CHAPTER XVIII--THE MYSTERY DEEPENS
"It must be Bert!" cried Fleet.
"I don't know," said Chot. "I wish we had a light. I expect we'd bettermake for the canoes."
"Help, help!" came the cry again, this time fainter than before.
"Wait," said Hoki.
He dashed into the lodge and turned a button that flooded the gallerywith light. Then the boys saw him spring to a small contrivance on oneend of the verandah, and which until now had passed unnoticed by them.
The next instant they knew it was a small searchlight, for a streak ofwhite light shot suddenly out on to the river, moved here and thereunder Hoki's skillful manipulation, then settled down upon a spot wherethe figure of a man or boy could be seen clinging to the bottom of anupturned skiff.
"Now, go," said Hoki. "I wait by light."
"And I'll stay with you," said Fleet, and Chot nodded a vigorous assent.
Chot, Tom and Pod ran quickly down to the bank where they had left theircanoes, and pushing them into the water, paddled rapidly in thedirection of the light.
"That doesn't look like Bert," said Tom.
"Help, fellows--I'm all in," said the voice again, and there wassomething strangely familiar about it.
"That doesn't look like Bert," said Tom, again, "and it isn't Bert."
"No; it's--it's Truem Wright!" cried Chot, as the canoes drew closer.
"It's Truem all right," growled that person.
"Well, what do you think of that?" cried Pod.
"I don't think much of it," said Truem. "I'm glad I've found youfellows. Been searching for you the whole afternoon. But help me out ofthis--this water's pretty cool for an evening bath."
Chot and Tom, one on either side, steadied Pod's canoe until Truem couldcrawl in. Then Chot secured the painter of the upturned skiff and thecanoes started for the landing again, Chot towing Truem's upturned boat.
The boys were curious to know what had happened to Truem, but decidednot to question him until he had been supplied with dry clothes.
Hoki turned off the searchlight as the boys climbed the steps leading tothe verandah, and came forward to see if he could be of assistance.
Truem shook hands with Fleet, as Chot turned to the Jap.
"You might find a suit of old clothes, some underwear and anythingthat's handy, Hoki," said Chot.
"I find plenty," was the Jap's reply. "You wait."
They heard him rummaging in Mr. Lawrence's room and finally he emergedwith all the necessary articles. Chot and Tom then took Truem into theirroom where, when he had stripped, they rubbed him with a rough toweluntil his skin fairly shone.
A little later, when the boys were again on the verandah, Truem told hisstory.
"I arrived at Clayton on the New York side, yesterday morning," he said."Of course, I had no idea where you fellows were, so one place was asgood as another to make a start from--in fact, I've had better luckfinding you than I thought I should. I took a little passenger launchfrom Clayton over to Wellesley Island. The launch only went as far asWestminster Park, however, so I bargained with a boatman for a skiff. Hewouldn't rent to a stranger, so I bought it outright.
"That was yesterday afternoon. I spent the night on a little islandwhere a party was camping. They generously shared what they had with meand gave me a place to sleep. I told them I was hunting you fellows, andthat you would probably be in one of the most secluded parts of theriver, so they directed me this way. I rowed in and out around theislands all day until about an hour ago, when I caught sight of the roofof this lodge. Well, I was two miles away, and it was growing dusk. Iwondered if I'd be able to keep a course for the place. Then your lightscame on and I steered my course by that.
"As I passed that island to the north of you, I heard men talking in lowtones, and thought once I'd stop and ask who lived over here. But Idecided to keep on, for the men, whoever they were, had no lights out,and I didn't like to stop without knowing something about whom I wasgoing to meet. So I started around the east end of this island, judgingfrom the lights where the front of the building was, and as I lay offthe island out there wondering where I'd better land, I heard some sortof a boat coming toward me in the dark. It was a big rowboat. She had nolights out; neither had I. Well, she hit me, bowling me over in a hurry.There were three men in her, I believe. I heard a low laugh as she sweptby and was lost in the darkness. Then, I shouted for help."
"In what direction was the other boat going, Truem?" asked Chot.
"I should say that she was heading around the east point there towardthe north island. The oars were muffled, and she came upon me before Iknew it."
"That sounds rather suspicious," said Tom. "Muffled oars and no lights.That's in strict disobedience to the navigation laws, I am sure. Lookslike there's something shady going on around here."
"Sh!" cried Chot. He looked quickly around to see if the Jap was inearshot. But Hoki was in the kitchen preparing some lunch for Truem, andcould not hear.
Then, in low tones, the boys told Truem of their adventures sincearriving at Winnsocket Lodge, ending with the disappearance of Bert.
"That's the strangest part of all--how Bert could disappear somysteriously," said Truem. "Are you sure there's not some sort of asecret door in the cellar?"
"We've been over every corner of it," said Chot.
"Well, we'd better go over it again by daylight."
"We will. What bothers me is why Bert ran into the lodge so quickly.Something must have startled him into action, for he motioned to us tocome and disappeared inside like a flash."
"Well, it's too deep for me," said Fleet. "I'm afraid something hashappened to him."
