knew that such a one would leave but a slight trail at the best. -Another half hour passed before he found it. There was no sign of a -struggle but several foot prints, barely discernible in the soft -leafy mold, told the story to his trained eye. There had been two of -them he read, but how they had succeeded in preventing him from even -crying out was as big a mystery as ever. The trail led down the lake -in the direction of the dam. Now that the sun was creeping up he was -sure of the direction. The thought of first going back to the camp -for help never occurred to him. Jack was in danger and he must get -to him with the least possible delay. - -The trail, once found, was not so difficult to follow as he had -feared. To be sure there were many stretches where the foot prints -failed to show in the pine needles, but the growth was thick and a -broken twig here and a slight abrasion on the trunk of a tree there, -led him rapidly on. Once he feared he had lost it but kept on in the -same general direction, and after nearly a mile had been left -behind, he picked it up again where the damp mold had preserved the -foot prints. - -The trail sheered off to the left as he neared the dam and presently -he struck a fairly well defined path. - -“I’ll bet they’ve taken him up to that cave on Katahdin,” he thought -as he hurried along no longer looking for signs. - -It was a little past eight o’clock when he reached the foot of the -mountain and sat down for a short rest on a log. He had hurried so -since he struck the path that he was about winded and knew that he -would save time in the end by taking a rest before beginning the -climb. In a few minutes he was ready to go on and, to his joy, found -that the path continued up the mountain making it much less -difficult than they had found it on their previous trip. Still it -was rough and in places very steep and before he had gone far he was -puffing and nearly out of breath. - -“Guess I’d better take it a bit more easy,” he thought as he stopped -again for a much needed rest. An hour later he figured that he must -be nearly there and stopped every few minutes to listen. It wouldn’t -do to be caught unawares, he told himself. Suddenly he heard the -sound of voices and, as they seemed to be coming nearer, he quickly -stepped out of the path and crouched in a thick clump of bushes. - -Soon he saw two men, both well above the average in size, pass only -a few feet from where he was hiding. They were talking Canuck but, -although he was familiar enough with the language to follow an -ordinary conversation, they were talking so rapidly that he was only -able to catch a word or two, not enough to afford him a clue as to -the subject they were discussing. - -“Reckon those are the fellows who nabbed us in the cave,” he thought -as they passed out of sight down the mountain. “And that probably -leaves only that slim guy,” he added grimly. - -Waiting a few minutes longer to make sure that the two half-breeds -had really gone, he started off again feeling much rested and -greatly encouraged. Still he in no way relaxed his vigilance, -feeling certain that the man, who was doubtless the boss of the -party, was too sharp to be caught napping if he could help it. - -“I don’t know whether or not he has any idea that I’m on his trail, -but it’s always best not to take unnecessary chances,” he -soliloquized as he crept slowly upward. - -In about ten minutes after he had made his fresh start the shack -came into sight only a few yards ahead. The path, after turning -around a huge rock ran, not into the small clearing in front of the -building, but a little to the right. He might easily have missed it -altogether and gone on past had he been less careful to miss -nothing. In another minute he was lying at full length on the ground -behind a thick bush just on the edge of the clearing. From his -position he had a good view of the shack and was certain that there -was little danger of being seen by the man who he supposed was on -guard inside. - -As he lay there, watching the door which was open about a foot, his -mind was busy with the problem of how he should go about the task -which he felt must not be long delayed. The two half-breeds might -return at any time and with the three of them there the releasing of -his brother would be well nigh impossible. On the other hand the man -on guard was doubtless armed with a revolver and probably would not -hesitate to use it and a false move on his part would prove -disastrous. It was a hard nut to crack and he was still turning the -matter over in his mind when the door was suddenly pushed farther -open and the slim man stepped outside. - -He paused just outside the door and glanced about him. Once his eyes -stopped seemingly focused directly on the boy and his heart skipped -a beat as he thought he had spied him. But his glance soon turned -away and, after seeming to listen for a moment, the man turned and -re-entered the shack, closing the door behind him. - -“I’d give a good bit to know whether or not he saw me,” Bob thought. -After watching a few minutes longer he decided to act. There was a -single small window in the front of the shack about three feet to -the right of the door and he crept around until he was facing the -corner away from it. About twenty feet separated him from the shack -and, darting across the intervening space, he crouched close to the -building. Had he been seen? If he had the odds, he well knew, would -be all with the other man. But, as the minutes passed and nothing -developed, he began to breath more freely. He noiselessly edged over -until he stood only a couple of feet from the door. - -From time to time he could hear the man moving about inside and once -he heard him approach the door and even lay his hand on the latch -but he evidently changed his mind for some unknown reason and did -not open it. It seemed to Bob that never had time passed so slowly. -He was in a fever of fear lest the two men should return and find -him there. Then the fat would be in the fire for sure, he thought. - -He had been standing there close to the door for nearly twenty -minutes when he again heard steps approaching the door and in -another minute it opened and the man stepped out. Bob was facing the -opening and did not hesitate an instant. With a lunge, which he had -learned through long practice on the foot-ball field, he threw -himself forward and tackled him just below the knees. The surprise -was complete and, with a startled cry, the man bowled over with Bob -on top of him. But, if he was taken by surprise, he was far from -being helpless. Squirming from beneath with the agility of the -trained wrestler he almost instantly had their positions reversed -and was striving for a strangle hold on Bob’s throat. But Bob foiled -the attempt and for a time they rolled over and over now one on top -and then the other. - -Bob had been well trained in the science of wrestling but he quickly -realized that, although his antagonist was slight of build, he had -muscles of steel and furthermore was acquainted with the various -holds. One after another he tried them only to find himself baffled. -However one thing gave him hope. The man was breathing more and more -heavily and he knew that he could not be in first-class physical -condition. Feeling certain of this he began to conserve his strength -exerting himself only enough to prevent his antagonist from -obtaining a decisive hold. - -Soon he could hear the man’s breath coming in gasps and he judged it -was time to again take the offensive. As if realizing the change in -the boy’s attitude and knowing that he was nearly winded, the man -managed to break a half-Nelson which Bob had secured and sprang to -his feet. Bob did the same and for an instant they stood facing each -other. - -“I’ll teach you,” the man hissed as he sprang forward and aimed a -blow at Bob’s head. - -But the boy ducked and the blow was wasted on the air. As if -maddened to the point of frenzy he rained a shower of blows on him -several of which took effect but, although they hurt, they lacked -force enough to do any real damage. Bob was watching for an opening -the while he was doing his best to protect himself. Suddenly, as if -realizing that he was accomplishing nothing, he stepped back and Bob -saw his hand reach for his hip pocket. He knew what that meant and, -like a flash of lightning, sprang forward. The man’s guard was down -and before he could pull his gun from his pocket, Bob had struck -with all the force of his one hundred and seventy pounds behind the -blow. Fairly on the point of the chin the blow landed and the man -toppled over without a sound and lay still. It was a complete -knockout. - -“Hope I haven’t killed him,” Bob muttered as he felt in his pocket -and found a stout piece of cord. “But he’d have had me in another -second.” - -A small maple tree was close by and pulling the man up against it he -soon had his wrists firmly bound together with the tree between them -and his back. - -“Reckon that’ll hold him,” he muttered as he stepped around in front -of him. - -Somewhat to his surprise he found that the man’s eyes were open. - -“What’s the idea?” he asked in a feeble voice. - -“Where’s my brother?” Bob demanded ignoring the question. - -“Didn’t know you had one.” - -“Well, where’s the boy you brought here last night or rather this -morning?” - -“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” - -“I didn’t expect you’d tell me, but I reckon I can find him.” - -“Help yourself.” - -Bob started to enter the shack then turned back. - -“Guess I’d better take your gun,” he said as he leaned over and -pulled the revolver from his pocket. “You got away once and you -might this time.” - -The man said nothing but smiled in a way that made Bob shiver. - -“He’s got something up his sleeve,” he thought as he again turned -toward the shack. - -Inside the place looked much the same as it had before except that -three folding cots had been added and were arranged along one side -of the room. The door, leading into the cave, was closed and -fastened with the heavy bar. It was a moment’s work to remove the -bar and throw open the door. - -“Jack,” he cried. - -There was no answer and, throwing the light of his flash ahead of -him, he entered. It took but a short time to convince himself that -Jack was not there and an unaccustomed feeling of fear seized hold -of him. Several times he called his name but save for the echo the -stillness of the tomb pervaded the place. He had been so certain -that he would find his brother in the cave that the disappointment -almost overcame him and for a moment he leaned weakly against the -wall not knowing what step to take. Finally he shook himself -together and went outside. - -The man was in the same position in which he had left him and -apparently had not moved. - -“Well, did you find him?” he asked pleasantly. - -“I guess you know well enough,” Bob snapped. - -“Well, to tell the truth, of course I didn’t expect you would. I -told you he wasn’t there, you know.” - -“I’m not so sure of it.” - -“No?” - -“No. There must be some way out of that cave or some other room to -it.” - -“What makes you think that?” - -“Because I’m not a fool.” - -“No?” - -The man’s grin was exasperating, but Bob steeled himself to keep his -temper. - -“You got out of there the other day some other way and not through -the door and I reckon you couldn’t very well go through solid rock,” -he said. - -“I congratulate you on your reasoning.” - -“Never mind about the congratulations. I want you to tell me where -my brother is and I want you to do it quick.” - -“But suppose you’re asking the impossible?” - -“You mean you don’t know where he is?” - -“Exactly.” - -“I don’t believe it.” - -“And I didn’t expect you would, but you can’t very well blame me for -that. I mean that you don’t believe me.” - -“Will you tell me how you got out of the cave the other day?” - -“Hardly.” - -“Maybe I can find a way to make you.” - -“Maybe, but I doubt it. I’m pretty stubborn at times, you know.” - -Bob was bluffing for he had not the slightest notion how he could -compel the man to disclose the secret of the cave. It may be that -stories he had read telling how torture had been applied to force -secrets flashed through his mind but, in his heart he knew that he -could never do a thing like that unless he was sure that it was the -only way of saving a life. - -“Suppose I take you down to Greenville and have you arrested?” he -suggested. - -“On what grounds?” the man smiled. - -“Kidnapping.” - -“Go ahead. But remember my word will be as good as yours. What proof -have you?” - -Bob well knew that the man was right. He had no proof beyond his own -word and that would not be enough. If he only knew how long it would -be before those other men would return he would soon decide what to -do. The fact that his captive did not show the least sign of anxiety -disquieted him not a little. It indicated that he knew he would be -set free before long. Still he was almost certain that his brother -was not far off and in the power of the rascals and he was -determined to find him if it was in any way possible. - -“I’m going to make another search of that cave,” he finally said. -“And if those others come back while I’m gone, remember I’ve got a -gun and know how to use it.” - -“I won’t forget it,” the man grinned. “Good luck to you.” - -Before turning back to the shack he first examined his captive’s -hands and made sure that he had not loosened the cord. - -“You’ve got them tied pretty tight,” the man remarked. - -“I intended to,” Bob returned grimly. “But you won’t suffer any if -you don’t try to get away.” - -“I tried that while you were gone before.” - -Back again inside the dark cave he began a systematic examination of -its walls. That there was a secret passage way he felt sure. As he -had said a man doesn’t pass through solid rock and the man he had -tied outside had, in some way, made his escape, therefore there must -be a way. - -Foot by foot he made the circuit of the room, throwing the rays of -his flash light on every inch of the wall. He had covered three -sides when a faint sound caught his ear. At first he feared that he -had been mistaken, but a moment later it was repeated a trifle -louder. It sounded as though some one was striking one rock against -another, but it seemed a great way off and he was unable to -determine the direction from which it came. - -“Jack.” He shouted the name as loudly as he could. - -Now the taps came at closer intervals and in a moment he realized -that there was a meaning to them. - -“B-O-B.” - -Slowly he spelled out the name in Morse and knew that it was Jack -who was signaling. - -“Where are you, Jack?” he shouted. - -“U-N-D-E-R Y-O-U-R R-I-G-H-T C-O-R-N-E-R T-R-A-P.” - -“All right, I’m coming,” he cried as he hastened to the place -indicated. - -The corner was littered with dead leaves, but as soon as he had -brushed some of them aside with his foot he saw that there was a -small trap door fitted with an iron ring. Eagerly he seized hold of -the ring and a black hole yawned at his feet. The light from his -flash showed that an old ladder led to the depths below, and in -another moment he was standing in a circular well about ten feet in -diameter. But, as he flashed his light about there was no sign of -Jack. - -“Where are you, Jack?” he called. - -There was no reply in words, but a loud tap sounded over to his -right and, flashing his light in that direction, he saw what his -eyes had missed at first. Close to the floor was a hole about two -feet high and the same distance across. It was but the work of a -minute to crawl through, a distance of only three or four feet, and -he found himself in another room about half the size of the upper -cave and, stretched on the floor, at the further side, was Jack. - -“Jack,” he cried as he sprang forward. - -A low gurgle greeted him and he saw that there was a gag in the -boy’s mouth and that he was tied hand and foot, with his hands -behind his back. - -“I knew you’d come,” he said as soon as the gag was removed. - -“Of course,” Bob replied as he cut the rope which bound his hands -and feet. “Are you all right?” - -“Sure only a bit stiff.” - -“Then let’s get out quick.” - -“Why the rush?” - -Quickly Bob explained the situation. “Those fellows may be back at -any minute,” he finished. - -Bob crawled through the hole closely followed by Jack and had just -gotten to his feet when a shaft of light was shot through the -opening above. - -“Get back, quick,” he ordered. - -“Of all the luck,” Jack groaned as soon as they were back in the -larger chamber again. - -“Either they’ve come back or that fellow’s got loose,” Bob said, -“and I don’t believe he got that cord off by himself.” - -“And we’re caught like rats in a trap.” - -“Unless there’s another way out. But we’re safe for the present. -They won’t dare come down that ladder. I’ve got that fellow’s gun -and he knows it.” - -“But why, in the name of common sense, did they let us know that -they had come back? If they had waited till we got out they could -have caught us without much trouble, that is if the others are -really back.” - -“I was thinking of that very thing myself.” - -“Well, what about it?” Jack asked as Bob paused. - -“I don’t know the answer, if that’s what you mean.” - -“Well, I don’t know as the answer’s the important thing just now -after all. How are we going to get out, is the big question.” - -“I’m afraid it’s too big,” Bob sighed as he threw the rays of his -light about the room. “Do you suppose there’s any back door to this -place?” - -“It seems to me that there must be because when you lifted up that -trap, I thought I could feel a draft, but of course I might have -imagined it.” - -“Well, here goes for a search. You stay here and if you hear -anything suspicious let me know.” - -While he was speaking Bob was moving about the chamber examining the -walls but, after he had made a complete circuit, he had to confess -that he had found nothing which promised the faintest hope. - -“I’m afraid that draft was an imaginary one,” he said as he came -back to Jack’s side. “I can find nothing which looks like an opening -of any sort.” - -“Then I guess it’s up to us to wait till they make their next move,” -Jack sighed. - -“But the air seems perfectly fresh in here,” Bob said as he sat down -on the ground. - -“I hadn’t thought of it before but that’s right. There must be some -way for air to get in or it would begin to be stuffy.” - -“Suppose you take a look. I may have missed something,” Bob proposed -handing the flash light to Jack. - -For some time they did not speak while Jack moved about throwing the -light over every part of the walls and roof. He had already examined -the floor in hopes that there might be another trap door. - -“Come over here a minute, Bob,” he finally called. - -Then, as his brother joined him in the right corner farthest from -the hole through which they had crawled, he pointed upward with the -flash. - -“What do you think of it?” he asked after a moment had passed. - -“I think I see what you mean,” Bob replied. “That rocky ledge like -stone which juts out there doesn’t seem to meet the roof, is that -it?” - -“That’s it all right and I believe there’s an opening up there, but -how are we going to get up to it? It’s all of twelve feet from the -floor.” - -“And there isn’t a thing here to help so far as I can see.” - -“Well, let’s sit down and think it over. Maybe something will bob -up. I didn’t see how I was going to signal to you when I first heard -you up there, and I guess I rolled over every square foot of the -floor before I got my hands on that piece of rock.” - - - - - CHAPTER IX - - BURROWING. - - -“The ladder, Jack, the ladder!” - -After another thorough search of the chamber which had disclosed -nothing to aid them, the boys had sat for some moments side by side -on the hard floor each busy with his own thoughts. It was Bob who -had broken the