CHAPTER IX
AT THE OLD MILL
Difficult it would be to say which party was the more surprised.Certain it was, though Tom and his chums knew that their former teacherintended coming to the vicinity, and though they realized that Sam andNick had gotten off the train with camping stuff near Wilden, theynever expected to meet the three in this spot.
And, for that matter, neither did Mr. Skeel and the two lads, with whomhe seemed to be on friendly terms, think to behold Tom, for the formerplainly showed the surprise he felt.
"Well what do you know about this?" asked Jack, in a low voice.
"It's the limit," agreed Tom.
"Mind your wheel or you'll have us on shore," said Bert. "There's a bigrock just ahead of you."
Tom shifted the wheel with a rapid turn. He had been so interestedin looking at the trio on shore that he had not noticed where he wassteering.
"Shall we speak to 'em?" asked Jack.
"No, don't," advised Bert. "There's no use getting into an argument."
"And yet we might find out something about them, and what they aredoing up here," insisted Jack, who generally liked to take theinitiative.
"I guess we'd better not," spoke Tom. "Anyhow, they wouldn't give usany satisfaction. If they hail us we'll answer, and that's all."
But the three on shore evidently had no intention of speaking. Afterhis first stare of surprise Mr. Skeel was seen to speak to Sam andNick, and then, with a final glance at our friends, the trio turned andplunged back into the woods.
"Well, that's over--for the time being," remarked Dick.
"Yes," assented Bert. "Can you see which way they're going, Tom?"
"Why should we want to?"
"Because they may be going to the same place we are."
"What, to the old mill?"
"Sure."
"They don't know anything about it," declared Tom.
"How do you know? That story of buried treasure is more or less knownall over this section, and the hunt old Wallace is making for it, too.So why shouldn't Mr. Skeel, and Sam or Nick know of it?"
"Well, maybe you're right," agreed Tom. "But we can't see which waythey're headed. The brush is too thick."
"We're not far from the mill, if I'm any judge," said Jack.
"Why?" Tom wanted to know. "How can you tell? You've never been there."
"No, but there's a current setting into the lake now, and that meansthe river isn't far off. The mill is on the river, so, naturally we'renear the mill. Q. E. D., as we used to say after we'd flounderedthrough a geometry proposition."
"Well, maybe you're right," admitted our hero.
"Another thing," went on Jack. "If we're near the mill, so are thosefellows. So you see----"
"By Jove!" cried Tom. "I shouldn't be surprised but what you wereright, Jack. This man Skeel would be up to any proposition to makemoney, and he may, as you say, have heard the rumor of treasure in theold mill."
"How do you account for him meeting Sam and Nick?" asked Bert.
"Oh, it probably just happened," suggested Tom. "If they are campingnear here, and Skeel is doing the same thing, it's not out of reasonthat they should meet. Well, if they're after the treasure in the oldmill I don't see what's to prevent us having a go for the same thing."
"If Old Wallace will let us," put in Bert.
"Oh, well, we'll have to take a chance with him," said Tom. "We'll haveto wait until he's away from home, which he seems to be most of thetime."
"And if we get the treasure, what will we do with it?" inquired Dick.
"Wait until we do," laughed Tom. "I don't believe there is one chancein a thousand of there being any treasure there, and if there is, it'sa hundred to one shot that we can't find it, nor can anyone else. Butit will be fun to have a go for it."
"And if we do find it," put in Jack, "we'll all take a trip to Europe."
"No," spoke Tom, quietly, "if we do find any treasure, it will have togo to the one who owns it--the old hermit, very likely."
"Oh pshaw!" cried Jack. "After the mean way he treated us, Tom?"
"Sure. Right is right. But say, don't let's get into an argument oversuch a remote possibility. Wait until we get to the mill, and have alook around. I'm an expert on buried treasure, and I can tell, as soonas I see a place, what the prospects are," and Tom's chums joined inhis hearty laugh.
"Well, speed up," suggested Jack, "and we'll see what sort of anEldorado lies before us. Westward ho!" and he struck a dramaticattitude.
Tom turned on more gasolene and advanced the spark, so that the _Tag_shot ahead. There was no further sign of Professor Skeel and the twoboys.
"There's the river!" exclaimed Bert, about a quarter of an hour later,as the boat went around a bend, and they came into view of a streamflowing into the lake. It was as wild and picturesque as the lakeitself, with big trees on either bank, overhanging the water in places.
"Say, that's great!" cried Tom. "I'm going to get some pictures ofthat. Take the wheel, Jack, while I get out my camera."
Tom was soon snapping away, getting a number of fine views, while withJack at the wheel, and Dick to watch the motor, the _Tag_ swept slowlyinto the river. The current was not strong at this point, and it waspossible to slow down to half speed, as the lads did not know thecharacter of the water, nor how much depth there was, though the _Tag_did not draw more than two feet.
"Let's see who'll spot the old mill first," proposed Tom, as headjusted his camera to take more pictures when the ruin should besighted.
"I'd rather get the first sight of the hidden treasure," declared Jack,who seemed to have more faith in the existence of the secret horde thandid the others. "Anyone can see a mill," he went on, "but it takes aneagle eye to spot treasure."
"And I suppose you think you've got the eagle eye!" laughed Bert.
"Sure I have. Say, Dick, isn't it almost lunch time?"
"I don't know. I'm not the cook this week. It's up to Tom."
"Can we eat, Tom?" asked his roommate at Elmwood Hall.
"Not until we get to the mill. Work before pleasure, my boy. That's therule here."
"Well then, get ready with the grub," said Jack, quietly, "for there'syour mill," and he pointed just ahead of them.
"By Jove! So it is!" exclaimed Tom.
They had gone around a turn in the river, and on one bank, situated ona little rise, were the ruins of an old stone mill.
In its day it had been a big structure, built of field stone, and itmust have been a substantial place to which the settlers for milesaround probably came with their grain. But now it was in ruins, throughthe ravages of time and the hands of those who sought the treasure.
As the boat approached it the boys could see where a flume had beenbuilt to take the water from the river, and direct it over a big wheel.Of the latter there was little left. Trees and underbrush grew upclose to the old structure, near which were the rotting remains of awharf where, in the olden days, likely, the craft of the settlers hadtied up when they came with grist.
"Say, it's a wonderful ruin all right," said Tom in a low voice. "Putover to shore, Jack, while I get a picture. Then we'll get out and havea look around."
As Tom focused his camera, and clicked the shutter, there was amovement in the tangle of vines and bushes near what had been the mainentrance to the mill.
"Look out!" exclaimed Jack. "Some one's coming!"