CHAPTER XLV.
THE GREATEST PERIL.
"Rufe!"
"Kate!"
He sat up and clasped her in his arms, a look of joy on his face.
It is quite unnecessary to describe the joys of that meeting. The boyshad left brother and sister alone together, and the two remained thusfor nearly an hour, at the end of which time Rufe knew all that hadhappened since he was taken from Lost Creek Valley, and Kate had alsobeen made aware of the perfidy of Wade Miller.
"I judge it is true that bread throwed on ther waters allus comes back,"said Kate, when the four were together. "Now looker how I helpedyou-uns, an' then see how it turned out ter be a right good thing ferRufe. He found ye har, an' you-uns hev fed him an' watched while heslept."
"An' I hev tol' Kate all about Wade Miller," said the fugitive.
"That settles him," declared the girl, with a snap.
Rufe explained.
"Kate says ther officers think I hev gone on over inter ther next cove,an' they're arter me, all 'ceptin' two what have been left behind.They'll be back, though, by night."
"But you are all right now, for your friends will be on hand by thattime."
"Yes; Kate will take word ter Muriel, an' he'll hev ther boys ready terfight fer me. Ther officers will find it kinder hot in these parts."
"I'd better be goin' now," said the girl. "Ther boys oughter know allabout it soon as possible."
"That's right," agreed Rufe. "This ain't ther best place fer me terhide."
"No," declared Kate, suddenly; "an' yer mustn't hide har longer, ferther officers may come afore night. I'll take yer ter ther cave. Itwon't do fer ther boys ter go thar, but you kin all right. Ther boys isbest off har, fer ther officers wouldn't hurt 'em."
This seemed all right, and it was decided on.
Just as they were on the point of descending, Barney gave a cry, caughtFrank by the arm, and drew him toward a window.
"Look there, me b'y!" exclaimed the Irish lad. "Phwat do yez think av itnow?"
A horseman was coming down the old road that led to the mill. Hebestrode a coal-black horse, and a mask covered his face, while hislong, black hair flowed down on the collar of the coat he wore. He satthe horse jauntily, riding with a reckless air that seemed to tell of adaring spirit.
"Great Scott!" exclaimed Frank Merriwell, amazed. "It is Muriel!"
"That's pwhat!" chuckled Barney. "An' it's your trate, me lad."
"I will treat," said Frank, crestfallen. "I am not nearly so smart as Ithought I was."
"Muriel?" cried Kate, dashing to the window. "Where is he?"
She did not hesitate to appear in the window and signal to the dashingyoung moonshiner, who returned her salute, and motioned for her to comeout.
"He wants ter see me in er hurry," said the girl. "I sent word ter himby Dummy that ther boys war har, an' that's how he happened ter turn up.Come, Rufe, go out with me. Muriel will be glad to see yer."
"And I shall be glad ter see him," declared the escaped convict.
Kate bade the boys remain there, telling them she would call them ifthey were wanted, and then, with Rufe following, she hurried down thestairs, and hastened to meet the boy moonshiner, who had halted on thebank at some distance from the old mill.
Watching from the window, Frank and Barney saw her hasten up to Muriel,saw her speak swiftly, although they could not hear her words, sawMuriel nod and seem to reply quite as swiftly, and then saw the youngleader of the Black Caps shake her hand in a manner that denotedpleasure and affection.
"Ye're a daisy, Frankie, me b'y," snickered Barney Mulloy; "but ferwance ye wur badly mishtaken."
"I was all of that," confessed Frank, as if slightly ashamed. "I thoughtmyself far shrewder than I am."
As they watched, they saw Rufe Kenyon suddenly leap up behind Muriel,and then the doubly burdened horse swung around and went away at a hotpace, while Kate came flitting back into the mill.
"The officers are returnin'," she explained. "Muriel will take Rufe wharthar ain't no chance o' their findin' him. You-uns will have ter stayhar. I have brung ye more fodder, an' I judge you'll git along allright."