silence. - -“Well, what do you know about that? Please kick me where it will do -the most good. Talk about being dumb. Here we’ve got a perfectly -good ladder right close by and we never thought of it.” - -In another moment they had crawled back into the other room and were -examining the old ladder which led up to the trap door. - -“It’s nailed fast to that piece of wood,” Bob said. - -“No it isn’t,” Jack insisted and to prove that he was right he -grabbed hold of it and proved that while it was nailed fast to the -piece of wood as Bob had said, the latter was in no way fastened to -the wall. - -“Go easy now,” Bob whispered. “We don’t want them to hear us or they -will be watching the other opening, that is if there is one.” - -“Let me go first, I found it,” Jack insisted a few minutes later -after they had dragged the ladder through the hole and had raised it -in the corner. - -“All right, but I’ll be right at your heels.” - -“Must be a hole through here,” Jack announced as soon as his head -was up above the ledge. “There’s a pretty strong draft here.” - -“How big is it?” - -“It’s none too large, but I reckon we can squeeze through.” - -“Look out you don’t get stuck in it.” - -By this time Jack’s feet had disappeared from sight or rather from -touch for, since he had the torch Bob was unable to see a thing. He -followed as rapidly as he could raise himself over the edge of the -rock. As Jack had said the passage was a pretty tight fit, in fact -there was barely room enough for him to hitch his body forward inch -by inch. A few feet ahead he could hear Jack grunting and puffing as -he crawled along. He had gone but a few feet when a sudden thought -struck him. Suppose the men above had heard them and, suspecting -what they had done, should drop through the trap and— - -“But it’s too late to worry about that now,” he thought. “Probably -they’d think that one of us was on guard and be afraid to risk it -anyhow.” - -It seemed to him that they had been in the passage for a long time -although it really was only a few minutes, when Jack called back: - -“Light ahead.” - -“Wait a minute,” Bob ordered, and Jack stopped until he caught up -with him. - -“Look,” he said, pressing his body close against the side so that -Bob could look past him. - -In the distance, although it was hard to judge how far away, -appeared a spot of light. - -“It’s a way out all right,” he whispered. “But, Jack, we’ve got to -be mighty careful, because more than likely one of them at least is -watching there.” - -“Maybe, but I doubt it.” - -“Why?” - -“Well, I don’t believe they could hear us when we moved the ladder. -We didn’t make hardly a bit of noise and then again they wouldn’t -think we would find that hole.” - -“But that’s all guess work. I tell you we must go on the assumption -that they’re on the watch.” - -“Sure, but just the same I bet they aren’t.” - -The passage was a little larger now and they were able to make -better headway so that it was only a few minutes before they had -reached the end of the burrow. Jack had been filled with misgivings -for the last thirty feet or so of the passageway. That hole looked -mighty small to him and although it seemed to get larger as they got -nearer it continued to look far too small for their purpose. - -“I was afraid of it,” he called back a minute later as he reached -the end. - -“Afraid of what?” - -“Look at the hole and you’ll see,” he replied squeezing close to the -wall. - -“Goodness, only a rabbit could get through there,” Bob declared. - -“And we’re no rabbits.” - -“But there’s one good thing about it. Probably they don’t know of -it.” - -“But what good’s that going to do us if we can’t get out?” - -“Maybe we can. The ground there looks pretty soft and perhaps we can -dig out.” - -“We might if we had a shovel.” - -“You wait a minute,” Bob said as he began to hitch backward. He -remembered feeling a flat stone a few feet back and the thought -struck him that it might serve as a shovel. - -“Here, try this and see how it works,” he said a moment later -passing the rock, which was about a foot long and half as wide, to -Jack. - -“It’ll be a long hard job but I believe it can be done,” Jack -announced after he had worked for about five minutes. - -“See if you can get back of me and let me try it.” - -“Wait till I get tired. We’ll work in short shifts. It isn’t very -hard digging even with this stone but the main trouble is going to -be to dispose of the dirt.” - -“You work it back of you and then I can push it back of me with my -hands,” Bob assured him. - -But it was slow hard work. They were so cramped for room that they -tired quickly, although they changed places every little while. - -“Take it easy, Jack boy,” Bob cautioned. “She’s coming along in good -shape and we’re in no hurry.” - -“And it’s a lucky thing we aren’t,” Jack chuckled, “or I reckon we’d -have to wait till our hurry was over.” - -It took exactly three hours by Bob’s watch before Jack declared that -he believed he could squeeze through. - -“You can pull me back by the heels if I get stuck,” he told Bob. - -“Wait a minute before you try. How far from the shack do you suppose -we are?” Bob asked. - -“I should say about three hundred feet.” - -“Which is about a hundred too much. I don’t think it’s more than two -hundred if it is that.” - -“Maybe you’re right. I didn’t pay much attention to the distance -while we were crawling through. But what difference does it make?” - -“It might make a lot and then it might not make any. It all depends -on whether or not you’ll be in sight of the shack when you get out. -I don’t think that anyone has been watching this place because I -don’t believe they know anything about it, but that doesn’t mean -that it’s so, you know. They may be ready to grab us the instant we -show our heads, but we’ve got to risk that. I only want to caution -you to keep low down and not make any noise. - -“All right, then, here goes.” And Jack started to force his body -through the hole. - -It was a tight fit and required a lot of twisting and squirming, but -he finally managed it. As he drew his feet out he lay still -stretched at full length on the ground only raising his head -slightly to glance about him. There was no sound to indicate the -presence of anyone and after a moment he got to his hands and knees. -To his great satisfaction he saw that the opening was surrounded by -thick growth and that the shack was not visible. He placed his head -back into the hole and whispered: - -“It’s all right, old man, there’s nobody here and the shack is out -of sight.” - -“Can you hear them talking?” - -“Not a thing.” - -“Then they’re probably in the cave. Think I can get through?” - -“Not yet. It was all I could do and you’re too fat, but hand me that -stone and I’ll soon fix it so you can.” - -Working from the outside was much easier and in about fifteen -minutes he had enlarged the opening sufficiently to permit him to -pull Bob through. - -“Now let’s beat it,” Bob said as soon as he was on his feet. - -“Just a minute,” Jack proposed. “If they’re in the cave what’s the -matter with locking them in? I believe we could do it.” - -“But what good would it do?” Bob objected. “No, it’s too much of a -risk for the amount of gain. We couldn’t leave them there to starve, -you know. I say let’s beat it while the beating’s good.” - -“I suppose you’re right,” Jack agreed somewhat reluctantly. “But I -sure hate not to try it.” - -“He who fights and runs away may live to fight another day,” Bob -quoted. - -He turned and was about to lead the way down the mountain when the -unexpected happened. A large clump of bushes, a few feet behind -them, suddenly parted and a burly black whiskered giant stepped out. -The man was evidently as much surprised at the meeting as were they -and for an instant no one spoke. - -“How you geet out?” the man finally demanded. - -He did not wait for an answer but turned and shouted: - -“Here dey am.” - -“Follow me,” Bob said quickly at the same time bounding away into -the thick woods closely followed by Jack. - -He knew that the path was only a short distance away but, for a -moment was undecided as to whether it would be best to strike it or -to keep to the thick woods. But before he had taken many steps he -decided to pursue the latter course judging that they would be -better able to elude them in case they took up the chase. - -“Keep close behind me, Jack,” he cried turning his head. - -“You can’t lose me,” Jack shouted back. “But hit it up lively. That -fellow’s coming like a bull moose.” - -So thick was the undergrowth that, although their way led down hill, -they were unable to make anything like fast time. Once a loud report -sounded not far behind and he heard the thud of the bullet as it -struck a tree a little to his right. - -“Make it snappy,” Jack cried and he redoubled his efforts to make -time. - -They could hear the sound of pursuit only a short distance behind -and it seemed as though the man was gaining on them. But a moment -later the sound of a crash followed by a volley of French oaths -reached their ears. - -“Guess he came a cropper,” Jack cried. “But don’t let up.” - -“Bet your life we won’t,” Bob called back. - -For another ten minutes they made the best speed possible down the -mountain. Then Bob stopped and for a moment they listened. - -“Guess he gave it up after that tumble,” Jack declared. - -“Looks that way,” Bob agreed, “but we better make ourselves as -scarce as possible. They may know of a short cut down the mountain -and try to cut us off.” - -After a short rest they started off again in the general direction -of the dam, making as fast time as they could through the thick -underbrush which covered the ground. Although they felt fairly -confident that their pursuers had given up the chase they took no -unnecessary chances of a surprise, but were on their guard every -minute. That the men were thoroughly familiar with the lay of the -land they had little doubt, but as they approached the entrance of -the gorge leading up to the dam, and had neither seen or heard -anything suspicious, they began to breath more easily. - -Finally they reached the dam itself and to their great joy, saw the -motor boat from the camp, tied up to the little wharf. - -“Hurrah!” Jack shouted. “We don’t have to hike it home.” - -“And there’s Jacques,” Bob added as he spied the man coming from the -house of the keeper of the dam. - -“Whar you tink you was, eh?” the breed asked as soon as he was -within speaking distance. - -“We’re here, what there is left of us,” Bob laughed as he glanced -down at his torn clothes which were literally covered with dirt. - -“You look lak’ you been deegin’ wid your hands, oui,” the breed -suggested looking at them both with a curious glance. - -“I’ll say we’ve been digging,” Jack broke in. “But what are you down -here for?” - -“Me blow breakfas’ horn two tree time; you no come; we wait long -time, still no come; we geet scared, oui, so me tak’ boat, come down -here, see if find you.” - -“Well you’ve found us all right,” Bob said as he led the way toward -the boat. “Let’s get back to camp and we’ll tell you all about it on -the way.” - -The boat was soon chugging merrily up the lake and Bob suggested -that Jack begin the story. - -“You haven’t told me how they got hold of you, you know,” he added. - -Jack began his story by telling Jacques how they had started out the -night before determined to catch whoever it was that, as he put it, -was responsible for the monkey shines at the camp. - -“I was following along after you, Bob,” he continued, “when, all of -a sudden, somebody grabbed me from behind and, before I could cry -out, had clapped a big hand over my mouth and pulled me over -backwards onto my back. Oh, it was a slick job all right and they -didn’t make the least bit of noise about it. I know it sounds fishy -and all that, but it’s a fact nevertheless. There were three of ’em -and I didn’t have a chance. They slipped a gag in my mouth and tied -it so tight that I couldn’t yip a sound. Then they tied my hands -behind my back and told me to stand up. - -“All this didn’t take half so long as I’ve taken in telling it, but -you must have gotten quite aways ahead. Well those two big huskies -took hold of me, one on each side, and we started off. I wouldn’t -believe it could have been done if I didn’t know that it had been. -Gee, but that was the hardest trip I ever took, but at last we got -back and they put me where you found me.” - -Bob finished the story and then, after giving as good a description -of the men as he was able, asked Jacques if he knew them. - -The breed had said nothing while the boys had been talking and when -Bob asked the question, he slowly shook his head. - -“Me no know um,” he declared. “Them no belong round here or me know -um.” - -All three of the Sleepers were waiting on the wharf as they pulled -in and the story had to be told again. - -“This is getting serious and something ought to be done about it,” -Mr. Sleeper declared as soon as they had finished. - -“They won’t catch me napping again,” Jack assured him. “But just now -I’m more concerned about some eats than anything else.” - -“You poor boys,” Mrs. Sleeper broke in, “dinner will be ready in -less than ten minutes. We told Jacques that we would have it ready -by the time he got back, but you came a bit sooner than we expected. -Go get washed up and I’ll help him get it on the table.” - -“It strikes me that we’re making a grand foozle of this job,” Jack -declared about an hour later as he threw himself on his bed. - -Dinner was over and they had gone to their cabin for a much needed -rest. - -“I’ll make it unanimous,” Bob smiled as he too stretched out on his -bed. “But what could we have done that we haven’t done?” - -“Ask me something easy,” Jack yawned. - -“I know but we’ve got to do something,” Bob insisted. “We’ve never -fallen down on a task yet and I for one don’t propose to begin now.” - -“Bravely and nobly spoken, son. And now if you’ll only elucidate the -modus operandi everything will be lovely.” - -“And the goose’ll hang high,” Bob laughed. “But seriously, Jack, -what do you suppose those fellows are up to there in that shack?” - -“I’ll never tell you.” - -“Meaning you haven’t an idea?” - -“Meaning exactly that. Have you?” - -“Not one.” - -“Then it’s unanimous again. We do have a wonderful faculty of -agreeing.” - -For a few moments neither spoke, then Bob began: - -“You see, it’s like this. If we only—” then he stopped as a light -snore from the other bed told him that Jack had started on a trip to -the land of Nod. - -“Poor fellow, I guess he’s about all in,” he thought as he turned -over and closed his eyes and in another minute he too was bound for -the same place. - -A loud knock on the door awakened him some three hours later. -Rubbing his eyes he sat up and glanced over toward Jack’s bed. He -saw that his brother was awake and swinging his feet to the floor as -he called “come in.” - -The door slowly opened and, to their great amazement, the young man -of the shack on the mountain, entered. - -“Sorry if I’ve disturbed you,” he apologized. - -For a moment both boys were too astonished to speak but finally Bob -found his voice. - -“That’s all right. It’s time we were getting up.” - -“I suppose you are somewhat surprised to see me here,” the stranger -said, glancing toward a chair as though awaiting an invitation to -sit down. - -“Well, we weren’t exactly expecting you, if that’s what you mean,” -Jack assured him. - -“I suppose not. Do you mind if I sit down? The long walk has rather -puffed me.” And without waiting for permission he took a seat in a -rocking chair. - -“You see, it’s this way,” he began after a moment’s pause. “I -believe we’ve been working at cross purposes and it occurred to me -that a good talk might clear the atmosphere a bit. So I decided to -make a call on you.” - -“Kind of you,” Jack assured him. - -If the stranger sensed the note of sarcasm in Jack’s voice he took -no notice of it but continued: - -“My name is Kane, George Kane, and I’m a mining engineer, graduated -from Boston Tech three years ago. Most of the time since then I’ve -been out West and in Alaska hunting gold. It’s a pretty long story -and I hope it won’t bore you,” he hesitated. - -“Go on,” Bob told him. “We like good stories.” - -“Well, they say truth is stranger than fiction so I hope you’ll -believe it. Last October I was on the Klondike about forty miles -from Dawson. I had been there about three weeks and had staked out a -claim which promised to be rich but, I may as well say right off, -the promise was not fulfilled. The vein petered out after a few -days’ work on it and I was unable to relocate it. You can imagine -that I was pretty well discouraged, especially as I was all alone -and had no one to cheer me up when the blue devils got hold of me. - -“The weather had turned cold and there had been a couple of light -snows and I knew that in a week or two winter would set in in -earnest. So I decided to return to Dawson for I didn’t want to spend -the long winter away up there in the mountains alone. It was to be -my last night there and I was busy in my shack getting together what -few things I wanted to take out with me. The mercury was well down -below zero and it looked as though it might snow before morning. I -had nearly finished and was about to turn in when I heard a cry from -out of the night. I rushed out of doors and listened, but the cry -was not repeated, so I called but there was no reply. I was sure -that someone was not far away and in trouble so I got a lantern and -started to hunt. It was all of an hour before I stumbled over a form -lying huddled close to the foot of a large tree. - -“At first I thought the man was dead, but finally I discovered that -his heart was still beating, though feebly. He was unconscious and -it was sometime before I got him to the shack. I saw at once that he -was done for, but I’m not going to tire you with details. He lived a -week and I did what I could for him and finally buried him. But, -before he died, he told me a lot about himself. It seems he was from -Maine and had got into some trouble which had caused him to leave. -And now comes the strange part. He told me that just before he had -had to skip out, he had found a rich vein of gold up on Mount -Katahdin. I had never heard of gold being found in Maine, but I -couldn’t see why he should want to lie to me about it, especially as -he seemed very grateful for what I had done for him. He told me all -about the place here and just how to find it. But either he wasn’t -telling the truth or else I didn’t get it straight for I’ve been -hunting nearly two weeks and haven’t found a thing.” - - - - - CHAPTER X - - A DETECTIVE SHOWS UP. - - -As the man finished his story he glanced first at Bob and then at -Jack as though anxious to discover whether or not they believed him. -For a moment neither spoke, then Bob asked: - -“Who are those two fellows with you?” - -“Just a couple of breeds I picked up.” - -“But I should think you’d be afraid to trust them if you just picked -them up.” - -“Oh, they don’t know what I’m after,” he replied a trifle uneasily. - -“I see. But, may I ask, why did you attack us?” - -“That’s what I want to explain. You see, I got the idea that you too -were after that gold and it belongs to me, if I can find it.” - -“I see,” Bob said dryly. - -“How about last night?” Jack asked. - -“You mean—” - -“I mean why were you prowling around here last night?” Jack -interrupted with the suspicion of a threat in his voice. - -The man squirmed a bit in his chair as he answered. - -“That was a mistake. We were just going through here on our way to a -camp up at the head of the lake to get something I had left there -one day when I was up there and Jim, that’s one of the breeds, -jumped you before I had time to interfere and, to tell the truth, I -was afraid to let you go after that so I decided to postpone the -trip and take you back to the shack.” - -“I see.” - -“As I