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diff --git a/37929-h/37929-h.htm b/37929-h/37929-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..17486df --- /dev/null +++ b/37929-h/37929-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,8655 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<!-- $Id: header.txt 236 2009-12-07 18:57:00Z vlsimpson $ --> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of Fenn Masterson's Discovery, by Allen Chapman. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + +h1,h2,h3 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; +} + +table { + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; +} + +.center {text-align: center;} + +.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + +/* Images */ +.figcenter { + margin: auto; + text-align: center; +} + + +/* ===================== */ +/* DACSoft custom styles */ +/* ===================== */ + +/* Indented paragraph - replacement. */ +p { + margin-top: .75em; + margin-bottom: .75em; + text-align: justify; + text-indent: 1em; +} + +/* Unindented paragraph style */ +.noi{ + text-indent: 0em; +} + +/* Chapter breaks - replacement for hr. */ +hr.cb { + width: 65%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; +} + +/* Title page borders and content. */ +.tp1 { + border: 2px solid black; + padding: 2px; + text-align: center; + margin: auto; + width: 448px; +} + +.tp2 { + border: 1px solid black; + padding: 2px; + text-align: center; + margin: auto; + width: 440px; +} + +.subtitle { + font-size: 1.25em; + text-align: center; + clear: both; +} + +.author { + font-size: 1.5em; + margin-top: 0em; + text-align: center; + clear: both; +} + +.works { + font-size: .75em; + text-align: center; + clear: both; +} + +/* Smaller page numbers - replacement */ +.pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: x-small; + text-align: right; + color: gray; +} /* page numbers */ + +td.pr{ + padding-right:10px; +} + +/* Transcriber's Notes. */ +.tnote { + background-color: #DDE; + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + padding-bottom: .5em; + padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; + padding-right: .5em; +} + +.tntitle { + font-size: 1.25em; + font-weight: bold; + text-align: center; + clear: both; +} + + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Fenn Masterson's Discovery, by Allen Chapman + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Fenn Masterson's Discovery + or, The Darewell Chums on a Cruise + +Author: Allen Chapman + +Release Date: November 5, 2011 [EBook #37929] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FENN MASTERSON'S DISCOVERY *** + + + + +Produced by Donald Cummings and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 499px;"> +<img src="images/cover.jpg" width="499" height="597" alt="cover" title="cover" /> +</div> + + +<hr class="cb" /> +<div class="tp1"> +<div class="tp2"> +<h1><span class="smcap">Fenn Masterson’s<br /> +Discovery</span></h1> + +<p class="noi center">Or</p> + +<p class="noi subtitle">The Darewell Chums<br /> +on a Cruise</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<p class="noi center">BY</p> + +<p class="noi author">ALLEN CHAPMAN</p> + +<p class="noi works">AUTHOR OF “BART STIRLING’S ROAD TO SUCCESS,” “WORKING<br /> +HARD TO WIN,” “BOUND TO SUCCEED,” “THE YOUNG<br /> +STOREKEEPER,” “NAT BORDEN’S FIND,” ETC.</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 240px;"> +<img src="images/logo.jpg" width="100%" alt="The GOLDSMITH Publishing Co., CLEVELAND, OHIO, MADE IN U.S.A." title="The GOLDSMITH Publishing Co., CLEVELAND, OHIO, MADE IN U.S.A." /> +</div> +</div> +</div> + + + +<hr class="cb" /> +<p class="noi center"><span class="smcap">Copyright, 1909, by<br /> +Cupples & Leon Company</span></p> + + +<hr class="cb" /> +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" summary="Contents"> +<col style="width: 20%;" /> +<col style="width: 70%;" /> +<col style="width: 10%;" /> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">CHAPTER</td> + <td align="left"></td> + <td align="right">PAGE</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">I.</td> + <td align="left" class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_I">An Automobile Accident</a></td> + <td align="right">1</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">II.</td> + <td align="left" class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_II">A Mysterious Cave</a></td> + <td align="right">11</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">III.</td> + <td align="left" class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_III">Saving the Auto</a></td> + <td align="right">22</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">IV.</td> + <td align="left" class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">Planning a Cruise</a></td> + <td align="right">30</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">V.</td> + <td align="left" class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_V">Captain Wiggs’s Proposal</a></td> + <td align="right">39</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">VI.</td> + <td align="left" class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_VI">In Peril</a></td> + <td align="right">45</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">VII.</td> + <td align="left" class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_VII">An Elevator Blaze</a></td> + <td align="right">52</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">VIII.</td> + <td align="left" class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">Fenn Hears Something</a></td> + <td align="right">61</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">IX.</td> + <td align="left" class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_IX">Off Again</a></td> + <td align="right">71</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">X.</td> + <td align="left" class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_X">The Chase</a></td> + <td align="right">78</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">XI.</td> + <td align="left" class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XI">On Lake Huron</a></td> + <td align="right">85</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">XII.</td> + <td align="left" class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XII">Ned Gets a Fish</a></td> + <td align="right">92</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">XIII.</td> + <td align="left" class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">Caught in the Lock</a></td> + <td align="right">99</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">XIV.</td> + <td align="left" class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">Mysterious Strangers</a></td> + <td align="right">108</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">XV.</td> + <td align="left" class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XV">A Queer Find</a></td> + <td align="right">115</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">XVI.</td> + <td align="left" class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">Fire on Board</a></td> + <td align="right">123</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">XVII.</td> + <td align="left" class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">A Strange Vision</a></td> + <td align="right">133</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">XVIII.</td> + <td align="left" class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">An Exploring Party</a></td> + <td align="right">140</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">XIX.</td> + <td align="left" class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIX">Fenn Becomes Ill</a></td> + <td align="right">147</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">XX.</td> + <td align="left" class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XX">Out on a Hunt</a></td> + <td align="right">155</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">XXI.</td> + <td align="left" class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXI">The Chinese Button</a></td> + <td align="right">162</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">XXII.</td> + <td align="left" class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXII">Fenn’s Mishap</a></td> + <td align="right">171</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">XXIII.</td> + <td align="left" class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIII">The Search</a></td> + <td align="right">180</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">XXIV.</td> + <td align="left" class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIV">Fenn Is Captured</a></td> + <td align="right">188</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">XXV.</td> + <td align="left" class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXV">An Unexpected Meeting</a></td> + <td align="right">194</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">XXVI.</td> + <td align="left" class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVI">Fenn’s Odd Discovery</a></td> + <td align="right">202</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">XXVII.</td> + <td align="left" class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVII">A Timely Rescue</a></td> + <td align="right">213</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">XXVIII.</td> + <td align="left" class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVIII">Ruth Tells Her Secret</a></td> + <td align="right">220</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">XXIX.</td> + <td align="left" class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIX">A Baffling Search</a></td> + <td align="right">230</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">XXX.</td> + <td align="left" class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXX">The Discovery—Conclusion</a></td> + <td align="right">239</td> +</tr> +</table> + + + +<hr class="cb" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[1]</a></span></p> +<h1>FENN MASTERSON’S<br /> +DISCOVERY</h1> + + + +<hr class="cb" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I</h2> + +<h3>AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT</h3> + + +<p>“Hello!” exclaimed Fenn Masterson, as he +opened the front door of his home, in response +to a ring, and admitted his chum, Bart Keene. +“Glad to see you, Bart. Come on in.”</p> + +<p>“What’s the matter with you?” demanded +Bart, throwing a strap full of books into a corner +of the hall, as if he cared very little for the volumes. +“Why weren’t you at school to-day, +Stumpy?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I was a little hoarse this morning—”</p> + +<p>“What are you now; a mule?” inquired Bart.</p> + +<p>“No—Oh, hang it, you know what I +mean—”</p> + +<p>“Sure!” interrupted Bart. “You slept in a +stable last night, and, when you woke up you were +a little horse. I know.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[2]</a></span> +“I had a little cold this morning,” went on +Fenn. “Mother made me stay home. Thought +I was going into consumption, I guess. I’m all +right now.”</p> + +<p>“Gee, I wish my mother had made me stay +home to-day,” proceeded Bart. “The algebra +lesson was fierce. We all slumped.”</p> + +<p>“What! You don’t mean to say the professor +floored Frank Roscoe?” and Fenn looked much +surprised.</p> + +<p>“Yes, and Ned Wilding, too. I tell you, +Stumpy, it was a good thing you slept in that barn +and became a little horse, or you’d have gone +down to defeat on that problem about multiplying +sixteen x, y, z’s by the square root of the difference +between—”</p> + +<p>“Pooh! That’s easy,” declared Fenn. “I +remember it.”</p> + +<p>“Easy? Here, let’s see you do it!” exclaimed +Bart, and he grabbed the bundle of books and +proceeded to take out the algebra.</p> + +<p>“Never mind—there’s no hurry about it. I’ll +show you later,” spoke Fenn. “Besides, I’ve got +to take my cough medicine now. Come on up to +my room.”</p> + +<p>“Cough medicine?” repeated Bart, with a reproachful +look at his chum.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[3]</a></span> +“Yes, cough medicine,” answered Stumpy, seeing +that his visitor rather doubted him. “Mom +made me take it. It’s awful nasty stuff, full of +tar and horehound and pine—ugh! I hate it.”</p> + +<p>“Moral, don’t try to fool your mother and pretend +you have a sore throat, when you don’t want +to go to school for an algebra exam.,” said Bart +solemnly.</p> + +<p>“No, honest, I did have a sore throat this +morning,” declared Fenn. “It’s all better now. +I guess I don’t have to take that medicine. But +come on up to my room. I’ve just got a fine +collection of minerals.”</p> + +<p>“Minerals?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I’m going to collect them now. I sent +for a small case, of various kinds, and I’m going +to add to it. There are lots of minerals in +this section of the state.”</p> + +<p>“Let’s see, the last thing you were collecting +was Indian arrow heads,” said Bart, in musing +tones; “before that it was postage stamps, and +before that, postmarks. Then, once, I remember, +it was jackknives, and before that—”</p> + +<p>“Oh, let up!” begged Fenn. “Are any of +the other fellows coming over?”</p> + +<p>“Before that it was butterflies,” went on Bart +relentlessly. “I guess your mineral collecting<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[4]</a></span> +craze will last about as long as any of the others, +Stumpy.”</p> + +<p>“Well, all the others were too much trouble,” +declared Fenn, trying to justify himself. “It’s +no fun to be sticking stamps and postmarks in a +book, and I had to chase all over the country after +butterflies.”</p> + +<p>“To say nothing of getting on bad terms with +half the boys in the school for trading them poor +knives for good ones, when you had that craze,” +remarked Bart.</p> + +<p>“Oh, I intend to make a fine collection of minerals,” +declared Fenn. “I’ll not get tired of that. +You see minerals are easy to get. All you have to +do is to pick up stones as you walk along. You +put them in your pockets and, when you get home, +you look in the catalog, see what kind they are, so +as to label ’em, and put ’em in one of the little +numbered squares of the cabinet. Why, collecting +minerals is fun. Besides, it’s valuable information. +I might discover—”</p> + +<p>“Sure, of course. Oh, yes—you might discover +a gold mine or a hole filled with diamonds!” interrupted +Bart. “Oh, Stumpy, I’m afraid you’re +a hopeless case.”</p> + +<p>“Wait until you see my minerals,” asserted +the stout youth, as he led the way up to his room.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[5]</a></span> +“When are the other fellows coming over?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, Ned’ll be along right away. Frank Roscoe +said he had to go on an errand for his father. +They both are anxious to see what sort of a game +you worked so’s to stay home to-day. They +might want to try it themselves.”</p> + +<p>The two chums were soon busy inspecting the +case of stones which Fenn had bought. There +were small samples of ore, spar, crystals and various +queer rocks.</p> + +<p>“There’s a piece of stone I found out near the +river,” said Fenn, pointing to a fragment of a +bright red color. “Maybe it’s a new kind of +ruby. I’m going to show it to a jeweler.”</p> + +<p>“It’s red glass!” declared Bart.</p> + +<p>“It is not!”</p> + +<p>“I tell you it is! Look, it’s a piece of a bottle. +You can see where it curved for the bottom,” +and he pointed it out to Fenn.</p> + +<p>“I guess you’re right,” admitted the collector, +as he tossed the red object away. “Never mind, +I’ll get some good specimens yet. Hello, there’s +Ned’s whistle,” and he looked out of the window, +which, as it was late in June, was wide open. +“Come on up, Ned!” he called, “Bart’s here!”</p> + +<p>“Coming!” cried Ned. “Lower the drawbridge +and raise the portcullis! Lord Mount<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[6]</a></span> +Saint Dennis Morency Caldwalder de Nois approaches!”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I guess it is ‘De Noise’ all right,” murmured +Bart. “Since he’s been studying French +history he’s been getting off such nonsense as that +every chance he has.”</p> + +<p>“Greeting, fair and noble sirs!” cried Ned +Wilding, reaching the door of Fenn’s room, for, +like the other chums, he had the run of the house, +“greeting, most noble lords of the high justice, +the middle and the low. I give thee greeting!”</p> + +<p>“And I give thee that!” interrupted Bart, putting +out his foot, and, with a sly motion, upsetting +Ned as he was making a low, exaggerated bow.</p> + +<p>“First down! Ten yards to gain!” he cried +good-naturedly, as he arose, for Ned was a lively, +quick-witted youth, full of fun, and never serious +for more than a minute at a time.</p> + +<p>“I hope that jarred some of the foolishness out +of you,” observed Bart.</p> + +<p>Suddenly a head was poked in the open window, +and a voice exclaimed:</p> + +<p>“Gentlemen, allow me to introduce myself. I +am the original and only genuine second-story +burglar!”</p> + +<p>“Frank Roscoe!” exclaimed Fenn. “How +did you get there?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span> +“Climbed up over the porch,” replied the newcomer. +“I rang the bell until I was tired, and +nobody answered.”</p> + +<p>“That’s so, I forgot. Mother’s out this afternoon +and there’s no one down stairs. But why +didn’t you do as Ned did, walk in? The door’s +not locked. I didn’t hear you ring.”</p> + +<p>“I prefer this method of stealing into houses,” +replied Frank, a tall dark youth, as he bounded +from the window sill into the room. “It’s more +romantic. Besides I needed exercise, and it was +easy climbing up the porch pillar.”</p> + +<p>“Don’t give us any romance,” begged Bart.</p> + +<p>“No, don’t,” advised Ned, rubbing his thigh +where he had come down rather heavily. “The +days of romance are dead.”</p> + +<p>“That’s not the only thing that’s dead in this +town,” put in Fenn. “Things are getting rather +dull. We need some excitement to keep us +awake.”</p> + +<p>The two newcomers soon learned the reason for +Fenn’s absence from school that day. They examined +his cabinet of minerals and made more or +less sarcastic comments about his new fad.</p> + +<p>“Yes,” went on Bart, after a pause. “I wish +we could have some fun, as we did when we were +off camping in the woods, last summer.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span> +“And rescued Frank’s father from that sanitarium,” +put in Ned.</p> + +<p>“Well, we had a pretty lively time when you +slipped off to New York, and the lodging-house +keeper held you a prisoner, Ned,” said Bart. +“You had some romance then.”</p> + +<p>“Not the right kind,” declared Ned. “I’d +like some more fun such as we had when the King +of Papricka tried to fool us.”</p> + +<p>“Sure! When we got carried away in the captive +balloon,” added Frank. “That was a +time!”</p> + +<p>“And do you remember when we fastened the +ladder on the donkey’s back, the night we were +going to rescue Frank’s father,” suggested Fenn? +“How he ran away in the woods?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, and how it rained,” put in Ned. “Gee, +that was fierce!”</p> + +<p>“But we had a good time,” remarked Frank. +“Father can never forget how much you boys did +for him.”</p> + +<p>“It wasn’t anything!” exclaimed Ned. “Say, +do you remember when they thought we blew up +the school with dynamite?”</p> + +<p>“Do I? I should guess yes,” replied Ned.</p> + +<p>“Yes, and how Ned thought he was going to +become a millionaire with that investment which<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span> +made him a fugitive!” spoke Bart. “Oh, yes, +we had good times then. But we don’t seem to +be having them any more. It’s nothing but measly +old algebra exams. that no fellow can pass. I +wish—”</p> + +<p>But what Bart wished he never told, for, at that +instant there came from the street outside a series +of sharp explosions, that sounded like a Gatling +gun in full operation.</p> + +<p>“What’s that?” cried Fenn.</p> + +<p>“It’s an automobile!” replied Frank, who was +nearest the window. “It’s running away, too, +from the looks of it. They’ve opened the muffler +and are trying to reverse I guess! Something’s +wrong! There’s going to be an accident!”</p> + +<p>The other boys crowded up back of Frank to +see what was going on. The street in front of +Fenn’s house sloped sharply down to a cliff at +the end of the thoroughfare. Across the highway +was a stout fence, designed to prevent any one +from driving over the cliff, which was quite high. +Toward this fence a big touring car, which, as the +boys could see, contained an elderly gentleman and +a young lady, was rushing at furious speed.</p> + +<p>“Stop! Stop!” cried Fenn in desperation, +thinking the man in the car did not know or realize<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span> +his danger. “The street ends at the fence! +You’ll go over the cliff!”</p> + +<p>As the auto whizzed past the house the girl in +it gave one glance at Fenn. The youth thought +her the most beautiful person he had ever seen, +though there was a look of terror in her eyes.</p> + +<p>“He can’t stop!” shouted Bart. “Something’s +wrong with the machine!”</p> + +<p>Indeed this seemed to be true, for the man at +the steering wheel was frantically pulling on various +levers and stamping, with his feet, on some +pedals in front of him.</p> + +<p>The young woman in the car half arose in her +seat. The man, holding the wheel with one hand, +held her back with the other. She gave a startled +cry and, a moment later the auto had crashed +through the fence, as though it was made of paper, +and the front wheels disappeared over the edge of +the cliff.</p> + +<p>“Come on!” cried Bart. “We must go to +their help!”</p> + +<p>“I’m afraid they’re dead,” spoke Frank solemnly, +as he quickly followed his chums from +Fenn’s house.</p> + + + +<hr class="cb" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II</h2> + +<h3>A MYSTERIOUS CAVE</h3> + + +<p>Running at top speed the four boys hastened +down the street toward where the automobile accident +had occurred. Several other persons followed +them.</p> + +<p>“They’ve gone over the cliff!” cried Fenn.</p> + +<p>“No, the rear wheels are caught on the edge!” +declared Ned. “You can just see the back part +of the car!”</p> + +<p>“But the man and young lady must be pitched +out! It hangs nearly straight up and down!” +said Frank.</p> + +<p>“I wonder if they could possibly be alive?” +asked Fenn, as he hurried along, a little in the rear +of the others, for, because of his stoutness, he was +not a good runner. “I’ll never forget how she +looked up to me, as if she wanted me to save her.”</p> + +<p>By this time the chums had reached the broken +fence that had proved so ineffectual a barrier to +the cliff. They leaped over the shattered boards, +accompanied by a number of men and boys.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span> +“Gee! They’re goners!” exclaimed a boy +named Sandy Merton, peering over the edge of the +cliff. “It’s a hundred feet to the bottom!”</p> + +<p>“I wonder what caught the auto?” said Bart. +“Why didn’t it fall?”</p> + +<p>“A wire caught it,” answered Fenn. “Look,” +and he showed his chums where several heavy +strands of wire, which had been strung on the +fence to further brace it, had become entangled in +the wheels of the auto as they crashed through. +The wire was twisted around some posts and, with +the broken boards from the barrier, had served to +hold the car from going over the cliff. There it +hung, by the rear wheels only, a most precarious +position, for, every moment, it was in danger of +toppling over.</p> + +<p>“But where are the people?” asked Frank, as +he peered over the edge of the cliff. “I can’t +see them?”</p> + +<p>“They’re all in pieces,” declared a gloomy looking +man. “They’re broken to bits from the fall.”</p> + +<p>“Nonsense!” exclaimed Bart. “Here, let me +have a look!”</p> + +<p>Lying flat on his face he peered over the edge +of the precipice. Then he uttered a cry.</p> + +<p>“I can see them!” he shouted. “They’ve<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span> +landed on the ledge, not ten feet down. They’re +under some bushes!”</p> + +<p>“Get some ropes, quick!” cried Fenn. +“We’ll haul ’em up before the auto falls on ’em!”</p> + +<p>“No danger of that,” declared Bart. +“They’re off to one side. I’m afraid they’re +badly hurt, though.”</p> + +<p>“Somebody go for a doctor!” urged Fenn.</p> + +<p>“I will,” volunteered Jim Nelson, who had the +reputation of being the laziest boy in the town of +Darewell. Perhaps he was afraid of being asked +to help haul the auto back from the perilous position.</p> + +<p>“Telephone for ’em!” called Frank, knowing +Jim’s usual slowness, and realizing that the lazy +youth would welcome this method of summoning +the medical men.</p> + +<p>“Tell ’em to come to my house,” supplemented +Fenn. “We will carry the man and girl there.”</p> + +<p>“Good idea,” commented Frank. “You’ve +got more room than any of these houses near here,” +for, in the immediate vicinity of the cliff there +were only small cottages, and some of them were +unoccupied.</p> + +<p>“But how are we going to get ’em up?” asked +Fenn.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span> +By this time a large crowd had gathered. +Some had brought ropes, and there were all sorts +of suggestions as to how the rescue should be +effected.</p> + +<p>“I’ll get them; or at least I’ll go down and put +a rope around them, so they can be hauled up,” +suddenly declared Frank. “I know how to reach +that ledge. There’s not much danger. Where’s +a rope?”</p> + +<p>Several were soon produced, some neighboring +clothes lines being confiscated. It seemed that all +the crowd needed was some one to give orders. In +a few minutes, with a rope tied around his waist +Frank was being lowered over the cliff. Willing +hands let him down until he was on the ledge. +Then, having fastened the rope about the form of +the unconscious young woman, padding it with his +coat, so the strands would not cut her, he gave the +signal to haul up. There was a cheer as the body +was laid gently down on the grass at the top of the +cliff, and some one called:</p> + +<p>“She isn’t dead! She’s breathing!”</p> + +<p>It was harder work for Frank to adjust the rope +about the man’s body, as he was very heavy, but +the lad accomplished it, and the crowd above +hauled the unfortunate automobilist up. Then +Frank was raised from the ledge.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span> +“Carry ’em to my house,” cried Fenn. “The +doctors will soon be there if Jim hasn’t forgotten +to telephone for ’em.”</p> + +<p>On stretchers, improvised from pieces of the +fence, the bodies, of which that of the girl alone +seemed to contain life, were carried to Fenn’s +house. The crowd followed but, at the door a +constable named Darby, at Fenn’s orders, refused +admittance to all save the three chums, and those +who had borne the stretchers.</p> + +<p>“The doctors will need room to work,” declared +Fenn, when there were murmurs at what +was his right, to exclude the mob from his home. +“I’m glad mother’s out,” he said. “This would +scare her into a fit.”</p> + +<p>“The doctors are coming,” said Jim, who came +into the house a moment later, after the man and +young woman had been laid on beds where Fenn +directed. “I telephoned to all in Darewell, but +only three were home.”</p> + +<p>“That ought to be enough,” declared Fenn. +“I hope they can save their lives. There doesn’t +seem to be any evidences of injuries.”</p> + +<p>The medical men, under the direction of Dr. +Fanwood, the eldest of the practitioners, made +hasty examinations of the two victims of the accident.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span> +“I think we’ll have to operate on the man,” +declared Dr. Fanwood. “We’ll need several +things from my office. Who can go for them?” +and he looked at Fenn, whom he had doctored +ever since Fenn was a baby, on the few occasions +when that healthy youth needed medicine.</p> + +<p>“We’ll go!” offered Frank, Bart and Ned at +once.</p> + +<p>“I guess we can use all three of you,” decided +Dr. Fanwood. “Dr. Kyte and Dr. Feldon will +need things from their offices. Now I tell you +what to do, just take our horses and carriages, +which are tied out in front, and drive after the +things. That will be quicker.”</p> + +<p>Then, the three physicians having given the +chums a list of what they needed, proceeded to get +ready for the operation. The girl was in a semiconscious +condition, but a hasty examination +showed that the worst she was suffering from was +shock. She could be left alone for a time.</p> + +<p>While the medical men were preparing to attend +to the man, Constable Darby kept guard in +front of the house, before which it seemed as if +half the population of Darewell was gathered. +Jim Nelson was sitting in the front hall, ready to +go on an errand if needed, but, on the whole, +rather hoping that he would not be required to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span> +run. The hasty telephoning had been quite a +strain on his lazy nature. Fenn, at the suggestion +of Dr. Fanwood, remained in the room where the +young lady was, to be at hand in case she recovered +consciousness.</p> + +<p>“My, things have happened suddenly,” thought +Fenn, as he looked at the silent form on the +bed. “We were just wishing for something +like our old adventures again. This seems to +promise a good beginning.”</p> + +<p>The four boys, who, because of their intimate +association, and from the fact that they lived in +the town of that name, were known as “The +Darewell Chums,” had been through some lively +times together, as has been related in the previous +books of this series. In the first volume +called “The Heroes of the School,” I related how +the four took part in a peculiar mystery, and +solved it to their satisfaction, though, at one time, +when they went up in a balloon, and were captured +by the enemy, it looked rather dubious for them. +The boys were wide-awake lads, full of energy +and resources, and they managed to free themselves +from a difficult situation.</p> + +<p>Their home town was on the Still River, which +flowed into Lake Erie, and Darewell was a few +miles from that great body of water, on which<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span> +they often enjoyed themselves rowing or sailing.</p> + +<p>In the second volume of the series, “Ned Wilding’s +Disappearance,” there was set down the +story of what happened to Ned when he tried to +do a little financial business on his own account. +He went to New York, and there by some curious +mis-chances, he had to hide, almost as if he had +committed a crime. But, by the aid of his chums, +and a poor lad whom they once befriended, Ned +was rescued.</p> + +<p>In the third volume, “Frank Roscoe’s Secret,” +I told of a queer case of persecution. Frank and +his chums went camping and Frank’s manner, +which had been not only strange but sometimes unaccountable, +became still more curious and bewildering, +for one of his good nature. His chums did +not know what to make of him, and there was considerable +worry on their part.</p> + +<p>But it turned out that Frank was the one who +had to worry, because of the danger to his father, +whom he had always supposed was dead, but who +turned out to be alive, though in captivity. How +the boys discovered Frank’s secret, and how they +helped him to rescue his father was related in the +book together with various other happenings during +their encampment in the woods.</p> + +<p>And now the Darewell Chums seemed to be in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span> +for another series of adventures, if Fenn was any +judge. The young woman on the bed tossed and +turned in the fever of a delirium. The lad became +rather frightened, and was going to call one +of the doctors, though he knew they must be very +busy preparing for the operation.</p> + +<p>Suddenly the young woman sat up straight in +bed. Her light jacket, which had not been removed, +bore many dirt-stains, where she had fallen +upon the ledge. She struggled to get it off. Fenn +started to help her, thinking one of her arms +might be broken. Suddenly she exclaimed:</p> + +<p>“The cave! Oh, the cave! It was hidden but +I can see it now! And the men! See, there are +the men, digging, digging, digging! I must stop +them! They will take all—”</p> + +<p>She fell back upon the pillows.</p> + +<p>“What cave? Where is it? Can I help +you?” asked Fenn eagerly.</p> + +<p>“The cave! They are in it!” exclaimed the +young woman again. “The mysterious cave! If +I could only find it! I must find it—my father—his +wealth—search for the cave—I—he—”</p> + +<p>“Yes, yes,” spoke Fenn, advancing to the side +of the bed. “Perhaps I can help you find it!”</p> + +<p>He hardly knew what he was saying, so great<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span> +had been the strain of the accident, and so +strangely did the words of the young lady affect +him.</p> + +<p>She opened her eyes, which had been closed +when she was talking. A look of consciousness +came over her face.</p> + +<p>“Was I speaking?” she asked in different tones +than that she had used before. “Did I say anything? +What has happened? Where am I? +Where is my father?”</p> + +<p>“The automobile went over a cliff,” explained +Fenn. “You were hurt, and so was your father, +but not badly, I hope. He is here. The doctors +are with him.”</p> + +<p>“I must—Oh, let me go to him,” and she +arose from the bed. “What did I say just now?” +she demanded suddenly. “I know I was unconscious, +but I was saying something.”</p> + +<p>“It was about a cave,” replied Fenn.</p> + +<p>“Oh!” she exclaimed in such a voice that Fenn +was alarmed. “I was afraid so! Why did I do +it? Forget it, please! Forget that I ever mentioned +it! I don’t know—”</p> + +<p>She seemed about to say something more, but +her face suddenly became pale, and she fell back on +the pillows.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span> +“Doctor!” cried Fenn, very much frightened.</p> + +<p>“Ah, I’m just in time, I see,” remarked Dr. +Kyte, coming into the room at that moment. “I’ll +attend to her now, Fenn. She has only fainted.”</p> + + + +<hr class="cb" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III</h2> + +<h3>SAVING THE AUTO</h3> + + +<p>Fenn’s brain was in a whirl. The manner of +the girl, her strange words, her sudden fright when +he had sought to recall to her what she had said, +and her reference to a mysterious cave, all served +to give the lad much to think about. Coming as +it did, on top of the automobile accident, it added +to the excitement of the day. He was glad, when +he got down stairs, to find that his three chums +had returned with the things for which the physicians +had sent them.</p> + +<p>“Well, were you playing nurse?” asked +Frank.</p> + +<p>“Say,” declared Fenn earnestly, “I certainly +was up against it. I had a delirious patient, who +was talking about caves and strange men.”</p> + +<p>“Tell us,” suggested Bart, and Fenn related +what the girl had said.</p> + +<p>“That’s nothing,” declared Ned. “She was +talking in her sleep.”</p> + +<p>“No, it was delirium.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span> +“Well, that’s the same thing,” retorted Ned. +“It doesn’t mean anything. She was all worked +up over the accident. Probably she looked ahead, +saw the fence, and got scared half to death. +Then, when the auto went over the cliff, and she +and her father were spilled out, it might have +looked as if she was falling into a cave. That’s +all.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t believe it,” declared Fenn determinedly. +“I think there is something back of her +talk. She was only partly delirious. Besides, +she knew she had been talking about a cave, for +she asked me to forget all about it. There’s +something in all this, and don’t you forget it. +Some day I’ll find out what it is.”</p> + +<p>“You’re a regular mystery solver, you are, +Stumpy,” declared Ned.</p> + +<p>“Fenn! Fenn!” exclaimed an excited woman, +coming into the dining room where the boys had +gathered to talk. “What has happened? What +is the matter? Are you hurt? Was there an +accident? Why is Constable Darby in front of +the house, keeping the crowd back?”</p> + +<p>“There was an accident, mother,” said Fenn, +“and a man and a girl who were hurt have been +brought here. I told them to fetch them in. I +thought you wouldn’t care.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span> +“No, of course not. Poor things! I’m so +sorry! Are they badly hurt?”</p> + +<p>“I’m afraid the man is, but the girl seems to +be getting better, except that she fainted awhile +ago,” replied Fenn, and he briefly related what had +happened.