CHAPTER X--FRANK TRIES TO FIGURE IT OUT
Frank was sorely perplexed. He felt sure that Jerry must have falleninto the hands of some enemies while he was busily engaged in examiningthe second Indian mound. Perhaps it might be that he had even heard thelow cry of his chum when the others seized upon him, but in hisignorance had supposed it to be the call of a bird in the brush.
He tried to read the signs the best he could.
"There's that same small footprint, showing that the two tramps havebeen here. Were they watching for us, or did we just happen to drop inupon some favorite hiding-place of theirs? They saw a chance to get mypard while I was away with the gun. And now what will they do with him?"
So he pondered as he stood there looking around at the dense foliagethat gave no hint as to where these lawless characters could have takenpoor Jerry.
Frank searched high and low as the minutes passed, but without anysuccess. He saw the coming of night with uneasiness.
"This is a nice pickle for me. Trying to warn the others, and I fallinto the pit myself the first one. But they wouldn't dare hurt Jerry. Wehaven't done them any harm. What they really want, I imagine, consistsof our guns and food. Then they could hold out for a long campaign inthe woods, and snap their fingers at the sheriff and his posse. Like asnot, in the morning they'll try to open communications with us and offerJerry in exchange for our things."
The thought gave him pain. Never before had he known just how much hethought of the missing boy.
Then he remembered that he had two other chums.
"They'll be worried too. Perhaps I'd better be getting back to camp torelieve their distress of mind. It will be all right in the morning, nodoubt. And there's always a chance that Jerry may be able to give therascals the slip. He can duck first-class when he wants to, whether it'splaying hockey or prisoner's base."
Getting what small consolation he could out of this, Frank now set aboutheading for the camp. He had ventured far into the interior of theisland, and only for the fact that the stars were shining brightlyabove, he might have further mixed matters up by getting thoroughly losthimself.
There were times when he found it all he could do to push his waythrough the dense vegetation which obstructed his passage on every side.
But having taken his bearings, he knew he was slowly but surely drawingnearer the point where their camp lay. The bluff stood up against thestar-bedecked sky at such times as he found a clear spot and could catcha view.
Frank happened to have an unusually large supply of matches with him. Healways carried some when in the woods, but that morning he had taken upquite a bunch from the receptacle Jerry had made to hold them near theentrance to their tent.
Consequently he was able to strike one every little while when somepeculiarly knotty problem presented itself for solution.
It was while standing in a little glade that he ignited one of thematches in order to glance at his watch, more than anything else. Hisattention was immediately attracted toward something on the ground.
"The ashes of a fire, without a doubt. That proves the presence of humanbeings on the island; and I guess an escaped lunatic would never beguilty of making a fire. Oh! those two hoboes are here, all right. If Icould only get word to Mr. Dodd now, he would surround the island, andcapture them easily. But if they hurt my chum they'll pay dear for it,"he muttered.
The ashes were stone cold, as he discovered upon placing his hand uponthem, Indian style. Perhaps a red native of the North Woods could haveeven told just how long it had been since fire lingered among the deadembers; but it was more than the boy was able to do.
Again he pushed forward. Rounding the bluff, he now headed straight forthe camp.
Perhaps he found himself entertaining a desolate hope that, after all,Jerry might have played a little trick on him, running off, and makingcamp while he lingered. Frank knew about the old game of "holding thebag," where boys coax a green comrade to go out into the dark woods farfrom home, and leave him holding a sack over the end of a hollow logwhile they pretend to scare up the rabbits or other game, but in realitygo home; but he did not think Jerry would play such a lark when thingslooked so serious around them.
He wondered why he did not see something of the fire.
Surely nothing could have happened to the two in camp? That would beworse and worse, for it was bad enough to think of Jerry in the hands ofthose rascally hoboes, without adding to the horror.
Now he was crawling up near the place under the shelter of the bluff,craning his neck eagerly for some sign of the boys. At first he couldnot see them. The fire was burning low, and that was a sign he did notlike.
Frank began to feel a cold sensation creep over him. It was beginning toseem so sinister and awe-inspiring that he was deeply impressed.
Then he caught the low buzz of voices, and, listening, was cheered torecognize the tones of Will as he made his boast.
When that sudden amazing flash came, Frank crouched there as iftransformed into a pillar of salt, like Lot's wife. For the life of himhe could not understand what had happened. He thought he heard ascuffling sound on the other side of the camp, but was not sure. ThenWill spoke up, his voice quivering with alarm:
"Oh! what was that, Bluff? Did any one shoot, or was it lightning? Ididn't hear the thunder, did you?"
"Hang the luck, that gave me a bad start, as sure as you live. And tothink, after all, it was only that beastly old flash you arranged tomake some animal take a photograph of himself! A few times like that andwe'll both be fit to go over to the Merrick Asylum, that's what."