So she left them hurriedly, being greatly excited over the return of herbrother and his danger.
The day passed, and the officers failed to appear in the vicinity of themill, although the boys were expecting to see them.
Nor did Wade Miller trouble them.
When night came Frank and Barney grew impatient, for they were far frompleased with their lot, but they could do nothing but wait.
Two hours after nightfall a form suddenly appeared in the old mill,rising before the boys like a phantom, although they could notunderstand how the fellow came there.
In a flash Frank snatched out a revolver and pointed it at the intruder,crying, sternly:
"Stand still and give an account of yourself! Who are you, and what doyou want?"
The figure moved into the range of the window, so that the boys couldsee him making strange gestures, pointing to his ears, and pressing hisfingers to his lips.
"Steady you!" commanded Frank. "If you don't keep still, I shall shoot.Answer my question at once."
Still the intruder continued to make those strange gestures, pointing tohis ears, and touching his lips. That he saw Frank's revolver glitteringand feared the boy would shoot was evident, but he still remainedsilent.
"Whoy don't th' spalpane spake?" cried Barney. "Is it no tongue he has,Oi dunno?"
That gave Frank an idea.
"Perhaps he cannot speak, in which case he is the one Kate calls Dummy.I believe he is the fellow."
It happened that the sign language of mutes was one of Frank'saccomplishments, he having taken it up during his leisure moments. Hepassed the revolver to Barney, saying:
"Keep the fellow covered, while I see if I can talk with him."
Frank moved up to the window, held his hands close to the intruder'sface, and spelled:
"You from Kate?"
The man nodded joyfully. He put up his hands and spelled back:
"Kate send me. Come. Horses ready."
Frank interpreted for Barney's benefit, and the Irish lad cried:
"Thin let's be movin'! It's mesilf that's ready ter git out av thaseparruts in a hurry, Oi think."
For a moment Frank hesitated about trusting the mute, and then hedecided that it was the best thing to do, and he signaled that they wereready.
Dummy led the way from the mill, crossing by the plank, and plunginginto the pine woods.
"He sames to be takin' us back th' woay we came, Frankie," said theIrish lad, in a low tone.
"That's all right," assured Frank. "He said the horses were waiting forus. Probably Kate is with them."
The mute flitted along with surprising silence and speed, and they foundit no easy task to follow and keep close enough to see him. Now and thenhe looked back to make sure they were close behind.
At last they came to the termination of the pines, and there, in thedeep shadows, they found three horses waiting.
Kate Kenyon was not there.
Frank felt disappointed, for he wished to see the girl before leavingthe mountains forever. He did not like to go away without touching herhand again, and expressing his sense of gratitude for the last time.
It was his hope that she might join them before they left the mountains.
The horses were saddled and bridled, and the boys were about to mountwhen a strange, low cry broke from Dummy's lips.
There was a sudden stir, and an uprising of dark forms on all sides.Frank tried to snatch out his revolver, but it was too late. He wasseized, disarmed, and crushed to the earth.
"Ha, ha, ha!" laughed a hateful voice. "Did you-uns think ye war goin'ter escape? Wal, yer didn't know Wade Miller very well. I knowed Kate'dtry ter git yer off, an' all I hed ter do war watch her. I didn't wastemy time runnin' round elsewhar."
They were once more in Miller's clutches!
Frank ground his teeth with imp
otent rage. He blamed himself for fallinginto the trap, and still he could not see how he was to blame. Surely hehad been cautious, but fate was against him. He had escaped Millertwice; but this was the third time, and he feared that it would provedisastrous.
Barney had not a word to say.
The hands of the captured boys were tied behind their backs, and thenthey were forced to march swiftly along in the midst of the Black Capsthat surrounded them.
They were not taken to the cave, but straight to one of the hiddenstills, a little hut that was built against what seemed to be a wall ofsolid rock, a great bluff rising against the face of the mountain. Thicktrees concealed the little hut down in the hollow.
