CHAPTER XXII
TOM'S DISCOVERIES
Tom waited around a bit, hoping someone might come out from the mill,or that the watcher with the gun would leave. But nothing of this kindhappened.
"If they would only come out, one at a time, I might capture them," hethought. "Then I could go in and do as I pleased. But that's too goodluck to have happen."
It was evident that he could gain nothing by remaining where he was.He had no glimpse of his chums, and he could think of no way ofcommunicating with them.
"If it wasn't so far, I could write a note, wrap it around a stone, andheave it into a window," he thought. "But then it might fall into wronghands, and I'd be as badly off as before.
"Hang it all! I wonder what I'd better do?" he asked himself. "Ihaven't been able to think of a thing. I guess, after all, I'll haveto get help. No, I won't either!" he exclaimed, a moment later. "I'lltake another day or so to think it over, and then, if I haven't hit ona plan, I'll give an alarm.
"They won't dare do much to the boys," he reflected. "They'll have togive 'em something to eat, even if it's only bread and water, such aswe got when we went on strike in Elmwood Hall. Yes, I'll wait anotherday or so."
Vainly giving a last look, hoping for some sign, Tom quietly made hisway to the skiff, and rowed down the river again and across the lake tocamp.
"Caesar's cats! but this is a lonesome place!" he exclaimed, as helooked about at the tents. "I never knew what it meant to have a jollycrowd with me before. This is like being a castaway on a desert island.Well, the only thing to do is to keep busy."
He entered the main tent, intending to get on some of his older clothesand prepare a meal. As he stepped inside the canvas house he uttered anexclamation of surprise.
"I've had visitors!" cried Tom. "And two-legged ones at that! Someonehas been here, running about!"
Well might he say that, for the place was in confusion. Theneatly-made-up cots had been pulled apart, the valises and suitcases,of himself and his chums, had been opened, the garments tossed about.Boxes and packages had been searched.
"This is the work of that old hermit, or else Skeel and his twocronies," decided Tom. "They must have known I'd go away from camp, andthey watched their chance to sneak in. Oh! if I had only known it!"
He looked about to see if anything had been taken, but there was nosign of anything missing, though it was hard to tell definitely becauseof the manner in which things were scattered about.
"I wonder what they could have wanted?" asked Tom aloud, and, having noone to answer it, he replied to his own question.
"It couldn't have been me," he resumed, "though they may have done thisfor spite because they didn't catch me. No, that would hardly be it.They would have done worse damage if they had done it just because ofanger. It was something else. They were searching for something. I haveit! The plan I found! That's what they want! Maybe, after all, it's theoriginal and not a copy, and they can't go on with the search withoutit. That's it, I'll wager a cookie! I wonder if I have it safe?"
From an inner pocket he took the piece of paper containing the map.
"Here it is," he murmured. "I'm glad I thought to take it with me, andnot leave it around here. My! but they must be desperate to take suchchances for this document. That shows how valuable it is."
Returning the paper to his pocket, Tom took an hour or so to straightenout his camp. Then, getting supper, which he ate in lonesome silence,he sat down by the fire to think.
"I'd be glad even if we had a dog," he mused. "The next time I gocamping I'll take one along. Now let's see where we are at.
"Dick, Jack and Bert are prisoners in the old mill. That's my firstfact. Second, I've got to rescue 'em. Third, is this plan going to beof any use to me?"
Again he took it out to look at it, but the flickering of the campfireproved too uncertain, and he decided to go in the tent and examine itby the light of a lantern.
"Maybe, now that we're not so excited over it, I can make out things onit that I couldn't before," he told himself. But the first half-hour'sscrutiny did not develop anything. The plan appeared to be just thatand nothing more.
"And it's here, in the third story, where the boys are held prisoners,"mused our hero, as he put his finger on that part of the drawing. "Onlythere's no stairway shown, as far as I can see."