"My camera set for a flashlight picture? Why, of course! How silly forme to be startled! But I should have remembered it in a few seconds,anyhow. Thank you for reminding me of it. And it worked, you notice,Bluff. You laughed at the idea, but I guess I've got the 'coon'spicture, all right," laughed Will, hysterically.
"What's that over on the other side, yonder? I would swear I sawsomething moving there. Listen, and tell me if you can hear himbreathing before I let go!" exclaimed Bluff, excitedly.
"Hold on there, Bluff, don't you dare fire! It's me, and I'm hidingbehind this tree for fear of being punctured by a load of shot!" calleda voice.
Will gave vent to a gurgle of delight, and seemed to try to hug himself.
"Thank goodness, it's Frank. They've returned at last to a cold supper.Welcome home, boys. We've been looking for you this long while," hesaid.
"Why, he's alone!" exclaimed Bluff, in surprise.
"Yes, and I've got some bad news for you, fellows," said Frank, comingup.
"About Jerry?" demanded Bluff.
"Yes, he's gone!" continued the newcomer, dejectedly.
"Gone!" echoed Bluff.
"Goodness gracious! what's happened?" ejaculated Will, clutching hold ofthe newcomer's sleeve, as though his knees suddenly grew weak.
"Disappeared, and I'm seriously afraid that those miserable hoboes havecaught him," declared Frank.
"Caught him--but they're not cannibals--they couldn't eat poor Jerry!"came from the bewildered Will, at which Bluff gave a contemptuous laugh.
"Why, of course not, silly. Frank means they've caught Jerry, intendingto make him valuable some way; ain't that it, Frank?" he said.
"Just what I mean. They may try to dicker with us for some provisions. Irather guess they're some shy in that line. Or, it may be they want usto clear out. Any way you fix it the thing has a bad look, and promisesto break up our pleasant little outing."
"It's a beastly shame. I'd just like to get hold of those tramps.Wouldn't they be headed for the lock-up in Centerville in a hurry!"growled Bluff.
Frank looked at him seriously as if contemplating some move.
"Well," said he presently, "I don't know but what it will come to itthat you can have a hand in their removal."
"What d'ye mean?" demanded the other, instantly.
"It may be that between now and morning I'll ask you to make a littlejourney."
"Looking up the ho
boes?" asked Will, aghast.
"Well, hardly. This trip would be by water, and in a canoe," repliedFrank.
"Oh! I catch on, all right. You think some one ought to go back to townand let the sheriff know that his game can be found here on WildcatIsland?" said Bluff.
"Just so, but please lower your voice; there's no telling who may behiding in the bushes around here. Those hoboes want something we've got,and they mean to have it if possible. Perhaps it may be food, and,again, I've thought, they may envy us the possession of guns."
"Well, I think the idea is a good one; somebody ought to go," pursuedBluff.
"Then it ought to be you. Who can paddle a canoe better than you, Bluff?Besides, Frank is needed here on the island. Something might come upthat neither you nor I could settle," remarked Will.
"I suppose so. Let me know what you decide, Frank, and you'll find mewilling," continued Bluff.
For answer the other simply squeezed his hand. He was considerablyworried over the mysterious absence of Jerry, and realized that the gamethey were playing was a much more serious one than any that had as yetclaimed their attention. These disreputable rascals were desperate; theyhad done something calculated to send them to the penitentiary for aterm of years, and would try their best to avoid punishment.
"There's one thing good, Bluff, if you do go: you won't have to paddlealong in the dark," said Will, presently.
The others glanced toward the east, where the light of the moon was justbeginning to appear along the horizon.
Even as they stood there and talked in low tones the silvery face of themoon pushed up into view. Being some days past her full, she was shornof a portion of her circuit; but still promised a flood of light duringthe balance of the night.
Somehow even this circumstance seemed to give the boys newencouragement.
"Things never look quite so bad when you can see what's what," wasWill's way of mentioning this circumstance.
"Suppose you come and sit down, Frank. Both of us are just dying to hearall about what happened to you and Jerry," said Bluff, presently.
"There's precious little to tell, but what there is you shall hear,boys. I'm ashamed to say that it was while I was a little ways off,examining some curious mounds, made perhaps by the old Indians, thatthis thing happened to our chum. But let's sit down here, and I'll tellyou all about it."
In a low tone he started to detail the few things that had marked thecircuitous journey of himself and Jerry, while the others hung uponevery word, anxious to hear the thrilling denouement where he found thecomrade who had shared his adventures, missing.
Just as he reached this point, and they were all worked up over it,Bluff gave a sudden jump. On the spur of the moment Frank supposed hehad become so nervous over the description that he could no longer sitstill. He was therefore astounded to hear his chum cry out:
"Looky there, boys! As sure as you live, some miserable reptile isgetting away with the canoe I used in fishing, and left pulled up on thebeach!"