</p> + +<p>Just then Dr. Fanwood came into the room, to +ask Fenn to heat some water, and he remarked:</p> + +<p>“It is not so bad as we feared. The young +lady is suffering from nothing but shock and some +bruises. The man, her father, has a bad wound +on the head, but nothing serious. They will both +be all right in a few days. It was a narrow escape.”</p> + +<p>“Who are they, Doctor?” asked Mrs. Masterson.</p> + +<p>“I have not been able to question either of +them,” replied the physician, “but, from papers +which we found in the man’s pocket I take him to +be Robert Hayward, of Bayville, Wisconsin. The +young woman is evidently his daughter, Ruth, +though what they can be doing so far away from +home, in an automobile, I do not know.”</p> + +<p>“Is he dangerously hurt?” asked Mrs. Masterson.</p> + +<p>“Well, it would be dangerous to move him for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span> +a few days, as complications might set in. If he +could stay here—”</p> + +<p>“Of course he can,” interrupted Fenn’s mother. +“He and his daughter, too. We have plenty of +room.”</p> + +<p>“I am glad to hear you say so,” replied the +doctor. “They will get well more quickly if they +are kept quiet. Now I must go back to my +patient.”</p> + +<p>He took the hot water Fenn gave him and left +the room. The four chums and Mrs. Masterson +discussed the recent happenings, and the crowd +outside, learning from the constable that there +was no one dead, or likely to die, went off to look +at the auto which still hung over the cliff.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Masterson rather ridiculed Fenn’s idea +that the girl’s talk had a bearing on some mysterious +happenings, and she was of the same opinion +as Ned, that it was merely the raving of delirium. +But Fenn stoutly clung to his own idea.</p> + +<p>“You’ll see,” he declared.</p> + +<p>The doctors left presently, and Alice Keene, +Bart’s sister, who was something of a trained nurse, +was installed to look after Mr. Hayward. Miss +Hayward declared she was not ill enough to be in +bed, and wanted to look after her father, but Mrs.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span> +Masterson insisted that the young woman must +consider herself a patient for several days, and +declared that she would take care of her.</p> + +<p>“Come on, boys,” suggested Fenn, when the excitement +had somewhat calmed down. “Let’s +see if we can’t save the auto.”</p> + +<p>“I’m afraid if we disturb it the least bit it will +go over the cliff,” said Ned. “It’s hanging on +by its teeth, so to speak.”</p> + +<p>“We’ll try, anyhow,” decided Bart. “I’d like +to help haul it back. Maybe we’d get a ride in +it, after Mr. Hayward gets well.”</p> + +<p>“That’s all you care about it,” taunted Frank +with a laugh.</p> + +<p>“No, but if we do save it, I guess you wouldn’t +refuse a ride in it,” retorted Bart. “It isn’t often +you get the chance.”</p> + +<p>“That’s so,” agreed Fenn. “But come on. +If we wait much longer the crowd will get around +it and, maybe, loosen the wire that holds it.”</p> + +<p>The four chums hurried to the scene of the accident. +They found that the weight of the big car +had stretched the wires so that the machine hung +farther than ever over the edge of the cliff.</p> + +<p>“It’s going to be a hard job to save that machine,” +declared Ned. “How are we going to +do it?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span> +“Let me think a minute,” spoke Bart, who was +usually fertile in devising ways and means of doing +things.</p> + +<p>“What ye goin’ to do?” demanded Constable +Darby who, having found his post as guard at the +house an empty honor, had assumed charge of the +machine. “What you boys up to now? You’d +better move away from here.”</p> + +<p>“We’re going to rescue Mr. Hayward’s auto +for him,” declared Fenn with more assurance than +he felt. “He wants it hauled back,” he added, +which was true enough.</p> + +<p>“Wa’al, ef he wants it, that’s a different +thing,” replied the constable, who evidently recognized +that Fenn had some rights in the matter, +since the injured persons had been carried to the +lad’s house.</p> + +<p>“I guess we’ve got ropes enough,” spoke Bart. +“The next thing is to get some pulleys and find +something strong enough to stand the strain. I +guess that big oak tree will do. Who knows +where we can get some pulleys?”</p> + +<p>“There are some at our house,” said Fenn. +“The painters left them there when they finished +the job last week. I can get them.”</p> + +<p>“Good!” cried Bart. “You get ’em, and +we’ll get the ropes in shape.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span> +When Fenn returned with the pulleys he found +that his chums had taken several turns of one of +the ropes about a tree, that was to stand the strain +of hauling the auto back on firm ground. The +pulleys were arranged so as to give more power to +the hauling force, and then, the cables having been +cautiously fastened to the back of the auto, Bart +gave the word, and half a score of boys assisted +the chums in heaving on the rope.</p> + +<p>There was a long pull, a strong pull, and a +pull altogether, but the auto never budged.</p> + +<p>“Once more!” cried Bart.</p> + +<p>“Hold on!” a voice urged, and the boys, and +others in the crowd saw a telephone lineman approaching.</p> + +<p>“That wire holds the wheels!” he explained, +pointing to where the wire from the fence was entangled +in the spokes. “You fellows hold on the +rope and I’ll cut it for you!”</p> + +<p>Drawing out a big pair of cutters he crawled +under the rear of the auto, and, lying on his back, +proceeded to sever the wire strands.</p> + +<p>“Keep the rope taut!” urged Bart. “When +the wire is cut there’ll be a heavy strain.”</p> + +<p>The boys, and several men who had taken hold +of the hempen cable, braced themselves. There +was a snap, as the cutters went through the wire.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span> +“Look out!” cried the lineman.</p> + +<p>There was a creaking of the ropes. A sudden +strain came on them, so powerful, that those holding +the strands felt the hemp slipping through +their fingers.</p> + +<p>“She’s going over the cliff!” cried Bart. +“Hold her, boys! Hold her!”</p> + + + +<hr class="cb" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV</h2> + +<h3>PLANNING A CRUISE</h3> + + +<p>Farther and farther over the cliff slid the +heavy auto. The boys and men, holding the rope, +were pulled slowly along, as is a losing team in a +tug-of-war.</p> + +<p>“Snub your rope, boys!” a voice suddenly +called. “Snub her! That’s the only way to hold +her back! Take a half hitch around that stump, +and you’ll have her! She’s got a little too much +way on for you! Snub her! Snub her, I say!”</p> + +<p>Bart gave one glance at the man who had called +these directions. He saw a short, squatty figure, +wearing a dark blue cap, with some gold braid on +it. One glance was enough to show that the man +knew what he was talking about.</p> + +<p>Bart let go his grip of the rope. The auto +slipped a little faster then, for there were not so +many hands holding it. But Bart knew what he +was doing. He grabbed the free end of the rope +and, following the directions of the newcomer, +who aided him, he took a couple of turns about a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span> +big stump. This “snubbed” or slowed up the +progress of the ponderous car, and a moment later +it came to a stop.</p> + +<p>“Now you’ve got her!” exclaimed the squatty +man. “She’ll hold until you can get a couple of +teams to haul her back. You can’t do it alone. +Too much steam needed!”</p> + +<p>“That’s where you’re right, Captain Wiggs!” +remarked Constable Darby. “I was jest a goin’ +t’ tell th’ boys that myself, but it’s better t’ have th’ +advice come from a regular sea-farin’ person I +s’pose.”</p> + +<p>“I’m no sea-faring person,” replied the captain. +“The Great Lakes are good enough for +me, but those who cruise on them know a thing or +two, even if they’re not of the salt water.”</p> + +<p>“Your advice came just in time, Captain,” said +Ned, for the boys knew the commander of the +steamer <i>Modoc</i>, which was one of the Great Lakes +fleet of freight carriers, and occasionally tied up +at Darewell.</p> + +<p>“I should say it did,” added Frank. “My +arms are nearly pulled off.”</p> + +<p>“I’ll go up the street and see if I can get a +couple of men to bring their teams here and haul +the auto up,” volunteered Fenn. “I guess Mr. +Hayward will pay them.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span> +The others thought this suggestion a good one, +and, in a short time Fenn returned with two men, +who each drove two powerful horses.</p> + +<p>The animals were hitched to the rope and, after +a little pulling and hauling, under the direction of +Captain Wiggs, who naturally took charge, the +auto was hauled back to the street, not much damaged +from the plunge over the cliff.</p> + +<p>The crowd stood around for some time longer, +looking at the touring car until Fenn had the men +haul it to a barn near his house. The boys +would have liked to have run it themselves, but, +as they knew very little about cars, and as they +were not sure of the condition of the machinery of +this one, they decided the slower method of propulsion +would be best.</p> + +<p>In the morning there was a great improvement +in the condition of Mr. Hayward and his daughter, +Ruth. In fact Ruth could be up, Dr. Fanwood +said, though she must not exert herself.</p> + +<p>That afternoon after school the three chums +wanted Fenn to go for a walk, but he made some +excuse and hurried home. He found Miss Ruth, +who looked prettier than ever he thought, sitting +in the parlor in an easy chair.</p> + +<p>“I don’t believe I thanked you and your friends +for what you did for my father and myself,” she<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span> +said, with a smile, as she held out her hand to +Fenn.</p> + +<p>“Oh, it isn’t necessary—I mean we didn’t do +anything—” and poor Fenn became much confused. +“I—er—that is we—saw the auto go +over and we hurried out.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, it was awful!” exclaimed Ruth, “I +thought I was going to be killed! It was terrible!”</p> + +<p>“It was a lucky escape,” murmured Fenn, sympathetically, +wondering if the girl would make any +reference to the cave she had raved about.</p> + +<p>But she did not, and, after asking Fenn to +bring his three chums, that she might thank them +personally, she went back to her room.</p> + +<p>“I wish I dared ask her about that mysterious +cave,” thought Fenn. “There’s something back +of it all, I’m sure. She acts as if she was afraid +I’d find it out.”</p> + +<p>A few days later Mr. Hayward was able to be +up, and after that his recovery was rapid. He +explained to Fenn, and the boy’s parents, that he +was in the timber business, and had some mining +interests. His daughter’s health was not of the +best, he added, and, in the hope of improving it, +he had taken her on a long auto trip. They intended +to go to Maine, and camp in the woods,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span> +and were on their way there when the accident +happened.</p> + +<p>“I’m sure I can’t thank you for all you have +done for me,” said Mr. Hayward, looking at +Fenn and his parents. “Those other boys, too; +my daughter tells me there were three of your +chums who helped.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, we didn’t do so much,” murmured Fenn. +“Anybody would have done the same.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, but you did it,” replied Mr. Hayward. +“I appreciate it, I can tell you. I wish I could +show you how much. Perhaps I can, some day. +I’ll tell you what I wish you’d do; come out and +see me. It’s not so very far to Bayville, and we +can show you some great sights there, I tell you. +You could make the trip along the Great Lakes, +and they’re well worth seeing. My daughter and +I would make you comfortable, I’m sure.”</p> + +<p>“It’s very kind of you to give the boys that invitation,” +said Mr. Masterson. “I’m afraid it’s +too long a trip for them.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, nonsense!” exclaimed Mr. Hayward. +“They can go by boat all the way. It’s a fine +trip.”</p> + +<p>“I’m sure you would enjoy it,” said Ruth, smiling +at Fenn.</p> + +<p>“Then we’ll go!” exclaimed Stumpy, with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span> +more energy than the occasion seemed to call for.</p> + +<p>“I wish you would,” added Mr. Hayward, and +then he and Mr. Masterson began a discussion of +business matters.</p> + +<p>A little later that evening Fenn, going in the +parlor for a book, saw Ruth sitting there in the +darkness.</p> + +<p>“What’s the matter?” he asked with ready +sympathy. “Are you ill? Shall I call my +mother?”</p> + +<p>“No—no, I’m all right—I’ll be all right in +a little while. Please don’t call any one,” and the +girl seemed much alarmed. “I—I was just +thinking of—”</p> + +<p>“Is there anything worrying you?” asked Fenn +boldly, as the memory of what she had said in her +delirium came back to him. “Can I do anything +to help you? Is it about a cave?”</p> + +<p>“Hush!” exclaimed Ruth, in such tones that +Fenn was startled. “Don’t speak of that. Oh, +I don’t know why I mentioned it. I was not myself! +Forget it, please. It might cause a dreadful—Oh, +I can’t talk about it!”</p> + +<p>She was whispering tensely, and she came close +to Fenn. In the next room Mr. Hayward could +be heard telling Mr. Masterson something about +his large business interests.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span> +“Don’t let my father hear you,” pleaded Ruth.</p> + +<p>“But perhaps I can help you,” insisted Fenn.</p> + +<p>“No—no one can—at least not now,” she +said. “Don’t ask me. I must go now. Good-night,” +and she hurried from the room, leaving a +much-puzzled lad behind. He forgot all about +the book he wanted, so wrought up was he over +what Ruth had said. He decided it would not be +proper to question her any further, though he +wanted very much to aid her if he could.</p> + +<p>The next morning Mr. Hayward announced +that he felt well enough to proceed. The auto +had been repaired, and the gentleman and his +daughter, bidding their hosts farewell, started off. +They had decided to return home, as Ruth was +so upset over the accident that a camping trip was +out of the question.</p> + +<p>“Now don’t forget, I expect you boys out to +visit me,” called Mr. Hayward, as the four chums +waved their hands to father and daughter when +the auto puffed off. “Come early and stay late!”</p> + +<p>“Poor girl,” murmured Mrs. Masterson, as +she went back into the house. “She seems worried +over something, but I don’t see what it can be, +for her father is very wealthy, according to his +talk, and she has everything she wants. Maybe<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span> +she misses her mother. She told me she had been +dead only a few years.”</p> + +<p>But Fenn knew it was something about the mysterious +cave that was worrying Ruth, and he +wished, more than ever, that he could do something +to aid her.</p> + +<p>It was a week after this when, school having +closed for the summer term, the four chums were +gathered at Fenn’s house. Frank, Ned and Bart +had arrived at the same time, to find Stumpy absorbed +in the pages of a big geography.</p> + +<p>“Going to take a post-graduate course?” asked +Bart.</p> + +<p>“No, he’s looking for Bayville, to see if he +can’t catch a glimpse of Ruth,” spoke Ned.</p> + +<p>“I was planning a vacation trip,” replied Fenn, +with dignity.</p> + +<p>“A vacation trip? Where?”</p> + +<p>“On the Great Lakes,” answered Fenn. “I +think it would be just the thing. I’ve been looking +it up. We could go down the Still River to +Lake Erie, and then to Lake Huron. From there +we could visit the Straits of Mackinaw, and then, +after a trip on Lake Michigan, go through the +Sault St. Mary to Lake Superior. Then—”</p> + +<p>“Yes, and then we could sail to Bayville and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span> +you could visit Ruth while we sat on the bank and +caught fish!” interrupted Frank. “Oh, Stumpy, +it’s easy to guess what you are thinking about!”</p> + + + +<hr class="cb" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V</h2> + +<h3>CAPTAIN WIGGS’S PROPOSAL</h3> + + +<p>Fenn had to stand considerable “jollying” +on the part of his chums, but, though he blushed +and was a little annoyed, he took it in good part.</p> + +<p>“You can talk about Ruth all you like,” he said, +“but, just the same, if you have any plans to beat +a cruise on the Great Lakes, why—trot ’em out, +that’s all. We’ve got to go somewhere this vacation, +and I don’t see any better place, though I’ve +looked through the whole geography.”</p> + +<p>“And the only place you could get to was Bayville,” +interrupted Ned. “It’s all right, Stumpy. +I agree with you, that it would be a fine trip.”</p> + +<p>“How could we make it?” asked Frank.</p> + +<p>“Walk, of course,” replied Bart, with a grin. +“It’s water all the way.”</p> + +<p>“Funny!” answered Frank, poking his sarcastic +chum in the ribs. “I mean where could we get a +boat?”</p> + +<p>“Hire one, I s’pose,” put in Fenn, who had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span> +been busy marking an imaginary cruise in lead pencil +on the map of the Great Lakes.</p> + +<p>“That would be pretty expensive,” said Bart. +“We’re not millionaires, though we each have a +little money salted away in the bank.”</p> + +<p>The boys discussed the proposed cruise for some +time longer, but there seemed no way of going +on it. To hire a steamer or motorboat for such +a long trip was practically out of the question for +them, and, with much regret they all admitted it +could not be considered.</p> + +<p>“Come over to-morrow night,” invited Fenn, +when his chums left that evening. “Maybe we +can think of something by then.”</p> + +<p>The next afternoon Fenn, who had gone to the +store for his mother, stopped, on his way back, +at the public dock of the Still River, where several +vessels were loading with freight for Lake +Erie ports. There was much hurrying about and +seeming confusion; wagons and trucks backing up +and going ahead, and scores, of men wheeling +boxes and barrels on board lighters and steamers.</p> + +<p>“Port! Port your helm!” suddenly called a +voice, almost in Fenn’s ear, and he jumped to one +side, to allow a short, stout man, with his arms +full of bundles, to pass him. “That’s it!” the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span> +man went on. “Nearly run you down, didn’t I? +Thought you were a water-logged craft in my +course. Why, hello! If it isn’t Fenn Masterson!”</p> + +<p>“Captain Wiggs!” exclaimed Fenn, recognizing +the commander of the <i>Modoc</i>.</p> + +<p>“Looking for a berth?” went on the captain, +as he placed his bundles down on the head of a +barrel. “I can sign you as cleaner of the after +boiler tubes, if you like,” and he looked so grave +that Fenn did not know whether he was joking +or not. It was a habit the captain had, of making +the most absurd remarks in a serious way, so that +even his friends, at times, did not quite know how +to take him. “Yes,” he went on, “I need a +small boy to crawl through the after boiler tubes +twice a day to keep ’em clean. Would you like +the job?”</p> + +<p>“I—I don’t believe so,” replied Fenn, with a +smile, for now he knew Captain Wiggs was joking.</p> + +<p>“All right then,” said the commander, with an +assumed sigh. “I’ll have to do it myself, and +I’m getting pretty old and fat for such work. +The tubes are smaller than they used to be. But +I dare say I can manage it. Where you going?”<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span> +he asked Fenn suddenly, with a change of manner.</p> + +<p>“No place in particular. Home, pretty soon. +Why?”</p> + +<p>“I was going to ask you to come aboard and +have a glass of lemonade,” invited the captain. +“It’s a hot day and lemonade is the best drink +I know of.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I’ll come,” decided Fenn, for Captain +Wiggs’s lemonade had quite a reputation. Besides +there were always queer little chocolate cakes +in the captain’s cabin lockers, for he was very +fond of sweet things, as Fenn knew from experience.</p> + +<p>“Haven’t saved any more sinking automobiles, +lately, have you?” asked the commander, when +Fenn was seated in the cabin, sipping a glass of +the delicious beverage.</p> + +<p>“No. Mr. Hayward has gone back to Bayville.”</p> + +<p>“Bayville? Is that where he lives?” asked +Captain Wiggs.</p> + +<p>“That’s it,” replied Fenn. “Why?”</p> + +<p>“That’s odd,” mused the captain. “I’m going +right near there, this cruise. You see I’ve got +a mixed cargo this trip,” he explained. “I’ve +got to deliver some things at several lake ports, +but the bulk of the stuff goes to Duluth. Now if<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span> +you would only ship with me, as cleaner of the +after boiler tubes, why you could go along.”</p> + +<p>“Could I?” asked Fenn eagerly.</p> + +<p>“Sure.”</p> + +<p>“And—and could you take any other boiler +tube cleaners, or—or any other help?”</p> + +<p>“Well, I need a couple of lads to dust the +coal,” said the captain, so seriously that Fenn +thought he meant it. “You see if coal is dusty +it doesn’t burn well,” he added. “We have to +dust off every lump before we can put it in the +boiler. Now a couple of handy lads, who were +quick and smart could—”</p> + +<p>“Maybe you could use three,” suggested Fenn, +with a smile.</p> + +<p>“Sure I could,” spoke the captain. “That’s +it!” he added quickly. “You and your three +chums! Why not? You four could come along, +and, if necessary, you could all dust coal. We +use a lot of it. Come on now, here’s a proposal +for you,” and the captain smiled good naturedly. +“You four boys come along and make the trip +to Duluth with me.”</p> + +<p>“Would it—would it cost much?” asked +Fenn, seeing a chance of carrying out the cruise +he had planned.</p> + +<p>“Not a cent. I tell you I’ll use you boys<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span> +in more ways than one. Dusting the coal is only +a small matter. There is the smoke stack to be +scrubbed, the dishes to be hand painted and the +windows to be taken out and put in again.”</p> + +<p>“Do you mean it?” asked Fenn. “I mean, do +you really want us on this trip, Captain Wiggs?”</p> + +<p>“Of course I do. I sail in three days, to be +gone a month or more. If you boys want to +have a good vacation come along. Get the permission +of your folks and let me know to-night.”</p> + +<p>“I will!” exclaimed Fenn, his brain whirling +with the suddenness of it all. “I’ll tell the other +boys right away,” and, not even pausing to thank +the captain for the lemonade, he hurried up the +companion ladder, out on the deck of the <i>Modoc</i> +and, jumping to the dock, ran up the street as fast +as he could go.</p> + + + +<hr class="cb" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI</h2> + +<h3>IN PERIL</h3> + + +<p>“Here’s the stuff from the store, mom!” exclaimed +Fenn, as he rushed into the house.</p> + +<p>“What’s the matter?” asked his mother anxiously. +“Has there been an accident, Fenn?”</p> + +<p>“Got to find the boys! Captain Wiggs! +<i>Modoc!</i> Going on a cruise! Tell you later!” +was what Fenn exclaimed in jerky sentences as +he hurried down the side steps and out of the +yard.</p> + +<p>“Oh, those boys! They get so excited you +can’t do anything with them!” exclaimed Mrs. +Masterson. “I wonder what they’re up to now?”</p> + +<p>If she could have seen her son and his chums, +whom he met on the street, soon after his hurried +exit, she would have been more puzzled than ever.</p> + +<p>“Great news! Great!” yelled Fenn, as he +caught sight of Frank, Ned and Bart approaching +him. “We’re going with Captain Wiggs to make +a tour of the Great Lakes! Whoop! Hold me +down, somebody!”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span> +He grabbed Ned and Bart, each by an arm, +and began whirling them around in a good imitation +of an Indian war dance.</p> + +<p>“Here! Let up!” cried Frank. “What’s it +all about? Who’s killed?”</p> + +<p>“Nobody, you ninny!” shouted Fenn. +“We’re going on the <i>Modoc</i>!”</p> + +<p>“Who says so?”</p> + +<p>“When?”</p> + +<p>“How many of us?”</p> + +<p>“Where?”</p> + +<p>“Are we all going?”</p> + +<p>All Fenn could do was to nod his head vigorously. +He was all out of breath. As soon as +he could get enough wind to talk, he rapidly explained +what Captain Wiggs had said.</p> + +<p>“Does he mean we’re to work our passage?” +asked Frank. “I don’t know as I care to shovel +coal, if that’s what he means.”</p> + +<p>“I guess he was only joking about that part +of it,” answered Fenn. “I’m going, if I have +to scrub the decks. It will be sport.”</p> + +<p>“That’s right,” chimed in Bart. “I don’t +mind working my way for the sake of the trip. +When can we go?”</p> + +<p>“Let’s go down to the wharf and have a talk<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span> +with him,” suggested Ned, and they all agreed +this was a wise idea.</p> + +<p>A little later they were in the large cabin of the +<i>Modoc</i>, which, for a freight boat, was well fitted +up.</p> + +<p>Captain Wiggs repeated the invitation he had +given to Fenn. The boys would be welcome to +make the trip with him, he said, as long as their +parents consented. They would need an outfit of +clothing, with rough garments for stormy weather, +which might be encountered.</p> + +<p>“And we’ll do anything we can to help you +run the boat,” added Bart, who felt that some +return ought to be given for the captain’s generosity.</p> + +<p>“Well,” replied the commander, in drawling +tones, “I don’t expect too much. But if you +could manage to keep the door mats clean it would +be a great help.”</p> + +<p>“Door mats—on a ship?” questioned +Ned.</p> + +<p>“Yes; of course,” replied the captain, with an +assumption of dignity. “You see the salt spray +gets all over the deck, and if it’s tramped into +the cabins it makes the floors dirty. My steward +is very particular about clean floors, and I thought<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span> +that if you could help keep the mats clean, why +it would make his work easier, and he wouldn’t +grumble so much. However, if it’s too much +trouble, why of course—”</p> + +<p>“Oh, we’ll do it,” hastily agreed Fenn, fearing +that the trip might be called off. He did not +quite know how to take the captain’s remarks, for +the commander had not the least suspicion of a +smile on his face. After all, thought Fenn, it +might be necessary to clean the door mats, and he +resolved to do his share of it.</p> + +<p>“Well, now that that’s settled,” went on the +commander, as if a load had been taken from his +mind, “we’ll go into further details.”</p> + +<p>He then explained to the boys what they would +need in the way of clothing and baggage, and he +briefly described the trip. The duration of it was +a little uncertain as he could not tell how long +he would have to wait at Duluth, after unloading, +before he could get a cargo to bring back.</p> + +<p>“I guess I’ll get you home safe in time to begin +the fall term of school,” he said, “and that ought +to answer.”</p> + +<p>“It will,” declared Ned. “It’s mighty fine of +you to ask us.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I guess you’ll be worth your salt,” commented +Captain Wiggs. “Besides attending to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span> +the door mats, I may expect you to look after the +scuttle-butt, now and again.”</p> + +<p>Fenn wanted to ask what the scuttle-butt was, +but as the steward came in just then, to get some +orders, the boys decided it was time to leave.</p> + +<p>They promised to be on hand the day set for +sailing, and then, with their minds full of the +happy prospect ahead of them, they went ashore.</p> + +<p>The parents of the lads offered no objection to +their making the cruise in company with Captain +Wiggs, who was well known in Darewell. In +due time valises and trunks were packed and the +four chums, the envy of their less-fortunate school +companions, strolled down to the wharf and +boarded the <i>Modoc</i>.</p> + +<p>The steamer was a large one, and had good +accommodations for passengers, though she seldom +carried any. This time, besides the boys, +there was only one man, who was making the +trip for his health. He was Burton Ackerman, +who lived in a small town not far from Darewell.</p> + +<p>They found that their staterooms, which were +of good size, adjoined one another. They put +away their belongings, and then went up on deck. +The <i>Modoc</i> had cast off, and was slowly gathering +speed as it dropped down the river toward Lake +Erie.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span> +“Don’t forget the scenery, boys!” called the +captain, as he passed.</p> + +<p>“We won’t,” answered Ned, with a laugh.</p> + +<p>The boys had often made the trip to Lake Erie, +and there was little of novelty for them in this. +But, when the steamer had gotten well out on +the big body of water, they crowded to the rails, +for they had never been out so far as this before.</p> + +<p>“It’s almost as good as an ocean voyage,” exclaimed +Bart.</p> + +<p>“What are you thinking of, Stumpy?” asked +Frank, noticing that his short chum was rather +quiet.</p> + +<p>“I know,” declared Ned. “He’s wondering +if he’ll see Ruth.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, you—” began the badgered one, when +the attention of the boys was taken from tormenting +their chum by several sharp blasts of the +<i>Modoc’s</i> whistle. There was an answering screech +and Frank suddenly exclaimed:</p> + +<p>“Look there, boys!”</p> + +<p>They all looked. On the port side, bearing +right down on them, and coming at full speed, +was an immense grain barge. It appeared to be +unmanageable, for the whistle was frantically +blowing, and a man in the pilot house was waving +his hand.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span> +“Toot! Toot! Toot! Toot!” screamed the +whistle of the <i>Modoc</i>.</p> + +<p>“She’s going to ram us!” cried Fenn. “We +can’t get out of the way in time!”</p> + +<p>There was a confused jangling of bells from +the <i>Modoc’s</i> engine room, followed by more +whistles, and then the steamer began to swing +around. But still the grain barge came straight +on. A collision seemed inevitable.</p> + + + +<hr class="cb" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII</h2> + +<h3>AN ELEVATOR BLAZE</h3> + + +<p>From somewhere Captain Wiggs reached the +deck on the jump. He tore past the boys on the +run, and fairly burst into the door of the pilot +house, where the first mate was in charge.</p> + +<p>“We’d better get ready to jump!” cried Frank. +“It looks as if we were going to be cut in two.”</p> + +<p>“Grab life preservers!” shouted Ned. “Here +are some back here!”</p> + +<p>He turned to lead the way to where, under +an awning, some of the cork jackets were hung +in racks. Before he could reach them a peculiar +shiver seemed to run over the <i>Modoc</i>.</p> + +<p>“She’s hit us!” yelled Bart. “Everybody +jump!”</p> + +<p>The boys made a rush for the rail, intending +to trust to their swimming abilities rather than +to chance remaining on the steamer after the +grain barge had hit her.</p> + +<p>But their plans were suddenly frustrated for, as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span> +they reached the rail, something that towered away +above their heads loomed up, and the grain vessel +came sliding along side of the <i>Modoc</i>, just as if +the two craft were about to tie up together for +loading purposes.</p> + +<p>The grain barge only bumped gently against +the side of the steamer. The shrill whistles ceased. +The jangling bells were silent. By the narrowest +of margins a bad collision had been avoided.</p> + +<p>Out of the pilot house came Captain Wiggs, +running along the rail until he came opposite the +pilot house of the grain barge. Then, standing +on a signal flag locker the commander addressing +the man in charge of the vessel which had given +them all such a scare, exclaimed:</p> + +<p>“Say, what in the name of the Sacred Cow are +you trying to do, anyhow? Don’t you know how +to steer, you inconsiderate slab-sided specimen of +an isosceles triangle!”</p> + +<p>“Sure I know how to steer,” replied the man, +who was as cool as the captain was excited. “I +was steering boats when you was a baby. But I’d +like to know how in the name of Billy Hochswatter’s +mud-turtle any one can manage a boat +when the steam steering gear breaks just as another +vessel gets in front of me.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span> +“Oh, then that’s different,” replied Captain +Wiggs, with an understanding of the difficulties of +the situation.</p> + +<p>“Yes, I guess it is,” retorted the other.</p> + +<p>“Why didn’t you use the hand gear?” asked +the commander of the <i>Modoc</i>.</p> + +<p>“That got jammed just as they were swinging +my boat around, and all I could do was to signal +for a clear course.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I gave it to you, but I almost had to +rip my engines off the bed plates to do it,” retorted +Captain Wiggs. “I reversed at full speed, and +swung that wheel around until it looked like a +spinning top. Only for that we’d be on the bottom +of the lake by now.”</p> + +<p>“That’s right,” agreed the other pilot. “You +had your nerve with you. Well, as long as there’s +no damage done I s’pose you can go ahead. I’ll +have to lay-to for repairs.”</p> + +<p>“Um,” was all Captain Wiggs replied, for he +had not quite gotten over his scare, used as he +was to narrow escapes from danger. Slowly the +<i>Modoc</i> was backed away from the side of the +grain barge, and, when at the proper distance, +she was sent ahead again, the other craft coming +to anchor.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span> +“I hope I don’t meet him again this voyage,” +murmured Captain Wiggs, as he walked up to +where the four chums stood. “He’s the most unlucky +fellow I know. Something is always happening +to his boats.”</p> + +<p>“Who is he?” asked Ned.</p> + +<p>“Captain Streitwetter. He’s a German from +Germanville. Did you hear him mention Billy +Hochswatter’s mud-turtle?”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” said Bart. “What did he mean?”</p> + +<p>“That is a story,” replied Captain Wiggs +gravely, “which can only be told after the dinner +dishes are washed. You’d better look after them,” +and with that he walked away.</p> + +<p>“There he goes again!” exclaimed Frank. +“You never know what he is going to say. I +believe he’s stringing us.”</p> + +<p>“I almost know it,” retorted Fenn. “It’s only +a way he has, but the trouble is we don’t know +whether or not he wants us to do the things he +says. I wonder if we had better do anything +about the dishes?”</p> + +<p>“Of course not,” said Frank. “The cook sees +to that.”</p> + +<p>“But maybe the cook is sick,” insisted Fenn. +“Captain Wiggs might want us to help.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span> +“If I thought so I’d offer at once,” put in Ned. +“I used to do it at home, once in a while, to help +out.”</p> + +<p>“I’ll go ask him,” volunteered Fenn, and he +started to find Captain Wiggs, when he was halted +by seeing the commander step from behind a pile +of boxes. The captain was laughing heartily.</p> + +<p>“That’s the time I had you guessing; didn’t +I?” he demanded. “Wash the dishes. Ha! +Ha! Ho! Ho! That’s pretty good!”</p> + +<p>The boys, looking a bit sheepish, soon joined +in the merriment at their expense, and the little +pleasantry served to banish the nervous feeling +that remained after the narrow escape from the +collision.</p> + +<p>“Billy Hochswatter’s mud-turtle!” repeated +the captain. “That’s what Captain Streitwetter +always says when he’s excited. I don’t believe +there ever was such a person as Billy Hochswatter.”</p> + +<p>“I either,” added Fenn.</p> + +<p>“I must go down to the engine room to see +if we suffered any damage,” the commander of +the <i>Modoc</i> went on. “You boys amuse yourselves +as well as you can until dinner time. You don’t +have to peel the potatoes,” he added with a wink.</p> + +<p>“We’ll have to get even with him, somehow,”<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span> +suggested Ned, when the captain was out of hearing.</p> + +<p>“How?” asked Bart.</p> + +<p>“I haven’t thought it out yet, but we must play +some kind of a trick on him. He’ll think the +Darewell chums are slow if we believe all he tells +us, and don’t come back at him. Try and think +up something.”</p> + +<p>“Good idea,” commented Fenn. “We’ll have +the laugh on him, next time.”