said, I realize that it was wrong and I hope you will overlook -it and be friends.” - -“Have you heard anything about this camp being haunted?” Bob asked -suddenly. - -“Yes, I’ve heard it was.” - -“But, of course you know nothing about it. I mean you don’t know who -it is that’s responsible for it.” - -“Certainly not. Why should I?” - -“I’m sure I don’t know.” - -“But you seem to suspect—” - -“What?” - -“I was merely going to say that you implied that you thought I had -something to do with it.” - -“Not necessarily,” Bob said with a smile. - -“Well, you’re mistaken if you think so,” he insisted. - -“It really doesn’t matter one way or the other,” Bob said. - -“It does to me,” he said as he got up from his chair and picked up -his cap. “I hope you believe what I have told you but, of course, I -can’t help it if you don’t.” - -They waited a moment or two after he had closed the door behind him, -when Jack asked: - -“Well?” - -“Not so you’d notice it.” - -“Notice what?” - -“Why, that’s it.” - -“Say, just what are you trying to get through you?” - -“You said it was well and I don’t agree with you, that’s all.” - -Jack laughed. - -“You know I was asking a question, not making a statement,” he -declared. - -“Oh, I see,” Bob drawled in an exasperating tone he sometimes -assumed. - -“Well?” - -“What do you think?” - -“I asked you first.” - -“All right. I think his story’s a lot of bunk.” - -“Of course. Anyone could see that, but what did he come here for?” - -“I don’t think that’s very hard. He was afraid we’d report the case -to someone and spoil his game whatever it is.” - -Jack remained silent for a moment in deep thought. Finally he said: - -“It must be great to have brains. It’s as clear as crystal to me now -but I’d never have thought of that.” - -“Well, of course, it’s only a guess, but it’s the only explanation -which seems to fit at all.” - -“And I bet it’s the answer. But it doesn’t tell us what they’re -doing up there.” - -“No, I’m as much in the dark about that as ever,” Bob agreed. - -“And it doesn’t help any on the question of the ghost.” - -“Not a bit. We’re as far away as ever on that point so far as I can -see,” Bob agreed. - -“Do you think he has anything to do with it?” Jack asked a few -minutes later. - -“Frankly I haven’t an idea. There was nothing in his manner, when I -mentioned the subject to him, that would indicate it, but it’s -evident that he’s up to something and it seems to me that if it -isn’t that it’s a mighty peculiar coincidence.” - -An hour later they were on the wharf ready to start out after trout -when a motor boat rounded the point a short distance below. - -“Wonder who that is,” Jack said. - -“That man in the bow’s Mr. Kane,” Bob declared. - -Mr. John Kane, the sheriff of Somerset County, lived in Skowhegan -and was well known to the boys. With him, in the boat, were four -men, but the boys failed to recognize any of them as the boat drew -up at the wharf. - -“Hello Bob. Hello Jack,” the sheriff cried as he made the painter -fast to a post at the end of the wharf. “How’s things?” - -“Fine,” both boys spoke together as they shook hands. - -The sheriff then introduced them to the men with him, informing them -that they were deputies, with the exception of one who, he -explained, was a detective from New York. - -After they had acknowledged the introduction all around, the sheriff -asked: - -“Have you seen a man up here who looks anything like this?” - -He took a photograph from his pocket and handed it to Bob. Jack -looked over his brother’s shoulder and for a moment they stared hard -at the picture. - -“Put a mustache on him and it could pass for him. Don’t you think -so, Jack?” Bob asked. - -“I believe it’s he,” Jack answered. - -“Then you think you’ve seen him?” the sheriff asked eagerly. - -“I’m almost sure of it,” Bob replied. “He was here a little over an -hour ago, that is, if he’s the man you mean.” - -“Suppose you describe him,” the detective suggested, adding: “That -picture was taken several years ago.” - -Bob proceeded to describe the man as well as he was able and when he -finished the detective declared that he was sure he was the man. - -“What was he doing here?” he asked. - -“It’s a pretty long story,” Bob replied, “but if you’ve got the time -I’ll tell you all we know about it.” - -“Go ahead.” - -So Bob told them all about their adventures with the man and his -companions. - -“Congratulations,” the detective smiled when the story was ended. -“You were mighty lucky to get the better of Jim the Penman.” - -“Who did you say?” Bob gasped. - -“Jim the Penman. I guess you’ve heard of him, eh?” - -“Who hasn’t?” Bob returned. - -“Who indeed?” the detective repeated. “He’s the most dangerous man -as well as the most expert counterfeiter in New York City or in the -country for that matter.” - -“But what’s he doing up here?” Jack asked. - -“That’s hard to say,” the detective replied. “But I can guess. He -has recently been putting out a lot of bogus ten-dollar bills in the -city, and I’ve been after him for a long time. About two weeks ago I -almost had him when he suddenly disappeared. I hunted for him night -and day and then, when I was about ready to give up, I got word that -he had been seen in Bangor. So I went there and soon got on his -trail which led up here. By the way did he tell you his name?” - -“He said it was George Kane and that he was a mining engineer,” Bob -replied. - -“Might be a relative of yours,” the detective glanced at the sheriff -with a grin. - -“I’m not proud of it anyway,” the latter returned, - -“You needn’t worry,” the detective assured him. “He has names almost -without number, but I think his real name is Patrick Ewing.” - -“But how about the two men with him? Do you have an idea who they -are?” the sheriff asked. - -“No. I believe you said they were half-breeds,” turning to Bob. - -“That’s right.” - -“Probably he picked them up around here to help him.” - -“Then you think he’s making counterfeit money up here?” Bob asked. - -“Probably. Did you see anything in the shack or cave that looked -suspicious?” - -“Not a thing.” - -“Could there have been another chamber in that cave?” - -“I don’t think so, that is except the one underneath. We made a -pretty careful search, but I suppose it’s possible that we missed -it,” Bob said. - -“Do you know where this shack or cave is, Mr. Kane?” the detective -asked. - -“Sure I do. I’ve been there a half dozen times more or less.” - -“Then I reckon we might as well be on our way.” - -“How about letting us go along?” Jack asked. - -“Nothin’ doing,” the detective shook his head decidedly. “It’s too -risky. You see, son, that fellow’s a bad one and if he sees you -he’ll think you put us on to him and he’ll get you if he can. No, -I’ve got plenty of help and it wouldn’t be right to let you take the -risk.” - -“He’s right, Bob,” the sheriff added. “We don’t need you and there’s -no sense in running into danger just for the fun of the thing. If -you should go and anything should happen to either of you I’d never -be able to face your father or mother again.” - -Seeing that the men were determined the boys said no more on the -subject but wished them good luck as they pushed off. - -“Just the same I’d liked to have gone along,” Jack complained as -they stood on the end of the wharf and watched the boat disappear -around the point. - -“Same here, but I guess they were right about it,” Bob said more -cheerfully. “At any rate those fellows aren’t the ghost we’re after -and it’s up to us to stay on the job here.” - -“How come?” - -“Didn’t you hear him say that he lost him in New York only two weeks -ago?” - -“I remember it now that you mention it.” - -“Well then, just put two and two together and see if you don’t get -four. Our ghost has been on the job six weeks or more.” - -“I get you. As I’ve said before, it’s a great thing to have brains.” - -“Well, let’s make it snappy now or it’ll be time for supper before -we get to fishing.” - -But before they had time to get into the canoe Helen came running on -to the wharf. - -“Who were those men?” she demanded. - -“One was Mr. Kane, the sheriff, and another was a real live -detective and the others were deputies,” Jack told her. - -“Mercy, how exciting. What did they want?” - -“They were after that fellow who kidnapped Jack,” Bob said. - -“You see,” Jack broke in, “he’s a noted counterfeiter, known by the -name of Jim the Penman.” - -“If it isn’t just like a detective story. Do you suppose they’ll get -him?” - -“Don’t see why they shouldn’t,” Bob said as he picked up the paddle. - -“You going fishing? And you wasn’t going to take me? Now you just -wait one second till I get my rod,” and she was off up the path -before either could offer to go for her. - -They did not go far as it was nearly time for supper and they had -each caught one trout, Helen’s being by far the largest, when the -sound of the horn told them that they must hurry back as Jacques did -not like it if anyone was late for a meal. - -During the meal Helen’s tongue ran, as Jack afterward told Bob, like -a bell clapper, telling her parents how she had just missed seeing -and talking to a real live detective. - -“I wouldn’t have missed it for worlds,” she pouted. - -“I hope they get him,” Mr. Sleeper declared. “I have heard a good -deal about him and he is a very dangerous man. I shall not feel easy -in my mind until I know that he has been captured. To think that he -should be away up here in the woods of Maine. That detective must -have made it pretty hot for him in the city to have driven him out.” - -They sat on the little porch of the Sleeper’s cabin later than usual -that night discussing the events of the day and it was after eleven -o’clock before the boys said good night and went to their cabin. - -“Guess Mr. Stokes is thinking that we’re a bunch of failures,” Jack -declared as he struck a match to light the big lamp on the table. -“When did you write to him last?” - -“Day before yesterday.” - -“He’ll be sending someone else up here or come up himself if we -don’t have something definite to report pretty soon, I reckon.” - -“Shouldn’t wonder.” - -“Well, what—hark, what was that?” - -“Sounded like someone groaning.” - -“Listen.” - -In a moment the sound was heard again more distinctly. - -“It’s his nibs, all right,” Jack whispered. “He sure does believe in -giving a varied performance.” - -The sound continued at intervals for perhaps ten minutes and the -last groan, louder than the others, died away so slowly that they -were not quite certain when it ceased. - -“How far away was it?” Jack whispered. - -“Hard to say but it wasn’t far.” - -They listened and in a few minutes raps were heard similar to those -of the night before. - -“Old stuff,” Jack chuckled. - -“And there’s the spot of light,” Bob whispered a moment later -pointing to the wall. “Turn down that light so that we can see it.” - -Jack obeyed and the spot sprang out seemingly brighter than it had -been on any previous occasion. For a moment they watched it and then -it began to move going over the same route as before. - -“More old stuff,” Jack again declared. “Wonder why—” - -But before he could say more, Bob caught him by the arm and -whispered: - -“Look at the window and you’ll see something new.” - -Jack looked and gave a violent start for there seemingly framed by -the window was a white object. But he did not have time for more -than a single glance for Bob was already on a dash for the door and -he lost no time in rushing after him. Out of the door they burst and -darted around the corner. But the ghost had vanished. - -“I don’t suppose it’s any use to hunt after him,” Bob said -disgustedly as he leaned against the corner of the cabin. - -“No, it’s too dark,” Jack agreed. - -Back in the cabin they sat for some time in silence waiting to see -if there were to be any further manifestations. But nothing happened -and finally Jack said: - -“Well I reckon the show’s over for tonight. Me for the hay.” - -“Just a minute,” Bob said as he turned up the light. “I’ve got an -idea and I want to know how it strikes you.” - -“All right, shoot.” - -For several moments Bob talked in low tones and as he finished Jack -hit him a resounding slap on the back saying: - -“Great idea, old man. And I don’t see why it won’t work, but how -about the Sleepers?” - -“Well, I had thought of them. You remember they arranged with -Jacques to take them down to the dam in the morning. He didn’t say -what for but I reckon he’s anxious to find out if they got those -fellows up in the shack.” - -“I guess that’s it.” - -“Well, we’ll get up early and see Jacques before they’re around and -if he has them we’ll have a good long time to plant them while -they’re gone.” - -“But won’t we have to tell them about where they are?” - -“I guess you’re right,” Bob agreed after a moment’s thought. “It -wouldn’t be nice to have one of them stumble on one by accident. No, -I wish we could keep mum about it but I guess it would be too -risky.” - -They were up shortly after five o’clock the next morning and soon -after were interviewing the Frenchman in the kitchen. - -“Got any traps up here, Jacques?” Bob asked. - -“Oui, plenty out in shed but eet close time for trapping now.” - -“I know but there’s no close time on ghosts is there?” - -“What you mean, eh?” - -“Well, you see it’s like this,” and Bob told him what had happened -the night before. “Now it occurred to us that if we set some traps -we might catch something,” he added. - -“Dat one bon idea,” Jacques declared after a moment’s thought. “You -find um out in shed up in loft. You tak’ what you lik’ and I hope -you catch um ghost. Heem spoil camp long time ’nough.” - -“Guess we might as well get them now as later,” Bob said. “As long -as we’ve got to tell them about it it won’t do any harm if they do -see us.” - -As Jacques had said, in the loft of the shed just behind the kitchen -they found a large number of traps of all sorts and sizes, from the -small ones used to catch musk rats to those large enough to hold a -full grown bear. - -“Going to use these big ones?” Jack asked. - -“Not the largest. These number threes are about right, I reckon. -They’ll hold a man without breaking his leg.” - -“How many do we want?” - -“Let’s see. We want to plant one under that window and about three -out near the edge of the woods. Whoever handles the light that makes -that spot must stand somewhere near there. Then, if we can find -anything that looks like a path near there we’ll put a couple in it. -That makes six altogether. You take three and I’ll take three.” - -The traps together with the chains were heavy and three made a full -sized load. They found a spade in the shed and were soon out back of -their cabin by the window where they had seen the ‘ghost’ the night -before. - -“Now, we’ve got to do a mighty good job at this,” Bob declared as he -started to dig in the hard ground. “Whoever is at the bottom of this -is nobody’s fool and, even if he does come around only when it’s -dark, he’ll smell a mouse if he’s given half a chance.” - -“Well, I don’t like to throw bouquets at myself,” Jack grinned, “but -we ought to know how to set a trap. We’ve done it times enough.” - -Fortunately there was a large pine tree only a few feet from the -cabin on that side and the ground was thickly coated with the long -pine needles, making it easy to cover the trap so that not the -slightest indication of its presence was to be seen. - -“There, I hardly think Mr. Ghost will stand in front of that window -very long without something happening,” Jack declared as he finished -the task. - -Just where to locate the others was not so easy to decide. The edge -of the woods, on the side of the window through which the spot of -light came, was nearly fifty feet from the cabin and they had no way -of telling just where a man would be apt to stand. But they picked -out the places which seemed to them to promise the most and were -busily engaged in planting the fourth trap when Mr. Sleeper and -Helen came toward them. - -“Hello, what’s the idea?” Mr. Sleeper asked. - -“Well, we’ve trapped about everything that is to be trapped in Maine -except ghosts and so we thought we’d try our hand at that,” Jack -laughed. - -“That’s certainly a unique sport,” he smiled. “But it might work at -that.” - -“If a ghost is heavy enough to spring a trap,” Bob grinned. - -“Have you set any anywhere else than here?” - -“One just outside our back window. Someone or something was prowling -around there last night,” Bob replied. “And we’re going to set the -other two somewhere in the woods if we can find any trace of foot -steps. We were going to tell you about it at breakfast so that you’d -know where they are and not get caught in one of them.” - -“That wouldn’t be very pleasant, getting caught I mean.” - -Just then the breakfast horn rang out and they hastened to obey its -summons. During the meal Mr. Sleeper invited the boys to go down to -the dam with them but they declined on the ground that they wanted -to get the rest of the traps set. Somewhat to their surprise he did -not urge them and soon after the meal was ended they were alone. - -“Now for those last two traps,” Bob said as they waved their friends -good-bye from the end of the wharf. - -“Guess we might as well put them one place as another seeing we -haven’t been able to locate the least sign of anything that would -indicate from what direction he, it or they come.” - -“Well, now that we’re alone we’ll make a more thorough search.” - -And for nearly three hours they hunted through the woods going as -much as a half mile from the cabin, but at the end of the time they -had to acknowledge that they were no wiser than at the start. - -“It beats me,” Bob said mopping his forehead. - -“Sure does,” Jack agreed as he sat down on a log. - -“Well, what’ll we do with them?” - -“Might’s well take ’em back, I guess.” - -“No, we won’t do that. Let’s plant them near the others. The more we -have there the more apt we are to catch something.” - -“You’re the boss. Come on and let’s get at it.” - -They had just finished setting the last trap when the chug of a -motor told them that the motor boat was returning and they hurried -down to the wharf arriving there just as it touched. - -“Did they get them?” Bob asked. - -Mr. Sleeper shook his head and the boy was quick to see that his -face bore a troubled expression. - -“No, they didn’t get them,” he said slowly. “The sheriff and his men -were just ready to drive off as we got there, but I had time for a -word with him. It seems that no one was there when they got to the -place and they waited all night but they didn’t show up and they -decided that they must have got wind that they were after them and -cleared out.” - -“I’m sorry to hear it,” Bob said. - -“Yes, it’s too bad. I don’t feel safe with men of that stamp around. -In fact I made up my mind to leave, but Mrs. Sleeper and Helen won’t -hear of it.” - -“I should say not,” Helen broke in. “I’m not going to be scared away -by them.” - -“Did you get the rest of the traps set?” Mr. Sleeper asked. - -“Yes, but we put them close by the others. Couldn’t find any other -place,” Bob replied. - -“Well, I hope you catch something,” Mr. Sleeper smiled as he led the -way up to the cabin. - -The boys slept a good part of the afternoon as they intended to sit -up and watch through the night, and Mr. Sleeper and Helen did the -same but Mrs. Sleeper declared that she wasn’t going to lose her -beauty sleep until she was sure that a ghost would turn up. - - - - - CHAPTER XI - - THE HUNT FOR HELEN. - - -It was nearly nine o’clock when they returned from a long sail on -the lake and, declining an invitation to sit on the porch of the -Sleeper’s cabin on the ground that they might miss something if they -stayed away from their cabin any longer, the boys bade them good -night and turned off toward their quarters. - -“Give a yell if anything happens,” Mr. Sleeper called when they were -about half way to the door. “I’m going to sit up, you know, and if -there are any