CHAPTER XX--THE ESCAPE OF JERRY
"One, two, three, four!"
Frank was counting the shadowy figures that came flitting closer,stooping over as they advanced, some carrying cudgels, and othersdifferent kinds of weapons as if they expected trouble presently.
"Five, six--what, seven, yes, and eight! Where did they pick up theother two members of the crowd?" he was saying to himself as he gazedfrom his snug retreat.
Then he noticed that a couple were armed with guns. This gave him a cluewhich he easily followed to a logical conclusion. On the western shoreof the lake Pet and his disgruntled followers must have run across acouple of their cronies, who were apparently out hunting, though the lawallowed of no shooting of game at this time of year.
These fellows may even have been acting with the sheriff, who hadoffered a certain reward for the apprehension of the hobo thieves. Uponexchanging stories it may have been decided to return to the island in abunch, and make a bold attempt to round up the tramps, who were believedto be without any guns. That reward would look big in the eyes of thesefellows.
No doubt the presence of the old cabin was known to these boys, and theyhad guessed that their quarry might be found hiding there in the heartof the jungle.
Frank laughed to himself at this new complication. It began to look asif Waddy and his pal would soon be between a lot of fires that mustscorch them, whichever way they turned.
He put a hand cautiously on Bluff. That individual was so impulsivethere could be no telling just how he might act, and this touch wouldserve to calm him down.
The flitting figures had now all passed the hiding boys, avoiding thedense thicket in which they were crouching, as there were easierpassages around. Looking out, Frank could see them moving around thecabin, as if trying to ascertain some weak place where an entrance couldbe effected.
"Huh!" grunted Bluff, a little incautiously it seemed, "they're going todo what I wanted to try--make an entrance. Some of them have gone topick up that log, and others are peeking in at the window, where the haysticks out. If it was bigger they'd just like to crawl through. And wesit here like a set of babies. Huh!"
"Hold up, now, and consider. What's to hinder our letting them do thework, and then when they go to reap the results we can just step up andtake the plum away," cautioned his comrade.
"I see. Like the monkey that got the cat to pull his hot chestnuts outof the fire, eh? Talk about Jerry being a lawyer, he ain't in the sameclass with you, Frank."
"Watch!" was all the other replied to this shower of bouquets.
"Something's going to happen to them fellers around there before theyknow it," remarked Tom Somers, grimly, though, of course, he followedthe example of the others and kept his voice down to the lowest possiblenotch.
"What makes you say that?" asked Bluff, always eager for information.
"I seen something poking up along the roof. I reckon one of them hoboesis going to come out up thar, and drop something down on Pet and thefellers. Gee! but don't I hope he slams it in hard. It'd make my cutssting a heap less if I see them guys have to take to the tall timber."
Tom was feeling vindictive, and really, after having seen his bruises,and remembering how shabbily he had been treated by his pards, Frankcould hardly blame him for such a desire. Tom was only human, after all.
Still, what he had said aroused the curiosity of both Frank and Bluff.They riveted their attention upon the roof of the cabin. As statedbefore, this being badly dilapidated, the hoboes had spent some timepatching the same the best they knew how.
It was even now in a shaky condition, and apt to give way if any daringsoul ventured to put his weight upon it.
At least Tom was right, for they quickly discovered that a certainportion of this roof was actually moving, and even as they looked whatseemed to be a human arm was thrust through. Some one was evidentlymaking an opening, removing the pieces one by one at a place where theyhad been fastened across a former hole.
Frank felt that there was something more about this than appeared on thesurface. He also noted that the fellows on the ground had by now becomeaware that they were apparently about to be menaced from above; for hesaw them crouching down under the spot from whence the pieces werefalling, their eyes turned upward.
Then a head was finally thrust up through the opening. Bluff gaspedagain. It seemed as though he were bound to get shock after shock.
"Get next to that, will you?" he whispered in Frank's ear, as heclutched his sleeve and jerked hard; "why, it's our chum Jerry! Oh!ain't he the candy kid, though?"