</p> + +<p>The day passed quickly, for there were many +novel sights for the boys to see. Captain Wiggs +was kept so busy, for there were some repairs +needed to one of the engines, because of the sudden +reversing, that the boys did not see him again +that day. He did not appear at dinner or supper, +and the steward said the commander was taking +his meals in the engine room.</p> + +<p>The <i>Modoc</i> was going along at less than her +usual speed, but was making fairly good time.</p> + +<p>“Well, I s’pose we might as well turn in, boys,” +suggested Fenn, about nine o’clock. “I believe +that is the proper term aboard a ship.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, messmates,” spoke Ned, assuming a theatrical +attitude, “we will now seek our downy +hammocks, and court ‘tired nature’s sweet restorer, +balmy sleep,’ to arise in the gladsome morning,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span> +and ‘you must wake and call me early; call +me early, mother dear, for I’m to be Queen of +the May, mother; I’m to be Queen of the May!’”</p> + +<p>“We’ll call you ‘loony,’ instead of ‘early,’ if +you get off any more of that nonsense,” murmured +Frank.</p> + +<p>“That’s what,” agreed Fenn. “You’re not +studying English Lit. and French history now, +Ned.”</p> + +<p>“Very well, most noble gentlemen,” went on +Ned. “I shall obey you, right gladly, I ween!” +and he made a dive for his stateroom before Bart, +who made a sudden grab could lay hands on him.</p> + +<p>The others soon turned in, and, in spite of their +new and strange surroundings and beds, were soon +sound asleep.</p> + +<p>It must have been about midnight that Fenn +was awakened by hearing a great tramping on deck. +It was followed by confused shouts, and then came +the jangling of the engine room bells. The <i>Modoc</i> +seemed to increase her speed.</p> + +<p>“I wonder if there’s another collision coming?” +he said as he sat up. He heard Bart moving in +the next room, and presently Frank’s voice was +heard calling:</p> + +<p>“Say, fellows, something’s wrong.”</p> + +<p>The noise on deck increased, and it sounded as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span> +though several men were running to and fro, dragging +ropes about.</p> + +<p>“I’m going up!” decided Fenn, jumping out +of his berth and hastily pulling on his clothes. +From the open doors of his chums’ rooms he could +see that they, too, were attiring themselves with +little regard for how they looked.</p> + +<p>Up on deck they hurried. As they emerged +from the companionway their eyes were met with +a bright glare.</p> + +<p>“A fire!” exclaimed Ned. “The boat’s +afire!”</p> + +<p>“Don’t say that! Don’t say that, young man, +I beg of you!” besought a man, attired in his +trousers and night shirt, as he approached Ned, +who recognized him as Mr. Ackerman, the sick +passenger.</p> + +<p>“What is it?” inquired Fenn, who was right +behind Ned.</p> + +<p>“He said the ship was on fire,” repeated Mr. +Ackerman. “I can’t stand it. I have heart +disease. Excitement is bad for me. Do, please, +one of you, go and find out how fast it is burning, +and come back and tell me.”</p> + +<p>He sat down at the head of the companionway, +as coolly as though he had asked to be informed +which way the wind was blowing. Evidently he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span> +knew how to take care of himself, so as not to +aggravate his malady.</p> + +<p>“The ship isn’t on fire!” exclaimed Bart, crowding +past Ned and Fenn.</p> + +<p>“But something evidently is burning,” insisted +Mr. Ackerman. “I can smell smoke, and see the +reflection of the blaze.”</p> + +<p>This was not strange, considering that the <i>Modoc</i> +was in the midst of a cloud of vapor, and +that bright tongues of fire could be seen close to +her bow.</p> + +<p>“It’s a big grain elevator on shore that’s burning!” +exclaimed Frank. “See! There it is!”</p> + +<p>As he spoke the smoke which enveloped the +steamer was blown aside. The boys could then +note that, during the night the vessel had approached +close to shore. They were near a good-sized +city, and, among the wharfs was a big building, +built to hold grain in readiness to load on the +lake steamers.</p> + +<p>From the top of this flames were shooting high +into the air, and the <i>Modoc</i> was approaching it at +full speed.</p> + + + +<hr class="cb" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII</h2> + +<h3>FENN HEARS SOMETHING</h3> + + +<p>“What’s the matter? Can’t Captain Wiggs +stop the ship?” cried Fenn, for it certainly looked +as if the <i>Modoc</i> was going to run, full tilt, into +the flames, which were right at the water’s edge, +as the elevator was on the end of the wharf.</p> + +<p>“Clang!”</p> + +<p>The half speed bell sounded from the engine +room. The steamer began to slacken speed.</p> + +<p>“Clang! Clang!”</p> + +<p>Two gongs. Stop the engines. The <i>Modoc</i> +was going ahead under her own momentum only. +Then another signal.</p> + +<p>Under the stern of the steamer the water boiled +and bubbled as the great screw was reversed, to +check the vessel’s way. The jingling bell, following +the signal to reverse, indicated to the engineer +to back his machinery at full speed, and the big +craft fairly quivered, so great was the strain of +stopping her up short.</p> + +<p>But they were master-hands aboard the <i>Modoc</i><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span> +and she swung broadside to a wharf as gently as +a boy brings his toy boat to a stop. From the +deck men leaped to the string piece, with great +ropes in their hands, which they made fast to butts +and piling. The steamer was tied up, so close to +the burning elevator that the boys could feel the +heat of it.</p> + +<p>“What are you going to do, captain?” asked +Mr. Ackerman, who seemed to have recovered +from his nervousness, when he found the <i>Modoc</i> +was in no danger.</p> + +<p>“I’m going to help douse that fire!” cried the +commander. “Lively with that hose, men! +Lively now! Snatch her quick and I’ll give you +all the water you can handle!”</p> + +<p>Several brawny deck-hands began pulling a line +of hose over the side. Other men were lowering +a big boat, into which the men with the hose +jumped. The hose was unreeled after them as +they pulled out on the lake, in front of the burning +elevator.</p> + +<p>“I’m afraid it’s a goner,” remarked Captain +Wiggs, as a gust of wind sent the leaping flames +licking along the surface of the water.</p> + +<p>“How did it happen?”</p> + +<p>“Whose place is it?”</p> + +<p>“What are you going to do?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span> +Those were some of the questions which the +boys asked Captain Wiggs. He answered them +all, comprehensively.</p> + +<p>“It’s an elevator in which the owners of the +<i>Modoc</i> are interested,” he said. “I was to call +there to-morrow for a load of grain. I was heading +for the wharf, intending to tie up until morning, +when I saw flames shooting out of the top +of the shaft. I’ve got a powerful pump aboard, +and I knew they didn’t have any fire boat in town, +so I speeded the <i>Modoc</i> as close as I could. I +don’t believe I can do much, but I’m going to try. +I’m afraid the fire has too much start.”</p> + +<p>“Can we go ashore and watch it?” asked Ned.</p> + +<p>“I guess so. Don’t go too near, and be careful +you don’t fall off the pier. It’s deep water all +around.”</p> + +<p>Captain Wiggs hurried down to the engine +room, for the men with the hose in the boat were +now as close as they dared to go to the fire, and +could use water.</p> + +<p>“Come on, fellows!” cried Ned. “We don’t +often get a chance to see a big fire like this.”</p> + +<p>They leaped to the wharf, since no gang plank +had been run out, and were soon hurrying along +the pier to shore. The elevator was several slips +or piers distant, and the boys would have to go<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span> +ashore to reach it. As they ran on they could hear +the big pump of the <i>Modoc</i> beginning to force +water from the lake through the hose, the nozzle +of which the men in the row boat directed at the +fire.</p> + +<p>In the street along the water front the four +chums found a great crowd. Every one was hurrying +to the blaze. Men were shouting, boys were +yelling, and even women and girls had hurriedly +dressed to come out to the conflagration.</p> + +<p>“The whole block back of the elevator’ll go, +if they don’t stop it pretty soon!” yelled a man +as he passed on the run.</p> + +<p>“Here comes the water-tower!” shouted several.</p> + +<p>“Look out there!”</p> + +<p>“Clear the way!”</p> + +<p>An insistent clanging of a fire gong to the accompaniment +of barking dogs told that some piece +of apparatus was dashing along the street. The +boys felt some one from behind thrust them to one +side.</p> + +<p>“Look out!” a policeman shouted in their ears. +“Do you want to be killed?”</p> + +<p>They shrank back, burying themselves in the +crowd on either side of the way, just as the water<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span> +tower, with the plunging horses foam-flecked and +heaving, dashed by.</p> + +<p>“They’ve sent for more engines from Frenchtown!” +cried some one in the throng.</p> + +<p>“They’ll need all they can get.”</p> + +<p>“The warehouse’ll go next!”</p> + +<p>“They’d better use dynamite!”</p> + +<p>“This shows we ought to have a fire boat!”</p> + +<p>“This department don’t know how to handle a +blaze like that!”</p> + +<p>Remarks of this nature kept floating to the ears +of the boys as they hurried along, arm in arm, +so they would not become separated in the press +that was on every side of them.</p> + +<p>Above the din sounded a shrill whistle, and a +fire-engine, spouting sparks, with the stoker at the +back, clinging to the rail with one hand, and with +the other throwing soft coal on the glowing mass +under the boiler, crammed his head out to see +how much farther the panting horses had to run.</p> + +<p>The blazing elevator was hidden from sight +of the boys by several buildings that intervened, +but by looking up they could see the lurid sky, +and the smoke-laden air, in which glowed dull red +sparks, like stars. Suddenly the crowd, of which +the four chums formed a part, swung around a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span> +corner. Then a terrible, but vivid scene was presented.</p> + +<p>On the end of a big wharf, with the black lake +as a background, was the flaming structure. It +stood out boldly, like a picture framed in ebony, +illuminating itself by leaping, licking tongues of +yellow fire, that seemed to tumble and toss—to +twist and coil about like devouring serpents.</p> + +<p>Up shot the flames—far above the slanting, +narrow roof of the elevator. The windows shone +out as though millions of candles had been placed +in them. Through some casements, darting spears +of fire glanced, as if to transfix anything in their +path, not satisfied with what was within. The +piles of grain made a dense smoke, and the peculiar +structure of the building, like some immense chimney, +gave a draught that seemed to doom the elevator +to complete destruction.</p> + +<p>At the foot of the building could be seen a dark +mass of firemen, moving here and there. In spots +it was illuminated by little spurts of flame, where +the engines were puffing like mad to send the +quenching water on the fiercely burning timbers.</p> + +<p>“They’ll never stop that fire!” shouted a man +close to the chums. “The roof’ll cave in soon!”</p> + +<p>“Why don’t they use the stand pipes in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span> +elevator?” asked another man. “No engine +they’ve got can throw water to the roof.”</p> + +<p>“The stand pipes are melted by now,” was the +answer. “They tried ’em, but it got too hot. +There she goes!”</p> + +<p>The flames seemed to make one final leap, as +if to reach a higher point in the air than they had +yet attained. There was a sound as though a great +gun had exploded and the roof, blown off by the +heated air inside, and by the gases generated from +the burning grain, was scattered into a thousand +pieces.</p> + +<p>Then, as if satisfied that it had accomplished +what it set out to do, the fire died down a little. +The top stories of the elevator toppled in, and +the mass seemed to crumple up. Owing to the +packed heaps of grain it was burning slowly, now +that most of the wood work was consumed.</p> + +<p>“That’s another blow to Hayward!” spoke a +voice so close to Fenn’s ear that the boy started +in spite of himself.</p> + +<p>“Hush!” cautioned a man, who was beside +the one who had first spoken, “some one might +hear you.”</p> + +<p>“No one knows what I’m talking about,” was +the answer. “I guess Hayward will be willing<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span> +to talk business now. He can’t stand many such +losses as this, even if he does own most of Bayville. +I understand he didn’t carry much insurance +on this grain, as it was stored for quick movement. +Now, when I see him—”</p> + +<p>The man stopped suddenly, for Fenn was looking +right at him. Somehow the youth knew instinctively +that he was talking about the Mr. Hayward +who had been injured in the auto accident. +What could it mean? Why was the speaker glad +that the westerner had suffered a loss in the elevator +fire? Fenn wanted to hear more.</p> + +<p>But the man who had first spoken, said nothing +further. He grasped his companion by the arm, +and nodded toward Fenn. The other boys were +still watching the fire, and were some distance +away from Stumpy.</p> + +<p>“Were you—” began the first speaker, looking +at Fenn, when his companion suddenly drew him +back among the crowd.</p> + +<p>“Stop! Stop!” Fenn heard him whisper. “I +must get hold of him and—”</p> + +<p>There was some mystery here. Fenn vaguely +felt it, but he could not tell what it was. There +was a movement in the throng, and Fenn’s chums +were pressed back to where he stood.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span> +“Here comes some more engines!” was the +cry.</p> + +<p>Additional steamers, summoned from an adjoining +city, rattled up. The fire, which had died +down, seemed to break out afresh, as the flames +seized on new material.</p> + +<p>“I tell you I’m going to find out about him!”</p> + +<p>This was the voice of the man who had spoken +of Mr. Hayward. Fenn glanced around. The +fellow, who had a sinister face, was making his +way toward him.</p> + +<p>“Maybe they’re thieves or pickpockets,” +thought Fenn. “I guess we’d better get out of +here while we have the chance.”</p> + +<p>He leaned forward and grasped Bart by the +arm.</p> + +<p>“Come on!” he hoarsely whispered.</p> + +<p>“What for?” inquired Bart. “The fire isn’t +half over.”</p> + +<p>“Come on,” repeated Fenn earnestly. “I +think Captain Wiggs may want us.”</p> + +<p>He was so insistent, and nodded in such a peculiar +way that Bart realized something unusual was +in the wind. Pulling Ned and Frank close to +him, Fenn whispered:</p> + +<p>“I think some pickpockets are trying to rob<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span> +us. I’ve brought my money with me. Let’s get +out of here.”</p> + +<p>The boys made a quick turn in the crowd, and +worked their way to where the press was not so +thick. Fenn led the way, looking back to see if +the men were following.</p> + +<p>They were. The man with the sinister face, +and his companion, were trailing close after the +boys.</p> + +<p>“Come on!” cried Fenn, suddenly breaking +into a run.</p> + +<p>But the men were not to be so easily left behind. +They, too, quickened their pace, and pursued +the four chums, though what their motive +was the boys could only guess.</p> + + + +<hr class="cb" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX</h2> + +<h3>OFF AGAIN</h3> + + +<p>The boys soon found themselves mixed up in +another part of the crowd, that had, apparently, +come down a side street leading to the lake front. +They had some trouble disengaging themselves +from it, and, when they again had a fairly clear +street to run through, they were some distance +from the fire.</p> + +<p>“Did we lose ’em?” asked Fenn, panting from +the run.</p> + +<p>“What? Who?” asked Frank, who did not +exactly understand the cause for the sudden retreat.</p> + +<p>“Those two—pickpockets,” replied Fenn, not +knowing exactly how to classify the strange men.</p> + +<p>“Here comes a couple of fellows on the run,” +said Ned. “I guess they’re still after us. Let’s +wait and ask what they want. They haven’t any +right to follow us.”</p> + +<p>“No, no!” urged Fenn. “Come on back to +the steamer.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span> +He seemed so much in earnest that his chums +did not stop to ask questions, but increased their +speed. Just as they reached the wharf, at the +end of which the <i>Modoc</i> was tied, another fire engine, +hastening to the elevator blaze, dashed by.</p> + +<p>There was a quick clanging of the gong, and a +shrill screech from the whistle. It was instantly +followed by a shout.</p> + +<p>“The engine struck one of the men!” cried +Frank, looking back. “He’s knocked down! +Run over I guess! Come on back!”</p> + +<p>The boys hesitated. They did not want to +leave an injured man, even if he and his companion +had been pursuing them. The street, at +this point, was deserted, save for the two strangers. +The engine did not stop, the horses being urged +on by the driver, who did not want to have the +reputation of arriving last at the conflagration.</p> + +<p>“Come on back and help him,” urged Bart, +who was always anxious to aid persons in distress, +even if they were enemies.</p> + +<p>The others hesitated. It was rather a risk, +Fenn thought. But the problem was solved for +them. The man who had been knocked down by +the engine arose to his feet. Supporting himself +on the shoulder of his companion he limped off up +the street, and away from the boys.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span> +“I guess he isn’t badly hurt,” remarked Ned. +“He’ll not chase us any more. That engine came +along just in time.”</p> + +<p>“Except I guess it’s too late to help put out +the fire,” said Frank. “There can’t be much left +of the elevator.”</p> + +<p>“But what did we run for?” asked Ned. +“Who were those chaps, Fenn?”</p> + +<p>Fenn explained what he had heard, and expressed +the belief that the men had some business +enmity against Mr. Hayward.</p> + +<p>“They seemed delighted that the elevator, containing +his grain, burned down; or at least the +one man did,” he said. “Then, when they saw +I was listening, though I didn’t really intend to, +they acted as though they wanted to get hold of +me, and see why I was so interested. I thought +they might be pickpockets, but now I don’t believe +they were.”</p> + +<p>“We must tell Captain Wiggs about it,” suggested +Frank.</p> + +<p>“I don’t believe I will,” answered Fenn. “I +don’t want him to laugh at me, and I think he +surely will if I suggest that the men chased us. +He’ll probably think we took two harmless citizens +for burglars. No, I think the best plan will be +to wait and see what turns up.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span> +“I’ll tell you what you can do,” spoke Ned.</p> + +<p>“What?” inquired Fenn.</p> + +<p>“You can ask Captain Wiggs who owned that +grain in the burned elevator. He’ll know, as he +was going to get a load there.”</p> + +<p>“Good idea,” responded Fenn. “I will.”</p> + +<p>The boys were soon aboard the ship again. +They found that the men in the rowboat had returned, +as the side of the elevator nearest the lake +had all burned away, and their hose was no longer +effective. The fire was under control now, but +was still blazing well. Enough engines had arrived +to prevent it spreading.</p> + +<p>“Well, this knocks my plans all askew,” remarked +the commander of the <i>Modoc</i>, when the +boys came on deck. “I don’t know where to get +my grain, now.”</p> + +<p>“Did you say the same company that owned +this steamer owned that grain?” asked Fenn, seeing +a good chance to obtain the information he +wanted.</p> + +<p>“No, I said they owned the elevator,” replied +the captain. “The grain is a separate matter. I +don’t know whose that was. Whoever it belonged +to won’t get much good from it.”</p> + +<p>“Is there any way of telling who owned it?”<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span> +asked Fenn, for he thought, even though the men +had mentioned the name “Hayward,” that it might +be some other man than the one injured in the +auto accident—some one else than the father of +Ruth.</p> + +<p>“Why, I can tell by looking at my order slips,” +replied Mr. Wiggs. “Why are you so interested?”</p> + +<p>“I was wondering if it was any one I knew,” +answered Fenn, a little evasively, as he did not +want to explain what had happened.</p> + +<p>“Um—let’s see,” and Captain Wiggs who, +followed by the boys had gone to the main cabin, +began thumbing over the pages of a small book +he took from his pocket. “‘Proceed to’—no, +that’s not it—‘take cargo’—um—no, it must +be on the next page—Oh, yes, here it is. ‘Get +cargo of grain at Lakeville, from Robert Hayward +Company.’ That’s it. The grain belonged to +Robert Hayward—why—er—say, boys, that’s +the name of the man who was hurt back there in +Darewell—he and his daughter Ruth—you +know him—why, Fenn, he was at your house!”</p> + +<p>“So he was!” exclaimed Fenn, his knowledge +thus unexpectedly confirmed.</p> + +<p>“Quite a remarkable coincidence!” went on the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span> +Captain. “Very strange! Well, strange things +are always happening. You didn’t hear what +started the fire, did you?”</p> + +<p>“I heard a policeman say it was spontaneous +combustion,” said Frank, “but they always give +that as a cause, when they can’t think of any other.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t s’pose they’ll ever find out,” remarked +the captain. “Well, I can’t do anything more. +We’d better turn in, although it’s most morning. +Soon as it gets daylight I’ll have to hustle around +and find out what I’m going to do.”</p> + +<p>Captain Wiggs was a very busy man the next +day, sending messages to the steamer’s owners to +ascertain their wishes. The boys visited the elevator, +in which great piles of grain were still +smouldering, in spite of the tons of water poured +on them. Fenn kept a lookout for the mysterious +men, but did not see anything of them.</p> + +<p>Captain Wiggs had to remain tied up at Lakeville +until he received orders to proceed to the next +port for a cargo that would be awaiting him there. +The boys spent the time on shore, visiting various +scenes of interest.</p> + +<p>“Well, we’re off again!” cried the commander, +on the morning of the third day, as he came hurrying +down the dock, waving a telegram in his hand. +“Tying-up is no fun. You may get under way<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span> +as soon as possible, Mr. Sidleton,” he added to +the first mate.</p> + +<p>Steam was up, and, in a short time the <i>Modoc</i> +was again plowing the waters of Lake Erie. +Gradually Lakeville was left behind, and soon +they were out of sight of land.</p> + +<p>“Ding-dong! Ding-dong! Ding-dong! Ding-dong!”</p> + +<p>A bell suddenly sounded, with queer double +strokes.</p> + +<p>“Eight bells!” exclaimed Captain Wiggs, as +he arose from a deck chair where he had been +sitting, to the boys. “Time for mess,” and he +led the way toward the dining saloon.</p> + +<p>As he was about to descend the companionway +he looked over the rail. Astern of the <i>Modoc</i> +was a small steam yacht, coming on at a swift +speed.</p> + +<p>“That’s queer,” murmured the captain.</p> + +<p>“What is?” asked Fenn, for the boys were +privileged characters.</p> + +<p>“That yacht,” replied the commander. “She’s +been following us all the morning; ever since we +left Lakeville. I wonder what the game is? +Steward, bring me the glass,” he called, and, when +the binoculars were handed to him, the captain +took a long look at the pursuing craft.</p> + + + +<hr class="cb" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X</h2> + +<h3>THE CHASE</h3> + + +<p>For nearly a minute Captain Wiggs continued +his observation of the on-coming boat. Then, +laying aside the glass, he remarked:</p> + +<p>“I can’t make anything out of her. It’s a +strange boat. Never saw her on the lakes before. +And they seem to have an uncommon interest in +us. A couple of men on deck are taking turns +in looking at us through a telescope.”</p> + +<p>“Two men?” asked Fenn, beginning to get +excited.</p> + +<p>“There are two on deck, but of course there +must be more somewhere aboard,” replied the +captain.</p> + +<p>“And has one of them a—a sort of mean +looking face?” went on Fenn.</p> + +<p>“Well, from what I can see of him through +the glass, he doesn’t look to be a very cheerful +chap.”</p> + +<p>“I’ll wager it’s those men after us!” exclaimed +Fenn, turning to his chums.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span> +“What men?” inquired Captain Wiggs.</p> + +<p>“The men who chased us when we were at +the elevator fire,” and Fenn told of the adventure.</p> + +<p>“I wish you had mentioned that to me before,” +said the commander, looking grave. “This thing +may be serious.”</p> + +<p>“Why? Do you think they are thieves?” +asked Bart.</p> + +<p>“There’s no telling what they are,” and the +captain took another observation at the steamer +in the rear. “You know the lakes are part of +the dividing line between the United States and +Canada. Often criminals from both countries find +it to their advantage to conduct some of their +operations on the water, and there are any number +of questionable characters plying on this lake. I +can’t make out why those men should want you +boys, or Fenn, more particularly, unless they think +he may know something of their operations, and +they want to stop him from talking.”</p> + +<p>“Well, they can’t prevent me!” boasted Fenn.</p> + +<p>“Don’t be too sure,” cautioned the captain. +“Of course you have nothing to fear as long as +you are with me, aboard the <i>Modoc</i>, but don’t run +any chances while ashore. Meanwhile those fellows +have got to catch us first. They’ve got nerve,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span> +I must say, pursuing us as if they were government +officers and we were smugglers.”</p> + +<p>“Do smugglers cross the lake?” asked Ned.</p> + +<p>“They try to, and, sometimes they succeed. +But I wish you boys would go down to dinner. +I want to keep watch of this boat. When you +finish, come up on deck, and you can stand guard, +while I eat. We’ll keep tabs on her then, and we +needn’t let any of the crew here know about it. +It’s just as well to keep matters a little quiet until +we find out what it all means.”</p> + +<p>The boys did not linger long over their dinner, +and were soon on deck again. They found Captain +Wiggs gazing at the pursuing steam yacht +through the glass.</p> + +<p>“She’s coming on,” he said. “Seems to have +plenty of speed, but I guess we can show her a +little ourselves. I’ll give orders to the engineer +to increase our rate some. Then we’ll see what +happens. You keep watch, and let me know when +I come back.”</p> + +<p>He handed the binoculars to Fenn, and went +below. The four chums took turns looking at +the on-coming craft. Presently they noticed that +their own steamer was making faster progress +through the water.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span> +“I guess we’ll leave ’em behind now,” observed +Frank.</p> + +<p>“Then you’ve got another guess coming,” responded +Fenn. “They’ve put on more steam.”</p> + +<p>The other boat seemed to spurt through the +waves that were piled up in front of her sharp +prow. She easily kept right after the <i>Modoc</i>, and +even seemed to approach closer.</p> + +<p>“I wonder what they’ll do when they catch up +to us?” asked Bart.</p> + +<p>“Wait until they catch us,” suggested Ned.</p> + +<p>“Well, boys, how about it?” called Captain +Wiggs, as he came on deck. “Have you polished +up the anchor chain, as I asked you to. The +regular polisher-boy is sick, and I’m short handed.”</p> + +<p>“You didn’t tell us—” began Fenn, when a +smile on the face of the commander warned him +that it was only a joke.</p> + +<p>“How is our friend, the enemy?” inquired +Captain Wiggs, reaching for the glass.</p> + +<p>“Well, we haven’t lost her,” replied Frank.</p> + +<p>“So I see,” observed the commander. “I +think I’ll have to try a little trick.”</p> + +<p>He went to the pilot house and soon the <i>Modoc</i> +was sweeping away from her course in a long, +graceful curve.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span> +“There, now we’ll see if they are following us, +or whether they are just on the same course by +accident, and are using us for pace-makers,” remarked +the captain, as he came back to where the +boys were.</p> + +<p>In less than a minute the course of the pursuing +vessel was also changed, and on she came, after +the <i>Modoc</i>, the black smoke pouring from her +funnel, testifying to the fact that the engine room +force was piling on the fuel to make more steam.</p> + +<p>“She’s going to catch us or burst her boilers,” +remarked the captain, with a grim smile. “Well, +we’ll see. I made them show their hand. They +evidently believe we’re bound for the Canadian +shore, and they think they have us outside the +protection of the United States now, and can do +as they please.”</p> + +<p>He hurried to the pilot house, and soon there +were several signals of the engine room bells.</p> + +<p>“We’ll see if we can’t get a few more knots +out of her,” observed the commander as he came +back, and took a hurried look at the yacht astern. +“I guess the <i>Modoc</i> has some speed left in her +yet, even if she is only a freighter.”</p> + +<p>True, the big steamer did go faster, but so did +the pursuing boat. The chase was leading straight +toward Canada now.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span> +“Can’t seem to shake ’em off,” murmured the +captain, with a somewhat worried look on his +face. “I’ve a good notion to lay-to, and see what +they want.”</p> + +<p>“I—I wouldn’t,” said Fenn.</p> + +<p>“Why not?” asked the captain quickly. “You +haven’t done anything wrong; have you?”</p> + +<p>“No, but—”</p> + +<p>“Then I think I’ll just ask them the meaning +of this unwarranted chase. They haven’t any +right to keep after me like this, unless they’re a +government vessel, and they’re not that or they +would have shown their colors long ago. That’s +what I’ll do. I’ll stop!”</p> + +<p>He turned toward the pilot house to give the +order. Fenn took up the binoculars, which the +captain had laid down, and looked through them +at the strange steam yacht. He could make out +the two men on deck, one of them—he with the +sinister face—staring at the little knot of boys, +who seemed, so unaccountably, to have become +involved in a mystery.</p> + +<p>Following the ringing of the engine room bells, +the <i>Modoc’s</i> speed began to slacken. Captain +Wiggs came back to where the boys were and +remarked.</p> + +<p>“Now we’ll see what will happen.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span> +Hardly had he spoken than there sounded from +the pursuing craft, which had not slackened speed, +a shrill hissing. Then a white cloud appeared to +hover over her.</p> + +<p>“She’s broken a steam pipe!” cried the captain. +“Too much pressure! I thought she couldn’t +stand it!”</p> + +<p>The strange craft was almost lost to sight in +the cloud of white vapor that enveloped her, while, +from the midst of it, came excited cries.</p> + + + +<hr class="cb" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI</h2> + +<h3>ON LAKE HURON</h3> + + +<p>“Somebody’s hurt!” cried Fenn.</p> + +<p>“Shouldn’t wonder,” replied Captain Wiggs, +coolly. “There generally is when an explosion +occurs in a boiler room.”</p> + +<p>“Aren’t we going to help them?” inquired +Frank.</p> + +<p>“I’ll give them any aid they need,” said the +commander. “We’ll see how much the damage +amounts to. I’ll steam back toward ’em.”</p> + +<p>He gave the necessary orders, and soon the +<i>Modoc</i> was slowly approaching the disabled craft. +The clouds of steam had somewhat dispersed, but +that something was wrong was evident from the +manner in which men were hurrying about the +deck of the recent pursuing yacht.</p> + +<p>“I guess it wasn’t as bad as I thought,” remarked +Mr. Wiggs. “They seem to have stopped +the leak in the pipe. I hope none of the men +are badly scalded. I’ll offer ’em help, and they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span> +can take it or leave it. They’ve made enough +trouble for me as it is.”</p> + +<p>But the strange craft evidently did not desire +any aid, nor did the commanders of it seem to +court any investigation of what had happened. +As the <i>Modoc</i> approached the other boat’s whistle +sounded, and then it slowly started off, like a lame +dog running away from a fight with a superior +antagonist.</p> + +<p>“Had enough, eh?” remarked the captain. +“I thought so. Well, I’m not sorry that I don’t +have to get to close quarters with them. It looks +as if it was coming on to blow, and it’s no joke to +have to tow a disabled boat on Lake Erie in a +storm.”</p> + +<p>Seeing that his proffered offer of help was declined +Captain Wiggs changed the course back to +his original one. As the other craft turned about, +and steamed slowly away, Fenn watched through +the glass, and the last thing he could see was +the man with the ugly face, standing at the stern, +gazing at the <i>Modoc</i> through a telescope.</p> + +<p>“He’ll know me next time, anyhow,” thought +Fenn, as he joined his chums, who were talking of +the strange finish of the chase.</p> + +<p>Discuss the recent happenings as they did, from +all sides, the boys could not get at the bottom of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span> +them. No more could Captain Wiggs. But he +soon found he had other things to think about than +the chase which had ended so abruptly, for the +weather changed suddenly, and there were indications +of a heavy storm.</p> + +<p>“I’d like to make the Detroit River before the +blow comes on hard,” he remarked. “I’ve got +a pretty heavy load aboard, and the <i>Modoc</i>, while +she’s a stanch craft, doesn’t behave as well in a sea +as she might. I’ve lost considerable time through +that elevator fire, and stopping on account of those +men chasing us, so I must make it up.”</p> + +<p>The steamer was sent ahead at full speed, but +the storm developed faster than the captain had +calculated so that, when still several miles from +a good harbor, the wind suddenly swooped out +of the west and soon there was a heavy sea running.</p> + +<p>“Why, it’s almost like the ocean,” remarked +Ned as, standing well forward, near the port rail, +he looked across the lake and saw the big waves.</p> + +<p>“You’ll think so, if this keeps up,” responded +Captain Wiggs. “Lake Erie can kick up as pretty +a storm as I ever want to see, and I’ve been +through some hard ones, I can tell you. This +is nothing to what it will be if the wind increases.”</p> + +<p>And that the wind intended increasing was evident<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span> +from the way it howled over the big expanse +of water, which was dotted with white-caps. +Through the waves the <i>Modoc</i> labored, her powerful +engines and screw sending her ahead gallantly, +though she rolled and pitched in a way to +make the boys think they were on an ocean liner +instead of a lake steamer.</p> + +<p>It grew quite dark, partly because of the clouds +that gathered, and because evening was approaching. +Then the rain, which had held off for a +while, came down with a suddenness that was almost +like a cloud burst. Fortunately the boys, on +the advice of the captain, had donned oil-skins, +and they were protected, though sometimes it +seemed as if the wind would drive the rain drops +right through their garments.</p> + +<p>“This is a terrible storm!” exclaimed Ned, as +he held on to the rail and tried to peer ahead +through the mist and blackness.</p> + +<p>“Wait!” fairly shouted the captain. “You +haven’t seen any more than the beginning.”</p> + +<p>“That’s enough for me!” cried Fenn, as he +made his way to the companionway and went below. +The other boys followed, as the commander +said it was hardly safe on deck. The <i>Modoc</i> +was now laboring amid the big waves. The +lookout, scanning the waste of waters for a sight<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span> +of land, could see nothing but blackness ahead.