He looked closely at the plan, lifting it from the table and holding itbetween himself and the light. As he did so he made a most remarkablediscovery. He fairly shouted as he saw it.
For, drawn in some such manner as are the water-marks in paper, visibleonly when held up to the light, so on the plan, there was marked out asecret staircase, leading from the second to the third floor of the oldmill!
"By Jove!" cried Tom. "I have it. Now I see why that wall was so thick.The secret staircase is built in the thickness of the wall, and itdoesn't show from either inside or outside the mill. In fact it doesn'tshow on the plans at first glance, and probably the old architect whodrew them used a peculiar ink so that no one would know about thestairs. They must have been made so that anyone could get from thesecond to the third story of the mill in a hurry, and be hidden therewhen there was an attack by enemies. Well, I've made one discovery. Nowto see how they use the stairs."
But this did not show on the plan, though Tom held it close to thelight, hoping to discover lines so faint that a strong illumination wasneeded to bring them out. The secret staircase, plainly indicated now,seemed to begin abruptly on the second floor, at a point opposite thebig stone grinders, and end on the third story. How to get to them wasnot shown, and, from what Tom remembered of the inside of the mill, hewas sure that the interior wall at this point showed no break, and nosigns of a secret door.
"But that's not saying it isn't there," he said aloud. "I'm going tohave another look, now that I know where to search. I'll have the boysout yet!"
He was so excited that he could hardly get to sleep, and again he wasmaking rapid plans for the rescue of his chums.
"I'll start the first thing in the morning," he told himself. "Hurray!I'm on the right track now! And maybe I'll be lucky enough to find thetreasure, too!"
By daylight he examined the plans again, holding the paper up to thesun. The secret staircase was shown more plainly, but there was nothingto indicate how it might be reached.
"It's just as if it was hidden between the thick walls," murmured Tom."But there must be some way of getting at it, and I'm going to findthat way. Let's see, now; what do I need?"
He decided to take no weapon, for he did not believe the captors of hischums were desperate enough to fire.
"But I'll take one of our pocket electric flashlights," he decided. "Imay have to work in the dark if I'm looking for a secret passage."
What he would do when he got to the old mill, he never stopped toconsider.
"I can't make any plans until I reach there," he decided. "I'll justhave to size things up, and act on the spur of the moment. Jinks! IfI only had one of the fellows with me it would be easy, but playing alone hand isn't what it's cracked up to be. However, I'll do my best.
"Now let's see. I'll need a little grub, for I may not be able to getback to-day. And a blanket if I have to stay out in the open all night.I'll take a little light axe along, and some matches. I guess that'llbe all. And the plan--of course," he concluded, with a grim smile. "Ifthey come for it again they'll find it gone."
Everything being in readiness for what he hoped would be his last visitto the mill to rescue his comrades, Tom got his lonely breakfast. Itwas not such a gloomy meal as the others had been, for he was veryhopeful, and even whistled as he went about the camp, making things assecure as possible until he should return.
"And if I do get the boys, then for a grand final try for thattreasure!" he exclaimed, as he pushed off in the clumsy skiff.
It was a perfect day, and as Tom thought of the fine weather hisfriends were missing he felt a wave of anger against Professor Skeel,the hermit and the two lads of Elmwoo
d Hall.
"If those bullies come back to school in the fall!" exclaimed Tom, witha grim smile, "I'll make the place too hot to hold them, that's whatI'll do!"
Rowing with long, even strokes Tom propelled the skiff across the lake.Instinctively he swept his eyes along the shores for a possible sightof his motorboat.
"But it isn't likely that they'd allow her to get away from them," heargued. "Though I'll get her sooner or later."
He turned the point that hid a view of the river entering Lake Woonset,and, as he did so he uttered a cry.
"By Jove! Is it possible!" he shouted, standing up in the skiff. "Itis, as I'm alive!" he added. "Oh, of all the good luck!"
For, just ahead of him, idly floating on the calm surface of the lake,was his missing motorboat!