demonstrations I should like to be present.” - -“Do you know, Jack,” Bob began a little later, looking up from the -book he was reading, “I can’t for the life of me understand how it -is that nothing has been seen or heard in the other cabin.” - -“Are you sure there hasn’t?” - -“Of course we’ve only their word for it.” - -“Of course.” - -“But why should they lie about it?” - -“I haven’t said they had lied.” - -“But you implied it.” - -“Maybe.” - -“Look here, son, do you suspect that they know anything about it?” - -“Who was that detective that used to say ‘suspect everyone and -everything’? No, frankly I don’t. We came here first and the ghost -was busy long before that so how could they be mixed up in it?” - -“Of course that’s a point in their favor, but after all it doesn’t -prove anything. One or all of them, for that matter might have been -around here somewhere without actually stopping at the camp.” - -“That’s true too. But really you know we have no real reason to -suspect them. They certainly are refined people and why should they -be up here for any such purpose as that? If it wasn’t for two or -three litle things, about which we have spoken, I’d never have given -a thought to them in that connection.” - -“I know what you mean and I feel the same way.” - -“One thing is pretty sure and that is that if they are mixed up in -it they are not the ones who are actually doing it. They couldn’t -have shot that arrow the other day you know.” - -“And that’s another point in their favor.” - -“Well, I guess we’ll have to return a verdict of not—What was that?” - -A loud thud on the door interrupted him and, even as he asked the -question, Jack was on his way toward the door. It was dark outside -as there was no moon but the light of the lamp shone out and enabled -him to see for a distance of several feet. There was no one in sight -and, after a hasty glance around, he was about to turn back when his -eye caught sight of an arrow deeply imbedded in the pine door. It -took a strong pull to draw it out, but in a moment he had it inside -and was showing it to Bob who, instead of following him to the door -had hastened to the window beneath which he had set the trap. - -“Another warning, I suppose,” he said with a slight grin as he -pointed to a bit of paper which was tied with a bit of string about -the middle of the arrow. - -Jack had it off in a jiffy and together they bent over it. There -were but two words printed in large letters, “Last warning.” - -“The plot thickens,” Bob whispered and Jack was sure that he -detected a note of uneasiness in his brother’s voice. - -“Three strikes and out, eh?” - -“Not out,” Bob snapped. “In the words of the immortal Perry, ‘We’ve -only just begun to fight’.” - -“If only we could get hold of something to fight. Ghosts are mighty -elusive things, I’ll tell the world,” Jack declared. - -“But, judging from that note, we’re about due to find something,” -Bob reminded him. - -“How about calling Mr. Sleeper?” - -“Not yet. Let’s wait and see if anything more happens. We can show -him the arrow and note just as well in the morning.” - -For an hour they sat, one on each side of the table, and read -without speaking. Then, just as the clock, over in the dining cabin, -struck eleven Jack closed his book. - -“Time to put out the light,” he said. - -Bob also closed this book and turned the light so low that -practically no light came from it. - -“If we hear anything,” he said, “I’m going to hide right below that -window sill and if you see that thing I want you to give a low -whistle. Somehow or other I have a hunch that he or it’ll be too -sharp to walk into that trap and I’m going to make a grab for it.” - -He had hardly finished when the spot of light appeared on the wall -and he at once did as he had said. The window sill was only about -two feet from the floor and his position, as he crouched there, -ready to spring was anything but comfortable. He was obliged to move -slightly from time to time to keep his muscles from cramping, but he -was careful to make no noise. - -For what seemed a long time but was in reality only a few minutes he -waited and then the signal came. Instantly he jerked himself up and, -without waiting for even a glance, thrust both hands through the -cotton mosquito netting. They closed on something hard and, with a -quick yank, he pulled it in through the window. - -“Turn up the light, Jack,” he shouted. - -Jack quickly obeyed the order and, as the light flooded the room the -two boys gazed at the object which Bob held in his hands. For a -moment neither spoke then Jack gave vent to low chuckle. - -“Some ghost,” he laughed. - -It was little wonder that the boy laughed for the object which Bob -was holding in his hands was a pumpkin painted white and mounted on -the end of a broom handle. Grotesque features had been cut through -the rind and the inside had been hollowed out and a candle fitted to -the end of the pole. A white sheet was draped on the lower part of -the pumpkin and flowed down nearly to the lower end of the pole. - -“Did anybody have hold of it?” Jack asked. - -“Must have. It took a good yank to get it away.” - -“But did you hear anything?” - -“Narry a sound.” - -“Where do you suppose they got hold of a pumpkin at this time of -year? Must be a last year’s one.” - -“Of course.” - -“Well, what—” - -But the question was left unfinished for at that instant a loud -shriek rang out through the night. For an instant the two boys -looked at each other without speaking, then they heard Mr. Sleeper -calling. - -“Bob, Jack. Here quick!” - -They rushed out of the cabin together and met Mr. Sleeper half way -between the two buildings. - -“Did you hear that yell?” he gasped. - -“Of course. What was it?” Bob said quickly. - -“I—I’m not sure but I’m afraid it was Helen.” - -“Helen!” - -Both boys uttered the name at the same time. - -“It sounded like her voice and she’s gone.” - -“Gone? Where?” - -“I—I wish I knew. You see, she stepped out on the porch just a -minute ago and then I heard that yell. I rushed out as quickly as I -could but she wasn’t there.” - -Just then Jacques joined them. - -“What dat yell?” he demanded. - -“That’s what we all want to know,” Bob told him. “Mr. Sleeper thinks -it was Helen.” - -“Where ees she?” - -“She’s gone,” Mr. Sleeper groaned just as a voice called from the -cabin. - -“Where’s Helen?” - -Mrs. Sleeper appeared, coming down the path, a bath robe thrown -hastily about her. Her husband caught her in his arms and hastily -explained what had happened, trying to make as light of it as -possible. But she was not deceived and sobbed heavily as he led her -back to the cabin, the others following. - -“What can we do?” Mr. Sleeper asked a moment later. - -“Go after them, of course,” Jack said eagerly. - -“They can’t be far away and if Mrs. Sleeper isn’t afraid to stay -here alone I suggest that you and Jacques go one way while Jack and -I go another,” Bob suggested. - -“Go by all means.” Mrs. Sleeper sobbed. “And don’t come back without -her. I couldn’t bear that.” - -“I’ll get our flashes,” Jack said. - -He was back almost immediately and Mr. Sleeper brought out two flash -lights handing one to Jacques. - -“We’ll go down the lake while you go up,” Bob proposed. “But we -don’t want to overlook anything. Look for a trail and if you find it -give a yell and we’ll do the same.” - -“Probably her father couldn’t follow an elephant track, but Jacques -ought to be able to recognize a trail if he finds one,” Bob said as -soon as they were out of hearing of the others. - -“It’s like hunting for a needle in a hay stack in this darkness, but -take it from me, we’re going to find that girl,” Jack declared. - -“You said it, son,” Bob replied grimly. - -Putting into use every bit of the training they had received from -long years spent in the woods they made their way, as rapidly as -they deemed prudent, through the black forest. - -“Perhaps they took her in a canoe,” Jack suggested. - -“Maybe, but if they did it would be useless to try to follow them on -the lake in the night. Water leaves no trail, you know. No. I’ve a -hunch that they didn’t have a boat and that they went this way.” - -“Well, I hope your hunch is right,” Jack declared as he stubbed his -toe on a root and fell headlong. - -For an hour they pushed on. They were not going in a straight line, -but were zig-zagging in the hope that they would cross the trail of -the man or men who had stolen the girl, but, as time passed and they -found not the slightest clue, a feeling of discouragement took -possession of them. - -“I’m afraid it’s no use,” Bob panted as he stopped to rest. “Either -they didn’t come this way or else they were clever enough not to -leave a trail.” - -“I think your first guess is right,” Jack declared. “I don’t see how -anyone could get through this thick woods in the dark without -leaving some sign.” - -“Shall we turn back?” - -“After what she said?” - -“I know, but—” - -“No buts about it. Let’s keep at it. It’s the only thing to do.” - -“All right, come on.” - -They had gone but a few feet when Jack’s keen eyes caught sight of -something white caught on an old stump. With a low cry he snatched -it up and held it out to Bob. - -“It’s hers,” he declared. - -“Are you sure?” Bob asked looking closely at the small handkerchief. - -“Of course I am. Look at that S in the corner.” - -“I guess there’s no doubt about it. Now let’s see if we can’t find -the trail.” - -For some minutes, by the light of the flashes, they searched. A -broken twig, a single imprint of a foot or an abrasion of the bark -of a tree would be enough to give them the direction. And finally, a -few feet away from the place where he had found the handkerchief, -Jack hit it. - -“Here we are, Bob,” he cried, “see that broken twig?” - -It is one thing to find a hidden trail in the dense woods when one -does not know where to look, but it is not nearly so difficult for -one versed in the art to follow the trail once it is located. From -now on they had little trouble in keeping on the scent. - -“We promised to yell if we found it,” Jack reminded Bob a moment -later. - -“I know, but it would be the wrong thing to do now. In the first -place they wouldn’t hear us and then we may be nearer the villains -than we think.” - -So they pushed on, now making fairly rapid headway and then having -to hunt for some time before being sure which way the trail led. - -“I’ve lost all sense of direction,” Jack said, after they had -searched for several minutes, about a half hour after striking the -trail, “but it doesn’t seem to me that we’re heading for Mount -Katahdin. How about it?” - -“I haven’t been paying much attention to that myself, but I think -we’re a long way off the mountain trail. Unless I’m mistaken we’ve -been heading toward Millinockett Lake for some time.” - -“But what do you suppose—Hark, did you hear that?” - -“No, I heard nothing.” - -“Well, I did. Listen.” - -Both boys strained their ears and a moment later a faint but -unmistakable sound was heard. - -“It’s a girl crying,” Jack declared. - -“And only a little way ahead of us,” Bob added. “Come on but be -careful, it may be a trap.” - -They had been using their flash lights freely as it was necessary in -order to make any kind of time through the dense forest, but now -they groped their way between the trees in the pitch darkness -fearing to show a light. That they were pitted against a ruthless -and keen enemy they did not doubt and they had no intention of -playing into his hands if they could avoid it. As they advanced the -sobbing became more clearly audible and they knew that they were -going in the right direction. That it was Helen they had little -doubt and both longed to call out that they were coming, but -prudence forebade it. - -Not a sound did they make as they crept closer to the girl, testing -every step before making the advance. It was so dark that they were -unable to see even a foot ahead and they were obliged to keep hold -of hands to avoid being separated. As soon as the sound of the -sobbing assured them that they were within a few feet of the girl -they stopped and, for several moments, listened intently. - -Not a breath of air stirred the branches overhead and a death-like -stillness pervaded the forest, broken only by the low sobs of the -girl. - -“If there’s anyone with her they’re keeping mighty still,” Bob -whispered placing his mouth close to Jack’s ear. - -“I don’t believe there’s anyone there but her.” - -“Nor do I but we must be sure. You wait here a minute and I’ll get a -bit closer.” - -Jack was going to protest, but Bob crept off before he had time to -say a word and there was nothing for him to do but wait. He knew his -brother’s ability to take care of himself but, as he afterward -confessed, his heart was in his mouth. - -Noiselessly as a shadow Bob crept on his hands and knees foot by -foot decreasing the distance between himself and the girl. Not a -twig rustled nor did a stick move beneath him as he advanced. At -last he knew that he could reach out his hand and touch her as he -could plainly hear her deep breathing between the sobs which had now -nearly ceased. - -“Helen,” he whispered. - -A slight movement told him that she had heard him, but she made no -reply. - -“Helen, it’s Bob,” he whispered again. - -“Bob!” - -The reply was low but the tone indicated her joy. - -“Is anyone here with you?” - -“I—I don’t know, but I don’t think so.” - -“Take hold of my hand and try not to make a sound,” he whispered as -he reached out his hand in the darkness. - -As he found her hand he backed slowly away drawing her after him. No -doubt she made as little noise as possible, but she was totally -unskilled in the art of moving noiselessly through the darkness and -to Bob it seemed as though she made noise enough to be heard a mile. -But nothing happened and foot by foot they won their way back to -where Jack was waiting. - -Of course the latter knew that they were coming as he knew that Bob -alone would not make the noise he could plainly hear. - -“Come on, Jack, let’s beat it,” Bob said as soon as he was near -enough to whisper. - -For perhaps fifteen minutes they crept through the woods the boys -noiselessly and the girl making no more than she could help. - -“Now I reckon we can stop a bit,” Bob said after he knew that they -had covered several rods. “Now, Helen, suppose you tell us about -it.” - -“But don’t speak above a whisper,” Jack cautioned her. - -“I came out on the porch and someone grabbed me,” she began. “I gave -a yell and then a hand was pressed over my mouth and I couldn’t make -a sound. Then he picked me up and ran and—and I guess that’s about -all,” she finished. - -“Did he carry you all this way?” Bob asked. - -“Every step. He must be a giant for he handled me as if I weighed -about ten pounds. - -“And there was only the one?” - -“That’s all.” - -“But what became of him?” Jack asked. - -“Well, a little while ago we saw a light through the trees. I guess -it must have been your light, and he began to hurry faster. I didn’t -dare make a sound because he had told me that he would kill me if I -did. Then he fell and I guess he must have hurt his ankle because he -swore fearfully. He picked me up again and started off but he limped -a good deal, and—and pretty soon he threw me down and, without -saying a word, started off alone. That’s all I know. But, tell me, -how did you find me?” - -“I—I guess God must have led us to you,” Bob said slowly. “I don’t -know how else we picked up the trail.” - -“He must have. I knew that you’d try and I asked Him to show you the -way.” - -“I guess we’ve been quiet all for nothing,” Jack said aloud. - -“Maybe. But it’s better to be careful than sorry, you know,” Bob -told him. - -“How far are we from the cabin?” Helen asked. - -“Pretty hard to say,” Bob replied, “But it must be all of five -miles, maybe more.” - -“Where’s father?” - -“He and Jacques went the other way,” Jack told her. “You see, we had -no way of knowing which way you had gone so we divided forces.” - -“Can you find the way back?” - -“I’m not so sure about that,” Bob answered. - -“Then—then you think we’re lost?” - -“Don’t you fret about that,” Jack hastened to reassure her. “We can -find the way all right as soon as it gets light.” He meant that he -might not be able to do it in the dark. - -“Oh.” It was evident that she was much relieved. - -“It’ll be light in about three hours,” Bob told them. “Now, had we -better camp here or try to find it in the dark?” - -“I’m lost,” Jack confessed. “Haven’t the least idea which way home -is. How about you?” - -“Well, it’s pretty hard to get much idea of direction when you can’t -see your hand before your face, but I believe we can follow our -trail back provided we can pick it up.” - -“I didn’t think of that.” - -“You and Helen wait here and I’ll look about a bit and see if I can -find it,” and before either could say a word he was gone. - -Bob was back in less than ten minutes with the cheering news that he -had found the trail and that it was only a little way off. - -“We’ll take it easy and be sure and not lose it,” he said as he took -hold of Helen’s hand and led the way, Jack bringing up the rear -clinging fast to her other hand. - -“Here’s where we found your handkerchief,” Bob told her an hour -later as he came to a halt and flashed his light on the stump. - -“Yes, I managed to get it out and drop it without him knowing it in -hopes you might find it.” - -“It’s mighty lucky you did,” Bob said. “I’m afraid we would never -have picked up your trail if you hadn’t. That fellow must be an -artist in going through the woods without leaving a mark.” - -“He did seem to be pretty careful. He had a flashlight and kept it -on all the time until he saw yours. Then he snapped it off and I -guess that’s why he fell.” - -“It’s funny we didn’t see his light,” Jack said to Bob. - -“It does seem rather strange,” he agreed. - -They rested a few minutes longer and then started off again. They -had little trouble in following the back trail as they had made no -effort at concealment and signs of their passing were plenty. - -Dawn was just breaking in the east as they reached the camp. Helen -gave a loud call as they emerged from the woods and almost instantly -her mother was flying down the path to meet her. - -“My darling child,” she sobbed as she gathered the girl in her arms. - -Helen quickly told the story and Mrs. Sleeper was most generous in -her praise of the two boys. - -“Where’s dad?” Helen asked as they reached the porch. - -“He hasn’t come back yet.” - -“Oh, that’s too bad,” Helen declared. “He must be worried half to -death out there in the woods.” - -“I suppose so,” her mother sighed. “But he’s got Jacques with him -and they’ll probably be back before long. But I’ve had enough of -ghosts at last,” she declared turning to Bob. “I never thought I -could be so frightened.” - -“What was it?” he asked eagerly. - -“I’m sure I don’t know. It began about an hour after you left. First -I heard a noise over toward your cabin and came out on the porch to -see if I could see what it was. Your place was all lit up and, -through the windows, I could see something all white moving about -and every minute or two there would be a noise as though someone was -pounding on a tin wash dish. Then off to the right, in the woods -there, a bright light would flare up and then die down, and once I -saw a white thing run, or rather float, along the path between your -cabin and the dining-hall. It looked about ten feet tall but I don’t -suppose it was. Anyway, when it got to the door, it seemed to pass -right through it without bothering to open it. And then—” - -“Yes?” Bob encouraged as she paused. - -“Then after a few minutes it came out again and floated back to your -cabin and the noises began again.” - -“Poor mother. It’s a wonder you didn’t die of fright,” Helen -declared. - -“Well, I didn’t, but I was scared.” - -“And no wonder,” Jack said. - -“How long did it keep up?” Bob asked. - -“It must have