Into this hut the boys were marched.
Some crude candles were lighted, and they saw around them the outfit formaking moonshine whiskey.
"Thar!" cried Miller, triumphantly; "you-uns will never go out o' thisplace. Ther revernues spotted this still ter-day, but it won't be harter-morrer."
He made a signal, and the boys were thrown to the floor, where they wereheld helpless, while their feet were bound.
When this job was finished Miller added:
"No, ther revernues won't find this still ter-morrer, fer it will go upin smoke. Moonshine is good stuff ter burn, an' we'll see how you-unslike it."
At a word a keg of whiskey was brought to the spot by two men.
"Let 'em try ther stuff," directed Miller.
"Begorra! he's goin' ter fill us up bafore he finishes us!" mutteredBarney Mulloy.
But that was not the intention of the revengeful man.
A plug was knocked from a hole in the end of the keg, and then thewhiskey was poured over the clothing of the boys, wetting them to theskin.
"Soak 'em!" directed Miller.
The men did not stop pouring till the clothing of the boys wasthoroughly saturated.
"Thar!" said Miller, with a fiendish chuckle, "I reckon you-uns is readyfer touchin' off, an' ye'll burn like pine knots. Ther way ye'll hollerwill make ye heard clean ter ther top o' Black Maounting, an' ther firewill be seen; but when anybody gits har, you-uns an' this still will beashes."
He knelt beside Frank, lighted a match, and applied it to the boy'swhiskey-soaked clothing!
CHAPTER XLVI.
THE MYSTERY OF MURIEL.
Not quite! The flame almost touched Frank's clothing when the boy rolledover swiftly, thus getting out of the way for the moment.
At the same instant the blast of a bugle was heard at the very front ofthe hut, and the door fell with a crash, while men poured in by theopening.
"Ther revernues!" shouted Wade Miller.
"No, not ther revernues!" rang out a clear voice; "but Muriel!"
The boy chief of the Black Caps was there.
"An' Muriel is not erlone!" thundered another voice. "Rufe Kenyon ishar!"
Out in front of Muriel leaped the escaped criminal, confronting the manwho had betrayed him.
Miller staggered, his face turning pale as if struck a heavy blow, and abitter exclamation of fury came through his clinched teeth.
"Rufe!" he grated. "Then it's fight fer life!"
"Yes, it's fight!" roared Kate Kenyon's brother, as a long-bladed knifeglittered in his hand, and he thrust back the sleeve of his shirt tillhis arm was bared above the elbow. "I swore ter finish yer, Miller; butI'll give ye a squar' show! Draw yer knife, an' may ther best man win!"
With the snarl that might have come from the throat of a savage beast,Miller snatched out a revolver instead of drawing a knife.
"I'll not fight ye!" he screamed; "but I'll shoot ye plumb through therheart!"
He fired, and Rufe Kenyon ducked at the same time.
There was a scream of pain, and Muriel flung up both hands, droppinginto the arms of the man behind.
Rufe Kenyon had dodged the bullet, but the boy chief of the Black Capshad suffered in his stead.
Miller seemed dazed by the result of his shot. The revolver fell fromhis hand, and he staggered forward, groaning:
"Kate!--I've killed her!"
Rufe Kenyon forgot his foe, dropping on one knee beside the prostratefigure of Muriel, and swiftly removing the mask.
The face of Kate Kenyon was revealed!
"Sister!" panted her brother, "be ye dead? Has that rascal killed ye?"
Her eyes opened, and she faintly said:
"Not dead yit, Rufe."
Then the brother shouted:
"Ketch Wade Miller! Don't let ther critter escape!"
It seemed that every man in the hut leaped to obey.
Miller struggled like a tiger, but he was overpowered and dragged out ofthe hut, while Rufe still knelt and examined his sister's wound, whichwas in her shoulder.