"Hush!" said the other, giving him a push, to keep him from rising inhis excitement.
"Well, I take off my lid to him, anyway," whimpered Bluff, unable togive proper expression to his feelings.
The boy whose actions they were watching seemed to have made up his mindthat he must get out of that cabin some way or other. He had been haltedin his tunneling operations, and perhaps there was some reason why hemight not resume them, or try and open the door; but Jerry evidentlycould not be held in restraint.
It was possible that his captors were dozing, and, taking advantage ofthe opportunity, he was about to quit their company by means of the holehe had made in the roof.
Now his body had appeared. He was testing the rotten timbers first tomake positive that they would hold him.
Bluff hardly breathed as he stared as well as he could, for it was halfdark here, even in the daytime. He knew that a mutual surprise awaitedall the persons taking part in that little drama, when Jerry reached theedge and looked over. Those crouching below expected to see one of thetattered hoboes, while possibly Jerry hoped he might find his chumsawaiting him.
"It's coming!" Frank heard him say, as he fumbled around for something;but he was so much interested himself that he did not give Bluff asecond thought.
Then the creeping boy on the low roof of the cabin reached the edge.They saw him stretch his neck so that his head projected over; and therehe remained, as if frozen stiff by the strange sight that greeted him.
It was not so gloomy there alongside the shack but that his keen eyescould see, under the heavy growth of rank trees, the many facesup-turned toward him. At the same time, Pet and his mates made theastounding discovery that it was Jerry Wallington, after all, who hadbeen about to descend in this peculiar way.
Too late, Frank realized what was coming. He heard the old familiar"click" close to his ear, and a thrill of alarm shot through his frame;but ere he could even wink, much less make the slightest movement, thething was done.
Bluff had fired another cartridge connected with that camera of Will's.Recognizing the proper elements for a powerful flashlight picture in theremarkable combination before him, he had proceeded to carry out Will'sinstructions, regardless of consequences.
Some of the clustering boys seemed ready to scamper off, but the voiceof Pet recalled them to a sense of their duty. Besides, the prospect ofbecoming lost in those gloomy woods was not very flattering, and theyhuddled together.
"Hey, don't yuh let that skeer yuh, fellers. It's on'y some of thatcrazy Will Milton's photergraphy business. Stick to it, and get thatreward. Don't a single one of yuh dar' to run!" was what he shouted.
The situation was rather embarrassing for Jerry. He seemed to be betweentwo fires as it were. If he came down, these angry boys stood ready toattack him; while to stay where he was meant that the hoboes would beable to reach him.
Frank began to wonder whether the time had not come for them to enterthe game and stand by their chum. He had even arisen to his feet to makea forward movement when he saw that as usual, Jerry had his wits abouthim.
The boy on the quivering roof of the old shack was edging his way along.He appeared to be aiming for a certain spot where a big tree swept itsbranches down so as to brush the roof.
It offered a refuge for any one who could neither come down nor remainwhere he was, and Jerry knew he could make it. Now he reached thenearest limb, and like a monkey scrambled upwar
d. The one who caught himafter that would have to be nimble indeed.
"Hurrah!" shouted Bluff, unable to restrain his admiration for thepresence of mind on the part of his chum.
Perhaps, given time, and the Peters crowd might have attempted somefurther hostile move, looking to the capture of the boy who had justgained his freedom from a prison. Frank was grimly making up his mindthat, no matter what happened, he did not mean to stand idly by and seeJerry fall into the hands of these fellows.
"Say, are you going to rush 'em?" demanded Bluff, fairly wild to make acharge.
"Not unless they start after Jerry. Just now they seem to be bent oncapturing our friends, the hoboes, and we can afford to let them fightit out until both sides are exhausted, when our time will come. Therethey go at the door with the log as a battering ram! Whoop! what do youthink of that?"
Frank's last exclamation was caused by a sudden movement on the part ofthe besieged; for the door had suddenly opened, and a pan of hot waterwas thrown out on the huddled holders of the log.