been all of three hours.” - -“Was there anything else?” - -“I—I don’t think so. After I saw the thing go back into your cabin I -went inside and locked the door, but I could still hear the noise.” - -“Just imagine it,” Helen sighed. - -At that moment a loud whistle was heard and almost immediately Mr. -Sleeper and Jacques emerged from the forest. The former came slowly -toward the cabin dragging one foot after the other, his head bent on -his chest as though he feared to meet his wife and tell her that -they had failed. But his entire aspect changed as he heard Helen’s -cry of welcome and assurance. - -“Thank God!” he cried as he hugged her to his heart. - -The story, of course, had to be told all over again and at it’s -conclusion Jacques said: - -“Me have breakfus een two tree minutes.” - -The boys, saying that they would go and wash up, turned toward their -cabin and the others went inside. It must be confessed that Bob -threw open the door of the cabin with a distinct feeling of fear in -his heart. Was the mid-night prowler concealed there ready to jump -out at them? That was the question he had been asking himself for -the past few minutes. But there was no sign of fear in his action as -he pushed the door open and stepped inside. Though they had said -nothing on the way over from the other cabin they both more than -half expected to find the place in a condition of chaos. But -everything was exactly as they had left it. Not a single sign of -anyone having been there could they find although they made a most -thorough search. - -“All quiet along the Potomac,” Bob grinned as he straightened up -after looking under his bed. - -“Seems that way.” - -“That ghost must have been a very orderly sort,” Bob remarked drily. - -“Just what I was thinking,” Jack agreed. - -For a moment they stood and looked at each other. - -“Out with it,” Jack finally said. - -“What do you mean?” - -“I mean that you are thinking that she was lying.” - -“But why should she?” Bob asked not denying the accusation. - -“Ask me something easy,” Jack retorted. - -“Confound it, just as we make up our minds that they know nothing at -all about it, something happens to throw suspicion on them.” - -“My sentiments to a dot.” - -“But that job tonight wasn’t a part of their game, that is, if they -are mixed up in it.” Bob insisted. “They may be good actors for all -I know but that wasn’t faked. Not one little bit.” - -“Again I agree with you. But, tell me this: just what makes you -think she was not telling the truth? It would be possible for -someone to come in here and prance around without disturbing things, -you know. There isn’t so much to get out of place.” - -“It isn’t that so much,” Bob said slowly. “But just think, now. We -find her all worked up over something she saw and heard in this -cabin. She’s deeply grateful to us for finding Helen and yet, she -lets us come over here and come in without a word. Now wouldn’t you -have thought that she would have insisted on having Jacques and her -husband come with us?” - -“Of course I’d thought of that too, but perhaps in the excitement, -she didn’t think of it.” - -“Maybe that’s it but all the same I’m more inclined to think that -they know something, than I’ve been at any time before.” - -“It seems to be a mystery within a mystery all right,” Jack -declared. - -“Another thing that worries me is about those traps. How could a -body get up to that window and hold up that thing as he did without -stepping on that trap unless he knew it was there? Of course, it -would be easy enough if he did know it but if he didn’t I can’t -understand it.” - -“And they and Jacques are the only ones except ourselves who do know -about them.” - -“Exactly.” - -“But you mustn’t overlook the possibility that whoever it is that’s -cutting up these didos might have been watching when we set them.” - -“That’s true too, but I don’t believe it.” - -“Neither do I, but it’s not impossible.” - -“Well, there’s but one thing to do,” Bob declared after a long -pause. - -“What’s that?” - -“Go and get Sicum.” - -“Just the thing,” Jack cried slapping Bob on the back. “Why didn’t -we think of it before?” - -“I did, but to tell the truth, I kinder hated to give up beat.” - -“Beat nothing. That’ll be simply bringing up reinforcements,” Jack -laughed. - -Before they could discuss the new plan further the breakfast horn -sounded and they hastened to the dining-room. During the meal, Bob, -much to Jack’s surprise, told the Sleepers of their intention to go -for the dog, Sicum, which, he explained, belonged to their old -Indian friend, Kernertok. - -“Sicum’s a wonderful dog,” he told them. - -“But what will you do with him here?” Mr. Sleeper asked. - -“Track down that ghost,” Bob said. “He may not leave any tracks -which we can follow, but I’ll bet Sicum can pick them up all right.” - -“If he can’t nothing can,” Jack added. - - - - - CHAPTER XII - - THE SIGNAL. - - -“What in the name of common sense did you want to tell them we were -going after Sicum for?” - -It was still early when they returned to their cabin after breakfast -and Jack asked the question as soon as he had closed the door behind -him. - -“I had a reason and I’ll tell you about it while we’re on the way. -We must get a couple hours’ sleep now,” Bob replied as he threw -himself on the bed and was almost instantly lost to the world. - -They had asked Jacques to call them at nine o’clock and shortly -after that hour they were paddling down the lake. Bob was in the -stern and, as soon as they had rounded the point just below the -camp, instead of heading for the dam he turned the canoe in toward -the shore. - -“Hey, what’s the big idea?” Jack asked. - -Bob did not reply until the bow of the canoe scraped on the sand, -then he said: - -“You wanted to know why I told the folks where we were going?” - -“Sure I do.” - -“All right. You see, it occurred to me that now would be a good time -to put into execution a plan that I’ve had in mind for some time. It -is this. If they are mixed up in this thing in any way the knowledge -that we’re going to bring the dog here will, I believe, cause them -to make some change in their plans. Now I’m going to let you go for -Sicum while I slip back and watch the camp.” - -“But suppose they should catch you?” - -“I’ve thought of that but they won’t.” - -“I don’t like it,” Jack declared after a short pause. “If they’re -innocent and I still believe they are, I don’t like the idea of -spying on them.” - -“I expected you would say that and I feel the same way about it, but -I’ve thought it all over and I believe that the end justifies the -means. If they are in it of course it’s no more than they deserve -and if they are not what they don’t know isn’t going to hurt them.” - -“If only they don’t find it out,” Jack mused doubtfully. - -“Well, of course, if you’re opposed to it we’ll drop it.” - -“I’m not. Since you put it that way I think it’s a good plan only, -for goodness sake, be careful.” - -“I will,” Bob promised as he stepped out of the canoe. - -“But where will I pick you up? And suppose they should take a notion -to come down to the dam or—” - -“Or a dozen other things,” Bob interrupted. “Let’s not cross those -bridges till we come to them.” - -“I know, but—” - -“I’ve got the pocket radios here,” Bob again interrupted as he -handed one of the small cases to his brother. “So we’ll be able to -keep in touch with each other all right. It’ll take you about an -hour to get down to the dam and another hour from there to -Kernertok’s cabin. Give you an hour there and say three to get back -and you ought to be here about three o’clock. Unless something -happens I’ll be here before that time waiting for you.” - -“Unless something happens,” Jack repeated. “That’s a good one.” - -“What do you mean, a good one?” - -“Did you ever know of us starting out on a thing like this unless -something happened? I’ll bet something’ll happen all right.” - -“Well, we’ll both be careful and that’s the best we can do,” Bob -assured him. - -“All right, so long,” and Jack pushed off and again headed down the -lake. - -Bob stood on the shore and watched until his brother was but a speck -on the surface of the lake, then he turned and plunged into the -forest which at that point was very dense. It was only a short -distance back to the camp and he was soon looking for a good hiding -place from which he would have a good view of the cabins and himself -remain unseen. He realized that his position was a most delicate -one. If their friends were innocent not for worlds would he have -them know that he was spying on them but as he had told Jack, he -believed that suspicion pointed to them with sufficient force to -justify the espionage. - -At the edge of the clearing and located about fifty feet from the -cabin occupied by the Sleepers, grew an exceptionally large spruce -tree with very thick branches. After making a thorough survey of the -place Bob decided that up among the branches of that spruce would be -the best place he could find. They were thick enough, he thought, to -shield him from any but a most searching glance. The problem of -getting up there bothered him the most, and he knew that it would be -a risk but, as he had been unable to find anything else which suited -half as well, he decided to take it. - -Keeping the trunk of the tree between himself and the cabin he crept -up until he crouched at its foot. There he paused and listened. He -could hear Helen singing within the cabin, but of her parents there -was no sound. After a minute had passed he leaped for the lowest -branch and quickly swung himself up. Up he climbed until he was -nearly two-thirds of the way to the top. Here the branches were -especially thick and two, growing only a few inches apart, made a -fairly comfortable seat. By pushing aside a side branch he found -that he had a good view of the greater part of the camp and was sure -that there was little danger of being discovered. - -For an hour he watched before catching sight of a soul. Then he saw -the breed come from the dining cabin and slowly approach the cabin -occupied by the Sleepers. As he stepped onto the porch Mr. Sleeper -came out from the living room and met him. The boy was undecided as -to whether or not the meeting was by appointment but, as the man -motioned Jacques to a seat he judged that he had been expecting him. - -If only he could hear what they were talking about, he thought, and -then as he realized that it would be eavesdropping, he knew that, -even were it possible, he would shrink from doing it. - -“But that’s practically what I’m doing now,” he thought as he slowly -let the branch drop back into its proper place. - -For a moment he seriously considered giving over the espionage to -which he was subjecting the camp, but his better judgment prevailed -and he decided to see it through. - -“It can’t possibly harm any of them if they’re all right,” he -muttered half aloud, as he again pushed aside the branch. - -The two men remained in earnest conversation for the better part of -an hour and, although he was, of course, unable to hear a word, he -could tell that Mr. Sleeper was trying argument after argument to -induce Jacques to consent to something and that the latter was -steadily refusing. Whether or not he finally succeeded he was not -sure, but they shook hands warmly when Jacques rose to go and, from -the smile on Mr. Sleeper’s face he judged that his arguments had not -been entirely in vain. - -Just then he heard a slight buzzing sound and quickly taking a small -case from his pocket, he unwound a short bit of cord and placed the -telephone receiver to his ear. Then, placing his lips close to the -mouth piece he spoke in a tone hardly above a whisper. - -“All right, Jack?” - -“Sure it’s all right.” The words came through the air as plainly as -though the speaker were by his side. “How are things there?” - -“Nothing definite and I don’t want to talk any more than I can help. -I’m too near the cottage.” - -“Righto, I understand and you needn’t say another word. I got here -all right and Kernertok and Sicum are coming back with me as soon as -we get a bite. I’ve told Kernertok all about things and, although -you’ll hardly believe it, he’s really excited about it. Says that if -Sicum can’t trail a ghost he’s no good. Sicum seems in fine fettle -and wants to be remembered to you. I’ll call you again when we get -to the dam and let you know how soon to expect us. Be careful you -don’t get pinched. Good bye.” - -Bob made no reply but took the receiver from his ear and carefully -replaced the case in his pocket. - -“So far so good,” he smiled as he took another peep. - -No one was in sight and it was nearly another hour before the -Sleepers came out of the cabin and went slowly toward the dining -cabin. Evidently they were going to dinner and the thought reminded -the boy that he was hungry, but knowing that he would have to wait -several hours before he could satisfy his hunger, he proceeded to -forget about it, a task at which he was very expert. - -Half an hour later the Sleepers returned to their cabin and, after -remaining inside for only a few minutes, Mr. Sleeper and Helen came -out and the former carried in his hand an object which at once made -the boy sit up and take intense notice. - -“Now what the dickins,” he muttered. - -The object was a paper balloon about two feet tall and bright red in -color. They went toward the wharf and a moment later disappeared -behind the dining cabin. - -“They’re going to send it up from the end of the wharf or I’m a -Dutchman,” he thought. - -The big dining-cabin hid the wharf from his view but in about ten -minutes he spied the balloon floating lazily up over the lake. - -“Now what do you know about that?” he asked himself. “It doesn’t -seem possible that he’s sending up a hot-air balloon simply to amuse -Helen. She’s too old for that kind of amusement, I should think. No, -it must be a signal for someone.” - -The wind took the balloon far out over the lake and he watched it -until it was lost in the blue haze. - -“There’s something phony about them sure as guns,” he muttered as he -watched for their return. - -But it was nearly a half hour before he again saw them. Then he -could see that they were talking excitedly as they hurried back to -their cabin. - -“Kind of looks as though they’d had an answer already,” he thought. -“What a mess it is. There seems to be more loose ends to this thing -than you can shake a stick at. But just wait till Sicum gets here. -Then I’ll bet there’ll be something doing unless that signal means -‘nothing doing at present.’” - -A few minutes later he saw the girl come out of the cabin and, to -his great alarm, she came directly toward his tree. She walked -slowly, her eyes on the ground as though in deep thought, but she -did not pause until she was right under him. Then she sat down on -the ground and leaned her back against the trunk of the tree. Bob -hardly dared to breathe. Why, of all places did she have to choose -that particular tree to sit under? He was located in such a position -that he could see her as he glanced down and he knew that, in case -she looked up, she could not well help seeing him. - -Dare he try to move around to the other side of the trunk? There was -now only the slightest of breezes and it was so still that he could -hear the thumping of his heart and it seemed almost as though she -too might hear it. Still, if he remained where he was the chances -were ten to one, he thought that she would, sooner or later, look up -and then the fat would be in the fire for a fact. Finally he decided -to make the attempt. He felt sure that he could do it without making -a sound provided he could prevent the branches from rubbing against -each other as he shifted his weight from one to the other. That was -where the danger lay. - -Reaching up he grasped hold of a large branch directly over his head -and slowly pulled himself up until he was standing on the two limbs -upon which he had been sitting. Unfortunately these branches were -comparatively small and, although he was only a couple of feet from -the trunk of the tree, he knew that they would move when he took his -weight from them. But could he do it so slowly that there would be -no noise? Carefully inch by inch he moved his weight in toward the -trunk, and was congratulating himself that he was going to -accomplish it in safety, when one of the branches sprang upward -making a loud swishing sound. He knew instantly that it had been -caught in some way beneath the other branch and the shifting of his -weight had served to dislodge it. - -He heard the girl give vent to a startled cry as she sprang to her -feet, and, no longer delaying his movements, he quickly swung -himself around to the other side of the trunk. - -“Who’s there?” - -Bob made no reply, hoping that she would decide that her ears had -deceived her and resume her seat. But evidently that was farthest -from her intentions. - -“Who’s there?” she asked again. - -Then after waiting a moment for an answer she turned and ran toward -the cabin. - -Bob knew that there was no time to be lost and he was half way to -the ground before she reached the porch. Just as he dropped from the -lower limb he heard her calling for her father. Then he ran as fast -as he could through the thick woods and did not stop until he had -covered all of a hundred yards. - -“Reckon I’m safe now,” he thought as he sat down on a fallen trunk -and listened. - -“You might as well come down now as later.” - -The words came to him very faintly, but he had no trouble in -recognizing Mr. Sleeper’s voice. - -Forgetting his aversion to eavesdropping he cautiously crept a -little nearer until he could hear them talking. - -“There’s no one up there,” he heard Mr. Sleeper say. - -“Well, there was,” Helen replied. - -“Probably your imagination.” - -“No, it wasn’t. I saw his leg.” - -“Well, he’s gone now anyhow.” - -“But who could it have been?” - -The answer was so low that Bob was unable to hear it, but evidently -Helen did not agree for he heard her say: - -“I don’t believe it.” - -For a moment or two they continued to converse but they spoke in -tones so low that he was unable to catch more than a word now and -then. Then they walked slowly back to the cabin. At first Bob was -minded to resume his former position in the tree, but second thought -convinced him that it would involve too much risk. - -“It’s more than likely that he’ll keep an eye on that tree the rest -of the day,” he told himself as he walked slowly back into the -woods. - -He was deeply grieved for he had liked them all and the thought that -they were mixed up in a dishonest transaction made his hearty heavy. - -“And it sure looks as though Jacques knows something about it to say -the least,” he muttered as he again sat down on the tree trunk. “But -what can be their object? What are they trying to accomplish?” - -But he found it much easier to ask these questions than to find a -satisfactory answer to them and, after a short session of useless -pondering, he started off toward the place where he was to meet -Jack. - -Just as he arrived there he heard the signal on the pocket radio and -in an instant he was talking with his brother. - -“Got here all right,” Jack’s voice declared. “We’re just ready to -start in the canoe. Where are you?” - -“Right where you left me.” - -“Deserted your post, eh.” - -“Not exactly, but I’ll tell you all about it when you get here.” - -“Just one question. Have you learned anything favorable or -unfavorable?” - -“I’m afraid it’s the latter,” Bob replied. “But I’m not sure.” - -“All right. Good bye, see you in a half hour.” - -“He’s got to dig some if he does,” Bob smiled to himself as he -slipped the case back into his pocket. - -But he was only ten minutes out of the way at that. The old Indian, -Kernertok, in the stern and Jack in the bow made a combination hard -to beat. It was hard to tell which one, Kernertok or Sicum, was the -more pleased to see Bob. The Indian