Frank and Barney were freed, and they hastened to render such assistanceas they could in dressing the wound and stanching the flow of blood.
"You-uns don't think that'll be fatal, do yer?" asked Rufe, withbreathless anxiety.
"There is no reason why it should," assured Frank. "She must be takenhome as soon as possible, and a doctor called. I think she will comethrough all right, for all of Miller's bullet."
The men were trooping back into the hut.
"Miller!" roared Rufe, leaping to his feet. "Whar's ther critter?"
"He is out har under a tree," answered one of the men, quietly.
"Who's watchin' him ter see that he don't git erway?" asked Rufe.
"Nobody's watchin'."
"Nobody? Why, ther p'izen dog will run fer it!"
"I don't think he'll run fur. We've tied him."
"How?"
"Wal, ter make sure he wouldn't run, we hitched a rope around his neckan' tied it up ter ther limb o' ther tree. Unless ther rope stretches,he won't be able ter git his feet down onter ther ground by erbouteighteen inches."
"Then you-uns hanged him?"
"Wal, we did some."
"Too bad!" muttered Rufe, with a sad shake of his head. "I wanted tersquar 'counts with ther skunk."
Kate Kenyon was taken home, and the bullet was extracted from hershoulder. The wound, although painful, did not prove at all serious, andshe began to recover in a short time.
Frank and Barney lingered until it seemed certain that she wouldrecover, and then they prepared to take their departure.
After all, Frank's suspicion had proved true, and it had been revealedthat Muriel was Kate in disguise.
Frank chaffed Barney a great deal about it, and the Irish lad took thechaffing in a good-natured manner.
Rufe Kenyon was hidden by his friends, so that his pursuers were forcedto give over the search for him and depart.
One still was raided, but not one of the moonshiners was captured, asthey had received ample warning of their danger.
On the evening before Frank and Barney were to depart in the morning,the boys carried Kate out to the door in an easy-chair, and they satdown near her.
Mrs. Kenyon sat on the steps and smoked her black pipe, looking asstolid and indifferent as ever.
"Kate," said Frank, "when did you have your hair cut short? Where isthat profusion of beautiful hair you wore when we first saw you?"
"That?" she smiled. "Why, my har war cut more'n a year ago. I had itmade inter a 'switch,' and I wore it so nobody'd know I had it cut."
"You did that in order that you might wear the black wig when youpersonated Muriel?"
"Yes."
"You could do that easily over your short hair."
"Yes."
"Well, you played the part well, and you made a dashing boy. But howabout the Muriel who appeared while you were in the mill with us?"
She laughed a bit.
"You-uns war so sharp that I judged I'd make yer think ye didn't knowso much ez you thought, an' I fixed it up ter have another person showup in my place."
"I see. But who was this other person?"
"Dummy. He is no bigger than I, an' he is a good mimic. He rode jes'like me."
"Begorra! he did thot!" nod
ded Barney. "It's mesilf thot wur chated, an'thot's not aisy."
"You are a shrewd little girl," declared Frank; "and you are dead luckyto escape with your life after getting Miller's bullet. But Miller won'ttrouble you more."
Mrs. Kenyon rose and went into the hut, while Barney lazily strolleddown to the creek, leaving Frank and Kate alone.
Half an hour later, as he was coming back, the Irish lad heard Katesaying:
"I know I'm igerent, an' I'm not fitten fer any educated man. Still, youan' I is friends, Frank, an' friends we'll allus be."
"Friends we will always be," said Frank, softly.
After this little more was said.
It was not long before our friends left the locality, this time boundfor Oklahoma, Utah and California. What Frank's adventures were in thoseplaces will be told in another volume, entitled, "Frank Merriwell'sBravery."
"We are well out of that," said Frank, as they journeyed away. "Am I notright, Barney?"
"Sure, Frankie, sure!" was Barney's answer. "To tell the whole thruth,me b'y, ye're nivver wrong, nivver!"
And Barney was right, eh, reader?
THE END.
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