</p> + +<p>It did not seem quite so bad to the boys, after +they were in the cabin, though they had to sit +braced in chairs to avoid tumbling out when the +vessel pitched and tossed, and it was quite a task +to move about, for there was danger of bringing +up against some piece of furniture, or the cabin +partitions.</p> + +<p>“An ocean voyage isn’t in it with this,” declared +Ned. “It’s great!”</p> + +<p>“It may be, but it makes me feel sick,” declared +Fenn. “I’m going to lie down in my +bunk.”</p> + +<p>This he did, saying he felt better when stretched +out. The other boys followed his example, as the +pitching was a little too much for them. They +soon grew accustomed to it, however, and presently +they noticed that the motion seemed less violent.</p> + +<p>“We must have come to anchor,” said Bart.</p> + +<p>“More likely we’re inside some harbor,” declared +Ned.</p> + +<p>They went up on deck and found that, though +it was still raining hard, the wind had died down +a little, which made the boat ride easier.</p> + +<p>“Where are we?” called Fenn, to Captain +Wiggs, who was pacing the deck.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span> +“Just entering the Detroit River,” was the reply. +“We’ll tie up at Detroit for the night. +How are you, boys?”</p> + +<p>“Better now,” replied Ned.</p> + +<p>As soon as the <i>Modoc</i> was well within the river +the effects of the blow were no longer noticeable. +In a short time the steamer was tied up at a dock +and the boys turned in for the night.</p> + +<p>Captain Wiggs had some business to transact +in Detroit, and spent nearly all of the next day +there, giving the boys a chance to go ashore and +see some of the sights. They resumed their trip +that evening, through Lake St. Clair, and proceeding +without stop to Lake Huron.</p> + +<p>Emerging well out upon this vast body of inland +water, the boys, one bright morning, got a +fine view of it.</p> + +<p>“Isn’t it—isn’t it big!” exclaimed Fenn. +“It’s—it’s simply—”</p> + +<p>“Help him out, Ned,” suggested Bart. “You +ought to have some big adjectives on hand, left +over from that last French history lesson. This +is too much for Stumpy.”</p> + +<p>“It certainly is a lot of water,” commented +Frank. “I thought Lake Erie was big, but this +seems to beat it.”</p> + +<p>The boys stood at the rail, absorbed in the contemplation<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span> +of the beautiful scene before them. +Captain Wiggs too, though he had viewed the lake +many times, could not but admire the beauty of it +as it sparkled in the morning sun.</p> + +<p>One of the men from the engine room suddenly +appeared on deck, and, standing behind the commander, +who was explaining something to the +boys, waited until the captain had finished.</p> + +<p>“Did you wish to see me?” asked Mr. Wiggs, +turning to the man.</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir. Mr. McDougall told me to ask you +to step below, sir.”</p> + +<p>“What’s the trouble?” for the man seemed a +little uneasy.</p> + +<p>“I don’t know exactly, sir, but I think it’s a +leak.”</p> + +<p>“A leak?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir. Mr. McDougall thinks some of +the forward plates have started.”</p> + +<p>“It must have been the storm,” commented +Captain Wiggs, as he hastened below. “Yet it’s +a good while taking effect. I hope it isn’t serious.”</p> + + + +<hr class="cb" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII</h2> + +<h3>NED GETS A FISH</h3> + + +<p>“Hark!” exclaimed Bart. “What’s that +sound?”</p> + +<p>“The pumps!” replied Fenn. “They’ve +started ’em. It must be a bad leak. We’d better +get life preservers.”</p> + +<p>“Don’t get excited,” counseled Frank coolly. +“Wait until you see how bad it is. These steamers +are all built with water-tight compartments, +and it would take quite a hole to make one of them +sink. The starting of a few plates wouldn’t do +it.”</p> + +<p>His words calmed his chums, and, when Captain +Wiggs came on deck, a few minutes later, he announced +that the leak was not a serious one, though +it would be necessary to go ashore to make repairs.</p> + +<p>It was found, on docking the <i>Modoc</i> that the +repairs would take about a week, and this period +the boys spent in making excursions on shore, in +the vicinity of the town. They had a good time,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span> +and the delay did not seem very long because of +the many interesting sights.</p> + +<p>They visited a large saw mill where the logs, +that had been brought down the lake in big rafts, +were cut up into lumber, and the foreman of the +plant showed them the various processes through +which the tree trunks went before they were turned +out in the shape of boards, planks or timbers.</p> + +<p>“Well, we’ll start in the morning, boys,” announced +Captain Wiggs one night. “The <i>Modoc</i> +is in good shape again, and we’ll have to make +good time from now on, because of our delays.”</p> + +<p>Early the next morning the vessel was under +way again. Out on Lake Huron it steamed, +plowing through the blue waters, under a sunny +sky, while a gentle breeze stirred up little waves.</p> + +<p>“Why don’t you boys do some fishing?” asked +Captain Wiggs, as he noticed the four chums +sitting near the after rail, talking among themselves.</p> + +<p>“We didn’t know we could catch anything +here,” replied Ned.</p> + +<p>“I don’t either,” was the captain’s answer, “but +you can’t tell until you try. There is plenty of +tackle aboard, and you might land something nice. +There are fish in the lake—plenty of ’em. The +thing to do is to catch ’em.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span> +The boys needed no other invitation, and soon +they had lines trailing over the stern of the ship, +far enough away from the screw to avoid getting +tangled in the blades. Mr. Ackerman, the sick +passenger, who has improved considerably, also +took a line, and joined the boys.</p> + +<p>“Let’s see who gets the biggest fish,” proposed +Ned.</p> + +<p>“Let’s see who gets the first one,” supplemented +Bart. “That’s the best test.”</p> + +<p>It did not look as if luck was going to be very +good, for the lines had been over half an hour, +and no one had had so much as a nibble.</p> + +<p>“This is getting tiresome,” spoke Ned, as he +assumed a more comfortable position in his chair. +Then he tied his line to his wrist, propped his feet +up on the rail, and lounged back.</p> + +<p>“Well, if that isn’t a lazy way of fishing!” +exclaimed Frank. “Why don’t you sit up?”</p> + +<p>“I will when I get a bite,” replied Ned.</p> + +<p>They resumed their waiting, with that patience +which is, or ought to be, part of every angler’s +outfit. Suddenly Frank nudged Bart and pointed +to Ned. The latter had fallen asleep in his chair.</p> + +<p>“Let’s play a joke on him,” proposed Fenn +in a whisper. “I’ll tie him fast in his chair.”</p> + +<p>“No, let’s pull up his line and fasten an old<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span> +shoe, or something like that to it,” proposed +Frank. “He’ll think he has a big bite.”</p> + +<p>They started to put this plan into operation, +when, as they were about to pull up Ned’s line, +they saw it suddenly straighten out.</p> + +<p>“He’s got a bite!” exclaimed Fenn.</p> + +<p>“Yes, and a whopper, too,” added Frank.</p> + +<p>“Look at it!” cried Bart, as some big fish, at +the stern of the boat, leaped out of the water and +fell back with a splash.</p> + +<p>Then the line about Ned’s wrist tightened. He +felt the pull and awakened.</p> + +<p>“I’ve got him!” he cried. “I’ve got the biggest +one!”</p> + +<p>The next moment he went sprawling from his +chair, while his arm was straightened out in front +of him, for the strong line, to which a big fish +was attached, was fairly pulling him along.</p> + +<p>“Look out! He’ll go overboard!” cried Mr. +Ackerman.</p> + +<p>Bart made one leap, and grabbed Ned around +the waist. This saved the luckless youth from +being pulled over the rail, but it did not release +him from his predicament.</p> + +<p>“Oh! Ouch!” cried Ned. “It’s pulling my +arm off!”</p> + +<p>Indeed this seemed likely to happen, for the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span> +line was very strong, and the lad had tied it securely +about his wrist. It could not slip over his +hand, and the fish on the other end was tugging +away for dear life. Doubtless it would have +been glad enough to escape, but it was fairly +caught, for as they afterward found, it had swallowed +Ned’s bait, hook and all.</p> + +<p>“Let go!” yelled Ned to Bart, who was clinging +to his waist.</p> + +<p>“If I do you’ll go overboard!” replied Bart. +He felt his chum slipping from his grasp. “Give +me a hand here!” Bart called to Fenn and +Frank.</p> + +<p>They jumped to his aid, while Mr. Ackerman, +in an excess of nervous fright, ran up and down +the deck shouting:</p> + +<p>“Captain! Captain Wiggs! Stop the ship! +A shark has got hold of one of the boys!”</p> + +<p>“What’s that? What’s the trouble?” asked +the commander, hurrying up from the cabin.</p> + +<p>“A shark has got Ned!” repeated the invalid.</p> + +<p>“Shark? In Lake Huron?” replied the commander. +“You’re crazy!”</p> + +<p>“Guess it must be a whale, by the way it +pulls,” said Bart.</p> + +<p>“It’s one of the big lake fish!” exclaimed the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span> +captain. “They’re as strong as a pony. Wait, +I’ll cut the line!”</p> + +<p>“No, don’t!” begged Ned, who, now that his +three chums had hold of him, was in no danger +of going overboard, though the thin, but tough +cord, was cutting deep into his wrist, where he +had foolishly tied it.</p> + +<p>“Here, lend a hand!” called Captain Wiggs to +a sailor who was passing. The man grabbed the +line with both hands and soon was able, with the +help which Frank and Fenn gave him, to haul in +the fish. It seemed as if they really had a shark +on the end of the line, but, when the finny specimen +was gotten on deck, it was seen that it was +not as large as the boys had imagined.</p> + +<p>“Who would have thought it was so strong?” +asked Ned, rubbing his chafed wrist.</p> + +<p>“The speed of the boat had something to do +with it,” said the captain. “You were pulling on +the fish broadside I guess, but it is a very strong +species even at that. They’re not often caught +on a hand line.”</p> + +<p>“Are they good to eat?” asked Ned, wishing +to derive some benefit from his experience.</p> + +<p>“Some folks like ’em, but they’re a little too +strong for me,” answered the captain. “However,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span> +I think the crew will be glad to get it?” and +he looked questioningly at the sailor who had +helped land the prize.</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir,” replied the man, touching his cap. +He took the fish to the galley, where the cook +prepared it for the men’s dinner. The boys tasted +it, but did not care for the flavor.</p> + +<p>“Aren’t you going to fish any more?” asked +the captain, as he saw Ned coiling up his line, +after the fish had been taken away.</p> + +<p>“That’s enough for one day,” was the boy’s +reply. “The other fellows can, if they like. My +wrist is too sore.”</p> + +<p>“Lucky you didn’t tie the line to your toe,” +said Frank.</p> + +<p>“Why?”</p> + +<p>“Because you’d probably be walking lame now, +if you had. As it is you can’t sign any checks for +a while, I s’pose.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, you and your checks!” exclaimed Ned, +in no mood to have fun poked at him.</p> + +<p>“Moral! Don’t go to sleep while you’re fishing,” +said Bart.</p> + +<p>“Well, I did better than you fellows did. You +didn’t get anything,” retorted the fisherman.</p> + + + +<hr class="cb" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII</h2> + +<h3>CAUGHT IN THE LOCK</h3> + + +<p>Ned, at the suggestion of the captain, put some +salve on his wrist, for the cord had cut through +the flesh. Then he had Bart bandage it up. This +done the boys resumed their seats near the after +rail, and talked about Ned’s exciting catch.</p> + +<p>“I hope you don’t try such a thing again,” remarked +Mr. Ackerman, as he came back from his +cabin. “It’s a little too much for my nerves.” +He sank down in a deck chair, and the boys noticed +that he was quite pale. He seemed unable +to get his breath.</p> + +<p>“Would you mind—would one of you mind, +reaching in my pocket and getting a bottle of +smelling salts that I carry,” he asked. “I think +if I took a sniff I’d feel better.”</p> + +<p>“I will,” volunteered Fenn, for Mr. Ackerman’s +hands hung limply by his side, and he +seemed incapable of helping himself.</p> + +<p>“Is this it?” asked Fenn, as he reached in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span> +upper right hand pocket of the invalid’s vest and +pulled out a small bottle.</p> + +<p>“No—no,” was the answer, half whispered. +“That is my headache cure. I think it must be +in the lower pocket.”</p> + +<p>Fenn replaced the headache cure and explored +the lower right-hand vest pocket.</p> + +<p>“Is this it?” he inquired, drawing up a small +box.</p> + +<p>“No, no—my dear young friend—those are +my liver pills. Try again. I think it must be on +the other side.”</p> + +<p>He still seemed too weak to raise his hands. +Ned was about to call Captain Wiggs, but Fenn +made another try.</p> + +<p>“I have it!” he exclaimed, pulling out a shining +metal tube.</p> + +<p>“No—no,” said the invalid faintly, opening +his eyes and looking at what Fenn held up. +“That’s my asthma cure. Try the next pocket, +please.”</p> + +<p>“Say, he’ll kick the bucket if Fenn doesn’t +find that medicine pretty soon,” whispered Frank. +“Guess I’ll help him.”</p> + +<p>Fenn began a search of the lower left-hand vest +pocket. He brought up a bottle, containing a +dark liquid. Wishing to make sure he had the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span> +right stuff, he smelled of it, before asking Mr. +Ackerman to open his eyes and look at it.</p> + +<p>“Is that it?” whispered Ned.</p> + +<p>“Smells bad enough to be it,” was Fenn’s answer.</p> + +<p>“No, no. You haven’t got it yet,” spoke the +invalid, in peevish tones. “That is my heart +remedy. I must kindly ask you to try again. I +remember now, it’s in my right-hand coat pocket.”</p> + +<p>Fenn replaced the heart cure and made one more +attempt. This time he brought up a short, +squatty, round bottle.</p> + +<p>“That’s it!” exclaimed the invalid joyfully, +“Now, please hold it to my nose. Not too close.”</p> + +<p>However, he spoke too late, for Fenn had +placed the open phial right under Mr. Ackerman’s +nose. The invalid gave one sniff, and then jumped +from the chair as if he was shot.</p> + +<p>“Wow! Ouch! Help!” he cried. “That’s +strong ammonia! I use it for hay fever. That’s +the wrong medicine! Oh! The back of my +neck is coming off!”</p> + +<p>He held his handkerchief to his face, the tears +coming from his eyes because of the strong stuff.</p> + +<p>“I remember now!” he managed to gasp. “I +left my smelling salts in my stateroom. But I +can get them now. I’m better—much better!”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span> +“I believe he is,” remarked Frank, when Mr. +Ackerman had gone below. “Say, isn’t he the +limit, with his different kind of medicines?”</p> + +<p>“You shouldn’t make fun of him,” spoke Bart.</p> + +<p>“Whew!” suddenly exclaimed the captain’s +voice. “I guess my invalid passenger must have +been around here,” and he breathed in the ammonia-laden +air.</p> + +<p>“He seems to be quite sick,” said Fenn.</p> + +<p>“Sick?” repeated the commander. “Say, I +wouldn’t want him to hear me, but he’s no more +sick than I am. He’s only got a touch of hypochondriacism.”</p> + +<p>“Will—will he die soon of it?” asked Fenn.</p> + +<p>“Die? I wish I had his chance of living,” +went on the captain. “I guess you don’t quite understand. +Maybe that word was too much for +you. A person who has hypochondriacism has a +little stomach trouble, and the rest is only imaginary. +That’s what Mr. Ackerman has. Every +once in a while he takes a trip with me, for the +sake of his health, he says, but I think it’s to get +away from working. Say, did he ask you to reach +in his pocket for some medicines for him?”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” replied Fenn, “and I had quite a time +finding it.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span> +“I should think you would. He’s a regular +walking drug store. If he’d throw all his +powders, pills and liquids away, and live out of +doors, he’d be all right in a month. I’m not making +fun of him, but I wish somebody would, some +day. Maybe it would cure him.”</p> + +<p>“He seemed pretty sick,” ventured Bart.</p> + +<p>“But he was lively enough when he smelled +that ammonia I gave him by mistake,” said Fenn.</p> + +<p>“Ammonia?” questioned the commander, and +the boys then told him what had happened. “Ha! +Ho!” laughed Captain Wiggs. “That is the +best joke yet! Ammonia! Oh my! I’ll bet he +was lively! Why, I can smell it yet!”</p> + +<p>The little experience seemed to do Mr. Ackerman +good, and it was several days before he complained +again. Then he was seemingly as badly +off as ever, taking some sort of medicine almost +every hour. But the boys understood him now, +and did not waste so much sympathy on him.</p> + +<p>The <i>Modoc</i> steamed on, covering many miles +over Lake Huron until, towards evening one afternoon, +Captain Wiggs announced that morning +would find them at the entrance of St. Mary’s +river, the connecting link between Lakes Huron +and Superior.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span> +“Can you boys stand a little jarring?” he +asked, as they were in the main cabin, after supper.</p> + +<p>“Jarring? Why?” inquired Frank.</p> + +<p>“Because we’ve got to jump the ship over St. +Mary’s falls, and we don’t always make it the first +time,” was the answer, given with much gravity. +“Often we miss and fall back, and it jars the ship +up quite a bit.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, are we going through the ‘Soo’ canal?” +asked Fenn eagerly, for he had been reading up +about the Great Lakes, just before coming on the +trip.</p> + +<p>“That’s the only way of getting around the +falls,” replied the captain. “I see you don’t put +much faith in my jumping story.”</p> + +<p>“We have to go through a lock, don’t we?” +Bart wanted to know.</p> + +<p>“Yes,” said Captain Wiggs, spreading a map +out on the table, “we go through the canal, and +lock, being raised up several feet, to the level of +Lake Superior. If all goes well we’ll be through +the lock by noon to-morrow.”</p> + +<p>“Why do they call it the ‘Soo’ canal?” asked +Ned.</p> + +<p>“Because it is named after the falls,” was the +commander’s reply. “The falls are called Sault<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span> +Saint Marie, and that word which is spelled +‘S-a-u-l-t’ is pronounced as if it were spelled +‘S-o-o.’ It is a French word, and means a leap, +or water-fall. So you see when you say ‘Sault +(Soo) Saint Marie’ you are really saying ‘St. +Mary’s Waterfall.’ The canal, and the city located +along it, both take the name of the falls.”</p> + +<p>The boys were up early the next morning to +catch the first glimpse of the canal, lock and falls. +It was some time before they reached them, however, +and, when they did arrive at the canal, they +found several vessels ahead of them, and had to +wait their turn for entering the lock.</p> + +<p>They had a fine view of the surrounding country +and the falls of St. Mary’s, spanned by a big +railroad bridge. When they approached the lock, +they saw that the canal was there divided by two +walls of masonry making two locks and enclosing +a space that was laid out like a little park, with +grass plots and trees. Along the edges of the retaining +walls, which were very wide, many persons +were walking.</p> + +<p>At last it was the turn of the <i>Modoc</i> to enter +the lock. She steamed slowly ahead, and an +empty grain barge was also sent in at the same +time, the lock being large enough for two vessels.</p> + +<p>When the craft were in, the immense gates<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span> +were closed behind them. The <i>Modoc</i> and the +grain barge were now shut up in something like a +box of masonry, with water for a bottom, and the +sky for a top. The boys watched the men open +the water-gates that let in a flood of liquid that +swept in from Lake Superior, through the long +canal.</p> + +<p>Slowly the two vessels began to rise. The water +boiled and bubbled, churning into foam as it forced +its way in. It seemed as though it was protesting +at being made to hoist the ships, instead of +being allowed to course on to the mighty ocean.</p> + +<p>Up and up went the great craft, being lifted as +easily by the powerful water, as though some giant +hand had reached down from the sky and was elevating +them. A few feet more and they would be +able to steam out on the upper lever of the canal, +and thence into Lake Superior.</p> + +<p>Suddenly a rope, that held the grain barge from +drifting too close to the forward gates, parted. +The churning of the water sent the clumsy craft +ahead, and, in a moment the bow was caught under +one of the heavy beams of the gate. As the +water was still lifting, the nose of the craft became +depressed, while the stern rose. Then the barge +swung over against the <i>Modoc</i>, and a projection +on it caught against the latter craft.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span> +The barge was now held down, bow and stern, +while, from beneath, it was being lifted by an irresistible +force of water. The barge careened to +one side, and the <i>Modoc</i> began to heel over.</p> + +<p>“Shut off the water!” cried Captain Wiggs, +who saw the danger. “Shut her off, quick, or +we’ll be stove in!”</p> + + + +<hr class="cb" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV</h2> + +<h3>MYSTERIOUS STRANGERS</h3> + + +<p>Under the forward gates, and through openings +in them, the water was still bubbling and +foaming, seeking to establish a level with that on +the other side of the barrier. Lower and lower +sank the bow of the barge, for it was held fast on +the beam. The <i>Modoc</i> heeled over more and +more.</p> + +<p>“Shut off the water!” again cried the captain.</p> + +<p>Then the attendants at the lock were made +aware that something was wrong. Orders were +shouted; men ran to and fro. With immense +levers they shut the flood gates, and, slowly and +sullenly, as though cheated of its prey, the bubbling +subsided.</p> + +<p>“We must pull the barge back!” cried one of +the lock men, running up along the cement wall.</p> + +<p>“No, don’t do that,” advised Captain Wiggs, +as he stood on the bridge of his vessel, while the +boys, who were much alarmed by the impending<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span> +accident, had joined him, for they were permitted +the run of the ship.</p> + +<p>“Why not?” asked the man. “We’ve got +to free her from that gate beam.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, but if you pull her out from under the +edge of that beam suddenly, she’s sure to bound +up, and then she’ll come slap-bang against the +side of my craft. Besides, I think she’s held so +tight that you can’t pull her back.”</p> + +<p>“What shall we do?” asked the man, recognizing +that Captain Wiggs knew what he was about.</p> + +<p>“Let the water out from the rear gate,” was his +suggestion. “That will lower my vessel and the +barge gradually. They’ll assume their right positions, +and no damage will be done. Then you +can raise us again, and be sure no more ropes +break. I don’t want an accident like that again.”</p> + +<p>The captain’s advice was followed. When the +water ceased coming in the forward gate, the men +ran to the rear one and opened the valves there. +Out rushed the imprisoned fluid, boiling and bubbling +at a great rate. Slowly the two big vessels +began to sink. The barge swung away from the +<i>Modoc</i> and then, a little later, when the water +had fallen sufficiently, the bow was released from +the projecting beam. The two crafts were now<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span> +in the same positions they had been in when they +first entered the lock.</p> + +<p>Men hastily fastened heavier ropes to the barge, +and took several turns about strong bitts, so the +ship could not again drift into danger. Then the +flood was once more allowed to enter the lock.</p> + +<p>Again the vessels rose, and this time, without +mishap, they were floated to the higher level of +the canal. The forward gates were opened and +out toward Lake Superior steamed the <i>Modoc</i>, +followed by the slower grain barge. The boys +looked around them, being able to get a better +view now, as they were some distance higher, being +on a level with the top of the falls, off to their +right. They saw a long string of vessels, some +waiting to enter the locks to proceed east, while +others were coming west.</p> + +<p>“That was a narrow escape,” remarked Bart, +when the ship was again proceeding along.</p> + +<p>“Yes, we seem to be sort of up against lots of +hard luck this trip,” remarked the captain. “I +think you boys must be responsible.”</p> + +<p>“How?” asked Fenn, for the captain looked +serious.</p> + +<p>“Why, you’re regular Jonahs. If there were +any whales in these waters I’d try the experiment<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span> +of throwing one of you overboard, to see if I +couldn’t change my luck.”</p> + +<p>“I’d be willing to jump over and take a swim,” +volunteer Ned. “It looks nice and cool in there, +and it’s hot up here.”</p> + +<p>It was a warm July day, and the weather was +humid and unpleasant.</p> + +<p>“Maybe when we get further out on Lake Superior, +and come to some good place to tie up, I’ll +give you a chance to take a dip,” responded the +commander. “I’d like one myself.”</p> + +<p>“Ned must take care not to go to sleep, or he’ll +be carried under by a big fish,” suggested Fenn, +taking precautions to get beyond the reach of his +chum’s arm.</p> + +<p>The <i>Modoc</i> touched at a port of call that afternoon, +and Captain Wiggs found awaiting him a +message which changed matters so that he did not +have to be in any hurry to conclude his voyage.</p> + +<p>“This will give us a chance to lay-to, and go +ashore,” he said to the boys. “You might as well +have a good time while you are on this cruise. +No telling when you’ll get another.”</p> + +<p>It was a day after this, one of the hottest that +the boys ever remembered, that the <i>Modoc</i> came +to anchor off shore, near a little bay, on the edge<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span> +of which, and about three miles away from where +they laid-to, was a good-sized town.</p> + +<p>“Now for a swim!” exclaimed Ned. “Can +we take the boat and go ashore, captain?”</p> + +<p>The desired permission being given, the four +chums were soon rowing toward where they saw +a sandy beach, that seemed to be put there on purpose +for bathing. They hauled the boat up on +shore and soon were disporting themselves in the +water.</p> + +<p>“Oh, this is something like!” exclaimed Fenn, +as he proceeded to float with nothing but his face +out of the water.</p> + +<p>“Yes, you look just like a baby crocodile,” replied +Frank.</p> + +<p>“I do, eh?” asked Fenn, diving suddenly and +coming up under Frank, whom he ducked unceremoniously.</p> + +<p>“Here! Quit-erurgle-gurgle!” called the +luckless one, as he sank out of sight.</p> + +<p>Then the boys began to play tricks on each +other, had impromptu races and diving contests, +and enjoyed themselves to the limit in the cool +water.</p> + +<p>“Let’s dress and go on a little exploring trip,” +proposed Fenn, after they had spent an hour in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span> +the lake. “We’ve got time enough before we +have to go aboard.”</p> + +<p>His suggestion was well received, and soon the +four chums were strolling back from the lake, +through the dense woods that bordered it. They +had not gone far before Frank, who was in advance, +suddenly halted. He motioned to the +others to approach silently, and they joined him +on tip-toe.</p> + +<p>“What is it?” asked Ned.</p> + +<p>Frank pointed through the bushes. Beyond the +screen of the underbrush the boys could see a road. +It did not seem to be much traveled, but what attracted +their attention was a big automobile, +drawn back, and almost hidden in the thicket.</p> + +<p>“The machine’s been abandoned,” was Bart’s +opinion. “It is probably broken.”</p> + +<p>“Hush!” cautioned Frank, and not a moment +too soon, for, at that instant two men stepped cautiously +out of the bushes near the auto. One of +them produced a telescope, and pointed it at the +lake, which was just visible through the trees.</p> + +<p>The boys looked at the man. He seemed a +rough sort of fellow, with an unpleasant face. He +was poorly dressed, and the lads noticed that, +standing against a tree near him, was a rifle.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span> +But it was a sight of the man’s companion which +caused the boys to stare again and wonder. For +the second man was a Chinese, though he wore +American clothes. Under his hat, however, could +be seen the tell-tale queue.</p> + +<p>The white man handed his Celestial companion +the telescope, and murmured something to him, +evidently in Chinese. The other replied and applied +the glass to his eye. No sooner had he done +so that he uttered an exclamation, and began jumping +about.</p> + +<p>The other man snatched the glass and took a +look. Then they both talked very excitedly, +pointing to the lake and then at the auto.</p> + +<p>“I wonder what they can be up to?” whispered +Fenn.</p> + +<p>At that moment he stepped on a loose branch. +It broke with a sharp report, and the Chinaman +and the white man glanced to where the boys were +hidden.</p> + +<p>“Come on!” exclaimed Frank. “They may +come after us!”</p> + + + +<hr class="cb" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV"></a>CHAPTER XV</h2> + +<h3>A QUEER FIND</h3> + + +<p>Off through the woods ran the Darewell +chums, and it needed but a moment’s listening to +tell them that the two mysterious men were after +them.</p> + +<p>“Hurry!” called Frank to Fenn, who, because +of his natural inability, was not able to run as +fast as could the others. “Come on, or they’ll +catch you!”</p> + +<p>“I don’t see—what we’ve done—that we—should +run,” panted the stout youth. “These +woods—are free. Why haven’t we—a right to +walk in them?”</p> + +<p>“This is out west and they do things differently +from what they do where we come from,” responded +Bart, looking back. “Evidently those +men didn’t want to be observed.”</p> + +<p>“Are they coming?” asked Ned.</p> + +<p>“No,” replied Bart, pausing in his race, “they +seemed to have stopped in that little clearing we +just passed through.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span> +“The Chinese is trying to induce the white man +to come back,” said Frank.</p> + +<p>This was the case for, as the boys watched, they +saw the pig-tailed Celestial grasp his companion +by the arm, and, pointing toward the lake, fairly +pull him back along the path they had come.</p> + +<p>“They must be interested in some boat,” suggested +Fenn. “Say, fellows,” he added hastily. +“I’ll bet I know what it is.”</p> + +<p>“What?” inquired Bart, as he stooped over to +pick a lot of burdock burrs from his trousers.</p> + +<p>“These men have something to do with the two +who chased us back at the elevator fire. I’ll bet +they’re part of the same gang, and they’re trying to +work some trick on the <i>Modoc</i>! We ought to +hurry back and tell Captain Wiggs!”</p> + +<p>“Oh, you’re ’way off!” declared Frank. “I +don’t believe these men even know those who +chased us.”</p> + +<p>“Then who are they?” demanded Fenn.</p> + +<p>“I don’t know,” said Frank. “Evidently they +are interested in some boat they expect from across +the lake. That is very evident from the way they +acted; looking through the telescope, and all that. +Perhaps they have mistaken our vessel for the one +they are looking for.”</p> + +<p>“No,” remarked Bart. “I noticed when the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span> +Chinese pointed the glass he aimed it in a different +direction from that in which the <i>Modoc</i> lies.”</p> + +<p>“Then what boat are they expecting?” asked +Ned.</p> + +<p>“That’s too big a question for me,” replied +Bart. “It certainly is a queer thing to see a Chinese +and a white man in such close company, off here +in the woods.”</p> + +<p>“And then the auto,” put in Fenn. “What +do you suppose that’s for?”</p> + +<p>“It’s part of the same game,” was Frank’s +opinion.</p> + +<p>“Well, I don’t know that it’s up to us to discover +it,” went on Fenn. “It’s about time we +got back to the ship, anyhow. Come on. We’ll +keep on this way, and fetch around to the beach +in a circle. Then we’ll not run across those two +queer men.”</p> + +<p>The boys advanced, laying their course as best +they could. Now and then, through the trees, +they could get a glimpse of the lake, and they +knew they were going in the right direction.</p> + +<p>They came to a little gully, in a dense part of +the woods, and had to descend into it, to get +across, as it extended for quite a distance in either +direction. Frank led the way, half slipping, half +sliding down the sides. As he reached the bottom<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span> +he gave a startled cry that alarmed his companions.</p> + +<p>“Hurt yourself?” asked Bart.</p> + +<p>“No, but look what I’ve found!”</p> + +<p>“A gold mine?” inquired Ned, with a laugh.</p> + +<p>“Part of a clothing store,” replied Frank. +“Look!” and he pointed to where, behind a +clump of trees, was a large pile of men’s clothing, +hats, shoes, coats, vests, trousers and shirts.</p> + +<p>“That solves the mystery!” exclaimed Fenn.</p> + +<p>“How?” asked Bart.</p> + +<p>“Why there’s been a big robbery! The men +have hidden their booty in the woods, until they +have a chance to carry it away. Those two men +we just saw are members of the gang. They’re +keeping a look-out until their boat comes and +then they’ll take the stuff away. Yes, that’s +it!”</p> + +<p>“I believe Fenn’s right,” declared Ned.</p> + +<p>“Do you?” asked Frank quietly. “Then how +do you account for the fact that all the garments +are old? There’s not a new one among ’em, not +even the shoes. You can see for yourself.”</p> + +<p>The boys looked more closely at the garments, +which were arranged in piles, with canvas coverings +tossed to one side, as though they had been +protected from the weather, and recently opened.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span> +They did not touch the things, but it did not need +a close inspection to show that Frank was right. +The garments were all old ones.</p> + +<p>“If there was a robbery it must have been of a +second-hand store,” went on Frank, “and that’s +not likely. Besides, see here,” and he pointed a +little farther off, where a heap of Chinese clothing +lay on the ground.</p> + +<p>“Well, if this doesn’t beat the Dutch!” exclaimed +Bart. “What do you make out of +that?”</p> + +<p>It was a strange find. First to come across a +Chinese and an American, in excited conversation +in the depths of the woods, and then to discover a +pile of clothes, such as are worn by white men, +close to a heap, evidently discarded by a band of +Celestials, was sufficient, as Bart said, to beat not +only the Dutch, but the French, English, German, +Spanish and a few other nations.</p> + +<p>The boys went closer to the garments of the +Celestials. These clothes, as did the others, exhibited +unmistakable signs of wear. But they +were not piled in orderly heaps; instead, being +tossed carelessly together, as if they were no longer +of any service.</p> + +<p>“Isn’t this a regular Chinese puzzle?” remarked +Ned.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span> +“I believe they are Chinese smugglers!” chorused +Fenn and Bart.</p> + +<p>“That’s what,” said Frank. “Those two men +we saw were evidently the look-outs, watching for +the boat load to arrive. When the travelers from +the Flowery Kingdom land, they are brought here, +to this secluded place, and here they take off their +blouses and wide pants, and put on old American +clothes. Old ones, so they attract no attention. +I’ll wager that’s the solution to this Chinese puzzle.”</p> + +<p>“But where do the Chinamen come from?” +asked Ned. “We’re a good ways from China.”</p> + +<p>“From Canada,” answered Frank. “I remember +reading lately about a lot of Chinese who were +taken into Canada from the Pacific coast. They +were brought by rail to a place on Lake Superior +about opposite here, and smuggled into this country +in boats.”