merely grunted his pleasure as -he held out his hand, but the boys both knew just what that -particular grunt meant. To be sure Sicum, half collie and the other -half, as Kernertok declared, “just dog,” although the boys more than -suspected that his father was a timber wolf, was more demonstrative -in his greeting, jumping on him with so much force that he was -nearly knocked off his feet. But they knew well that in the old -Indian and his dog they possessed two friends that could always be -depended on. - -“Ten minutes late,” Bob told Jack as soon as he had quieted the dog. - -“Wind was against us.” - -“Um blow heap hard out on lake,” Kernertok backed him up. - -“And now what about it?” Jack demanded. - -Quickly Bob gave them a full account of the events of the day and -Jack’s expression became more and more mystified as he proceeded. - -“Now what do you know about that?” he asked as Bob paused. “This -thing has more angles to it than Carter has liver pills.” - -“Is Sicum’s nose in good shape?” Bob asked the Indian. - -“Sicum, him get heap lazy. No get ’nough work an’ heap too much -eats, but him nose still heap sharp.” - -“And a sharp nose is what we need,” Jack declared. - -“You said it,” Bob agreed as they pushed off in the canoe and -started around the point. - -Helen was on the wharf and gave the old Indian a warm greeting which -plainly pleased him, but she shrank from Sicum as he gave vent to a -low rumble when she reached out her hand to his master. - -“You, Sicum!” Kernertok said in a low tone, but one which the dog -plainly understood for he dropped his head and turned away. - -“Him good dog but no mak’ friend quick,” Kernertok explained as he -grabbed him by the collar and drew him close to the girl. “You no -like um squaw? You heap no good dog: she good squaw: friend of -Kernertok: you like um, eh?” - -While his master was speaking the dog was looking first at him and -then at the girl. Slowly his tail began to wag and, as Kernertok -finished, he took a step forward and held out one paw with a -peculiar questioning whine. - -“Take it, and you’ve made a friend for life,” Jack whispered. - -A bit reluctantly the girl took the paw in one hand while with the -other she softly patted the brown head while Sicum made manifest his -delight by a vigorous wagging of his bushy tail. - -“Now he’ll protect you with his life,” Jack told her. - -“And you can do anything with him and he’ll never so much as growl -at you,” Bob added. - -“He must be wonderful,” she said her hand still caressing the dog’s -head. - -“He is.” - -Both boys made the statement at the same time. - -“But does he always have to be introduced in that way?” - -“No, but he makes friends more quickly if he knows that Kernertok -approves,” Jack told her. - -“Can I introduce him to father and mother?” - -“Sure. Didn’t I tell you that you could do anything with him?” - -“All right. Come on Sicum, old boy.” - -With a glance at his master, who nodded his head, the dog chased -after the girl who was already near the shore end of the wharf. - -“She heap nice squaw,” Kernertok said as he watched her running up -the bank. - -The three made their way to the little cabin where Bob more fully -explained the situation to the Indian. The latter said no word until -he had finished, then he merely grunted his approval of what they -had done. Nothing more was seen of the dog until the supper horn -called them to the big cabin. As they reached the door they heard a -sharp bark and, looking back, saw Helen running toward them with the -dog bounding by her side. - -“Oh, he’s just splendid,” she panted as she reached the cabin. “I -introduced him to the folks and he shook hands with both of them too -cute for anything.” - -They waited outside until Mr. and Mrs. Sleeper joined them and Bob -introduced the old Indian, who gravely shook hands with each. - -“Injun heap glad know friends of white boys,” he said. - -Kernertok needed no introduction to Jacques as they were already -well acquainted. - -All through the meal Bob was wondering whether or not they would -mention the scare Helen had received beneath the tree, but nothing -regarding it was said and he could not help but feel that it added -to the already grave suspicion against them. It seemed to him that -it would be a most natural thing for her to tell them about it -unless there was some reason for not doing so, and the reason, he -argued, could only be that they were, in some way, mixed up with the -strange events which had brought them there and which they had thus -far failed to solve. - -“Do you expect the ghost to walk tonight?” Mr. Sleeper asked near -the end of the meal. - -“I don’t know,” Bob replied. “I don’t know why he shouldn’t unless -he knows that we have a dog here.” - -Was it his imagination or did Mr. and Mrs. Sleeper exchange a -knowing glance as he made the reply? He was not sure but it looked -very much like it and he mentioned it to Jack as soon as they were -alone. - -“I didn’t notice it,” Jack said and then added: “Are you sure that -you’re not getting so suspicious of them that your mind is acting on -the bias?” - -“I hope not, although, to tell the truth I’ve been thinking of that -very thing and I know it’s mighty easy to misconstrue a word or an -action when you’re suspicious.” - -“You bet it is.” - - - - - CHAPTER XIII - - ANOTHER TRIP UP THE MOUNTAIN. - - -Eleven o’clock found the four friends, for the boys always -considered Sicum as one of them whenever he was present, waiting in -the cabin for the show to begin, as Jack put it. They had secured -from Jacques an extra cot for Kernertok although the old Indian had -insisted that a rug was a good enough bed for him. - -“Bet you nothing happens,” Jack said just as the clock struck the -hour. - -“If nothing does it means that somebody is on to our movements,” Bob -declared. - -“And the somebody is?” - -“We won’t mention names, but I hardly see how it could be anybody -else,” Bob replied and Kernertok slowly shook his head. - -“Well, one thing is in our favor anyway,” Jack declared after a few -minutes of silence. - -“Meaning?” - -“That nothing very drastic has happened as a result of the three -warnings we’ve received.” - -“But the end is not yet,” Bob cautioned. - -“Maybe not, but I’m betting that those warnings were simply a -bluff.” - -“I hope so,” Bob said soberly. - -The half hour struck. - -“Time for the curtain to go up,” Jack said as he turned down the -light. - -But nothing happened. The spot did not appear and no rapping was -heard. Midnight came and then the half hour struck and still not -sign of the ghost was manifest. - -“I told you so,” Jack yawned. - -“We’ll wait another half hour,” Bob proposed. - -It was a long half hour but the clock finally struck and Bob turned -up the light. - -“Guess we might as well hit the hay,” he declared as he threw off -his coat. - -“Me for that,” Jack agreed. “But you wake me up if you hear -anything.” - -“I will,” Bob promised as he tumbled into bed. - -But if any ghost came around that night he was very quiet about it -for none of them was disturbed and the sun was shining in at the -window when Bob awoke. - -It was Sunday and breakfast was an hour later than usual so he -decided to let Jack sleep. Kernertok’s bed was empty and Sicum was -not in the room. - -“Guess they’ve gone out for an early morning walk,” he thought as he -began to dress. - -It was only six o’clock and he knew that the old Indian was an early -riser so he felt no alarm at his absence. - -“It’s a peach of a morning,” he said half aloud as he stepped out -and softly closed the door behind him. - -For a moment he stood just outside drawing into his lungs great -draughts of the crisp air heavily laden with the mingled scent of -spruce and pine. Then he walked slowly toward the lake. As soon as -he came around the corner of the big cabin he saw Kernertok and -Sicum standing on the end of the wharf gazing out over the lake. - -“She heap fine body of water,” the Indian said as he joined them. - -“Sure is,” Bob agreed as he bent over to pat Sicum’s head. “But I -hope we haven’t dragged you and Sicum up here for nothing.” - -“We catch um ghost heap soon,” Kernertok assured him. - -“I hope so,” Bob returned but there was no note of assurance in his -voice. - -For an hour they sat on the end of the wharf and discussed the -situation and then Jack joined them. - -“Why didn’t you wake me?” he demanded. - -“Thought you needed the sleep,” Bob returned with a smile. - -“Well, I got it all right.” - -Jack sat down beside Sicum and began stroking his long ears, an -action of which the dog thoroughly approved. - -At half past seven the welcome sound of the breakfast horn broke up -the conversation and they hurried to the big cabin. - -“Any ghosts?” Mr. Sleeper asked as he entered a few minutes later -with Mrs. Sleeper and Helen. - -“Narry a ghost,” Jack declared. - -“And it’s the first night they’ve missed isn’t it?” - -“Yes, that is, since we’ve been here,” Bob assured him. - -“Don’t you think it’s a bit strange?” - -“Rather.” - -The day passed quietly. In the afternoon they were all gathered on -the porch of the Sleepers’ cabin and Kernertok entertained them for -several hours with stories of his early life in Northern Canada. -Despite his broken English the old Indian was a past master in the -art of story telling and he had an abundance of material to draw -from and held his listener spellbound with his vivid word pictures -of life amid the deep snows and rushing streams. - -“He’s wonderful,” Helen whispered to Bob as they were going to -supper. - -“A wonderful man and a wonderful dog,” Bob assured her. - -That night was a repetition of the previous one. The camp was as -well behaved as any one could desire, much to the disgust of the two -boys. - -“It’s disgusting, that’s what it is,” Jack declared as he rolled -into bed. - -“And then some,” Bob agreed from his side of the room. - -But Kernertok merely grunted as he stretched his long frame on his -cot. - -They were up bright and early the next morning and, after a plunge -in the lake, Bob suggested that they pay a visit to the cave on -Mount Katahdin. - -“The mountain wouldn’t come to Mahomet, you remember, so Mahomet had -to go to the mountain,” he laughed. “Well, the ghost won’t seem to -come to us any more so we might as well go to him.” - -“But why do you think he’s there?” Jack asked. - -“I don’t, but we may get a clue. Somehow I can’t help thinking that -the fellow they call Jim the Penman is in some way mixed up in the -ghost business.” - -“Well, it’ll get rid of the day anyhow,” Jack said, and Kernertok -agreed that it was a good plan. - -They started immediately after breakfast, telling the Sleepers that -they were going to the dam and might not be back until night. The -wind was blowing strong down the lake and Kernertok and Jack made -the light canoe almost fly through the water. - -“Haven’t seen anything more of those fellows have you?” Bob asked -the old dam tender, who met them as they landed. - -“No, but I seen a light up on the mountain, ’bout ten o’clock las’ -night,” he told them. - -“Did it flash as though someone was signaling?” Bob asked excitedly. - -“Well, it did kinder seem so. Kept it up fer as much as ten minutes -mebby more, then it went out an’ I didn’t see it agin’.” - -“Then they must be back,” Bob said turning to Jack and Kernertok. - -“Looks like it,” Jack agreed. - -A moment later and they were making their way down the deep gorge, -Sicum leading the way. - -“I’d give a cent to know if they were signaling to Mr. Sleeper,” Bob -said to Jack as they walked side by side. - -“Who else could it be?” - -“Ah, there’s the rub,” Bob quoted. - -“And there’s the balloon,” Jack added. “That must have been a signal -and it doesn’t seem hardly possible that both parties are signaling -to a third person, does it?” - -“Hardly. But what possible connection can there be between them?” - -“Ask me something easy,” Jack said as he wiped the sweat from his -face. “Whew, but it’s hot.” - -As soon as they reached the foot of the mountain they stopped for a -rest and a council of war, as Jack put it. - -“We’ve got to be mighty careful now,” Bob told them. “They’ll treat -us rough if they get us in their power again. They’ll think we put -the officers onto them and they’ll have little mercy.” - -“None comes nearer to it I’d say,” Jack declared. - -“We go heap quiet,” Kernertok advised with a solemn shake of his -head. - -“Frankly it’s my opinion that you’d better stay here and let me go -up alone,” Bob proposed. “One can go with less noise than four, you -know.” - -“Not much,” Jack objected. “We’ll hang together in this.” - -“White boy no go alone,” Kernertok shook his head and Bob did not -insist, realizing that they were probably right. - -It was a hot day and the climb up the mountain was hard and both -boys were puffing when they reached a point only a few rods from the -cave. But Kernertok was not in the least winded. - -“Now we’re almost there,” Bob said as they came to a stop. “You wait -here and I’ll creep up and see what’s doing. Oh, I’ll be careful and -yell if they get me,” he added as he saw that Jack was about to -object again. - -Kernertok nodded assent and Bob crept noiselessly away. They had -followed the path up the mountain but now he left it and stole -around to the right so that he might get a view of the front of the -shack. He made not the slightest sound as he worked his way through -the thick underbrush and soon was crouching behind a bush from which -he had a good view of the shack by slightly parting a couple of -branches. Not a soul was in sight and the place had a deserted look -which went far toward convincing him that they had not returned. -Still there was the light which the old man had seen the night -before and he decided to wait awhile before coming to a conclusion. - -For nearly a half hour he waited and then, just as he was thinking -that he might as well go back to the others, the sound of voices off -to his right caught his ear. Someone was coming toward him and he -squirmed farther into the clump of bushes hoping that they would -pass without seeing him. He lay perfectly still hardly daring to -breathe while the voices rapidly approached and soon two men passed -not more than six feet from him. He was unable to see them, but he -had no difficulty in recognizing Jim the Penman by his voice. He was -not so sure of the identity of the other, but had little doubt that -it was one of the half-breeds who had been with him at the shack. He -waited until he judged that they had time to reach the shack and -then he began slowly to back out. But as it happened he came out of -the clump much quicker than he had intended. He had hardly started -when his feet were grabbed by a powerful pair of hands and he was -violently jerked out. So quickly was it done that he had no time to -shout before a huge hand was pressed over his mouth while another -seized him by the throat. - -“You mak’ der noise an’ I keel you,” a voice hissed in his ear. - -He knew that he was no match for the powerful giant and that the -latter was quite capable of carrying out his threat. So he kept -still and the man, removing his hand from his throat, seized him by -the collar and yanked him to his feet. - -“You come ’long an’ mak’ no sound,” he ordered as he started for the -shack keeping a firm hold on the boy’s collar. - -Bob knew that there was nothing to do but obey, so he made no -resistance and in a moment they were at the door of the shack which -opened just as they reached it and Jim the Penman, followed by the -other breed, came out. - -“So you have paid us another visit, eh,” Jim sneered. “Well, we’ll -see that you don’t get away so easily this time. Tie him up good and -strong,” he ordered. - -But before the breed could carry out the order a sudden interruption -intervened. - -“Hands up.” - -The order came in stern tones and, as they turned, their eyes met a -sight which caused Bob’s heart to jump with joy. Standing just at -the edge of the woods were five men and each held a Winchester which -was pointing directly at them. - -Without a word the hands of the three men shot into the air and Bob, -thinking he might not be recognized, did the same. - -“I didn’t mean you, Bob,” the sheriff said as he came forward, and -Bob gladly lowered his hands. - -“You came just in time, sir,” he said. - -“And I’m mighty glad of it. Keep ’em covered, boys, while I frisk -’em,” he ordered. - -Quickly he removed an automatic from a pocket of each of the men and -then, satisfied that they had no more weapons upon them, he told -them that they could lower their hands. - -“But no funny business,” he warned them. - -“Well, Jim, you’ve led me a pretty long chase but I’ve got you at -last,” the detective said as he snapped a pair of handcuffs on his -wrists. - -“It would seem so just now,” the man smiled. - -In another minute the two breeds were handcuffed and Bob could not -repress a sight of relief. - -“You made your big mistake when you flashed that light last night,” -the detective said turning to the man called Jim. “Friend of mine -saw it and phoned me.” - -“I think I know who it was,” the man returned. “Some day I may be -able to thank him.” - -“Not for a good many years, I reckon,” the detective said dryly. -“You’ll be the state’s star boarder for some time to come.” - -“Maybe, but I’ve seen sicker cats than this get well,” the man -smiled. - -Leaving the three deputies to guard the prisoners, the sheriff -accompanied by the detective and Bob made a search of the shack and -cave. Bob showed them the trap door in the corner and, after they -had descended and squeezed through into the second chamber, he -showed them how he and Jack had made their escape. - -“But there must be another room or something of the sort here,” the -detective insisted when they had returned to the upper cave. “They -must have some food here and I haven’t seen a sign of it.” - -For some time they searched going over every foot of the walls and -floor and were about to give it up when Bob discovered the secret. -He was on the side of the cave opposite the door which opened into -the shack and suddenly his quick eye caught sight of a crack in the -rock. Playing his flash up and down on the wall he could trace it -from the floor to a point about even with the top of his head. Then -it turned sharply at right angles. It was such a small crack that it -was little wonder that it had eluded him when he had searched the -cave before. - -“I think I’ve found something,” he called and the others hastened to -his side. - -“See that crack?” he asked eagerly. - -“Yes, but—” - -“Wait a minute,” Bob interrupted as he darted across the cave and -passed through the door into the shack. - -He was back in a minute with a screw driver which he remembered to -have seen in the shack. This he inserted in a place, he had noticed, -about two feet from the floor and carefully using it as a pry, he -gave a cry of satisfaction as a small door swung open, a door so -cunningly constructed and closely fitted that probably not one man -in a dozen would ever have found it. It was made of boards, the side -facing the cave being covered with thin slabs of rock so skillfully -cemented together and to the door that it was practically impossible -to distinguish between it and the rest of the wall. - -The door opened into a large room which was furnished with several -cots and chairs as well as a cook stove and the necessary cooking -utensils. A good supply of food was stored in a closet in one -corner. - -“I knew there must be some place,” the detective declared as he -stood in the middle of the room and looked about. - -“But how in thunder did he make that door?” the sheriff asked. - -“Maybe he didn’t,” the detective returned. “Looks to me as though -that door was made some years ago. But how he found out about it -beats me.” - -Just then a low cry from one of the deputies attracted their -attention and, hastening to his side, they found him