"And I'm afraid to go to bed to-night," said Pod.
"That suggests to me that it will be a good plan to sit up, two at atime, and watch," said Chot.
"Including Hoki?" inquired Tom.
"Yes; I'll take the Jap as my partner. We'll stand the first watch tilltwelve; then Tom and Pod can take it up till three, and Truem and Fleetcan watch from three till daylight."
"That's a good plan," said Tom. "If there's anything going on aroundhere--and we are positive that there is--we'd best find out about it assoon as we can. We don't want to spoil our vacation. Who knows, to-nightsome of us may get a clue to Bert's disappearance."
While Truem was eating his lunch, Chot explained matters to Hoki, andasked the Jap to stand the first watch with him.
"Oh, sirs," he said, trembling as he surveyed them, "it is better thatall go to bed and peacefully slumber. May be if you sit up you willgreat dissatisfaction have, perhaps danger, before morning."
"Look here, Hoki," said Chot, sternly. "What do you know about thislodge?"
"Oh, nothing, sirs; I request that you belief have."
"Well, there are some mighty strange things going on in this vicinity.One of our number has mysteriously disappeared--before our eyes, youmight say. Don't you think you could make a pretty good guess as to whathas become of him?"
"Don't me ask, sirs," replied Hoki. "See, I prostrate my bended knees onthe carpet you before that you believe me when I say I nothing know."
The Jap spoke earnestly, as he fell into a kneeling posture in front ofChot.
"Get up, Hoki," commanded Chot. "There is no need to kneel. We'll takeyour word for it."
But it was easily apparent that Hoki knew more than he would tell. Hewas afraid, no doubt, of Mr. Lawrence. Beg and plead with him as theymight during the rest of the evening, he maintained the strictestsecrecy. Anything he knew of the lodge--anything of the mysterioushappenings of the previous day and night--would remain locked within hisbreast. Hoki was at least faithful to his master, and the boys admiredhim for it.
"Well, we won't ask you anything more, Hoki," said Chot, finally.
"I thanks make, sir."
"But you must stand watch with me till midnight."
"Oh, no, sir; I protest that--"
"Protesting will do no good. If we agree not to question you, you must,in tu
rn, agree to aid us all you can without betraying your master."
The Jap said nothing more, but wandered around with a scared look on hisface. From the top to the bottom of the house, he went, now pacingrestlessly up and down the big hall, now climbing the stairs to theupper floor, then down again and on to the verandah.
"I'm afraid Hoki will bear watching," said Chot, who had been observinghis movements.
"I don't believe he'd attempt any violence," said Tom.
"No; on the contrary, I believe he likes us and would be glad to helpus. But something frightens him and makes him hold his tongue. Mr.Lawrence, for instance, may have sworn him to secrecy on some sacredJapanese oath, which Hoki would rather die than break. I have heard ofsuch things."
"If he'd only tell us what he knows of Bert's disappearance, I wouldn'task him a thing about his master," said Fleet.
"No; I'd be willing to take Bert and quit the lodge," said Pod.
"Not I," said Chot "This mystery has aroused my curiosity, and I mean tosee the bottom of it before I stir off the island. No matter how strangethings may seem, there is a plausible explanation for everything andwe've got to find it."
"Chot is right," said Truem; "there's nothing supernatural about this.Someone is working a mighty clever scheme--that's all. I, like Chot,want to get at the bottom of it."
"And I," said Tom.
"Oh, you fellows needn't think Pod and I are going to leave you in thelurch," said Fleet. "We're in the thing till the finish, even if it'sour finish too."
"We know that," said Chot. "You fellows who are to stand the laterwatches had better get some sleep. It's nine-thirty. I'll corral Hokiand try and cure him of his nervousness. Then I'll put out the lightsand see if I can discover any deep, dark mysteries!"
Pod shuddered slightly at Chot's words, but Chot laughed.
"Of course you fellows will sleep in the downstairs room, so as to behandy if I want you," he said. "If you hear the sound of a scuffle or arevolver shot, you'll know there's something doing."
So the other boys went off to bed, Tom and Pod taking the room occupiedthe previous night by Chot and Tom, and Truem and Fleet using the oneoccupied by Bert.
"Here, Hoki," said Chot. "Come out and sit down."
The Jap came silently on to the verandah. He did not seem inclined totalk, and Chot decided not to force the conversation. He preferred to besilent, anyway, that his ear might catch any unusual sound either in orout of the lodge.
The evening passed without incident until nearly twelve, and Chot arosewith a yawn to awaken Tom and Pod, when, as he stepped into the hall, heheard a faint cry coming apparently from the basement. He listenedintently. The voice was that of Bert Creighton, and it sounded milesaway.
"Chot! Tom! Help!" it said. "I'm caught--I'm caught! Help! Help!"
Chot lost no time in acting; springing quickly to the room occupied byTom and Pod, he threw open the door and cried out for them to get up.Then, turning on the lights in the hall, he hurried toward the doorleading into the basement, while Hoki, in apparent terror, crouched onthe stairway leading above.