</p> + +<p>“That’s right,” agreed Bart. “I read how +one boat load, which the smugglers were bringing +over, was caught in a storm, and all the Chinese +drowned.”</p> + +<p>“But why do they bring them over?” asked +Fenn, who was usually too full of fun, or too interested +in some girl, to pay much attention to +current events.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span> +“Why, there’s a United States law against letting +any more Chinese come in,” explained Frank. +“The only way they can get in is to smuggle here. +It’s easy to get them into Canada, and then, if they +can make a trip across the lake, and land in some +secluded spot, they’re all right, if they’re not discovered, +and that is no easy matter, as the Chinese +all look so much alike.”</p> + +<p>“Then that white man we saw must have been +one of the agents engaged in smuggling,” said +Bart. “I’ve read they have a regularly organized +company, and get good money from the +Chinese whom they smuggle over. The pig-tailed +chap with him, was evidently a helper or interpreter, +who was on hand because the boat was expected.”</p> + +<p>“That’s why they were looking across the lake +with a telescope then,” ventured Fenn. “Say, +it’s as clear as daylight now. I wonder if we +couldn’t stay and see ’em land?”</p> + +<p>“Not much!” exclaimed Frank. “The +chances are the plans are all off, for the time being. +That white man will suspect we were spying +on him, and when they ran back that time, I guess +it was to signal to the boat not to land. We +must have given them quite a scare.”</p> + +<p>“But what was the auto for?” asked Ned, who<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span> +liked to go into details, and who always wanted to +know the why and wherefore of things.</p> + +<p>“I guess it was to take the Chinese to some +place where they could stay until it was safe to +venture out,” said Frank. “Sometimes they have +to jump around pretty lively, I imagine, especially +if the government detectives get after them.”</p> + +<p>“Perhaps we’d better go and tell Captain +Wiggs what we have discovered,” suggested +Fenn. “He may want to notify the authorities.”</p> + +<p>“Good idea,” commented Bart. “Come on.”</p> + +<p>As the boys started to leave the little gully +where the clothing was hidden, they heard a noise +behind them. Turning quickly they saw the white +man and Chinese, as they broke through the underbrush.</p> + +<p>“They’re after us!” exclaimed Fenn in a hoarse +whisper.</p> + + + +<hr class="cb" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI"></a>CHAPTER XVI</h2> + +<h3>FIRE ON BOARD</h3> + + +<p>But this time it proved to be the other way +about. The two mysterious men, at the sight of +the boys, dived back into the woods again, and +showed no desire to come to closer acquaintance +with them. Instead of taking after the four +chums, the men acted as though they feared pursuit.</p> + +<p>“They’re running away from us!” exclaimed +Frank. “I guess we haven’t anything to fear +from them.”</p> + +<p>Suddenly, through the forest, there sounded a +shrill steam whistle.</p> + +<p>“What’s that?” asked Ned.</p> + +<p>“Captain Wiggs, signalling to us,” replied +Frank. “I guess we’ve stayed in the woods too +long. Come on.”</p> + +<p>“Maybe it’s the smugglers’ boat,” suggested +Fenn.</p> + +<p>“I guess not,” Frank remarked. “They’ve<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span> +been signalled to keep off. That was the <i>Modoc’s</i> +whistle. I recognized it.”</p> + +<p>Frank’s words proved correct, for, when the +boys reached the shore, they again heard the signal, +and saw steam coming from the whistle pipe +of the vessel on which they were cruising.</p> + +<p>“Look there!” exclaimed Frank, pointing off +to the left. The boys glanced in the direction, +and saw a boat. From the funnels black smoke +was pouring, as if every effort was being made to +get up steam. “That’s the smugglers’ craft, very +likely,” the lad went on. “She’s making fast +time away from here.”</p> + +<p>Captain Wiggs listened gravely to what the +boys had to tell him. He agreed with Frank, that +the smugglers of Chinese had tried to make a +landing, but, evidently, had been frightened off.</p> + +<p>“What will they do now?” asked Ned.</p> + +<p>“Change the landing place to some other locality,” +replied the captain. “Up or down the +coast. Up, I should say, seeing the way that +steamer’s headed,” and he pointed to the craft, +with the black smoke hanging like a cloud over +it. The vessel was almost out of sight.</p> + +<p>“What will they do with the clothes?” asked +Bart.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span> +“Oh, they’ll take ’em along. Probably that’s +what the two men came to get, when they saw +you and ran away. It’s a well organized business, +this Chinese smuggling, and there is a lot of money +in it—for the agents. They are probably saying +all kinds of mean things about you, for breaking +up their plans.”</p> + +<p>“Then I hope they don’t catch us alone off in +the woods, sometime,” remarked Fenn. “That +Chinese didn’t look like a very pleasant fellow to +meet after dark; especially if he had a grudge +against you.”</p> + +<p>“I think you’ve seen the last of ’em,” declared +Captain Wiggs. “If I thought it worth while I’d +notify the government authorities, but, by the time +I could get a message to ’em, the smugglers will +be miles away. There’s no telling where they’ll +land next time. The steamer will hang around the +coast, until it gets a signal all is clear. Then the +pig-tails will be dumped into a boat, rowed ashore, +and the vessel will scoot off for another load in +Canada.”</p> + +<p>The anchor was broken out, hoisted, and soon, +under a good head of steam, the <i>Modoc</i> was proceeding +over Lake Superior at a fast rate, for, +though he carried no perishable freight, and had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span> +no special date of arriving at Duluth, Captain +Wiggs believed in doing what he had to do as +quickly as possible.</p> + +<p>That night Fenn, who was not sleeping as +soundly as he should, in consequence of having +eaten too much supper, was awakened by hearing a +peculiar buzzing noise. At first he could not locate +it, and then, after sitting up in his bunk, he +decided it came from the stateroom adjoining his, +and which had no occupant this voyage.</p> + +<p>“It sounds like a hive of bees,” he said to +himself. “I wonder if the captain can have any +in there.”</p> + +<p>Then the absurdity of such an idea was apparent +to him, and he smiled at his notion. Still +the buzzing continued, growing louder. Fenn +was wide awake now.</p> + +<p>“Maybe something is wrong with the ship,” he +reasoned. “That sound might be water coming +in through a leak. I think I’ll tell the captain.”</p> + +<p>He got up, and, moving about his stateroom, in +search of his trousers and slippers, he knocked a +glass out of the rack.</p> + +<p>“What’s that?” called Frank, who was a light +sleeper.</p> + +<p>“It’s me,” replied Fenn.</p> + +<p>“What’s the matter? Sick?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span> +“No, but I heard a funny sound, and I want +to find out what it is. Maybe the boat’s sprung +another leak.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, you’re dreaming,” commented Frank. +“Go back to bed.”</p> + +<p>“Well, you come in here and listen, if you think +I’m dreaming,” retorted Fenn.</p> + +<p>Frank jumped out of his berth and came into +his chum’s room. The buzzing had increased in +intensity, and Frank had no difficulty in hearing +it.</p> + +<p>“What did I tell you?” asked Fenn, in triumph.</p> + +<p>“It is a queer sound,” admitted Frank. +“What’s in that next room?”</p> + +<p>“Nothing, that I know of. I passed it +this morning, the door was open, and it was +empty.”</p> + +<p>“Then let’s have a look,” suggested Frank, +stepping out into the passage.</p> + +<p>“Maybe you’d better—maybe it’s a—” stammered +Fenn.</p> + +<p>“Well, what?” demanded Frank. “Are you +afraid?”</p> + +<p>“Maybe it’s an infernal machine those smugglers +put aboard,” went on Fenn. “It sounds just +like one.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span> +“How do you know how an infernal machine +sounds?” asked Frank.</p> + +<p>“Well, I mean like I’ve read of their sounding.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, that’s different. But this is no such +thing. Besides, how could the smugglers get one +aboard? They haven’t been near the ship.”</p> + +<p>This was, of course, unanswerable, and Fenn +followed Frank into the corridor, and to the door +of the stateroom, whence sounded the peculiar +buzzing noise. As they stood outside the portal +it could be heard more plainly.</p> + +<p>“Here goes!” whispered Frank, turning the +knob.</p> + +<p>Both he and Fenn started back in surprise, at +the sight which greeted them. There, sitting in +a steamer chair, in a big red bath robe, was the +invalid, Mr. Ackerman. On the bunk in front of +him was a small box, from which extended cords, +terminating in shining metal tubes, which he held +in his hand. The buzzing was coming from the +small box.</p> + +<p>“Oh, boys, I’m glad to see you!” exclaimed the +man who thought he was sick.</p> + +<p>“What’s the matter?” asked Frank, in some +alarm.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span> +“I’m taking a current of electricity, from my +medical battery,” was the answer.</p> + +<p>“Electricity?” repeated the two chums, in +questioning accents.</p> + +<p>“Yes, from the battery. You see I couldn’t +sleep, and I often find a current of electricity is +beneficial. I did not want to awaken Captain +Wiggs with the buzz of my machine, for it makes +quite a noise, so I brought it into this empty stateroom. +I hope I didn’t disturb you.”</p> + +<p>Mr. Ackerman did not wait for the boys to answer. +Instead he continued:</p> + +<p>“But I’m glad you came in. I want to take a +stronger current, and it goes better if I have some +one to share it with me. If you will be so kind, +you can each take one of the tubes in your hand, +and I will take hold of your other hands. Thus +we will form a circle, with me in the center. I +think I shall be able to get a current then, that +will cause me to go to sleep.”</p> + +<p>The boys were a little apprehensive, for, +though they had taken electric “shocks” at school, +during the experiments, they did not care for the +amusement. However, they did not like to refuse, +so, rather gingerly, Fenn grasped one handle, +and Frank the other. Mr. Ackerman then did<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span> +something to the battery which made it buzz +louder than ever.</p> + +<p>“All ready,” he announced, as he grasped +Fenn’s right hand in his left and Frank’s left in +his right.</p> + +<p>The instant that he did so it seemed as if the +trio had been hit by something. They all doubled +up, the arms of the boys and the invalid jerking +like the legs of a frog.</p> + +<p>“Ow!” cried Fenn.</p> + +<p>“Let go!” called Frank.</p> + +<p>But there was no need for any one to let go. +With an exclamation of great astonishment, Mr. +Ackerman jerked his hands from the involuntary +grip of the boys’. That at once broke the circuit, +and the current ceased to have any effect. The +machine was still buzzing away, however.</p> + +<p>“Oh, dear! Oh, dear!” murmured the invalid. +“I meant to turn on the weak current, +and I turned on the strong one! Did you get bad +shocks, boys?”</p> + +<p>“Did we!” exclaimed Fenn. “Say, it feels +as if I had eaten some strong horse-radish by mistake.”</p> + +<p>“It seems as if a mule kicked me,” remarked +Frank, rubbing his arms.</p> + +<p>“I’m very sorry,” apologized Mr. Ackerman.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span> +“I really did not intend that. I hope you believe +I did not.” He seemed quite distressed over +the happening.</p> + +<p>“That’s all right,” spoke Fenn, good-naturedly. +“We know it was an accident.”</p> + +<p>“Rather a fortunate accident, too,” went on +the invalid. “My nerves are much calmer now. +I really think I shall be able to go to sleep. I +must have taken the right kind of a current without +knowing it. I’ll do it the next time I find +myself too wakeful.”</p> + +<p>“Please excuse us from helping,” begged +Frank, with a smile. “It’s a little too much.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, no, I wouldn’t think of shocking you +again,” said Mr. Ackerman as he began to take +the battery apart for packing. “I shall take the +current alone. But there, I must not talk or I +shall be awake again. I must hurry and get to +sleep.”</p> + +<p>“Isn’t he the limit!” exclaimed Fenn, when +he and Frank were back in the stateroom again. +“He thinks that was fun for us.”</p> + +<p>The electrical treatment appeared to improve +the sick man, for, the next day he was much +better, and even laughed and joked about the +night’s experience.</p> + +<p>The <i>Modoc</i> continued on her course, putting<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span> +many knots behind her, and the boys were more +and more delighted with their cruise, which every +day revealed to them new beauties of scenery.</p> + +<p>One afternoon, when they were within a day’s +travel of Duluth, Captain Wiggs, who was sitting +on deck with the four chums, arose suddenly and +began to sniff the air.</p> + +<p>“What’s the matter? Is the cook burning the +steak?” asked Fenn.</p> + +<p>“Something’s burning,” answered the commander, +with a grave face.</p> + +<p>A moment later a sailor, much excited, came +rushing up on deck.</p> + +<p>“Fire in the forward hold, sir!” he called.</p> + + + +<hr class="cb" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[133]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII"></a>CHAPTER XVII</h2> + +<h3>A STRANGE VISION</h3> + + +<p>Captain Wiggs was not built on speed lines. +He was short and squatty, and inclined to be fat. +But the way in which he hustled about as soon +as he heard what the sailor said was sufficient to +qualify him to enter a go-as-you-please race of almost +any kind.</p> + +<p>With a few jumps he was at the companionway +leading below, and, as he went the boys could hear +him call out:</p> + +<p>“Ring the fire alarm! Every man to his station! +Someone tell the pilot to slow down! +Signal to the engineer to get the pumps in gear!”</p> + +<p>Nor were the members of the crew slow to +carry out the commander’s instructions. One man +rang the automatic fire alarm, that sounded in +every part of the vessel. Another hurried to the +bridge, where he delivered the message about stopping +the boat. The <i>Modoc</i> at once began to lose +way and, a moment later, the vibration from the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span> +engine room told the boys that the pumps had +been started.</p> + +<p>“Let’s go below and see if we can help,” suggested +Bart, and the four chums went down in a +hurry. They found men dragging lines of hose +forward where little curls of smoke began coming +from an open hatchway.</p> + +<p>“Drown her out, men!” cried the captain. +“It’ll be all day with us if the flames get loose in +that dry freight!”</p> + +<p>Several of the men, dragging the snaky lines of +hose, dropped down into the hold. They called +for water, and the captain signalled for it to be +turned on. The flat hose bulged out like a snake +after a full meal, and a splashing sound from below +told that the quenching fluid was getting in +its work.</p> + +<p>“Can we do anything?” asked Fenn, as he saw +Captain Wiggs taking off his coat and donning +oil skins.</p> + +<p>“Not now, I guess. You might stand by for +orders though. There’s no telling into what this +will develope.”</p> + +<p>It was getting quite smoky below, and the hold, +down into which the commander had disappeared, +was pouring out a volume of black vapor.</p> + +<p>“Tell ’em to send another line of hose!” came<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span> +a voice from below, and Fenn hurried to the engineer’s +room with the order.</p> + +<p>Several men sprang at once to obey. The hose +was unreeled from a rack on the partition, and +run out to the hold. Then the engineer started +another pump, that had been held in reserve.</p> + +<p>There were now three lines of hose pouring +water on the flames, which the boys could not see. +That the blaze was not succumbing so quickly as +had been hoped for, was evident by the shouts and +excitement that came from the depths of the ship.</p> + +<p>“Tell ’em to give us more water!” yelled the +captain to the boys waiting above.</p> + +<p>Frank rushed with the order, glad to escape the +smoke, which was momentarily growing thicker.</p> + +<p>“Tell him he’s got all the water I can give +him!” shouted the engineer, above the noise of +the clanking machinery. “One of the pumps has +gone out of commission!”</p> + +<p>Frank shouted what the engineer had said to +Captain Wiggs, below in the darkness.</p> + +<p>“Then we’ve got to batten down the hatches +and turn live steam into this hold!” was what the +commander called back. “Tell him to get up a +good head!”</p> + +<p>Frank did so. When he returned Captain +Wiggs was just making his way out of the hold.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span> +He was black, and smoke-begrimed, while he dripped +water from every point of his yellow garments.</p> + +<p>“Is there any danger?” asked Ned.</p> + +<p>“There always is with a fire aboard a ship,” +answered the commander. “But I think we’ll be +able to hold her down if we get plenty of steam. +Come on up, men,” he added, and the sailors +scrambled up. They looked more like colored, +than white men.</p> + +<p>Captain Wiggs acted quickly. When the last +man was up, the hatches, or coverings to the hold, +were fastened down, and tarpaulins, wet with water, +to make them air tight, were spread over the +top. Then, from pipes which ran into the hold +from below, and which were for use in emergency, +jets of live steam were blown into the compartment.</p> + +<p>This, the commander knew, would penetrate to +every nook and corner, reaching where water could +not, and would soon quench the flames.</p> + +<p>“Now, all we can do is to wait,” said the captain, +as he sat down, for he was almost exhausted.</p> + +<p>That was the hardest part of all. When one +can be busy at something, getting out of danger, +or fighting a fire that can be seen, the nervous fear +is swallowed up in action. But to sit and wait—wait<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</a></span> +for the unseen steam to do its work,—that +was very trying.</p> + +<p>Still there was no help for it. Captain Wiggs +looked to the other part of the cargo, seeing that +there was no danger of that taking fire. The forward +hold was separated from the others by thick +bulkheads, and there was little chance of the fire +breaking through. The hull of the <i>Modoc</i> was +of steel, and, provided the fire did not get hot +enough to warp any of the plates, there was small +danger to the ship itself.</p> + +<p>“We’ll have to head for shore, in case it becomes +necessary to break out the cargo,” decided +the captain, as he went on deck. “Come on, boys. +We can do nothing now, and we want to get some +of this smoke out of our lungs.”</p> + +<p>The course of the ship was changed. Captain +Wiggs got out his charts and looked them over.</p> + +<p>“Where will we land?” asked Fenn.</p> + +<p>“Not much of anywhere,” was the reply. +“There is no good harbor this side of Duluth, +but I’ve got to do the best I can. There is a little +bay, about opposite here. There’s no settlement +near it, but I understand there’s a good shore, +and I’m going to make for it, in case this fire gets +beyond my control.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span> +Urged on by all the steam the engines could +take, though much was needed for the fire, the +vessel plowed ahead.</p> + +<p>“Land ho!” called the lookout, and the captain, +taking an observation, announced they were +close to the bay of which he had spoken. When +it was reached it was found to be a secluded harbor, +with nothing in sight on the shores of it save +a few old huts, that appeared to be deserted.</p> + +<p>“Not a very lively place,” commented the +captain. “Still, it will do all right if we have to +land the cargo.”</p> + +<p>The anchor was dropped and then all there was +to do was to wait for the fire to be extinguished.</p> + +<p>The boys remained on deck, looking at the +scenery about them. Back of the bay, rising almost +from the edge of the water, were a series of +steep cliffs, of bare rock for the most part, but +studded, here and there, with clumps of bushes +and small trees, that somehow, found a lodgement +for their roots on little ledges.</p> + +<p>“It’s a lonesome sort of place,” remarked Fenn. +“Not a soul within sight.”</p> + +<p>Hardly had he spoken than there was seen on +the face of the cliff, as if by a trick, the figure of +a man. He seemed to come out, as does a magic-lantern +picture on a sheet, so quickly did he appear<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span> +where, before, there had been nothing but +bare brown rock.</p> + +<p>“Look!” exclaimed Fenn, pointing.</p> + +<p>“A Chinaman!” exclaimed Bart. “One of +the smugglers!”</p> + +<p>The boys jumped to their feet, and approached +closer to the ship’s rail, to get a better view.</p> + +<p>As they did so the Chinese vanished as though +the cliff wall had opened and swallowed him up.</p> + + + +<hr class="cb" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVIII" id="CHAPTER_XVIII"></a>CHAPTER XVIII</h2> + +<h3>AN EXPLORING PARTY</h3> + + +<p>“Well, what do you think of that?” asked +Fenn, in surprised accents. “Did he fall down?”</p> + +<p>“Doesn’t look so,” answered Frank. “I wonder +if we really saw him, or whether it was a sort +of day dream?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, we saw him all right enough,” said Bart. +“He looked to me just like the Chinaman we saw +in the woods that day.”</p> + +<p>“Just what I was going to remark,” put in +Ned. “I wonder if there are any more men up on +that cliff?”</p> + +<p>“What’s the matter, boys?” asked Captain +Wiggs, approaching at this juncture. They told +him what they had seen.</p> + +<p>“I don’t see anything very surprising in that,” +replied the commander. “Probably he has a +laundry up there, and he was out looking for customers.” +And the commander winked at the other +chums, who joined in a laugh at Fenn.</p> + +<p>“That’s all right,” announced the discomfited<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[141]</a></span> +one. “But I’ll wager there’s something queer +back of all this. Do you know anything about +this locality, captain?”</p> + +<p>“Not a thing, and I wish I knew less. I’d +never be here if it wasn’t for the fire. And I +must take a look now, and see how our steam bath +is affecting it. I guess—”</p> + +<p>“Look there!” suddenly cried Fenn, pointing +to the cliff, at the base of which the lake waves +were breaking.</p> + +<p>They all looked. There, on the face of the +wall of rock, apparently supported by nothing, +stood four men, two of whom were Chinese, dressed +in the characteristic costume of that nation. The +others were white men. They were close together, +near a little clump of bushes, that sprang slantingly +out from the surface of the cliff.</p> + +<p>“More of ’em, eh?” murmured the captain. +“I wonder if they’ll answer a hail?”</p> + +<p>He put his hands, trumpet fashion, to his mouth, +and was about to call out, when a surprising thing +happened.</p> + +<p>As the boys watched the men seemed to grow +suddenly smaller. They fairly went down out of +sight, vanishing as completely as though they had +sank into the cliff.</p> + +<p>“Well, I never saw such a queer thing!” exclaimed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[142]</a></span> +Ned. “They acted just like a Jack in the +Box, when some one shuts the lid.”</p> + +<p>“That expresses it exactly,” admitted the captain. +“It is a queer thing. I think it will bear +looking into. I wonder if they haven’t something +to do with the Chinese smugglers.”</p> + +<p>“That’s what we thought.”</p> + +<p>“I believe I’ll go ashore and have a look,” decided +the commander of the <i>Modoc</i>. “The government +detectives ought to be told of what’s going +on out here in this lonely place.”</p> + +<p>Captain Wiggs would have carried his plan out, +but for the fact that an inspection of the hold +showed the fire in the cargo to be smothered. +The steam had done the work effectively and there +was no more danger. Instead of having to remain +in the secluded bay for some time, ready at +any moment, when danger threatened, to break +out the cargo, the commander found himself able +to proceed to Duluth.</p> + +<p>This he decided on doing at once, as the exact +extent of the fire-damage could not be ascertained +until he reached a port where he could unload.</p> + +<p>Accordingly all plans of making any examination +of the strange actions of the queer men were abandoned +and, steam having been gotten up in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[143]</a></span> +main boilers, the engines were started and the +<i>Modoc</i> was once more under way.</p> + +<p>As they left the little bay the boys kept close +watch of the cliff, but there were no signs of life +upon the brown wall of rock. If the men were +somewhere within a cave on its surface, they did +not show themselves.</p> + +<p>“I wonder if we’ll ever solve that mystery?” +inquired Bart, of no one in particular, as the four +chums paced the deck.</p> + +<p>“I’m going to,” announced Fenn, decidedly.</p> + +<p>“Yes, you’re going to do a lot,” returned Ned, +with a laugh. “You were going to collect minerals, +but I haven’t seen you stowing any away +lately, for your collection.”</p> + +<p>“That’s so, I forgot all about ’em,” admitted +Fenn. “I’ve got lots of time, though. You can’t +get any minerals out here,” and he motioned to +the expanse of water that surrounded them. “But +I’m going to look into this Chinese business, +though.”</p> + +<p>“How?” asked Frank. “We’re going farther +and farther away every minute.”</p> + +<p>“That’s all right. We can come back,” announced +Fenn.</p> + +<p>“I thought you were going to Bayville to see<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</a></span> +Mr. Hayward, and—er—Miss Ruth,” went on +Bart. “Especially Ruth.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I may yet,” replied Fenn. “Bayville +isn’t so far from here. In fact it’s within a short +distance of where we anchored in that bay.”</p> + +<p>“How do you know?”</p> + +<p>“I asked the captain,” replied Fenn. “I was +thinking of taking a boat and rowing there, if we’d +stayed long enough.”</p> + +<p>“But how do you figure on getting there now?” +asked Ned.</p> + +<p>“I’m coming back, after we get to Duluth,” +was the answer. “Captain Wiggs has got to remain +there for some time, and I don’t see what +there is to keep us. It’s a city, and we’ve had +enough of city life for a while. I was going to +propose that, after we’d been there a couple of +days, we go off on a little side trip, coming back +in time to go home on the <i>Modoc</i>.”</p> + +<p>“Good idea!” exclaimed Bart. “We could +go on a little camping expedition.”</p> + +<p>“That was my idea,” added Fenn. “We’ve +got enough money with us to hire a tent and a +small outfit, all we’ll need for a week or so. We’ve +been camping in the woods before, and we know +how to take care of ourselves. This cruising business +is fine, but it’s too lazy a life to suit me.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[145]</a></span> +“No, I s’pose we haven’t had any excitement +since we started,” commented Frank sarcastically. +“There was the elevator fire, those men chasing +us; Ned nearly being pulled overboard with a +fish; getting caught in the lock; the steamer on +fire and the queer men on the cliff. Oh, yes, we’ve +lived a very quiet and sedate life since we left +home, Oh, yes, exceedingly quiet.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I mean—Oh, you know what I mean,” +said Fenn. “We need more action—the kind +we’ll get if we go off on a trip by ourselves.”</p> + +<p>“That’s right,” agreed Ned. “I’m with you, +Stumpy. The sooner the quicker.”</p> + +<p>“When do we get to Duluth?” asked Bart.</p> + +<p>“Very soon now,” answered Captain Wiggs, +who, coming up behind the boys, overheard the +question. “I suppose you are all ready to enter +port?” and he looked quizzically at the boys.</p> + +<p>“Ready. How do you mean?” asked Fenn.</p> + +<p>“Why you can pass the quarantine regulations, +I suppose? Let me look at your tongues!”</p> + +<p>The boys were so surprised that, hardly knowing +what they were doing, they stuck them out for +the captain’s inspection.</p> + +<p>“Bad, very bad,” he murmured. “I’ll have +to attend to this at once.” And he laughed heartily.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[146]</a></span> +“Sold again!” exclaimed Frank, as he drew +in his tongue. “I thought we were going to get +even with him.”</p> + +<p>“So we are,” declared Bart. “If not now, on +the trip home. We owe him another one now.”</p> + +<p>They were soon busy getting things in shape +to go ashore and, when the <i>Modoc</i> tied up at a +big wharf, they were all ready to go to the hotel +the captain had recommended, there to stay a +couple of days, until they could start on their little +exploring expedition.</p> + +<p>The captain had offered no objection to this, +and had told them the best route to take.</p> + +<p>“But you must be back in time to sail with me +on the homeward trip,” cautioned the captain, mentioning +the date and time he expected to start. +“I’ll not wait for you, remember. The <i>Modoc</i> +suffered very little damage from the fire. Less +than I feared and there will be no delay.”</p> + +<p>“We’ll be here on time,” Fenn assured him.</p> + +<p>The boys spent two busy days preparing for +their side trip, and, bright and early one morning, +they took a train that was to convey them to a +little settlement, whence they were to start for a +jaunt through the woods, carrying their simple +camping outfit with them.</p> + + + +<hr class="cb" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[147]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIX" id="CHAPTER_XIX"></a>CHAPTER XIX</h2> + +<h3>FENN BECOMES ILL</h3> + + +<p>“Well, now, what’s our program?” asked +Frank when the four Darewell chums were in the +railroad train, speeding through the outskirts of +Duluth. “I s’pose Fenn will make a bee line for +Bayville and see Ruth.”</p> + +<p>“I intend to go there, not only to see Ruth, +but to see her father,” announced Fenn coolly. +“It’s no more than right, is it? He invited us +to come and see him, if we ever got out this way, +and here we are. It would be mean not to pay +a visit.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, yes, Stumpy,” remarked Ned. “We +know just how you feel about it,” and he laughed, +whereat Fenn blushed, for he was rather sensitive +concerning his liking for young ladies.</p> + +<p>“Leaving Mr. Hayward out of it, what do you +intend to do, after we’ve got our camp established?” +asked Frank, looking at Fenn, with whom +this idea had originated.</p> + +<p>“I’m going to see what those men were doing<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[148]</a></span> +on the cliff,” was the decided answer. “Maybe +they were Chinese smugglers. If they were—”</p> + +<p>“Yes, if they were I s’pose Stumpy will climb +up there single handed, make ’em all prisoners, +and then write a half-dime novel about it,” put in +Bart.</p> + +<p>“Not exactly,” answered Fenn. “I don’t see +what’s to hinder me giving information to the government, +though, about the smugglers, if that’s +what they are. I understand there’s a reward for +that sort of information, and I could use a bit of +spare cash as well as any one.”</p> + +<p>“That’s so!” exclaimed Ned. “I didn’t think +about that. I’m with you, Stumpy.”</p> + +<p>“You’ll want half the reward, I guess,” interjected +Bart.</p> + +<p>“Sure,” said Ned. “Who wouldn’t? Why +can’t we all go in on this thing?”</p> + +<p>“Of course we can,” declared Fenn. “We’ll +go camping somewhere back of that cliff, and then +we can—”</p> + +<p>“Hush! Not so loud!” suddenly cautioned +Frank. Then, bending his head closer to his +chums, as they were sitting in two seats facing each +other he added: “There’s a man a couple of seats +back who’s been watching us pretty sharply ever<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[149]</a></span> +since we began talking this way. I don’t like his +looks.”</p> + +<p>“Where is he?” asked Fenn in a whisper.</p> + +<p>“Don’t look now,” replied Frank, making a +pretense of pointing out the window at a bit of +scenery. “He’s staring right at us. It’s the man +with the light hat, with a white ribbon band on, +whom I mean. You can size him up as soon as +he turns his head.”</p> + +<p>The boys cautiously waited for an opportunity, +and took a quick inspection of the man Frank had +indicated. He was a total stranger to the four +Darewell lads, as far as any of them knew, but +it did not take long to disclose the fact that the +man was much interested in them.</p> + +<p>He watched their every move, and, when any +one of them spoke, the fellow tried to catch what +was said. The man seemed like an ordinary traveler, +and, except for a peculiar cast in one eye, +was not bad looking.</p> + +<p>“Let’s change our seats,” suggested Fenn, when +the train had proceeded some miles farther, and +the car was not so full. “We want to talk, and +we can’t be whispering all the while.”</p> + +<p>They moved farther away from the man with +the cast in his eye, and were once more discussing<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[150]</a></span> +their plans, when Frank again noticed that the +man was listening. He, too, had moved up several +seats, and, under pretense of reading a paper, +was straining his ears for whatever the boys said.</p> + +<p>“Let’s go into the other car,” proposed Fenn. +“If he follows us there we’ll tell the conductor.”</p> + +<p>But the man evidently did not care to run any +more risks and the boys were not further annoyed.</p> + +<p>“I wonder who he was?” asked Ned. “Perhaps +he had something to do with the smugglers.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I guess he was just some fellow more +interested in the business of other persons than +in his own,” replied Frank. “I hope we didn’t +talk too much, so that he’ll know what we are going +to do.”</p> + +<p>“That’s so, he might go and give information +to the government, and get that reward,” announced +Fenn. “I wish we’d been more careful!”</p> + +<p>“Well, I guess he’ll have his own troubles finding +that cliff,” was Bart’s opinion. “We didn’t +mention any special place. Our secret is safe +enough.”</p> + +<p>After further consideration of what they had +said the boys agreed with this view. As they were +now almost alone in the car they talked freely, +deciding on what to do when in the woods.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[151]</a></span> +They had brought a small sleeping tent with +them, some guns which they had hired and a limited +supply of food. As they were going to be +within reach of small settlements, villages or, at +the worst, scattered farm houses, they calculated +they could, from time to time, buy what they +needed to eat.</p> + +<p>They had made a careful study of a map of the +country they intended to utilize as part of their +vacation trip, and decided on a place to camp that +was not far from where they had observed the +queer actions of the men on the cliff. It was also +within a short distance of Bayville, where, as has +been said, Mr. Hayward and his daughter lived.</p> + +<p>They left the train at a station, near the foot +of a small mountain, on the slopes of which they +were to pitch their tent. Their baggage and supplies +was piled up on the platform and, Frank, +surveying it, exclaimed:</p> + +<p>“Oh, dear, I wish we had that mule we used +when we were rescuing my father. He could carry +a good deal of this stuff, and we wouldn’t break +our backs.”</p> + +<p>“Aw, don’t mind a little thing like that!” advised +Bart. “Why it’s not far, and we can make +two trips if necessary.”</p> + +<p>They decided this would be the best plan, and,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[152]</a></span> +taking what they could carry, they set off into the +woods, the station agent agreeing to look after +what baggage they left behind, until they came back +for it.</p> + +<p>The weather was fine, and the air, in that northwestern +region, was clear and bracing.</p> + +<p>“I could carry twice as much as this,” announced +Ned, as he walked along, balancing his +load on his shoulder.</p> + +<p>“Here, take mine then!” cried Frank quickly.</p> + +<p>“Not to-day,” retorted Ned with a laugh. “I +was only figuratively speaking.”