gazing with -wide staring eyes at a suit-case which lay open on the floor at his -feet. It was no wonder he had uttered the cry of astonishment for -the case was filled with piles of new ten-dollar bills. - -“Gosh, I didn’t know there was that much money in the world,” the -man gasped. “I reckon as how there must be close on ter a billion -dollars there.” - -“Hardly that much,” the detective laughed as he picked up one of the -bundles. “There’s quite a lot of it though, but the trouble is it -isn’t worth the paper it’s printed on.” - -“What you mean, it ain’t worth nothin’?” - -“Phony. Green goods.” - -“You mean it’s counterfeit?” - -“Exactly.” - -“But it looks good ter me,” the man insisted picking up another of -the bundles. - -“Of course it does,” the detective laughed. “It has to look mighty -good to get by these days.” - -They spent a few more minutes searching the room but nothing more of -consequence was found and the detective declared that they might as -well be on their way back. - -“I won’t feel easy till I get them fellows behind the bars,” he -declared as he picked up the suit-case and led the way out through -the cave. - -“That room explains how he got away that time we had him tied up,” -Bob thought. “Those others must have been in there all the time.” - -As they came out into the open the two half breeds glared at the -suit-case with ill-concealed rage, but the leader only smiled as -though it was a matter of no importance. - -“Don’t suppose you’d tell me how you found the door leading into -that room, Jim,” the detective said as he stood in front of the man. - -“And I guess you’re right in your supposition,” he smiled. - -“All right, it doesn’t matter. We’ve got the goods and that’s the -main thing.” - -On the way down the mountain they picked up Jack and Kernertok and -they were much surprised as well as gratified when they learned how -the affair had turned out. - -It was nearly noon when they reached the dam and the sheriff -insisted that the boys and Kernertok help them eat the bountiful -lunch which he had brought with him. Soon after the men, together -with their prisoners, departed in the two cars in which they had -made the trip up and, after bidding them good-bye the four friends -started on their way up the lake. - -“Well, that chapter is closed so far as we’re concerned,” Jack -declared. - -“And mighty satisfactorily,” Bob added. - -“The question now is whether the ghost has gone with them,” Jack -said. - -“That’s what,” Bob agreed. - -“How you betting?” - -“That it has. Take me?” - -“Nope. That’s my bet too.” - -They were in no hurry to get back and took it easy so that it was -nearly three o’clock when they reached the camp. There was no one on -the wharf and no one in sight about the camp as they walked slowly -up the bank toward the big cabin. - -“Reminds me of the deserted village,” Bob laughed. - -“It doesn’t look exactly lively,” Jack agreed. - -As they reached the front of the cabin the door opened and Jacques -stepped out. - -“Where’s all the folks?” Bob asked. - -“Gone,” the man replied. - -“Gone! Gone where?” - -“I dunno. Dey had me tak’ ’em down to dam little while after you -go.” - -“But didn’t they say where or why they were going?” Bob asked. - -“Dey say nottin’, only dat they go.” - -“Did they take their stuff with them?” - -“Oui, dey tak’ it all. Dey no come back.” - -“I reckon you’re right, but it beats me,” Bob declared as he led the -way to their cabin. “What do you make of it, Jack?” he asked as soon -as they had closed the door behind them. - -“Why, that they had something to do with that other gang. What do -you think?” - -“Looks as though you were right, but how could that fellow signal to -them from the mountain? You can’t see it from here.” - -“See it from hill over there,” Kernertok said. - -“That’s so,” Bob declared. “I never thought of that. It’s only a -little way to the top from here and now I think of it, Mr. Sleeper -wasn’t with us after nine o’clock last night, you remember.” - -“But just what do you suppose was the connection between them?” - -“It’s no use guessing. Maybe we’ll know sometime.” - -“Well, their going makes it all the more likely that we’ve seen the -last of the ghost.” - -“I suppose so,” Bob agreed. - -“You don’t seem much pleased at the prospect,” Jack told him. - -“Well, I can’t help feeling that we haven’t had much to do with it.” - -“That’s so,” Jack agreed. - - - - - CHAPTER XIV - - THE END OF THE GHOST. - - -“I suppose we might as well go to bed.” - -It was shortly after eleven o’clock and Jack turned down the light -as he made the statement. - -“We’ll wait till twelve,” Bob yawned. - -The minutes passed slowly. They were all, with the possible -exception of Kernertok and Sicum, tired after their long tramp and -both Bob and Jack were nearly asleep in their chairs, when the half -hour struck. But a moment after they were wide awake enough, for the -spot had appeared on the wall. At the same time raps were heard from -behind the head of Bob’s bed. - -“Come on,” Bob cried as he leaped from his chair. - -Kernertok already had snapped a long leash to Sicum’s collar and was -the first out of the cabin. - -“Go find um,” he ordered. - -There was no sign of the spot on the wall as Bob, the last to leave -the room, turned his head for a glance back. - -The dog, as though understanding exactly what was expected of him, -put his nose to the ground and made a complete circle of the cabin. -This he repeated again and again, each time widening the circle -until he was at the edge of the woods. But he had failed to pick up -the scent and announced the failure by a low whine. - -“Try um in woods,” his master ordered. - -The dog led the way about thirty feet into the forest and then -started off to the right. He had gone but a few yards, however, when -he uttered a low deep growl. - -“He got um,” the Indian grunted. “Go get um, Sicum.” - -With a sharp bark of eagerness the dog bounded off in the direction -of the hill only a few rods distant and Kernertok had his hands full -holding on to the leash. The boys followed close behind using their -flash light freely. - -Straight up over the hill the dog led them without a pause and down -the other side. A little way from the foot of the hill they struck a -small brook and the dog stopped with a whine. - -“He take to water,” Kernertok explained. “No smell um.” - -They crossed to the other side and Kernertok ordered the dog to go -up stream. They pressed on for the better part of a half mile but -Sicum failed to again pick up the trail. - -“Maybe he went down stream,” Bob suggested as they stopped for a -short rest. - -“We go back, try um down brook?” - -“Do whatever you think best.” - -“We try um little more,” the Indian decided after a short pause. - -It was fortunate that he did so for in less than five minutes the -dog had regained the scent. - -“Good dog,” Bob declared as the low growl announced his success. - -Through the thick woods the dog led them, tugging at the leash as -though fearful that his quarry would escape him. At times the way -led through thickets where they had to literally force their way -while, in other places it was more open and they were enabled to -make good progress. - -“Hope he gets there soon,” Jack panted. - -“Same here,” Bob agreed. “My legs are beginning to get tired.” - -It must have been nearly two hours from the time they started and -Bob judged that they had covered fully five miles when they reached -the end of the hunt. Sicum stopped in front of what looked like a -huge rock but the light from the flash showed that it was a small -hill. The dog was sniffing at an opening, in the side of the hill, -which looked to be barely large enough for a man to crawl into. - -“He’s got a cave in that hill,” Bob announced. - -“Looks like it,” Jack agreed. - -“Him there,” Kernertok grunted. - -“Then the next thing’s to get him out,” Jack proposed. - -“Suppose you invite him,” Bob suggested. - -“I will. Hello, in there. You might as well come out. We’ve got you -trapped,” he shouted. - -There was no reply and, after waiting a moment Bob said: - -“He or it doesn’t seem much inclined to accept your invitation. -Guess I’ll have to go in after him.” - -“Yes you will, not.” - -“If not why not?” - -“Because it’s too risky, that’s why.” - -“Injun go in,” Kernertok grunted getting down on his hands and -knees. - -“Nothing doing,” Bob declared sharply catching him by the shoulder. - -They had been speaking in whispers but now Bob said in a loud voice: - -“Let’s go back and come and dig him out in the morning when we can -see.” - -“I guess that’ll be the best way,” Jack agreed quick to grasp his -brother’s plan. - -In a low whisper Bob explained his idea to the Indian who grunted a -low assent. But Sicum did not so readily fall in with the plan and -it took the Indian some time to convince him that he knew what was -best. The dog knew that his quarry was in that hole and he could not -understand why he should leave it. But finally he allowed his master -to lead him off into the woods but not without many a backward look -and many a low protesting whine. It was a new experience to him, -this giving up and it was plain that he did not approve of it. - -“Never mind, old fellow, we’ll get him,” Bob said stroking the gray -head. - -They made much noise as they left but, after going only a short -distance they crept softly back until they were only a few feet away -from the hole, where they crouched behind a thick clump of bushes. -Sicum, as though realizing that, after all, the game was not up, had -ceased his whining and seemed content. - -“We’ll probably have to wait till day light,” Bob whispered, “so -I’ll watch here and you can get back a bit and get some sleep.” - -“What’s the matter with you getting some sleep?” Jack asked. - -“I spoke first.” - -“Injun watch. Him no sleepy. White boys go get sleep.” - -They refused at first but finally, seeing that the old Indian really -wished them to consent, they yielded, but only after he had promised -to call them in two hours. - -They crept back a few yards and found a soft spot beneath the limbs -of a huge pine and in less than a minute both were fast asleep. It -seemed to Bob that he had just closed his eyes when he was awakened -by a touch on his arm. - -“Two hours gone,” Kernertok whispered. - -“All right,” he answered sleepily, “but don’t wake Jack. There’s no -need of both of us being awake.” - -Kernertok grunted approval and threw himself on the ground while Bob -crept forward until he was lying behind the bush. It was not -absolutely dark for the sky was filled with stars although there was -no moon. He could barely make out the outline of the hill as he -peered through the bush. Slowly the minutes passed and he found it -hard work to keep awake. But he knew that it would be only a little -more than an hour to dawn and he resolutely fought off the desire to -sleep. Once he thought he heard a movement near the cave but, -although he strained his eyes, he could see nothing suspicious and -he concluded that he had been mistaken. Of course he did not dare to -use his flash light. - -In spite of his resolve to keep awake he must have dozed off for -suddenly he realized that the darkness had nearly gone. - -“I’m a good one to put on watch,” he thought thoroughly angered at -himself. - -Although it was not yet fully light he could see the hole in the -hill plainly enough and, all desire for sleep now gone, he watched -eagerly. - -“If he’s got away I’ll never forgive myself,” he thought. - -Slowly the light increased until a beam of sunlight touched the top -of the hill. He was about to creep back and awake the others when a -sound caught his ears and, in another moment, he saw a face framed -in the hole. It was not a wicked face but rather grotesque. The nose -was long and humped sharply while the eyes were small and set so -closely together that the nose seemed crowded between them. The -mouth was enormous and the skin looked more like leather than skin. - -Although the eyes were small they looked strangely keen and he drew -back fearing that they would penetrate his hiding place. After a -long glance around the owner of the eyes slowly drew his body out -and finally stood in front of the opening. He was a small man, -almost a dwarf in fact and Bob could hardly repress a desire to -laugh. His arms, abnormally long, hung well below his knees and his -legs were so thin that it seemed impossible that they were strong -enough to support the body. But what impressed the boy most of all -were the massive shoulders, all out of proportion to the rest of his -body. He was dressed in an old black sweater torn in many places and -a pair of corduroy trousers which reached only to the knees. His -feet were bare. - -“What a wild man of Borneo he’d make,” Bob thought. “But I’d sure -hate to tackle him. I’ll bet he’s stronger than an ox.” - -For several minutes the strange creature stood looking about and -then, to the consternation of the boy, he darted directly toward -him. So sudden was the movement that before Bob had time to even -rise the creature was upon him. He tried to defend himself but he -quickly realized that his estimate of his strength was far too low. -Those arms, though ridiculously thin, were like hands of steel and -one of them wrapped around him held him helpless while the other -hand sought his throat. But before the long fingers could close -about it he had let out a wild shout for help. - -Fortunately for him help was close at hand. The huge hand had closed -on his wind pipe and everything was beginning to go black when, with -a loud shout of encouragement, Jack landed fairly on the diminutive -monster’s back and forced him to break his hold. But so great was -the strength of the dwarf that it is doubtful if they could have -overcome him without Kernertok’s help for he fought with a fury such -as they had never encountered. Those long arms seemed absolutely -tireless and their strength almost superhuman, and for a time he -threw them about as though they were children. But at last the -exertion began to tell on him and suddenly, as though realizing that -his was a losing fight, he sank down on the ground and, burying his -face in his hands, began to whimper for all the world like a whipped -dog. - -Even Kernertok was panting as the battle ended and both boys were -gasping for breath. Bob had two long scratches on one cheek and one -of Jack’s eyes was rapidly closing, while their clothes were torn in -many places. - -“Whew!” Jack gasped holding one hand over his swollen eye. “What is -it, a man or a cyclone?” - -“Anyhow, he’s some scrapper,” Bob panted. - -“Him heap big little fighter,” Kernertok added. - -“You said something,” Jack agreed. - -The dwarf was still whining and now Bob went close to him and spoke -kindly. - -“We are not going to hurt you if you behave yourself.” - -At the sound of his voice the dwarf glanced timidly up at him. - -“Me crazy Dan: me no hurt nobody,” he whined. - -“What would have happened to us if he had been in an angry mood?” -Jack grinned as he heard the words. - -“All right, Dan, suppose you stop whining and we’ll talk it over,” -Bob said as he took hold of the dwarf’s shoulder and pulled him up -to a sitting position. “There that’s better.” - -“Who you?” the man asked. - -“We’ll be your friends if you’ll let us.” - -“Crazy Dan no got friend.” - -“Then it’s time you had some,” Bob assured him kindly. - -“What for you hunt after old Dan, eh?” - -“Well, you see, it’s like this,” Bob began. “There’s been a lot of -things happening over at the camp and we’ve been trying to find out -who was at the bottom of it. You understand?” - -“Me know. Me did it.” - -“But why? What did you want to scare away all the people who came -there for?” - -For a moment the dwarf hesitated. - -“They catch all the fish out the lake. Be no more left for Dan,” he -said finally. - -“That’s all bosh,” Jack broke in but Bob hushed him. - -“But don’t you know that they breed faster than they’re caught out?” -he asked. - -Dan shook his head. - -“They catch um fast,” he muttered. - -“Do you live in that hole?” he asked changing the subject and -pointing to the hill. - -The dwarf nodded his head. - -“In the winter time too?” - -Again he nodded assent. - -“I should think you’d freeze,” Bob said. - -“Got good stove in dar. Keep plenty warm.” - -“Well, Dan, we don’t want to do anything to harm you but that camp -belongs to a friend of ours and he’s lost a lot of money because you -scared away all his guests and I guess it’s up to us to take you to -jail unless you promise that you won’t do it any more. How about -it?” - -The dwarf’s eyes were filled with terror as he heard Bob mention the -jail. - -“Dan be good you let him be,” he promised eagerly. - -“You’re sure?” - -“Hope die.” - -“All right then, we’ll give you a chance but mind, if there’s any -more of that ghost business, you’ll go to jail,” Bob assured him. - -“No more,” Dan reiterated. - -“Now, Dan,” Bob said after a moment’s pause, “there’s two or three -things I want you to explain. How about that spot of light? How did -you manage it?” - -For a moment the dwarf hesitated as though undecided whether to tell -or to refuse, but finally he drew from his pocket a burning lens -about two inches across. - -“It easy wid dis and a dark lantern,” he said with a broad grin. - -“Of course,” Bob agreed. “But how about the raps?” - -“Dan throw stones so dey hit one place. Throw dem mighty fast.” - -“I’ll say you must have,” Jack broke in. - -“And how did it happen that you never got caught in the traps we -set?” Bob asked next. - -A smile lighted up the face of the dwarf as he replied. - -“Dan too smart,” he chuckled. - -“But we fixed them so that no one could tell they were there,” Bob -insisted. - -“You good trap setter, but Dan see you set ’em.” - -“You did?” - -“Dan hide up in big pine tree, see you set ’em all.” - -“Well, Dan, you’re smart, mighty smart, but remember your promise,” -Bob told him as he turned to the others. “Guess we might as well be -getting back to camp unless you want to ask some more questions.” - -They all shook hands with the dwarf who now seemed very friendly -and, after again reminding him of his promise to be good, started -off through the woods, Sicum leading the way. - -“What do you think of him?” Bob asked as soon as they were out of -hearing. - -“I think he’s a slick one all right, but he’s no more crazy than I -am,” Jack replied and Kernertok grunted assent. - -“My idea exactly,” Bob agreed. “I believe that part was all assumed, -but what was his real reason then?” - -“Don’t know but I’ll bet that, whatever it is, he’ll do no more -ghost business.” - -“I think you’re right,” Bob agreed as they started on again. - -“And now, everything is cleared up with one exception,” Jack said as -he followed close behind. - -“And that is—” - -“The Sleepers,” Jack finished. - -“Exactly. And the chances are we’ll never know, but it really -doesn’t matter so far as we’re concerned, now that they’ve gone.” - -The breakfast horn sounded just as they reached the edge of the -clearing and never had it seemed more welcome for they were all very -hungry. - -“Shall we tell Jacques?” Bob asked as they were washing. - -“Might’s well, I guess. Perhaps he knows something about the fellow. -Anyhow I don’t see how it can do any harm.” - -The meal was over before they broached the subject as they were too -busy stowing away the food Jacques had provided, but as they pushed -back their chairs, Bob asked: - -“By the way, Jacques, do you know anybody around here called Crazy -Dan?” - -“Oui, me know him, but heem no crazy. Heem mak’ folks tink so,” -Jacques replied after a moment’s pause. “You see heem?” - -“Yes, we’ve seen him and what’s more, we’ve settled this ghost -business, that is, I guess we have.” And he told him all about their -adventure of the night. - -Jacques was plainly surprised and shook his head as though doubtful -but finally he agreed that Dan must have been guilty. - -“I allys know heem ver’ sharp, but no thot heem so sharp lik’ dat.” - -Just then a loud hail was heard from out on the lake. - -“Someone’s coming,” Bob cried as he rushed for the door closely -followed by Jack. - -As they came out onto the porch they saw a canoe with two men in it -headed for the wharf and almost in. - -“It’s Rex,” Jack yelled and started on the run for the wharf. - -“And it’s Mr. Stokes with him,” Bob added close at his heels. - -They reached the end of the wharf just as the canoe touched and in -another instant they were all shaking hands. - -“How, in the world, did you get up here at this time of day?” Bob -asked as soon as the first greetings were over. - -“We got up as far as the dam late last night and the man there put -us up over night. We would have been up in time to have got here for -supper but the fellow who drove us up from Greenville had engine -trouble and it was nearly eleven o’clock when we got to the dam,” -Rex explained. - -“Well, come along and get breakfast. I guess Jacques can scare up -something. We’ve just finished,” Bob said as he led the way. - -Nothing was said about business until they had eaten, then Rex said: - -“And how’s the ghost business?” - -“If you had asked that question yesterday at this time I’d have been -obliged to reply, about the same, thanks. But now, thank goodness, I -can say there ain’t no such animal any more, if you’ll excuse the -grammar,” Bob laughed. - -“You mean that you’ve solved the mystery?” Mr. Stokes asked eagerly. - -“I think so,” Bob replied and, for the next half hour, he was busy -telling them all about their adventures. - -“Good boys,” Mr. Stokes declared when the story was finished. “Where -can I get a phone? I was going to have one put in here this summer.” - -“There’s none nearer than the dam, I’m afraid,” Bob told him. - -“Then I’ll have to get down there sometime during the day and send a -wire to my secretary. You see,” he explained, “I was so sure that -you were going to succeed that I had a lot of letters written to the -people who have been here, and they are on my desk all ready to -mail. I’ll bet we’ll have a crowd up here before the summer is -over.” - -“Suppose you let Jack and me take the message down,” Bob proposed, -but Mr. Stokes declared that there was no reason why they shouldn’t -all go down in the motor boat. - -“I’m mighty glad that Jacques wasn’t mixed up in it,” he whispered -to Bob a little later when they were ready to start. - - THE END - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's The Golden Boys at the Haunted Camp, by L. P. Wyman - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK GOLDEN BOYS AT THE HAUNTED CAMP *** - -***** This file should be named 62802-0.txt or 62802-0.