</p> + +<p>They picked out a good camping place, and, as +they had brought the tent with the first load, they +set that up.</p> + +<p>“Now for the rest of the stuff, and we’ll be +in good shape for the night,” remarked Bart. +“Come on, fellows. Why, Fenn, what’s the matter?” +he asked quickly, as he noticed the stout +youth seated on a log.</p> + +<p>“Me? Nothing. I’m all right.”</p> + +<p>“No, you’re not. You’re as white as a sheet +of paper,” went on Bart. “Don’t you feel well?”</p> + +<p>“Sure. I’m all right. I guess I walked a +little too fast; that’s all.”</p> + +<p>“Well, take a good rest before you make the +second trip,” advised Ned.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[153]</a></span> +“No, I’ll tell you what we’ll do,” proposed +Frank. “We three can easily carry what stuff +is back there at the depot. Let Fenn stay here +and rest, and we’ll go back for it. Besides, we +ought to leave somebody on guard,” he added +quickly, fearing Fenn might object to anyone doing +his share of the work.</p> + +<p>“Oh, I’ll be all right in a minute, fellows,” +said Fenn, trying to smile, but making rather poor +work of it. “It’s the heat, I guess.”</p> + +<p>“It is hot,” agreed Bart.</p> + +<p>“You go ahead and I’ll catch up to you,” proposed +Fenn. “I’m feeling a little better now.”</p> + +<p>“No, you stay here and we’ll fetch the rest of +the stuff,” repeated Frank, and he insisted on it, +with such good reason, also pointing out that if +any tramps came along they might steal the tent, +that Fenn consented to remain on guard. In fact +he was very glad to do so, as he felt a curious +sensation in his head and stomach, and he was not +a little alarmed, as he had never been seriously +ill.</p> + +<p>“I hope he isn’t going to be sick,” observed +Bart, as the boys started back to the station. +“We’ll have to give up our camp if he is.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, he’ll be all right,” asserted Ned, confidently. +“It was only the heat and the walk.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[154]</a></span> +“I hope so,” rejoined Frank.</p> + +<p>But when the boys returned with the remainder +of the camp stuff two hours later, they found an +unpleasant surprise awaiting them.</p> + +<p>In the tent, stretched out on some hemlock +boughs which they had cut before leaving, they +found poor Fenn. He was very pale and his eyes +were closed.</p> + +<p>“He’s asleep,” whispered Ned.</p> + +<p>Frank entered softly and placed his hand on +Fenn’s head.</p> + +<p>“He’s got a high fever,” he said, with alarm +in his voice. “Fellows, I’m afraid Fenn’s quite +sick.”</p> + + + +<hr class="cb" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[155]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XX" id="CHAPTER_XX"></a>CHAPTER XX</h2> + +<h3>OUT ON A HUNT</h3> + + +<p>Frank’s announcement seemed to strike a cold +chill to the hearts of Ned and Bart. Sickness was +something with which they had seldom come in +contact, and they did not know how to proceed.</p> + +<p>“I suppose we’d better get a doctor,” ventured +Ned.</p> + +<p>“Where?” inquired Frank as he came from +the tent. “There isn’t one within five miles—maybe +farther.”</p> + +<p>“Haven’t we any medicine?” asked Bart. “I +thought you said you brought some along.”</p> + +<p>“So I did,” replied Frank. “Stuff for burns, +cuts and stomach aches, but I don’t know as it +would be safe to give him anything when he has +a fever.”</p> + +<p>“Have you got anything for a fever?” inquired +Ned.</p> + +<p>“Yes, some of those little, white tasteless pills, +that come in small bottles. Homeopathic remedies +they call ’em. I’ll read the directions.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[156]</a></span> +At that instant Fenn murmured something.</p> + +<p>“He’s talking!” exclaimed Frank, listening at +the flap of the tent.</p> + +<p>“Water, mother. Give me a drink of water,” +spoke the sick boy.</p> + +<p>“He thinks he’s home,” said Ned.</p> + +<p>“Here, I’ll get him a drink, and you read the +directions on that bottle of pills,” directed Bart. +“Maybe we can give him some.”</p> + +<p>Fenn drank thirstily of the spring water Bart +carried in to him, scarcely opening his eyes, and, +when he did, he did not know his chum.</p> + +<p>“The smugglers!” exclaimed the now delirious +youth. “We’ll catch ’em! Don’t let Ruth fall +into the cave. Look out!”</p> + +<p>The boys were much frightened, especially Ned +and Bart. Frank, from the experience he had +had with his father, knew a little more than did +the others about cases of illness. He read what +it said on the bottle of pills and decided it would +be safe to give Fenn several of the pellets.</p> + +<p>“Now, we’d better get the camp in shape for +night,” said Frank. “We’ve got to stay here until +morning, no matter what happens. We can’t +move Fenn until he’s better.”</p> + +<p>“Maybe he’ll not get better,” remarked Ned, +rather gloomily.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[157]</a></span> +“Oh, cut out such ideas,” advised Frank. +“He’ll be all right. Probably his stomach is upset. +Now hustle around and get a fire going. I +want some hot coffee, and so do you. Then we’ll +all feel better, after a bit of grub.”</p> + +<p>Once Bart and Ned had something definite to +do they did not worry so much about Fenn. Frank +took a look at him, now and then, in the midst of +the work of making the camp.</p> + +<p>“He’s asleep,” he announced after one inspection. +“I think his fever’s going down some.”</p> + +<p>“That’s good,” commented Bart, his face losing +some of its worried look.</p> + +<p>The boys ate a hasty supper and then made a +more comfortable bed for Fenn. The tent was +big enough for all four to stretch out under it, +but the three chums decided they would take turns +sitting up, in order to administer to the sick lad.</p> + +<p>Frank gave him some more medicine during the +night, and, by twelve o’clock, Fenn was somewhat +better, though he still had a fever.</p> + +<p>It seemed that morning would never come, but, +at length, there shone through the forest a pale, +gray light, that turned to one of rosy hue, and then +the golden sunbeams streamed through the trees.</p> + +<p>“Thank goodness the night’s gone,” exclaimed +Ned, who had the last watch. “It seems as if<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[158]</a></span> +we’d been here a week, instead of a few hours.”</p> + +<p>“How is he?” asked Bart of Frank, who had +assumed the rôle of doctor.</p> + +<p>“No worse, at any rate,” he said, as he felt of +his chum’s head.</p> + +<p>“Do you think we ought to get a physician?”</p> + +<p>“I think we’ll see how he is to-day,” answered +Frank. “If he doesn’t get any worse I believe +it will work off. I’ll give him some more medicine.”</p> + +<p>There must have been some virtue in the pills, +for, by noon, Fenn’s skin was much cooler, and +he had began to perspire, a sure sign that the fever +was broken. His mind, too, was clear.</p> + +<p>“What’s the matter? What happened?” he +asked. “Was I sick?”</p> + +<p>“I guess it was a little touch of sun-stroke,” replied +Frank with a laugh. “How do you feel?”</p> + +<p>“Pretty good, only weak. I’m hungry and +thirsty.”</p> + +<p>“That’s a good sign. I guess we can fix you +up.”</p> + +<p>Fenn made a fairly good meal on canned chicken +and some biscuits which Ned concocted out of a +package of prepared flour.</p> + +<p>“I think I can get up now,” announced the sick +youth, as he finished the last of his meal.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[159]</a></span> +“No you don’t!” exclaimed Frank. “I’m the +trained nurse in charge to-day, and you stay in the +tent until night, anyhow.”</p> + +<p>Fenn wanted to disobey, but he found he was +weaker than he thought, so he was glad to stretch +out on the blanket, spread over the fragrant hemlock +boughs. He was so much better by night +that the boys were practically assured he was out +of danger. They felt correspondingly happy, and +prepared as fine a meal as they could in celebration +of the event.</p> + +<p>Fenn ate sparingly, however, and then fell off +into a sound, healthful sleep. His three comrades +took turns during the night watch, but there was +nothing for them to do, save, now and then, to +replenish the camp fire.</p> + +<p>The next day Fenn was so much better that he +insisted on getting up, but he did not have much +ambition to do things.</p> + +<p>“We’ll go hunting, as soon as you are able,” +announced Frank, after breakfast. “Our pantry +isn’t very well stocked.”</p> + +<p>“Don’t wait for me,” urged Fenn. “Go +ahead. I can stay in camp, and look after things +while you three are gone. I’ll take my turn at +hunting a little later.”</p> + +<p>At first the boys would not hear of this, but,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[160]</a></span> +after Fenn pointed out that they must have stuff +to eat, they agreed to go hunting the next day, +leaving him alone in camp, if it was found, by +morning, that he was well enough.</p> + +<p>Fortunately this proved to be the case and Ned, +Frank and Bart, carrying the guns they had hired +in Duluth, started off, cautioning Fenn to take care +of himself, and not to wander away from the tent.</p> + +<p>“We’ll be back as soon as we have shot something +to eat,” promised Bart.</p> + +<p>It was rather lonesome in camp for Fenn, after +his chums had left. At first he sat in front of +the tent, watching the antics of some squirrels who, +emboldened by hunger, came quite close to pick up +crumbs. Fenn scorned to shoot at them.</p> + +<p>“I think I’m strong enough to take a little +walk,” decided the youth, after an hour or so of +idleness. “It will do me good. Besides, I want +to get a line on just where that cliff is, on which +we saw the queer men.”</p> + +<p>He started off, and found he had regained nearly +all his former strength. It was a fine day, and +pleasant to stroll through the woods.</p> + +<p>Fenn wandered on, aiming for the lake, which +was some distance away from where the tent was +pitched. Suddenly, as he was going through a +little glade, he heard a noise on the farther side<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[161]</a></span> +of the clearing, as though some one had stepped +on, and broken, a tree branch. Looking quickly +up he saw, half screened by a clump of bushes, +two Chinamen, and a white man.</p> + +<p>The odd trio, whose advance had alarmed Fenn, +stopped short. Then one of the Celestials muttered +some lingo to the other. An instant later +the three drew back in the bushes, and Fenn could +hear them hurrying away.</p> + +<p>“I’m on the track of the smugglers!” he exclaimed. +“I’m going to follow them and see +where they go! I must be nearer the cliff than +I thought.”</p> + +<p>Off Fenn started, after the three men. If he +had known what lay before him he would have +hesitated a long time before doing what he did. +But Fenn did not know.</p> + + + +<hr class="cb" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[162]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXI" id="CHAPTER_XXI"></a>CHAPTER XXI</h2> + +<h3>THE CHINESE BUTTON</h3> + + +<p>Game was not so plentiful in the woods about +the camp, as the three chums had hoped. Frank, +Ned and Bart tramped along, keeping a close +watch for anything that would promise to restock +the larder, but, for some time, the most they saw, +were numbers of small birds—too small to shoot.</p> + +<p>“Why can’t we scare up a covey of partridges?” +asked Ned, rather disgustedly, after they had been +out an hour or more.</p> + +<p>“Why don’t you wish for a herd of deer, or a +drove of bears, that is if bears go in droves,” +suggested Bart. “You want things too easy, you +do.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t care whether they’re easy or not, as +long as there are some of them,” retorted Ned. +“I’d like to hear how this gun sounds when it’s +shot off.”</p> + +<p>“Hark! What’s that?” exclaimed Bart, looking +up as a sudden whirring noise was audible in +the air over their heads.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[163]</a></span> +The boys looked up, and, to their surprise, saw +a big flock of wild ducks, flying quite low. It +was rather early in the season for them, as they +learned later, but they did not stop to think of +that. Without further words, they raised their +guns and blazed away.</p> + +<p>“Hurrah! We got some!” yelled Ned, as he +saw several of the wild fowl tumbling earthward.</p> + +<p>“The other barrel!” exclaimed Frank. “We +may not get another chance, and we’d better kill +enough to last us a week.”</p> + +<p>They fired again, and killed several more of the +ducks. They found the birds to be in fairly good +condition, though they would be fatter later on.</p> + +<p>“They will make fine eating!” remarked Bart, +as he held up a string of the wild fowl. “Maybe +Fenn won’t like to set his teeth in a nice browned +piece of roast duck.”</p> + +<p>“Providing he is well enough to eat it,” added +Ned.</p> + +<p>“Oh, he’ll be well enough,” was Frank’s answer. +“But I’d like to get something else besides +duck.”</p> + +<p>“Well, we’ve got plenty of time yet,” suggested +Bart. “Let’s go a little farther.”</p> + +<p>Slinging their game over their shoulders, and +reloading their guns, the boys once more started<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[164]</a></span> +off. They had not gone far before a commotion +in a clump of underbrush, just ahead of where +Ned was walking, startled the lad into sudden +activity.</p> + +<p>“Here’s something!” he called in a hoarse +whisper.</p> + +<p>“Yes, and it’s liable to come out and shake +hands with you, and ask how you like the weather, +if you yell that way again,” remarked Frank. +“Don’t you know any better than to call out +like that when you’re hunting?”</p> + +<p>“I couldn’t help it,” whispered Ned. “I saw +something big and black. I think it’s a bear.”</p> + +<p>“A bear! Where?” cried Bart in a whisper, +cocking his gun.</p> + +<p>“Go easy,” advised Frank. “We stand a swell +chance of killing a bear with these light shotguns. +Where is it, Ned?”</p> + +<p>The boys were all speaking in low tones, and +had come to a halt in a little circle of trees. All +about them was thick underbrush, from the midst +of which had issued the disturbance that caused +Ned to exclaim.</p> + +<p>“There it is!” he said, grasping Frank by the +arm, and pointing toward something dark. At +that moment it moved, and a good-sized animal +darted forward, right across the trail, in front<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[165]</a></span> +of the boys, and, an instant later was scrambling +up a tall tree as if for dear life.</p> + +<p>“Fire!” cried Ned, suiting the action to the +word. He aimed point-blank at the creature, but, +when the smoke cleared away, there was no dead +body to testify to his prowess as a hunter.</p> + +<p>“Missed!” exclaimed Ned disgustedly. “And +it was a fine chance to bowl over a bear cub, +too.”</p> + +<p>“Bear cub?” repeated Frank. “Take a look +at what you think is a bear cub.”</p> + +<p>Frank pointed to the tree, up which the animal +had climbed. There, away out on the end of +a rather thin limb, it crouched, looking down on +the boys—a huddled bunch of fur.</p> + +<p>“A raccoon!” exclaimed Bart. “You’re a fine +naturalist, you are, Ned. Why didn’t you take it +for a giraffe or an elephant?”</p> + +<p>“That’s all right, you’d have made the same +mistake if you had seen it first,” retorted Ned. +“I’m going to have a shot at it, anyway.”</p> + +<p>He raised his gun, but the raccoon, probably +thinking now was the opportunity to show that he +believed in the old maxim, to the effect that discretion +is the better part of valor, made a sudden +movement and vanished.</p> + +<p>“See!” exclaimed Ned triumphantly. “He<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[166]</a></span> +knew I was some relation to Davy Crockett. He +didn’t exactly want to come down, but he had +some business to attend to in another tree.”</p> + +<p>“That’s an easy way of getting out of it,” remarked +Bart, “but I’ll wager you would have +missed worse than I did if you had shot.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, come on and stop scrapping!” exclaimed +Frank.</p> + +<p>“We’re not scrapping,” retorted Ned. “Only +I say I’m as good a shot as he is.”</p> + +<p>“You can prove it, by shooting at a mark, +when we get back to camp,” suggested Frank. +“Just now we’re out hunting, not trying to decide +a rifle match.”</p> + +<p>But word seemed to have gone through the +woods that three mighty boy hunters were abroad, +and all the game appeared to have gone into hiding. +Tramp as the chums did, for several miles, +they got no further sight of anything worth shooting +at.</p> + +<p>“I guess we’ll have to be content with the ducks, +and go back,” remarked Frank, after a somewhat +long jaunt in silence. “Fenn may be lonesome +waiting for us.”</p> + +<p>“I know my stomach is lonesome for something +to eat,” returned Bart. “The sooner some of +these ducks are roasting, or stewing or cooking<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[167]</a></span> +in whatever is the quickest way, the better I’ll like +it.”</p> + +<p>“All right, let’s head for camp,” agreed Ned, +and, having picked out their trail, by the help of +a compass they carried, they were soon journeying +toward where their tent was set up.</p> + +<p>“I hope Fenn is all right,” remarked Frank, +as they trudged onward.</p> + +<p>“All right? Why shouldn’t he be?” inquired +Bart.</p> + +<p>“Well, I was a little worried about leaving him +alone.”</p> + +<p>“Why Fenn is able to take care of himself,” +declared Ned. “Besides, what’s there to be afraid +of?”</p> + +<p>“I don’t know,” admitted Frank. “But suppose +another spell of fever should suddenly develop, +and he was all alone? It wouldn’t be very +nice.”</p> + +<p>“Well, he was as anxious to have us go as we +were to start off,” remarked Bart.</p> + +<p>“I know it, but still, I can’t help feeling a little +anxious.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, he’ll be all right,” declared Bart, confidently. +“He’ll have a good fire ready for us, +coffee made, and all we’ll have to do will be to +clean these ducks and put them to roast.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[168]</a></span> +“I hope so,” replied Frank.</p> + +<p>The boys, in the excitement of the chase, had +gone farther into the woods than they had anticipated +on starting out. Consequently it was later +than they expected when they got to where they +saw landmarks that told them they were near camp.</p> + +<p>“It’s only about half a mile farther now,” remarked +Bart.</p> + +<p>“Give a yell,” suggested Ned. “Fenn will +hear it and know we are coming.”</p> + +<p>The three chums united their voices in a loud +hallo; and, when the echoes had died away, they +listened for an answering cry. None came, and +the woods were silent, save for the noises made by +birds flitting here and there in the branches of the +trees.</p> + +<p>“He didn’t hear us,” said Ned. “Try again.”</p> + +<p>“Maybe—maybe he isn’t there,” suggested +Frank, in a low voice.</p> + +<p>“Of course he is!” declared Ned. “Maybe +he’s asleep.”</p> + +<p>“I guess he didn’t hear us,” suggested Bart. +“The wind is blowing the wrong way. Let’s yell +again.”</p> + +<p>Once more they shouted, but with no effect. +There came no answering hail.</p> + +<p>“Come on!” called Frank, increasing his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[169]</a></span> +speed. The boys spoke but seldom during the +remainder of the tramp to camp. When they +came in sight of the tent they strained their eyes +for a sight of their chum. He was nowhere to +be seen.</p> + +<p>“Probably he’s inside, lying down,” spoke Ned.</p> + +<p>It needed but a glance within the canvas shelter, +to show that Fenn was not there. In the gathering +dusk Frank gave a hasty glance about the +locality. The embers of what had been the campfire, +were cold. There was no sign that Fenn had +been there recently, or that he had made any +preparations to receive his chums.</p> + +<p>“He must have gone off in the woods and forgotten +to come back,” suggested Bart. “Maybe +he went hunting on his own account.”</p> + +<p>“If he had, he’d have taken his gun,” replied +Frank, pointing to where the weapon stood in a +corner of the tent.</p> + +<p>“Then he’s out for a walk,” declared Bart.</p> + +<p>“He’s staying rather late,” commented Frank. +“I hope—”</p> + +<p>Frank did not finish his sentence. Suddenly, he +darted forward and picked up something off the +ground.</p> + +<p>“What is it?” asked Bart.</p> + +<p>For answer Frank held it out on the palm of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[170]</a></span> +his hand. It was a small object and the two boys +had to bend close to see what it was. They saw +one of the peculiar brass buttons that serve to hold +the loops with which a Chinese blouse is fastened.</p> + +<p>“A Chinese button!” exclaimed Bart, in a +whisper.</p> + +<p>“The Chinamen have been here!” added Ned.</p> + +<p>“It looks as if the smugglers had Fenn,” said +Frank solemnly. “They must have sneaked in +here and carried him off!”</p> + + + +<hr class="cb" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[171]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXII" id="CHAPTER_XXII"></a>CHAPTER XXII</h2> + +<h3>FENN’S MISHAP</h3> + + +<p>Fenn had not gone very far, in pursuit of the +two Chinamen and their white companion, before +he became aware that he was not as strong as he +thought he was. In his legs there was strange +trembling, and his head felt dizzy.</p> + +<p>“I guess I was sicker than I imagined,” he +said to himself, as he kept doggedly on. “But +I’ll trail ’em. I’m going to find out where they +are staying, how they get to the cliff, and what it’s +all about.”</p> + +<p>Ahead of him Fenn could hear the trio making +their way through the underbrush. They seemed +to be following some trail, as there was a faintly-defined +path through the woods at this point.</p> + +<p>“They must be preparing to smuggle in a shipload +of Chinese,” thought Fenn. “Probably it’s +the same gang we scared off farther down the +lake. They’ve come up here. Oh, if I had some +way of sending word to a government detective, +I could catch ’em in the very act! But, if I can<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[172]</a></span> +find out where the landing place is I can show +the officers how to get to it. That is, if they don’t +take the alarm and skip out. They must know +me by this time.”</p> + +<p>The trail was becoming more difficult to follow. +It still led toward the lake and Fenn was sure +he was on the right track. Already he had visions +of what he would do with the reward money, after +he had given his chums their shares.</p> + +<p>“Whew! But I’m getting tired!” exclaimed +the lad, after making his way through a particularly +thick bit of underbrush. “I wish some of +the fellows were along to take up the chase. I +wonder if they’re going much farther?”</p> + +<p>He paused a moment to rest, and listened intently +for a sound of the retreating footsteps of +those ahead of him.</p> + +<p>“Why,” he exclaimed, after a second or two. +“I can’t hear them!”</p> + +<p>There were no sounds save those made by the +birds and small beasts of the forest.</p> + +<p>“They’ve distanced me!” Fern exclaimed. “I +couldn’t keep up with them! Now I’ve lost track +of them! What shall I do?”</p> + +<p>He was trembling, partly from excitement, and +partly from nervousness and weakness. A mist<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[173]</a></span> +seemed to come before his eyes. He looked about +him and saw, off to the left, a little hill.</p> + +<p>“I’ll climb that, and see if I can catch a glimpse +of them,” he said, speaking aloud. The sound of +his own voice seemed to bring his confidence back +to him. His legs lost their trembling and he felt +stronger.</p> + +<p>Up to the summit of the hill he made his way, +finding it a more toilsome climb than he had +imagined. He reached the top. Below him, +stretched out like a narrow ribbon of gray on a +background of green, was the little trail he had +been following, and which had been taken by the +three men. It wound in and out among the +woods, extending toward the lake, a glimpse of +the shining water of which Fenn could just catch.</p> + +<p>Something moving on the trail caught his eye. +He looked intently at it, and, the next moment +he exclaimed:</p> + +<p>“There they are! They’re hurrying along as +if a whole band of detectives was after them, instead +of me alone. Now to see if I can’t catch +up to them.”</p> + +<p>He gave one more look at the two Celestials +and the white man, who, every moment were nearing +their goal, and then, hurried down the other<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[174]</a></span> +side of the hill, to cut across through the woods +at the foot, and so reach the trail.</p> + +<p>Fenn had not gone more than a dozen steps +when suddenly, having made a jump over a large +boulder in his path, he came down rather heavily +on the other side, in the midst of a clump of +ferns.</p> + +<p>There was a curious sinking of the ground, as +though it had caved in. Fenn felt himself falling, +down, down, down! He threw out his hands, +and tried to grab something. He grasped a bunch +of fern, but this went down with him.</p> + +<p>“Help! Help!” he instinctively called, though +he knew no one was within hearing, save, perhaps, +those three strange men, and he did not believe +they would help him if they did hear his calls +for aid.</p> + +<p>Fenn was slipping and sliding down some inclined +chute that seemed to lead from the summit +of the hill, into the interior of the earth. It was +so dark he could see absolutely nothing and all +he could feel around him were walls of dirt.</p> + +<p>They seemed strangely smooth, and he wondered +how he could slide over them and not feel +bumps from rough stones which must surely be +jutting out here and there from the sides of the +shaft down which he had tumbled.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[175]</a></span> +He put out his hands, endeavoring to find something +to grasp to stay his progress, and then he +discovered the reason for his smooth passage.</p> + +<p>The walls of the curious slanting tunnel, in +which he had been made an involuntary prisoner, +were composed of smooth clay. Down them water +was slowly dripping, from some subterranean +spring, making the sides as smooth and slippery +as glass.</p> + +<p>Fenn tried in vain to dig his fingers into the +walls, in order to stay his progress, but he only +ran the risk of tearing his nails off, and he soon +desisted. All he could do was to allow himself +to be carried along by the force of gravity, and +the incline of the tunnel was not so great as to +make his progress dangerous.</p> + +<p>“It’s the stopping part I’ve got to worry about,” +thought poor Fenn. “I wonder what’s at the end +of all this?”</p> + +<p>Suddenly, as he was sliding along, feet foremost, +in the darkness, his outstretched right hand +came in contact with something that caused him +to start in terror. It was a round, thin slimy object, +that seemed stretched out beside him.</p> + +<p>“A snake!” he exclaimed. “I’ve fallen into +a den of serpents!”</p> + +<p>He drew his hand quickly away, fear and disgust<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[176]</a></span> +overpowering him for a moment. Then the +thing seemed to be at his left hand. This time, +in spite of himself, his fingers closed around it.</p> + +<p>“A rope! It’s a rope!” he cried aloud, as he +vainly tried to catch hold of it and stay his sliding +downward. But the rope slipped from his fingers, +and his journey down the curious shaft was unstayed.</p> + +<p>“This must have been dug by men,” thought +Fenn. “I’ll wager the smugglers had something +to do with it. Why, maybe it’s one of the ways +they land their men. That’s it! I must be sliding +right down into the lake. They use the rope +with which to pull themselves up the slippery +tunnel.”</p> + +<p>This idea seemed feasible to him, and he made +further efforts to grasp the rope, in order that he +might stop and pull himself up, instead of being +carried on into Lake Superior.</p> + +<p>For that this was to be his fate he now feared, +since, as near as he could tell, the tunnel sloped +in that direction. But though he occasionally felt +the rope, first on one side of him, and then on the +other, he could not get a sufficient grasp on the +slippery strands, covered as they were with clay, +to check his progress.</p> + +<p>“I guess I’m doomed to go to the bottom,” he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[177]</a></span> +thought. “If I only fall into deep water it won’t +be so bad. I can swim out. But if I land on +the rocks—”</p> + +<p>Fenn did not like to think about it. In fact +his heart was full of terror at his strange situation, +and only his natural courage kept him from giving +way to despair. But he was filled with a +dogged determination to save himself if he could, +even at the end.</p> + +<p>Though it has taken quite a while to describe +Fenn’s queer mishap, it did not take him long +to accomplish it. He was slipping along at considerable +speed, being shunted from side to side +as the tunnel widened or narrowed, but, on the +whole, being carried onward and downward in a +fairly straight line.</p> + +<p>Suddenly the blackness was illuminated the least +bit by a tiny point of light below and in front of +him. It looked like an opening.</p> + +<p>“There’s daylight ahead,” thought the boy. +“That must be where the fresh air comes from,” +for he had noticed that the tunnel was not close, +but that a current of air was circulating through +it. Fenn was wrong as to the source of this supply, +as he learned later, but he had little time to +speculate on this matter, for, much sooner than +he expected, he had reached the spot of the light.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[178]</a></span> +He saw, suddenly looming before him, an opening +that marked the end of the tunnel. The shaft +gave a sharp upward turn and Fenn was shot up +and out, just as are packages that are sent down +those iron chutes from the sidewalk into store basements.</p> + +<p>A moment later the boy, covered with mud +from head to foot, found himself on a narrow +ledge on the face of a cliff overlooking Lake Superior. +He lay, partly stunned for a moment, +and blinking at the strong light into which he had +come from the darkness of the shaft.</p> + +<p>Below him rolled the great lake, on which he +and his chums had so recently been sailing in the +<i>Modoc</i>. Fenn arose to his feet, and gave a glance +about him.</p> + +<p>“It’s the same place!” he murmured. “The +same place where we saw the men who so mysteriously +disappeared! I’m on the track of their +secret!”</p> + +<p>He looked at the ledge on which he stood. It +was long and narrow, and, not far from where he +was, he saw a partly-round opening, that seemed +to be the mouth of another shaft, leading straight +down.</p> + +<p>“Well, more wonders!” exclaimed Fenn, walking +toward it. As he did so, he was startled to see<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[179]</a></span> +the head of a man emerge from the second shaft. +The fellow gave one look at Fenn and then, with +a cry of warning to some one below, he disappeared.</p> + +<p>Fenn, startled and somewhat alarmed, hesitated. +He was on the brink of an odd discovery.</p> + + + +<hr class="cb" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[180]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIII" id="CHAPTER_XXIII"></a>CHAPTER XXIII</h2> + +<h3>THE SEARCH</h3> + + +<p>Following the finding of the Chinese button, +and Frank’s conclusion that the smugglers had +carried Fenn off, the three chums, back in camp, +startled by the terror the thought gave them, stood +looking at each other for several seconds. They +did not quite know what to make of it.</p> + +<p>“Do you really think the smugglers have him?” +asked Ned, of Frank.</p> + +<p>“Well, it certainly looks so. Fenn is gone, and +this button is evidence that some Chinese have been +here.”</p> + +<p>“But might not Fenn be off in the woods somewhere, +and the Chinese have paid a visit here while +he was away?” asked Bart.</p> + +<p>“Of course that’s possible. But I don’t believe +Fenn, sick as he was, would remain away so +long.”</p> + +<p>“Couldn’t that brass button come from some +other garment than one worn by a Chinaman?” +inquired Ned.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[181]</a></span> +“It could, but for the fact that it has some +Chinese characters stamped on the under side, +where the shank is,” and Frank showed his chums +the queer marks, probably made by the Celestial +manufacturer. “Then, here’s another bit of evidence,” +and he pointed to the ground.</p> + +<p>Ned and Bart looked. There, in the soft earth, +they plainly saw several footprints, made by the +peculiar, thick-soled sharp-pointed shoes the Chinese +wear.</p> + +<p>“They’ve been here all right,” admitted Bart +in a low voice. “What’s to be done about it?”</p> + +<p>“I think we ought to see if we can’t find Fenn,” +declared Ned. “We ought to follow and see +where these Chinese footsteps lead. Maybe Fenn +is held a prisoner.”</p> + +<p>“That’s what we ought to do,” agreed Frank. +“However, it is too late to do anything much +now. It will soon be night. I think we’d better +get something to eat, sleep as much as we can, and +start off the first thing in the morning. Maybe +we can trail the smugglers by following the Chinese +footprints, and, in that way, we may find—Fenn.”</p> + +<p>Frank hesitated a bit over his chum’s name, +and there was a catch in his voice. The other +boys, too, were somewhat affected.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[182]</a></span> +“Oh, we’ll find him all right,” declared Ned, +confidently, to cover up the little feeling he had +manifested. “If those smugglers have him, why—we’ll +take him away from them, that’s all.”</p> + +<p>“That’s the way to talk!” exclaimed Frank. +“Now let’s get some grub. What did we shoot +all these ducks for?”</p> + +<p>The chums soon had a meal ready, but, it must +be confessed, the ducks did not taste as good as +they expected they would. However, that was +more because of their anxiety over Fenn, than from +any defect in the birds or their cooking.</p> + +<p>Morning came at last, after what the three +Darewell boys thought was the longest night they +had ever experienced. They only slept in dozes, +and, every now and again, one of them would +awake and get up, to see if there were any signs +of the missing Fenn.</p> + +<p>“Poor Stumpy,” murmured Ned, on one occasion, +when a crackling in the underbrush had deluded +him into the belief that his chum had returned, +but which disturbance was only caused by +a prowling fox. “Poor Fenn! I hope he’s in +no danger!”</p> + +<p>If he could have seen Fenn at that moment he +would have had good reason for expressing that +hope.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[183]</a></span> +“Now for the trail!” exclaimed Bart when, +after a hasty breakfast, the three boys, shouldering +their guns, were ready to start. “Which way, +Frank? You seem to have run across the track +of these smugglers, and it’s up to you to follow +it. Lead on.”</p> + +<p>“I guess we’ll have no difficulty in following +the trail as far as it goes,” remarked Frank. +“When a Chinaman goes walking he leave a track +that can’t be duplicated by any other person or +animal. Lucky it didn’t rain in the night, for +what tracks there are will still be plain. And we +don’t have to worry about a crowd walking over +the place where they were. We’re not troubled +by many neighbors in these woods.”</p> + +<p>They started off with Frank in the lead, and +he kept a careful watch for the Chinese footprints. +At first they were easy to follow, as the ground +was soft, and the queer cork-soled shoes had been +indented deeply in the clay. But, after a time, +the marks became so faint that, only here and there +could they be distinguished.</p> + +<p>Then it became necessary for Frank to station +one of his chums at the place where the last step +was seen, and prospect around, considerably in +advance, until he picked up the next one.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[184]</a></span> +“If we had a hound we wouldn’t have all this +trouble,” he said.</p> + +<p>“But, seeing as we haven’t, we’ll have to be +our own dogs,” retorted Ned. “I guess we can +manage it.”</p> + +<p>They followed the footprints of the one Chinaman +for a mile or more, and then they came to +an end with an abruptness that was surprising, +particularly as the last one was plainly to be seen +in a patch of soft mud.</p> + +<p>“Well, he evidently went up in a balloon,” announced +Bart.</p> + +<p>“It does look so, unless he had a pair of wings +in his pocket,” supplemented Ned.</p> + +<p>Frank went on ahead, looking with sharp eyes, +for a recurrence of the prints. He went so far +into the woods that Bart called to him.</p> + +<p>“Do you think he jumped that distance?”</p> + +<p>“I don’t know,” replied Frank. “I’m going +to look—”</p> + +<p>He stopped so suddenly that his chums were +alarmed and ran forward to where he was. They +found him staring at some marks in the earth, and +the marks were those they sought—the footprints +of the Chinese.</p> + +<p>“How in the world did he ever get over that +space without touching the ground?” inquired<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[185]</a></span> +Ned. “He must be a wonder, or else have a +pair of those seven-league-boots I used to read +about in a fairy book, when I was a kid.”</p> + +<p>“Look there!” exclaimed Bart, pointing up to +a tree branch overhead.</p> + +<p>“Horse hair!” exclaimed Ned. “I didn’t +know a horse could switch his tail so high.”</p> + +<p>“Horses nothing!” retorted Bart. “That’s +hair from the queue of a Chinaman, or I’ll eat my +hat!”</p> + +<p>“But what’s it doing up in the tree?” demanded +Frank.</p> + +<p>“That’s how he fooled us,” replied Bart. “He +thought some one might trail him, and when he +got to a good place, he took to the trees. They +are thick enough here so he could swing himself +along from limb to limb, and, after he covered +twenty-five feet or more, he let himself down. It +was a good Chinese trick, but we got on to it. +His pigtail caught in a branch. I guess it hurt +him some.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, here are his footsteps again, as plain +as ever,” said Frank, pointing to where the queer +marks were to be seen.</p> + +<p>“But, say, we’ve forgotten one thing,” said +Ned suddenly.</p> + +<p>“What?” asked Bart.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[186]</a></span> +“We haven’t looked for Fenn’s footprints. All +along we’ve been paying attention to only the +marks made by the Chink. Now where does Fenn +come in? This Chinese fellow couldn’t carry +him; could he?”</p> + +<p>“Not unless the Chink was one of the gigantic +Chinese wrestlers I’ve read about,” admitted Bart. +“That’s so, Ned. We have forgotten all about +Fenn’s footprints.”</p> + +<p>The three boys looked at each other. In their +anxiety at following the trail of the queer marks +they had lost sight of the fact that they wanted a +clue to Fenn, as well as to the smugglers.</p> + +<p>“I suppose we’d better go back to camp and +begin all over,” suggested Ned.</p> + +<p>“No,” decided Frank, after a moment’s thought. +“Let’s try these prints a little longer. Maybe +they’ll lead us to some place where we can get on +Fenn’s trail.”</p> + +<p>The others agreed to this plan, and, once more, +they took up the search. They had not gone far +before Frank, who was again in the lead, called +out:</p> + +<p>“Here we are, fellows! This explains it!”</p> + +<p>Ned and Bart hurried forward. They found +that Frank had emerged upon a well-defined trail, +that led at right angles to the one they had been<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[187]</a></span> +following. But, stranger than that was what the +trail showed.</p> + +<p>There, in plain view, were the footprints of two +Chinese and the unmistakable mark of a white +man’s foot.</p> + +<p>“There were two parties of smugglers!” exclaimed +Ned.</p> + +<p>“Either that, or one member of the single party +made a cut through the woods, came to our camp, +and then joined the others right here,” said Frank.</p> + +<p>“Still, I don’t see anything of Fenn,” remarked +Bart.</p> + +<p>“No? What’s that?” demanded Frank +quickly, pointing to footprints, quite some distance +back of the others.</p> + +<p>“Fenn’s! I’ll be jiggered!” cried Bart. “I +can tell them by the triangle mark, made with hobnails +that he hammered into the heels of his shoes, +after we decided to come on this trip. He said +that would prevent him slipping around on deck.”</p> + +<p>“Those are Fenn’s footsteps all right—unless +some one else has his shoes,” declared Ned. +“Come on! We’re on the right trail at last.” +And the boys hurried forward, hope once more +strong in their hearts.</p> + + + +<hr class="cb" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[188]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIV" id="CHAPTER_XXIV"></a>CHAPTER XXIV</h2> + +<h3>FENN IS CAPTURED</h3> + + +<p>For several seconds after he had observed the +man’s head disappear down the hole in the ledge, +Fenn waited. He wanted to see if the fellow had +gone for reinforcements, or had retreated. After +a minute or two Fenn decided that the man was as +much frightened as he himself was.</p> + +<p>“I’ll take a look down that hole,” he decided. +“I’m not in very good shape for visiting company,” +he went on, with a look at his clay-covered +clothes, “but I don’t believe those chaps are very +particular. I wonder what I’m up against? This +is a queer country, with holes in the ground almost +at every turn, leading to no one knows where.”</p> + +<p>He advanced toward the shaft, down which the +man had vanished, and, as he reached the edge, he +saw that it contained a ladder.</p> + +<p>The ladder was made of tree trunks, with the +branches cut off about a foot from where they +joined on, leaving projections sticking up at a slight<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[189]</a></span> +angle, and making a good hold for the hands and +feet.</p> + +<p>“Well, I s’pose I’m foolish to do this all alone, +and that I had better go back to camp and get the +boys,” murmured Fenn, as he prepared to descend. +“But, if I do, the smugglers may escape, and I’ll +lose the reward. There must be an opening at the +bottom of this shaft that leads right out on the +lake shore. When the boats land the smuggled-in +Chinamen, they are probably taken up this shaft, +then through the one I slid down, and so into the +woods, and from there they are spirited wherever +they want to go.”</p> + +<p>He looked into the shaft, and listened intently, +but could hear no sound. He was surprised to +see that the opening, leading down to he could only +guess where, was dimly lighted, seemingly in a natural +manner. But his wonder at this ceased when, +having gone down a little way, he noticed that the +walls of the shaft were pierced, in the direction of +the lake, with small openings, through which light +came.</p> + +<p>The shaft, he then saw, was either a natural +one, or had been bored, straight down the cliff, +and at no great distance from the perpendicular +face of it. The sides seemed to be of soft rock, or<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[190]</a></span> +hard clay, and the tree-trunk ladders were fastened +up against the walls by long wooden stakes, driven +in deeply. There were several tree trunks, one +after another, and from the smoothness of the jutting +prongs it was evident that they were often +used.</p> + +<p>Down Fenn climbed, stopping every now and +then to peer through the ventilating and light +holes. He caught glimpses of the great lake, that +lay at the foot of the cliff, toward the bottom of +which he was descending in this strange manner.</p> + +<p>“Queer I don’t hear or see anything more of +those men I was chasing,” mused the boy as he +paused a moment opposite one of the air holes to +get his breath. “I wonder what became of the +two Chinese and the white chap? Then there’s +that man who stuck his head up out of this hole. +He looked like a miner, for his hat was all covered +with dirt. That reminds me, where’s my hat?”</p> + +<p>Instinctively he looked about him, as though he +would find it hanging on one of the prongs of the +tree-trunk ladder, which might answer as a hat +rack. Then he laughed at himself.</p> + +<p>“I remember now,” he said. “It flew off when +I fell through that clump of fern into the hole I +thought led to China. Guess I’ll have to make +my bow without my hat.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[191]</a></span> +He glanced below him. It seemed as if he was +at the last of the ventilating openings for, further +down, there were no glimmerings of daylight, +which was fast waning. Then, as he looked, he +caught the flickering of a torch, not far down. It +waved to and fro, casting queer shadows on the +walls of the shaft, and then the person holding it +seemed coming up the ladder.</p> + +<p>“Now there’s going to be trouble,” thought +Fenn. “We can’t pass on this thing. Either +he’s got to wait until I get down, or I’ll have to +go all the way back to the top. I wonder if I +better yell to let him know I’m here? No, that +wouldn’t be just the thing. I’ll try to slip around +between the wall and the ladder, and, maybe, he’ll +pass me.”</p> + +<p>Fenn proceeded to put this rather risky plan into +operation. Holding on by both hands to one of +the projecting branches he endeavored to swing +himself around. The man with the torch was +coming nearer and nearer.</p> + +<p>Suddenly Fenn’s hold slipped. He tried to recover +himself but without avail. The next moment +his hands lost their grip and he went plunging +down into the darkness below, faintly illuminated +by the smoking torch. Then he knew no +more.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[192]</a></span> +When Fenn came to his senses it was only with +the utmost difficulty that he could recall what had +happened. He had a hazy recollection of having +been in some dark hole—then a light was seen—then +he slipped—then came blackness and then—</p> + +<p>He tried to raise himself from where he lay, +and a rustling told him he was reclining on a bed +of straw. By the light of a torch stuck in the +earthen wall of what seemed to be a cavern, Fenn +could make out the shadows of several men, grotesquely +large and misshapen, moving about. From +the distance came a peculiar noise, as of machinery.</p> + +<p>Fenn’s brain cleared slowly, though from the +ache in his head, he knew he must have had quite +a fall. He raised himself on his elbow, and gradually +came to a sitting position. He drew a long +breath, and started to get up.</p> + +<p>As he did so, he felt some one place his hands on +his chest, and push him back, not rudely, but with +enough firmness to indicate that he was to lie +down. Instinctively he struggled against what +seemed to him a dim shape in the half-darkness.</p> + +<p>“Lie down,” a man’s voice commanded. +“You’ll be all right in a little while. You had +quite a fall.”</p> + +<p>“What’s the matter? Where am I? Who +are you?” asked Fenn.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[193]</a></span> +“That’s all right now, sonny,” was the reply +in such soothing tones, as one sometimes uses toward +a fretful child. “You’re in safe hands.”</p> + +<p>“Has the kid woke up?” called a voice from +the blackness beyond the circle of light cast by +the torches.</p> + +<p>“Yes,” answered the man who had made Fenn +lie down.</p> + +<p>Following the words there was a sudden increase +in the illumination of the cavern, and Fenn +saw a big man approaching, carrying a torch. +With him were several others. One of them had +a rope.</p> + +<p>“Are you—are you going to make me a prisoner?” +asked Fenn, his heart sinking.</p> + +<p>“That’s what we are.”</p> + +<p>Just then another man flashed a torch in the +boy’s face. No sooner had he done so than he +called out:</p> + +<p>“Great Scott! If it isn’t the very kid I +chased!”</p> + +<p>Fenn glanced quickly up and saw, standing before +him, the man with the sinister face—the man +who had pursued him at the elevator fire. Beside +him was a man with a peculiar cast in one +eye, and Fenn knew he was the fellow who had +listened to the conversation of the chums in the +railroad car.</p> + + + +<hr class="cb" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[194]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXV" id="CHAPTER_XXV"></a>CHAPTER XXV</h2> + +<h3>AN UNEXPECTED MEETING</h3> + + +<p>Along the trail, which they had thus suddenly +come upon, fairly ran Frank, Ned and Bart. Now +that they were sure Fenn was ahead of them, +though they could not tell how long since he had +passed that way, they were anxious to find their +chum as soon as possible.</p> + +<p>“It looks as if Fenn was chasing the Chinese +and the white man, instead of them being after +him,” suggested Ned.</p> + +<p>“Unless they are leading him with a rope,” remarked +Frank. “In that case he would be marching +behind.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I’ll bet they’d have a fine time making +Fenn march along with a rope on him,” said Bart. +“He’d lie down and make ’em drag him. That +would be Fenn’s way.”</p> + +<p>“Unless he’s too sick to make any resistance,” +replied Frank, who seemed to take a gloomy view +of it.</p> + +<p>“Well, there’s no good wasting time talking<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[195]</a></span> +about it,” declared Bart. “What we want to do +is to find Fenn. Then we’ll know exactly how it +was.”</p> + +<p>“That’s right; save our breaths to make speed +with,” added Ned.</p> + +<p>Though the boys were not lagging on the trail, +they increased their pace until they were going +along at a dog trot, which carried them over a considerable +space in a short time, yet was not too +tiring. They caught occasional glimpses of the +marks left by the feet of the Chinese and the white +man, as well as prints of Fenn’s shoes.</p> + +<p>“There they go, up that hill!” exclaimed Ned, +who, for the time being, was in the advance.</p> + +<p>“Who? The men?” called Bart quickly.</p> + +<p>“No, the footprints. Come on,” and he led +the way up the little hill, up which Fenn had hurried +the day previous, with such disastrous results. +Fortunately the pace was beginning to tell on Ned, +and, as he reached the summit, and started down +the other side, he slowed up. It was to this circumstance +that he avoided stepping right into the +hole of the shaft, down which Fenn had taken that +queer-sliding journey.</p> + +<p>“Look here!” yelled Ned, so excitedly that his +two companions fairly jumped up to gain his side, +thinking he must have come upon either Fenn or<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[196]</a></span> +one of the men. “Somebody has fallen down +that hole!”</p> + +<p>That was very evident, for the fresh earth on the +edges, the scattered and torn clumps of fern, and +the general disturbance about the mouth of the +pit, showed that all too plainly.</p> + +<p>“See!” suddenly exclaimed Bart. “There’s +his hat!” and, turning to one side he picked it +up from the ground, where it had fallen when poor +Fenn took his tumble. “This shows he was +here.”</p> + +<p>“We were sure enough of that before,” said +Frank, “but it certainly does seem to indicate +that Fenn went down there. I wonder whether he +fell, or whether those men thrust him down?”</p> + +<p>Bart threw himself, face downward, close to +the edge of the hole. He looked carefully at the +marks on the edges. Then he got up and began +looking about in a circle. Finally, he walked back +some distance down the hill.</p> + +<p>“I have it!” he finally announced.</p> + +<p>“All right, let’s have it and see if we agree with +you,” spoke Ned.</p> + +<p>“Fenn came up this hill all alone,” declared +Bart. “If you had looked closely enough you +could see that the footprints of the Chinese and +the white man go around the base of the hill to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[197]</a></span> +the right. Probably they made a turn, when +Fenn wasn’t looking. He thought they went up +the hill. He hurried after them, and stepped +right into this trap. Probably it was covered over +with leaves or grass, and he couldn’t see it, until +it was too late. That’s my theory.”</p> + +<p>“And I believe you’re right,” declared Frank. +“It sounds reasonable.”</p> + +<p>“Then the next question is; what are we going +to do about it?” inquired Ned. “No use standing +here discussing what happened, or how it happened. +What we want to do is to get busy and +rescue Fenn.”</p> + +<p>“That’s the way to talk,” declared Frank.</p> + +<p>“Wait a minute,” suggested Bart. Once more +he got down close to the hole, and peered into the +depths.</p> + +<p>“See anything?” asked Ned.</p> + +<p>“There a way to get down,” replied Bart, after +a moment.</p> + +<p>“How; a ladder?”</p> + +<p>“No. Ropes. See, there are cables fastened +to the sides of this shaft, and it looks as if they +had been used several times.”</p> + +<p>Bart reached down and got hold of a clay-covered +rope, one of those which Fenn had tried +so vainly to grasp.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[198]</a></span> +“That’s funny,” remarked Frank. “Looks +as if this was a regular underground railway system.”</p> + +<p>“I’ll bet that’s what it is,” cried Ned. “This +must be one of the means whereby the smugglers +get the Chinamen ashore. Why didn’t we think +of it before? Let’s go down there. We can easily +do it by holding on to the ropes.”</p> + +<p>“It’s too risky,” decided Frank. “There’s no +telling what is at the bottom.”</p> + +<p>“But we’ve got to save Fenn!” exclaimed +Bart, who rather sided with Ned.</p> + +<p>“I know that, but there’s no use running recklessly +into danger. We can’t help him that way. +If he’s down that hole, or in the hands of the +smugglers, we can do him more good by keeping +out of that pit, or away from the scoundrels, than +we can by falling into their hands. Fenn needs +some one outside to help him, not some one in the +same pickle he’s in.”</p> + +<p>Frank’s vigorous reasoning appealed to his +chums, and, though they would have been willing +to brave the unknown dangers of the hole, they +admitted it would be best to try first some other +means of rescuing their chum.</p> + +<p>“Let’s prospect around a bit,” proposed Frank. +“Maybe we can find some other way of discovering<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[199]</a></span> +where this hole leads to. The lake can’t be +far away, and if we can get down to the shore we +may see something that will give us a clue.”</p> + +<p>“All right, come on,” said Bart, and the Darewell +chums started down the hill, in the direction of +Lake Superior.</p> + +<p>As they emerged upon a bluff, which overlooked +the vast body of water, they came to a pause, so +impressed were they, even in their anxiety, with the +beautiful view that stretched out before them. +Under the bright rays of the morning sun the lake +sparkled like a sheet of silver.</p> + +<p>“I wish we were all safe together again, aboard +the <i>Modoc</i>,” remarked Ned, after a moment’s +pause.</p> + +<p>“Same here,” echoed Bart. “But, if we’re—”</p> + +<p>He was interrupted by a sound off to the left. +Gazing in that direction the boys saw, coming +along the trail toward them, a man and girl. +Something about them seemed familiar.</p> + +<p>“Mr. Hayward!” cried Ned.</p> + +<p>“And his daughter!” added Frank, in a lower +voice.</p> + +<p>“Well! Well!” exclaimed the man, whose +lucky escape from the automobile accident in Darewell, +had led to the boys’ acquaintance with him. +“If here aren’t my young friends, the Darewell<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[200]</a></span> +Chums, come to pay me a visit! I’m very glad +to see you, but I thought there were four of you.”</p> + +<p>“So there are, father,” interrupted Ruth. +“Where is Fenn?” she asked, turning quickly to +the three boys. “Is he ill—didn’t he come with +you?”</p> + +<p>“He’s lost!” replied Frank. “We’re hunting +for him.”</p> + +<p>“Lost?” repeated Mr. Hayward. “How? +Where?”</p> + +<p>Frank briefly related what had happened since +they had started from Darewell on the cruise to +Duluth.</p> + +<p>“Well I never!” exclaimed Robert Hayward. +“That’s a great story! And the last trace you +have of him is down that hole?”</p> + +<p>“The very last,” answered Ned, looking at +Ruth, and not blaming Fenn for thinking she was +pretty.</p> + +<p>“This must be looked into,” declared Mr. Hayward. +“Lucky I happened to be out here with +my daughter. You see I live several miles from +here, but to-day, Ruth and I decided to take a +little trip. I—I wanted to look at some land I—some +property I am interested in out here. I +was on my way to it when I saw you boys.”</p> + +<p>The man seemed to have a curious hesitation in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[201]</a></span> +his manner and his words, and Ruth, too, appeared +under some strain. But the boys were too anxious +about their comrade to pay much attention to this.</p> + +<p>“Come on!” suddenly called Mr. Hayward.</p> + +<p>“Where are you going, father?” asked Ruth.</p> + +<p>“I’m going to find Fenn Masterson. I think I +have a clue that will help us,” and he strode forward, +followed by his daughter and the wondering +boys.</p> + + + +<hr class="cb" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[202]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVI" id="CHAPTER_XXVI"></a>CHAPTER XXVI</h2> + +<h3>FENN’S ODD DISCOVERY</h3> + + +<p>Mutual surprise showed on the face of Fenn, +as well as on the countenance of the man who made +this surprising announcement in the cave, where +we have left that rather unfortunate youth. The +boy, who had been prepared to meet a band of +Chinese smugglers, now saw before him the mysterious +person, who appeared to have some interest +in the affairs of Mr. Hayward, and who +seemed to be pleased that misfortune should overtake +the man who had recovered from the auto +accident near Fenn’s house.</p> + +<p>“Well, how’d you get here?” asked the man +gruffly, advancing closer to the captive, and holding +his torch to throw the light on Fenn’s face.</p> + +<p>“Slid part way, and climbed the rest,” answered +the lad, who decided to remain as cool as possible +under the circumstances.</p> + +<p>“Humph! Well, I reckon you know where +you are now?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[203]</a></span> +“I haven’t the least idea, except that I’m under +ground.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, and you’re liable to stay here for some +time. You’ll find, before I get through with you, +that it isn’t healthy, out in this country, to pay too +much attention to the business of other folks. I’ll +pay you back for spying on me. I thought I’d +gotten rid of you some time ago, but I see you’re +still after me.”</p> + +<p>“I’m not after you,” answered Fenn. “I +didn’t expect to see you down here. Nor am I +spying on you. You’re mistaken.”</p> + +<p>“Weren’t you trying to hear what I was saying—the +night of the fire—aren’t you in the +employ of Robert Hayward?” demanded the +man, asking his questions too quickly to permit of +any answer.</p> + +<p>“I’m not employed by Mr. Hayward, though I +know him, and he is a friend of mine,” declared +Fenn. “I wasn’t intentionally listening to what +you were saying that night, but, when I found you +were an enemy of Mr. Hayward, I wanted to +know more about you.”</p> + +<p>“How do you know I am his enemy?” asked +the man.</p> + +<p>“From the way you talked. Besides, why did<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[204]</a></span> +you chase after me, and try to catch us on the <i>Modoc</i>?”</p> + +<p>“That’s something for me to know, and for +you to find out,” replied the man, with an unpleasant +laugh. “You’re too wise, you are.”</p> + +<p>“Maybe I’ll find out more than you want me +to,” retorted Fenn.</p> + +<p>“No danger. I’m going to put you where you +can’t do anything for a while, and, after you’ve +cooled down a bit, I’ll think of what to do next. +Tom, come here,” he called.</p> + +<p>A big man approached, and, at a nod from the +fellow of the sinister countenance, gathered Fenn +up in his arms, in spite of the resistance the lad +made. Fenn soon found it was useless to struggle, +so he remained quietly in the grip of the burly +chap.</p> + +<p>“Take him to the inner cave,” directed the man, +whom the others addressed as Dirkfell, “and then +come back. We need you in getting this last load +out. After that we’ll take a rest.”</p> + +<p>Fenn tried to see where he was being carried, +but it was almost impossible in the darkness. +There were several flickering torches, stuck in the +earthen walls of the cavern, here and there, and, +by the glimmers of them, the youth could see men +hurrying to and fro. Some carried picks and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[205]</a></span> +others shovels, while some bore boxes that seemed +to be very heavy.</p> + +<p>“I wonder what sort of a place I’ve gotten into,” +thought Fenn. “Maybe it’s—yes, I’ll bet +that’s what it is—a gold mine!”</p> + +<p>For a moment the thought of this made his +heart beat strangely fast. Then cooler reason +came to him, and he recalled that the region around +Lake Superior contained no gold, though there +were mines of other minerals, some quite valuable.</p> + +<p>This train of thought was interrupted by the sudden +stopping of the man who was carrying him, +as though he was a baby. The fellow stooped +down, kicked a door open with his foot, and, the +next moment Fenn found himself in a small cave, +lighted by a lantern hanging over a rough table, +around which several chairs were drawn.</p> + +<p>“Here’s where you stay until the boss tells you +to come out,” fairly growled the man.</p> + +<p>Fenn did not reply, and the fellow withdrew, +taking care, as the lad noted, to lock the door after +him. No sooner was the portal closed, than Fenn +began an inspection of the place. He took the +lantern and held it close to the door. It was +made of heavy planks, and the fastening seemed +to be on the outside. As for the remainder of the +cave, the walls were composed of hard clay, or<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[206]</a></span> +harder rock. The place was a sort of niche, hollowed +out from the larger cavern.</p> + +<p>“Well, I seem to be in a pickle,” observed +Fenn grimly. “That comes of prying too much +into other people’s affairs, I s’pose. No help for +it, however. I’m here and the next question is how +to get away. I wish the boys were with me—no, +I don’t either. It’s bad enough to be here myself, +without getting them into trouble.</p> + +<p>“I guess they’ll be surprised when they get back +to camp and find me gone. I wish I’d left some +sort of a message. They won’t know where to +look for me.”</p> + +<p>But Fenn did not give his chums credit for their +energy. The prisoner made a circuit of his dungeon, +and concluded there was no way, at present, +of getting out. He readily got rid of the rope +that fastened his arms behind him.</p> + +<p>“I will just take another look at that door,” +mused Fenn, when, having completed his tour of +inspection, which did not take him long, he again +found himself in front of the portal. He held +the lantern up as high as he could. “If I stood +on a chair I could see better,” he reasoned. He +got one of the rough pieces of furniture, mounted +it, and, was just raising the light up to the top of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[207]</a></span> +the door when his hand slipped and the lantern fell, +smashing the glass, and extinguishing the wick.</p> + +<p>“Hu!” exclaimed Fenn, standing on the +chair in the darkness. “Lucky it didn’t explode +and set fire to the oil. I’d been worse off then I +am now.”</p> + +<p>He was in total darkness, and was about to get +down off the chair, and grope his way back to the +table, when a gleam of light, showing through a +crack in the door, attracted his attention.</p> + +<p>“Somebody is coming,” he said. “Maybe +they’re going to let me out. Or, perhaps, they +heard the lantern fall.”</p> + +<p>But, as he looked, he saw that the gleam was +not made by a torch or lantern being carried by +someone approaching his dungeon. Instead it +came from several torches stuck in the wall of the +main cave.</p> + +<p>And, by the light of these torches Fenn made an +odd discovery. Several men were digging in the +sides of the cavern, loosening the clay and soft +rock with picks and shovels. They were piling +the material in boxes which were loaded into a +car, that ran on a small track, and were hurried off, +to some place that the boy could not see.</p> + +<p>As he watched he saw Dirkfell approach, and,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[208]</a></span> +by signs and gestures, for Fenn could not hear at +that distance, the man urged the laborers to work +faster.</p> + +<p>“They’re mining,” thought Fenn. “It must +be valuable stuff, too, or they wouldn’t take out +such small quantities. And they must be working +in secret, or they wouldn’t take all the precautions +they do, to remain hidden. There’s something +queer back of all this, and I’d like to see what it +is.”</p> + +<p>Fenn applied his eye closely to the crack in +the door. He could see the men gathered about a +cavity in the cavern wall, on which they were working, +and, from the way in which they pointed at +something the boy believed they must have come +upon a rich deposit of whatever ore they were +mining.</p> + +<p>“I wish I was out of this place!” exclaimed +Fenn to himself. “If I had the boys here to help +me I’ll bet we could escape, and then there’d be a +different story to tell.</p> + +<p>“There must be an opening, somewhere,” he +reasoned. “That air comes from under the door. +It’s fresh, so there must be some communication +directly with the outer air, from the big cave.”</p> + +<p>He stretched out flat on his face, and put his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[209]</a></span> +eyes as close as he could to the bottom of the portal. +He saw light beneath it, and, jumping up, +exclaimed:</p> + +<p>“That’s it! I see a way to get out. But I +must wait until the men have gone!”</p> + +<p>An idea had come to Fenn. The floor of the +small cave he was in, was of earth. Between it +and the bottom of the door, was quite a space. If +he could enlarge this space, it might be possible for +him to crawl under the door, and this he resolved +to attempt, as soon as it would be safe.</p> + +<p>He felt in his pocket to see if his knife was +there, and his heart beat more rapidly as his fingers +closed on the handle. It contained a large, +strong blade, and he thought he could do his digging +with it. But it would be necessary to wait +until the men got out of the way, and, if they +worked in two shifts, this would not occur.</p> + +<p>Anxiously Fenn waited. Every minute seemed +an hour as he sat there in the darkness, now and +then kneeling down to peer under the door, to see +if the men had gone. But, every time, he saw +them at their queer operations, or taking something +from the walls of the cave.</p> + +<p>He fell into a doze, to be awakened by the entrance +of some one into his apartment.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[210]</a></span> +“Where’s the light?” asked a voice Fenn recognized +as belonging to the man who had carried +him in.</p> + +<p>“It fell and broke,” he answered.</p> + +<p>“Humph! Well, I’ll bring another. The +boss didn’t give no orders to leave you in the dark. +Here’s some grub. It’s supper time.”</p> + +<p>“What day is it?” asked Fenn.</p> + +<p>“Thursday. Why?”</p> + +<p>The boy did not answer. He knew, however, +that he had been in the cave a much shorter time +than he supposed. It was the evening of the same +day he had started to follow the smugglers. Now +he appeared to have lost track of them, but he was +in the power of a gang as bad, if not worse.</p> + +<p>The man brought another lantern, and also some +water. The food was coarse, but Fenn ate it with +a good deal of relish.</p> + +<p>“Guess you’ll have to sleep on the table,” the +man went on, as he threw some blankets down. +“There’s no bed in this hotel,” and he laughed.</p> + +<p>But Fenn was too busy thinking of his plan to +escape, to care about a bed. He hoped, now that +it was night, the men would stop working. And, +in this, he was not disappointed. Some one called +a signal through the cavern, and the men, dropping +their tools, and taking their torches with them, filed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[211]</a></span> +out of sight of the boy, watching from beneath +the door.</p> + +<p>He wanted to begin his digging at once, but +concluded it would be safer to postpone it a while. +He was sure it must have been several hours that +he waited there in the silence. Then, taking an +observation, and finding the outer cavern to be in +blackness, he commenced to burrow under the door, +like a dog after a hidden rabbit.</p> + +<p>The big blade of his knife easily cut into the soft +clay, and, working hard for some time, he had quite +an opening beneath the portal. He tried to +squeeze through, but found he was a bit too big +for it.</p> + +<p>“A little more and I can slip out,” he whispered +to himself.</p> + +<p>Faster and faster he plied the knife, loosening +the earth, and throwing it back with his hands. +Once more he tried and, though it was a tight +squeeze, he managed to wiggle out.</p> + +<p>“Now!” he mused. “If I don’t run into anybody +I can get to the foot of the shaft, and go up +that ladder. Guess I’ll take the light.”</p> + +<p>He reached back under the door, and got hold +of the lantern, which he had placed near the hole, +slipping it under his coat so that the gleams would +not betray him. Then, remembering, as best he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[212]</a></span> +could which way the man had carried him, he stole +softly along, on the alert for any of the miners.</p> + +<p>He had not gone more than a dozen feet, and +had just turned a corner, which showed him a +straight, long tunnel, that, he believed, led to the +foot of the shaft, when, to his consternation, he +heard a noise. At the same time a voice called:</p> + +<p>“Hey! Where you goin’?”</p> + +<p>Fenn resolved to chance all to boldness. Taking +the lantern from under his coat, that he might +see to run through the cave, he sprang forward, +toward what he believed was the shaft down which +he had come on the tree-trunk ladder.</p> + +<p>“Stop! Stop!” called someone behind him, +but Fenn kept on.</p> + + + +<hr class="cb" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[213]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVII" id="CHAPTER_XXVII"></a>CHAPTER XXVII</h2> + +<h3>A TIMELY RESCUE</h3> + + +<p>Fenn’s fear, and his fierce desire to escape from +the cave, lent him speed. Forward he went, faster +than he had ever run before. Suddenly there +loomed up before him a dim, hazy light, but it +was the illumination from the sun, and not from an +artificial source.</p> + +<p>“It must be morning!” the boy thought. “I +worked at that hole all night. But how is it that +the sun shines down the shaft? I didn’t believe +it could. There’s something strange here!”</p> + +<p>All these thoughts flashed through his mind +while he ran on, intent on distancing his pursuer, +who was close behind him. Fenn could hear the +man’s footsteps. Once more the fellow shouted:</p> + +<p>“Hey! Stop! You don’t know where you’re +goin’!”</p> + +<p>“I don’t, eh?” thought Fenn. “Well, I guess +I do. I’m going to get away from you, that’s +where I’m going.”</p> + +<p>The dim light became plainer now. Fenn could<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[214]</a></span> +see that it came through an opening in the cave; an +opening that was close to the ground. Clearly +then, this could not be the shaft down which he had +come. He was puzzled, but he kept on.</p> + +<p>He threw away the lantern, for he did not need +it any longer to see where to go. Several other +voices joined in the shouts of alarm, and in urging +Fenn to stop. He did not answer but kept on.</p> + +<p>“If I can once get outside they’ll not dare to +carry me back,” the lad reasoned. “It’s only a +little farther now.”</p> + +<p>He was panting from the run, for the exertion, +following his illness, and the experience he had +gone through, was too much for him. He felt +that he could go no farther. Yet he knew if he +halted now the men would get him, and he feared +for the consequences that might follow his attempt +to escape.</p> + +<p>“Oh, if only some of the boys were here!” was +his almost despairing thought. “If ever I needed +help I do now!”</p> + +<p>The light was so good now that Fenn could distinguish +the sides of the cave. He saw that he +was running along a straight tunnel, quite high +and wide, but which narrowed, like a funnel, as it +approached the opening toward which he was +speeding.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[215]</a></span> +“I wonder if there’s room for me to get out?” +he thought. “And I wonder where I’ll be when +I get out?”</p> + +<p>“Hold on! Hold on!” yelled the man back of +Fenn. “You’ll get hurt if you go any farther!”</p> + +<p>“And I’ll get hurt if I go back,” whispered +Fenn, pantingly.