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/6/2/8/0/62802/ - -Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This book was -produced from images made available by the HathiTrust -Digital Library.) - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part -of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm -concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark, -and may not be used if you charge for the eBooks, unless you receive -specific permission. If you do not charge anything for copies of this -eBook, complying with the rules is very easy. You may use this eBook -for nearly any purpose such as creation of derivative works, reports, -performances and research. They may be modified and printed and given -away--you may do practically ANYTHING in the United States with eBooks -not protected by U.S. copyright law. Redistribution is subject to the -trademark license, especially commercial redistribution. - -START: FULL LICENSE - -THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE -PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK - -To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free -distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work -(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full -Project Gutenberg-tm License available with this file or online at -www.gutenberg.org/license. - -Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works - -1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to -and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property -(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all -the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or -destroy all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your -possession. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a -Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound -by the terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the -person or entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph -1.E.8. - -1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be -used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who -agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few -things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works -even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See -paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this -agreement and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works. See paragraph 1.E below. - -1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the -Foundation" or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection -of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual -works in the collection are in the public domain in the United -States. If an individual work is unprotected by copyright law in the -United States and you are located in the United States, we do not -claim a right to prevent you from copying, distributing, performing, -displaying or creating derivative works based on the work as long as -all references to Project Gutenberg are removed. Of course, we hope -that you will support the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting -free access to electronic works by freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm -works in compliance with the terms of this agreement for keeping the -Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with the work. You can easily -comply with the terms of this agreement by keeping this work in the -same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg-tm License when -you share it without charge with others. - -1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern -what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are -in a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, -check the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this -agreement before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, -distributing or creating derivative works based on this work or any -other Project Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no -representations concerning the copyright status of any work in any -country outside the United States. - -1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: - -1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other -immediate access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear -prominently whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work -on which the phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the -phrase "Project Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, -performed, viewed, copied or distributed: - - This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and - most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no - restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it - under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this - eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the - United States, you'll have to check the laws of the country where you - are located before using this ebook. - -1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is -derived from texts not protected by U.S. copyright law (does not -contain a notice indicating that it is posted with permission of the -copyright holder), the work can be copied and distributed to anyone in -the United States without paying any fees or charges. If you are -redistributing or providing access to a work with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the work, you must comply -either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 or -obtain permission for the use of the work and the Project Gutenberg-tm -trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted -with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution -must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any -additional terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms -will be linked to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works -posted with the permission of the copyright holder found at the -beginning of this work. - -1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm -License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this -work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. - -1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this -electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without -prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with -active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project -Gutenberg-tm License. - -1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, -compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including -any word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access -to or distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format -other than "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official -version posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site -(www.gutenberg.org), you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense -to the user, provide a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means -of obtaining a copy upon request, of the work in its original "Plain -Vanilla ASCII" or other form. Any alternate format must include the -full Project Gutenberg-tm License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. - -1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, -performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works -unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing -access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works -provided that - -* You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from - the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method - you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed - to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he has - agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project - Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid - within 60 days following each date on which you prepare (or are - legally required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty - payments should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project - Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in - Section 4, "Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg - Literary Archive Foundation." - -* You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies - you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he - does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm - License. You must require such a user to return or destroy all - copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue - all use of and all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg-tm - works. - -* You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of - any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the - electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of - receipt of the work. - -* You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free - distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. - -1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work or group of works on different terms than -are set forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing -from both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and The -Project Gutenberg Trademark LLC, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm -trademark. Contact the Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. - -1.F. - -1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable -effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread -works not protected by U.S. copyright law in creating the Project -Gutenberg-tm collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may -contain "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate -or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other -intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or -other medium, a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or -cannot be read by your equipment. - -1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right -of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project -Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all -liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal -fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT -LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE -PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE -TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE -LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR -INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH -DAMAGE. - -1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a -defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can -receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a -written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you -received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium -with your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you -with the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in -lieu of a refund. If you received the work electronically, the person -or entity providing it to you may choose to give you a second -opportunity to receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If -the second copy is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing -without further opportunities to fix the problem. - -1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth -in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO -OTHER WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT -LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. - -1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied -warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of -damages. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement -violates the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the -agreement shall be interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or -limitation permitted by the applicable state law. The invalidity or -unenforceability of any provision of this agreement shall not void the -remaining provisions. - -1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the -trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone -providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in -accordance with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the -production, promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works, harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, -including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of -the following which you do or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this -or any Project Gutenberg-tm work, (b) alteration, modification, or -additions or deletions to any Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any -Defect you cause. - -Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm - -Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of -electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of -computers including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It -exists because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations -from people in all walks of life. - -Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the -assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's -goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will -remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure -and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future -generations. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation and how your efforts and donations can help, see -Sections 3 and 4 and the Foundation information page at -www.gutenberg.org - - - -Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation - -The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit -501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the -state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal -Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification -number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by -U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. - -The Foundation's principal office is in Fairbanks, Alaska, with the -mailing address: PO Box 750175, Fairbanks, AK 99775, but its -volunteers and employees are scattered throughout numerous -locations. Its business office is located at 809 North 1500 West, Salt -Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email contact links and up to -date contact information can be found at the Foundation's web site and -official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact - -For additional contact information: - - Dr. Gregory B. Newby - Chief Executive and Director - gbnewby@pglaf.org - -Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation - -Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide -spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of -increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be -freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest -array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations -($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt -status with the IRS. - -The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating -charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United -States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a -considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up -with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations -where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND -DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any particular -state visit www.gutenberg.org/donate - -While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we -have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition -against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who -approach us with offers to donate. - -International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make -any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from -outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. - -Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation -methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other -ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. To -donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate - -Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works. - -Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project -Gutenberg-tm concept of a library of electronic works that could be -freely shared with anyone. For forty years, he produced and -distributed Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of -volunteer support. - -Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed -editions, all of which are confirmed as not protected by copyright in -the U.S. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not -necessarily keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper -edition. - -Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search -facility: www.gutenberg.org - -This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, -including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to -subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. - |