</p> + +<p>“Stop! Stop!” cried another voice which the +lad recognized as Dirkfell’s. “Come back! I’ll +not harm you!”</p> + +<p>“He’s too late with that promise,” Fenn +thought.</p> + +<p>A few seconds later he was at the opening of +the cave. He fairly sprang through it, finding it +large enough to give him passage standing upright. +He leaped out, so glad was he to leave +behind the terrors of the dark cave, and the mysterious +men, who seemed so anxious to keep him a +prisoner.</p> + +<p>“Free!” Fenn almost shouted as he passed the +edge of the opening. He was about to give an +exultant cry, but it was choked on his lips.</p> + +<p>For the opening was on the sheer edge of a cliff, +without the semblance of a foothold beyond it, +and below it there sparkled the blue waters of +Lake Superior!</p> + +<p>Fenn felt himself falling. He was launched<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[216]</a></span> +through the air by his leap for liberty, and, a moment +later, the lake had closed over his head!</p> + +<p>Meanwhile Mr. Hayward, followed by his +daughter, Frank, Bart and Ned was hurrying +along, bent on discovering and rescuing Fenn. +True, they did not know where he was, but Mr. +Hayward had a clue he wished to follow. As he +hastened along, he told the boys what it was.</p> + +<p>“My daughter and I have been sort of living +in the woods for the past week,” he said. “We +have taken auto trips as far as the machine would +go, and then have tramped the rest of the way. I +want to see how my land is. It is some property +I bought a good while ago, and which I never +thought amounted to much. But I have a chance +to sell it now, and I may dispose of it.</p> + +<p>“I was looking along the lake shore, the other +day, for some of my land extends out there,—and +I saw a boat, containing some Chinese and a +white man. It was being rowed up and down the +shore, and I thought, at the time, the men acted +rather suspiciously. They seemed to be waiting +for something to happen. I was too busy to pay +much attention to them, but I believe now that they +were part of that smugglers’ band you speak of.”</p> + +<p>“Why didn’t you tell the police, father?”<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[217]</a></span> +asked Ruth. “To think of poor Fenn being captured +by them.”</p> + +<p>“We are not sure he is captured by them, Ruth,” +said Mr. Hayward. “At any rate I’m going to +the point on shore near where I saw the boat. It +may be there is a tunnel running from that place +on the hill, where Fenn disappeared, right down +to the lake. In that case we may find some trace +of him there. This region used to be worked by +some ancient race, I understand, who dug deep into +the earth after certain minerals and ores. There +are several tunnels, shafts and queer passages +through the hills and along shore, I have heard; +shafts that used to give access to the mines. They +have long been abandoned, but it is just possible +that the smugglers may have discovered and utilized +them.”</p> + +<p>“Maybe they’re hiding in a cave, somewhere, +now,” suggested Ned, “and perhaps they have +Fenn a prisoner.”</p> + +<p>“Oh dear! Isn’t it dreadful!” exclaimed +Ruth, with a shudder. The other boys could not +help wishing she was as anxious about them as she +was over Fenn. It made up, in a great measure, +for all he was likely to suffer, Bart thought. He +looked closely at Ruth. She seemed strangely excited,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[218]</a></span> +as though she feared some nameless terror.</p> + +<p>“This way!” called Mr. Hayward, leading +the little party of rescuers through a short cut, and +down a sloping bank to the shore of the lake. +“Here we are. Now the boat, when I saw it, was +right opposite that little point of land,” and he +motioned to indicate where he meant.</p> + +<p>At that instant Bart saw something black bobbing +about on the surface of the lake.</p> + +<p>“What’s that?” he cried, pointing to it.</p> + +<p>“A boat!” exclaimed Ruth. “There is the +boat now, daddy!”</p> + +<p>“It’s too small for a boat,” replied Mr. Hayward. +“It’s a man! It’s some one in the lake!” +he added excitedly. “And he’s about done for, +too! I’ll swim out and get him!”</p> + +<p>Before any of the boys could offer, or indeed +make any move, to go to the rescue, Mr. Hayward +had thrown off the heaviest of his clothing +and plunged in. With powerful strokes he made +for the black object, which, as the others could +see, was a person making feeble efforts to swim +ashore.</p> + +<p>With anxious eyes the three chums and Ruth +watched the rescue. They saw Mr. Hayward +reach the bobbing head, saw him place an arm<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[219]</a></span> +about the exhausted swimmer, and then strike out +for shore.</p> + +<p>A few minutes later the man was able to wade. +In his arms he carried an almost inert bundle.</p> + +<p>“I got him, boys!” he called.</p> + +<p>“Who?” asked Ruth.</p> + +<p>“Fenn Masterson! I was just in the nick of +time. He was going down for the final plunge,” +and with that he laid the nearly-unconscious form +of Fenn down on the sandy shore.</p> + + + +<hr class="cb" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[220]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVIII" id="CHAPTER_XXVIII"></a>CHAPTER XXVIII</h2> + +<h3>RUTH TELLS HER SECRET</h3> + + +<p>“Quick! We must hurry him to a doctor!” +exclaimed Ruth, as she bent down over Fenn. +“Will he die, daddy?”</p> + +<p>“I think not. He’ll be all right in a little +while. But we’ll take him to our house. Lucky +the auto is not far away.”</p> + +<p>“I’m—I’m all right,” gasped Fenn, faintly. +“I was just tired out, that’s all. I didn’t swallow +any water. There—there seemed to be some +sort of a current setting against the shore, and—I +couldn’t make any headway.”</p> + +<p>He sat up, looking rather woe-begone, soaking +wet as he was, and with some of the red clay still +clinging to his clothes. Mr. Hayward was hastily +donning his outer garments over his wet things.</p> + +<p>“I’ll have the auto around in a jiffy!” he exclaimed. +“Lucky it’s summer, and you’ll not take +cold. Just rest yourself, Fenn, until I come back, +and we’ll have you all right again.”</p> + +<p>“But how in the world did you ever get into<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[221]</a></span> +the lake?” asked Ruth, as her father hurried +away.</p> + +<p>“I jumped in.”</p> + +<p>“Jumped in!” repeated Bart. “How was +that?”</p> + +<p>“Now we mustn’t ask him too many questions,” +interrupted Ruth. “He’s not able to answer.”</p> + +<p>“Oh yes I am,” replied the lad who had been +through rather strenuous times in the last few +hours. Thereupon he briefly related what had +happened since his chums left him to go hunting, +ending up with his unexpected plunge into the lake. +In turn Bart told how they had searched for him, +and how, having met Mr. Hayward and his daughter, +the hunt was brought to such a timely ending.</p> + +<p>“But what were those men taking out of the +cave?” asked Frank, when Ruth had gone down +the shore, along which a road ran, to see if her +father was returning.</p> + +<p>“That’s what we’ve got to discover,” answered +Fenn. “I think there’s a valuable secret back of +it. We’ll go—”</p> + +<p>But further conversation was interrupted by the +arrival of the auto—the same big touring car that +had so nearly come to grief in Darewell. The +four boys got in, Fenn was wrapped in a lap robe, +to prevent getting chilled on the quick ride that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[222]</a></span> +was to follow, and the car was sent whizzing along +an unfrequented road to Mr. Hayward’s home, +several miles away.</p> + +<p>The three chums wanted to ask Fenn all sorts +of questions about his experiences, but Ruth, who +constituted herself a sort of emergency nurse, forbade +them.</p> + +<p>“You’ll have time enough after he has had a +rest,” she said. “Besides, he’s just gotten over a +fever, you say. Do you want him to get another? +It looks as though he was.”</p> + +<p>And that was just what happened. When the +auto reached Mr. Hayward’s home Fenn was +found to be in considerable distress. His cheeks +were hot and flushed and he was put to bed at +once, though he insisted, with his usual disregard +of trifles that concerned himself, that he was “all +right.”</p> + +<p>A physician was summoned, and prescribed +quiet, and some soothing medicine.</p> + +<p>“He has had a severe shock,” he said, “and +this, on top of his former attack of fever, from +which he had barely recovered, has caused a slight +relapse. It is nothing dangerous, and, with careful +nursing he will be all right in a few days.”</p> + +<p>“Then, I’m going to take care of him,” declared +Ruth. “It will be a chance to pay back<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[223]</a></span> +some of his, and his folks’ kindness to me and my +father. Now mind, I don’t want you boys to +speak to Fenn unless I give you permission,” and +she laughed as she shook her finger at the chums +to impress this on them.</p> + +<p>Fenn, under the influence of the medicine, soon +fell into a deep sleep, which, the pretty nurse said, +was the best thing in the world for him.</p> + +<p>“I guess we’d better go back to camp,” proposed +Bart. “All we brought away from there +are the guns, and some one might come along and +steal the other stuff, which isn’t ours.”</p> + +<p>“That’s so, those smugglers are still around I +suppose,” added Ned. “We had better get back, +I think.”</p> + +<p>“You’ll do nothing of the sort,” declared Mr. +Hayward good-naturedly. “You’re going to be +my guests, or I’ll be very much offended. We’ve +not got such a fine place as some, but you’re welcome +to what there is. If things were different—but +there, I want you to stay.”</p> + +<p>He seemed affected by something, and his manner +was so queer that the boys could not help noticing +it. Ruth, too, appeared embarrassed, and, at +first, Bart and his chums thought it might be that +she was not prepared for company, since, as her +mother was dead, she had the whole care of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[224]</a></span> +house, though there was a servant to help her. +But her invitation, which she added to that of her +father’s, assured the boys that they would be very +welcome.</p> + +<p>“You can’t rough it so much as you could out +in the woods,” said Ruth, “but I think you’ll like +it here. We have a motor boat, and you may wish +to run it on the lake.”</p> + +<p>“A motor boat!” exclaimed Bart. “That settles +it! We stay!”</p> + +<p>“But what about our camp stuff?” asked Frank.</p> + +<p>“I’ll send a man to gather it up and ship it back +to Duluth,” said Mr. Hayward. “There’s no +need of you going back there at all. I’ll be glad +to have you stay. We’re a little upset on account +of—”</p> + +<p>He stopped suddenly, and glanced at his daughter, +who did not appear to be listening to what he +was saying. But she heard, nevertheless, as was +shown by her next remark.</p> + +<p>“Oh, dad means some of the servants have +gone,” quickly explained Ruth. “You see we +had too many,” she went on. “I decided we could +get along with one, for I want to help do the work. +I must learn to be a housekeeper, you know,” and +she blushed a little. “We’re not upset a bit, +daddy. You see, I’ll manage.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[225]</a></span> +It seemed as though something sad was worrying +Mr. Hayward, but, he soon recovered his usual +spirits, and got the boys to give him directions +for shipping back their camp stuff.</p> + +<p>“Now, I’ll look after it,” he said, as he prepared +to leave the house, having changed his wet +garments for dry ones. “I have some other matters +to attend to, and I may not be back until late. +I guess you can get along here. You can pretend +you’re camping out, and, if you get tired of that, +Ruth will show you where the motor boat is. +Only, don’t upset,” and, with that caution, he left +them.</p> + +<p>The three chums decided they would try the boat +at once, and, Ruth, having ascertained that they +knew how to run one, showed them where the +launch was kept in a neat boat-house on the shore +of Lake Superior.</p> + +<p>“Don’t be gone too long,” she said. “You +can’t tell what will happen to Fenn.”</p> + +<p>“I guess he couldn’t be in better hands,” said +Frank, with a bow.</p> + +<p>“Oh, thank you!” exclaimed Ruth, with a +pretty blush.</p> + +<p>“That’ll do you,” observed Bart, nudging Frank +with his elbow. “I’ll tell Fenn when he gets +well.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[226]</a></span> +Ruth returned to her patient, after urging the +three chums to be back in time for dinner. She +found Fenn awake, and with unnaturally bright +eyes.</p> + +<p>“You must go to sleep,” she told him.</p> + +<p>“I can’t sleep.”</p> + +<p>“Why not?”</p> + +<p>“I’m thinking of something.”</p> + +<p>“What about?” she asked with a little laugh. +“About all the wonderful adventures you had?”</p> + +<p>“Partly, and about that cave. It’s the same +one.”</p> + +<p>“The same one? What do you mean?”</p> + +<p>“The same one you talked about when you were +at our house. The mysterious cave, where the +men were at work. I see it all now. It’s the +same cave! There is some secret about it! Tell +me what it is. Don’t you remember what you +said? You wanted to find the cave, but couldn’t. +I have found it!”</p> + +<p>“Oh!” exclaimed Ruth. She drew back as +if frightened. “Oh!” she cried again. “Can +it be possible. It seems like a dream! Can it +be my cave?”</p> + +<p>“Tell me about it,” suggested Fenn, for even +his illness could not deter him from trying to solve +the mystery.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[227]</a></span> +“I am going to tell you a secret,” answered +Ruth. “It is something I have told no one. You +know my father is—or, rather he was—quite +wealthy. He owned considerable property, and +was counted a millionaire. But lately, through +some misfortune, he has lost nearly all his wealth. +I suspect, though I do not know for sure, that +some wicked men have cheated him out of it. But +he does not know that I am aware of his loss. He +has kept it a secret and he tries to keep up when +he is with me, but I can see the strain he is under. +He does not want me to suffer, dear daddy! But +I don’t mind. I don’t care for money as long as +I have him.</p> + +<p>“He thinks he can get his wealth back again, +and so he has been making all sorts of sacrifices +in order that I may continue to live here, in the +same style we used to. But I found out about it. +I discharged all the servants but one, to save +money, and I am economizing in other ways.”</p> + +<p>“But about the cave,” insisted Fenn.</p> + +<p>“It sounds almost like a dream,” went on Ruth. +“One day, when I was walking through the woods +around here, just before daddy and I took that +automobile trip East, I was on a ledge of the cliff, +about opposite where you were in the lake to-day. +That particular ledge is not there now, as a landslide<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[228]</a></span> +carried it away, but it was quite large, and +easy to get to, when I was on it. I was after some +peculiar flowers that grew there.</p> + +<p>“As I was gathering them I saw an opening in +the cliff, and I could look right into a large cave. +I was so surprised I did not know what to do, and, +much more so, when I saw several men at work. +They seemed to be taking stuff out—valuable +stuff, for they were very careful with it. I must +have made some noise, for one of the men came +to where I was looking in.</p> + +<p>“He was very angry, and tried to grab me. I +drew back, and nearly toppled off the ledge into +the lake. Then the man threatened me. He said +if I ever told what I saw something dreadful would +happen to me.</p> + +<p>“I was much frightened, and hurried away. I +was going to tell my father of what I had seen, +but the memory of the man’s threat prevented me. +The thing got on my mind so I was taken ill. +Then came the automobile trip and the accident. +But I could not forget the cave. It seemed like a +bad dream, and it followed me. I did not know +I had mentioned it in my delirium at your house, +until you told me. Then I was frightened lest +something happen to you, as well as to myself, and +I begged you never to refer to it. But I could not<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[229]</a></span> +forget it. All the while I kept wondering who +those men were, and what they were taking out. I +thought perhaps they might have found gold. Of +course it was foolish, and, sometimes I think it +was all only a bad dream. Only it is not a dream +about poor daddy losing all his money.”</p> + +<p>“And it isn’t any dream about that cave!” exclaimed +Fenn, sitting up in bed. “It’s real. +There are men in it taking out something I think +is valuable. They are doing it secretly, too. I +don’t know who it belongs to, but we’ll soon find +that out. By some curious chance I have discovered +the same cave you looked into. I’ll take +you to it, and we’ll see what those men are digging +out. I’m going to get right up and go +back there. I’m all right! We must go before +the men take all the stuff! Where are the boys? +Tell them to come here and help me dress.”</p> + +<p>“No, no!” exclaimed Ruth. “The doctor +said you must be kept quiet!”</p> + +<p>“I’m going to go back to that cave!” declared +Fenn, and, getting out of bed, clad in a big bath +robe, he began to hunt for his clothes, which, however +were not in the room, having been taken to +the laundry to be pressed.</p> + +<p>“Mary! Mary!” called Ruth to the servant. +“Telephone for the doctor. Tell him Fenn is +delirious!”</p> + + + +<hr class="cb" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[230]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIX" id="CHAPTER_XXIX"></a>CHAPTER XXIX</h2> + +<h3>A BAFFLING SEARCH</h3> + + +<p>Fenn sat down rather suddenly on hearing Ruth +make that announcement. He grew calm.</p> + +<p>“All right,” he said, good-naturedly, “there’s +no use alarming you. I’m not delirious. I never +felt better in my life. That sleep I had was fine. +My fever is all gone. But, go ahead, if you want +to. Send for the doctor. I don’t mind. I know +what he’ll say, and then I can go and hunt for that +cave.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, Fenn, are you sure you’re all right?” +asked Ruth, much reassured by the cool manner +in which the boy spoke.</p> + +<p>“Sure. Here, feel of my pulse. It’s as slow +as yours.”</p> + +<p>Ruth did so, and, having had some experience +in cases of illness, she realized that Fenn’s fever +had gone down.</p> + +<p>“You do seem better,” she acknowledged. +“However, I think it would be a good thing for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[231]</a></span> +the doctor to see you. I don’t want you to run any +chances.”</p> + +<p>“All right,” agreed Fenn.</p> + +<p>The physician came again and said that, much +to his surprise, Fenn’s illness was not as alarming +as had at first appeared.</p> + +<p>“Can’t I go out?” asked the lad, not telling +what for.</p> + +<p>“Hum—ah—er—um—well, it’s a little +risky, but then—well, I guess you can,” and, after +much humming and hawing the medical man gave +his consent and left, shaking his head over the +perverseness of those who were always in a hurry.</p> + +<p>“Now send up my clothes, please,” begged +Fenn, when the doctor was safely away. “We’ll +solve the mystery of that cave in jig style.”</p> + +<p>“Hadn’t we better wait for the other boys?” +suggested Ruth. “Besides it’s nearly dinner time, +and you ought to eat something.”</p> + +<p>“Good idea,” declared Fenn, but, whether it +was the one about eating, or waiting for the boys he +did not say.</p> + +<p>Frank, Bart and Ned were rather late getting +back from the motor boat ride, but they had such a +good time that no one blamed them. Mr. Hayward +also returned, and it was quite a merry party<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[232]</a></span> +that gathered about the table. That is all except +Mr. Hayward. He seemed to be rather worried +over something, and, at times, was rather distracted, +his thoughts evidently being elsewhere.</p> + +<p>“What’s worrying you, daddy?” asked Ruth, +after a while.</p> + +<p>“Nothing, my dear. Why?”</p> + +<p>“You’re not eating at all.”</p> + +<p>“I’m not very hungry. But come, we must go +with Fenn and see if we can’t help him locate that +cave. I don’t imagine we shall find anything of +any account. Most likely the men were engaged +in working an abandoned mine from which the prehistoric +inhabitants took everything of value. +Perhaps the men were those Chinese smugglers. +I have telephoned word to the Government authorities +about them, and some detectives may arrive +any minute.”</p> + +<p>“Those men were not smugglers,” declared +Fenn. “They were taking something valuable +from that mine, and they were so secretive about +it that I’m sure they had no right to the stuff.”</p> + +<p>“Well, we’ll soon see,” declared Mr. Hayward.</p> + +<p>“Where are we going to begin?” asked Bart.</p> + +<p>“Let’s go up to that hole, where we found +Fenn’s hat, and work down,” suggested Ned.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[233]</a></span> +“That’s no good,” declared the lad who had +made the queer passage. “That chute only +comes out on the ledge, where the main shaft begins. +If we could get to the ledge we’d be all +right.”</p> + +<p>“I think we can get there without crawling or +sliding down that dark, roped passage,” said Mr. +Hayward. “But I was going to suggest that we +take the motor boat and cruise along near where +we picked Fenn up. If we found the opening in +the cliff, from where he jumped, it would be easier. +It is rather difficult to get to the ledge.”</p> + +<p>“I think that’s the best idea,” remarked Frank.</p> + +<p>“May I go with you, daddy?” asked Ruth, a +bright flush of excitement coming into her cheeks.</p> + +<p>“Maybe I can find the—” She stopped suddenly.</p> + +<p>“I’m afraid not. There might be danger,” +said her father, not noticing her last remark.</p> + +<p>“I’m not afraid.”</p> + +<p>“I wouldn’t,” said Fenn quickly. “Those +men that I saw, didn’t have any weapons, but they +might be ugly customers, just the same.”</p> + +<p>“I think you had better remain at home, my +dear,” decided the girl’s father, and, somewhat +against her will, she consented, after a whispered +conference with Fenn.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[234]</a></span> +The others were soon in the motor launch, and +were cruising along the lake shore, as near as possible +to where Fenn had leaped into the water. +Narrowly they scanned the face of the cliff, for a +sight of the opening from which Fenn had +jumped. They went up and down for half a mile, +in either direction, but there was no sign of it.</p> + +<p>“Are you sure you jumped out of a hole, +Stumpy?” asked Bart.</p> + +<p>“Sure. I remember catching just a glimpse of +that point of land before I went under water.”</p> + +<p>“Then the opening into the cave ought to be +somewhere near here,” remarked Mr. Hayward, +bringing the boat to a stop.</p> + +<p>Once more they scanned the cliff, going as close +to shore as they could. There appeared to be no +break in the surface of the palisade.</p> + +<p>“I guess we’ll have to try the ledge,” announced +Mr. Hayward. “We can go down that +tree-trunk ladder, but it’s more risky than this +way.”</p> + +<p>He was about to head the craft for a landing +place, in order to begin the tramp through the +woods, to a point whence the ledge could be +reached, when the attention of all in the motorboat +was attracted by something happening on +shore. From the bushes dashed a Chinaman, his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[235]</a></span> +pig-tail streaming in the wind. Behind him came +a man, with a revolver in his hand.</p> + +<p>“Stop! You almond-eyed scare-crow!” he exclaimed. +“I’m not going to hurt you!”</p> + +<p>But the Chinaman only ran the faster. Suddenly +the man raised his revolver and fired in the +air. The Celestial stopped as though he had been +shot.</p> + +<p>“I thought that would fetch you!” shouted +the man, and, a moment later, he had the handcuffs +on the representative of the Flowery Kingdom.</p> + +<p>“That’s one of the smugglers!” cried Fenn. +“The police must be after them!”</p> + +<p>“What’s the trouble?” asked Mr. Hayward, +of the white man, as the boat neared shore.</p> + +<p>“Chinese smugglers,” was the short answer. +“We got the whole crowd a while ago, just as they +were landing a boat load in a secluded cove. But +are you Mr. Hayward?”</p> + +<p>“I am.”</p> + +<p>“I was told to look out for you. I understand +you gave the information that led to the capture.”</p> + +<p>“I did, but these boys here told me of it. +They’re to get whatever reward is coming.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, there’s a reward all right. This fellow +got away when we were bagging the rest. I had +a hard chase after him, and I wanted to catch him,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[236]</a></span> +as he’s one of the ring-leaders. But what are +you doing here; on the lookout for some more of +the Chinks?”</p> + +<p>“No, we’re searching for a queer cave where +Fenn, one of these boys here, was kept a prisoner. +There have been some strange goings on in these +parts, and I’d like to get at the bottom of them. +I thought maybe the smugglers had a hand in it.”</p> + +<p>At the mention of the cave, concerning which +Mr. Hayward gave the government officer a few +details, as Fenn had related them to him, the +Chinese captive seemed suddenly interested. When +Mr. Hayward told how they had so far, conducted +a baffling search, for the entrance, the Celestial +exclaimed:</p> + +<p>“Me show you.”</p> + +<p>“What does he mean?” asked Mr. Hayward.</p> + +<p>“Blessed if I know,” answered the officer. +“What’s that, John?”</p> + +<p>“Me show hole in glound. Me know. Clum +that way,” and he pointed a short distance up the +lake.</p> + +<p>“Do you suppose he knows where the entrance +is?” asked Mr. Hayward.</p> + +<p>“Shouldn’t wonder,” replied the detective. +“Those Chinks know more than they’ll tell. Probably +he knows the game is up, and he may think,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[237]</a></span> +if he plays into our hands, he’ll get off easier.”</p> + +<p>“That’s lite!” exclaimed the Chinese with a +grin. “Me turn state’s evidence. Me know. +Me show you.”</p> + +<p>“I guess he’s an old hand at the game,” commented +the officer. “Probably it wouldn’t be a +bad plan to follow his advice. Wait, I’ll summon +a couple of my men, and we’ll go along. No +telling what we’ll run up against.”</p> + +<p>He blew a shrill signal on a whistle he carried +and soon two men emerged from the woods on +the run. They did not appear surprised to see +their chief with the prisoner, and at a word from +him they got into the motor boat, the handcuffed +Celestial meekly following.</p> + +<p>“Now, John, which way,” asked the detective, +who introduced himself as Mr. Harkness.</p> + +<p>“Up by bluushes,” replied the Chinese, pointing +to a clump which grew on the cliff. “Hole +behind bluushes, so no can see. Smart trick. Me +know.”</p> + +<p>“I believe he does,” commented Mr. Harkness. +“I’ll unhandcuff him, and he can show us,” and +he removed the irons from the almond-eyed chap.</p> + +<p>The motor boat was put over to where the Chinaman +indicated. It came to a stop at the foot of a +sheer cliff, right under the clump of bushes, which<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[238]</a></span> +grew about thirty feet up from the surface of the +water.</p> + +<p>“How in the world are we going to get up there +without a ladder?” asked Fenn. “We should +have brought one along.”</p> + +<p>“Here ladder!” suddenly exclaimed the Celestial, +who, at a question from one of the officers +gave his name as Lem Sing. “Me get ladder.”</p> + +<p>Lem Sing took hold of a stone that jutted out +from the face of the cliff. He pulled on it, and +it came out in his hand. To it was attached a +strong cord, extending up somewhere inside the +cliff, Lem Sing gave a vigorous yank, and something +surprising happened.</p> + +<p>The clump of bushes vanished, and, in their +place, was a round hole.</p> + +<p>“That’s where I jumped from!” exclaimed +Fenn.</p> + +<p>But this was not all. Down the cliff, out of the +hole in the face of it, came tumbling a strong +rope ladder, being fastened somewhere inside the +hole.</p> + +<p>“That how up get!” exclaimed Lem Sing, with +a grin. “Now can up-go!”</p> + +<p>“Sure we can ‘up-go’!” exclaimed Mr. Harkness. +“Come on, boys,” and he began to ascend +the ladder, which swayed rather dangerously.</p> + + + +<hr class="cb" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[239]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXX" id="CHAPTER_XXX"></a>CHAPTER XXX</h2> + +<h3>THE DISCOVERY—CONCLUSION</h3> + + +<p>The others followed, one at a time, leaving one +of the detectives in charge of Lem Sing.</p> + +<p>“Now, Fenn, lead the way,” called Mr. Hayward.</p> + +<p>“I guess they’ve all gone,” said Fenn. “There +don’t seem to be any of the miners here, now.”</p> + +<p>Hardly had he spoken when, turning a corner +in the shaft, the party came upon a curious scene. +In a big chamber, the same one which Fenn had +viewed from the crack in the door of his small +prison, there were half a score of men, working +by the light of torches, digging stuff from the +walls of the cave, and carrying it out in small +boxes.</p> + +<p>“Here they are!” shouted Fenn. “This is +the place, and they’re at work!”</p> + +<p>“To the shaft!” shouted some one. “They’re +after us!”</p> + +<p>There was a hurrying and scurrying to escape, +and, before the detectives or Mr. Hayward could<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[240]</a></span> +make any move to capture the men, they had all +disappeared.</p> + +<p>“Come on!” cried Mr. Harkness. “Show us +the way to the shaft where the ladder is, Fenn! +Maybe we can nab some of ’em.”</p> + +<p>“It isn’t worth while,” declared Mr. Hayward. +“These men were evidently afraid of being +caught, but, from what I can see, they were not +doing anything unlawful.”</p> + +<p>“No,” admitted Mr. Harkness. “We caught +the last of them when we got Lem Sing. But +what were these men digging?”</p> + +<p>“I’ll take a look,” answered Robert Hayward.</p> + +<p>Suddenly he gave a cry, as he took some of the +soft earth in his fingers.</p> + +<p>“Say, this is almost as good as a silver mine!” +exclaimed Mr. Hayward. “This stuff is in great +demand! It’s used by chemists, and they can’t +get enough of it.”</p> + +<p>“Lucky for the man who owns this land,” commented +Mr. Harkness. “But I don’t see that it +concerns us. Guess I’d better be going.”</p> + +<p>“Why, man, this is my land!” suddenly exclaimed +Mr. Hayward. “I own a big tract in +here, but I believed it was worthless, and I was +about to sell it very cheap. Now—well, say, you +couldn’t buy it! My fortune is made again!”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[241]</a></span> +“Boys,” he went on, a little more soberly, “you +don’t know it, but I’ve been in quite a hole lately. +The house where I live was about to be sold for a +mortgage. But my daughter never knew. She—”</p> + +<p>“Yes, she did,” interrupted Fenn. “She knew +all about it, and she was trying to help you!”</p> + +<p>“She did? You don’t mean it!”</p> + +<p>Then Fenn explained; telling of Ruth’s strange +remarks while in a delirium at his house, her unexpected +discovery of the cave, the man’s threat, +her long silence under fear of it, and her desire +to aid her father to recover his wealth.</p> + +<p>“Well, this gets me!” exclaimed Mr. Hayward. +“Ruth is a girl that’s hard to beat.”</p> + +<p>They went to the foot of the shaft, where Fenn +had come down, but there were no men to be +seen.</p> + +<p>“Let them go,” suggested Mr. Hayward. +“I’ve got all I want, and I must hurry and tell +my daughter the news, bless her heart!”</p> + +<p>“It was all Fenn’s good luck,” declared Ruth, +when the story had been told. “You ought to +reward him, daddy.”</p> + +<p>“Reward him! Well, I guess I will. And +the other boys, too. Nothing is too good for +them.”</p> + +<p>The Chinese smugglers were punished for their<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[242]</a></span> +attempt to break the United States immigration +laws, and the Celestials they tried to land were +sent back to Canada.</p> + +<p>Lem Sing had planned the trick so that by pulling +on the rope the bushes dropped back out of +sight, and the ladder came down. The miners +used this device to send away the valuable clay, +and it was by this queer hole that the men on +the cliff so mysteriously appeared and disappeared +when the boys were watching them from the deck +of the <i>Modoc</i>.</p> + +<p>The two Chinamen and the white man, whom +Fenn had followed, were the advance party, looking +to see if the coast was clear for a landing +which had once been unintentionally frustrated by +the boys, and, the visit of the one Chinese to the +camp was only to discover if the lads were detectives, +which Lem at first feared. While Fenn +was following the men, one had slipped behind +him and gone to the camp, to see if it was deserted. +It was this fellow who had dropped the +button which gave Frank, Ned and Bart their +clue.</p> + +<p>“But what I can’t understand,” said Fenn, “is +why that man Dirkfell should chase us the night +of the fire, and pursue us in the steam yacht. Do +you know him, Mr. Hayward?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[243]</a></span> +“Dirkfell!” exclaimed the gentleman. “I +should say I did, to my sorrow. It was through +business dealings with him that I lost all my +wealth. He held the mortgage on this house, and +was about to buy that land, under which the cave +is located. He has long borne a grudge against +me—a grudge for which there is no excuse, for +I never injured him. When he heard of my loss +in the elevator fire I presume he could not help +saying how glad he was. Then, probably, when +he saw you looking at him so sharply, Fenn, he imagined +you must be some agent of mine. He was +evidently in fear of being found out in his secret +mining operations under my land, and that was +why he made such an effort to catch you, even +following the <i>Modoc</i>. I understand now, why he +was so anxious to get possession of this land that +I considered worthless. But I beat him at his own +game, thanks to you and your chums.”</p> + +<p>“And your daughter did her part,” said Fenn, +“for she saw the cave first.”</p> + +<p>“Of course she did, God bless her.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t understand how the Chinese smugglers +and the miners both used the cave and the +secret entrances,” said Frank.</p> + +<p>“I didn’t until I had a talk with the detectives,” +said Mr. Hayward. “The Chinese used the cave<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[244]</a></span> +a long time before Dirkfell was aware of what +valuable stuff was in it. He and his gang worked +in harmony with the Celestials.”</p> + +<p>“Are they going to try to catch him?” asked +Fenn.</p> + +<p>“No, it’s not worth while, since they have +broken up the smuggling gang. I guess Dirkfell +will not show himself in these parts soon again.”</p> + +<p>Nor did he, or any of his gang. The boys +spent a week with Mr. Hayward. Then they +started back to Duluth, to join Captain Wiggs.</p> + +<p>They found the <i>Modoc</i> ready to sail, and they +were warmly welcomed by the commander.</p> + +<p>“Well, we’ve certainly had some strenuous happenings +this trip,” observed Frank. “I don’t +think we’ll have such lively times again.” But +he was mistaken, they did have plenty of adventures, +and what some of them were I shall relate +in another book, to be called “Bart Keene’s Hunting +Days.”</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p class="noi center">THE END</p> + + + +<hr class="cb" /> +<div class="tnote"> +<p class="noi tntitle">Transcriber’s Notes:</p> + +<p>Punctuation and spelling inaccuracies were silently corrected.</p> + +<p>Archaic and variable spelling has been preserved.</p> + +<p>Variations in hyphenation and compound words have been preserved.</p> +</div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Fenn Masterson's Discovery, by Allen Chapman + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FENN MASTERSON'S DISCOVERY *** + +***** This file should be named 37929-h.htm or 37929-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/7/9/2/37929/ + +Produced by Donald Cummings and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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