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diff --git a/38429-h/38429-h.htm b/38429-h/38429-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..03ac4c9 --- /dev/null +++ b/38429-h/38429-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,9292 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> +<head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"/> + <meta name="generator" content="pph (1.16)"/> + <meta name="title" content="Frank Merriwell’s Alarm"/> + <meta name="author" content="Burt L. Standish"/> + <meta name="date" content="1903"/> + <title>Frank Merriwell’s Alarm</title> + <style type="text/css"> + p.center {text-align:center} + h2.chapter {font-size:1.2em; text-align:center; margin: 2em auto 1em auto; font-weight:normal} + </style> +</head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Frank Merriwell's Alarm, by Burt L. Standish + +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: Frank Merriwell's Alarm + Doing His Best + +Author: Burt L. Standish + +Release Date: December 28, 2011 [EBook #38429] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FRANK MERRIWELL'S ALARM *** + + + + +Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div style='text-align:center'> +<img id='ilink01' src='images/illus-cvr.jpg' alt=''/> +</div> + +<hr style='border:none; border-bottom:1px solid silver; width:70%; margin:2em auto' /> + +<p class='center' style='font-size:1.2em;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;'>MERRIWELL SERIES</p> + +<p class='center' style='font-size:1.2em;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;'>Stories of Frank and Dick Merriwell</p> + +<p class='center' style='margin-top:1em;margin-bottom:0;'>YOUR DEALER HAS THEM!</p> + +<p class='center' style='margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;'>Handsome Colored Covers</p> + +<p class='center' style='margin-top:1em;margin-bottom:0;'>Stories of Generous Length</p> + +<p>For three generations, the adventures of the Merriwell brothers +have proven an inspiration to countless thousands of American +boys.</p> + +<p>Frank and Dick are lads of high ideals, and the examples they +set in dealing with their parents, their friends, and especially +their enemies, are sure to make better boys of their readers. +These stories teem with fun and adventure in all branches of +sports and athletics. They are just what every red-blooded +American boy wants to read—they are what he must read to +develop into a manly, upright man.</p> + +<p> +     <i>ALL TITLES ALWAYS IN PRINT</i><br/> + <br/> +     1—Frank Merriwell’s School Days By Burt L. Standish<br/> +     2—Frank Merriwell’s Chums By Burt L. Standish<br/> +     3—Frank Merriwell’s Foes By Burt L. Standish<br/> +     4—Frank Merriwell’s Trip West By Burt L. Standish<br/> +     5—Frank Merriwell Down South By Burt L. Standish<br/> +     6—Frank Merriwell’s Bravery By Burt L. Standish<br/> +     7—Frank Merriwell’s Hunting Tour By Burt L. Standish<br/> +     8—Frank Merriwell in Europe By Burt L. Standish<br/> +     9—Frank Merriwell at Yale By Burt L. Standish<br/> +     10—Frank Merriwell’s Sports Afield By Burt L. Standish<br/> +     11—Frank Merriwell’s Races By Burt L. Standish<br/> + <br/> +     To Be Published in June, 1921.<br/> +     12—Frank Merriwell’s Party By Burt L. Standish<br/> +     13—Frank Merriwell’s Bicycle Tour By Burt L. Standish<br/> + <br/> +     To Be Published in July, 1921.<br/> +     14—Frank Merriwell’s Courage By Burt L. Standish<br/> +     15—Frank Merriwell’s Daring By Burt L. Standish<br/> + <br/> +     To Be Published in August, 1921.<br/> +     16—Frank Merriwell’s Alarm By Burt L. Standish<br/> +     17—Frank Merriwell’s Athletes By Burt L. Standish<br/> +     18—Frank Merriwell’s Skill By Burt L. Standish<br/> + <br/> +     To Be Published in September, 1921.<br/> +     19—Frank Merriwell’s Champions By Burt L. Standish<br/> +     20—Frank Merriwell’s Return to Yale By Burt L. Standish<br/> + <br/> +     To Be Published in October, 1921.<br/> +     21—Frank Merriwell’s Secret By Burt L. Standish<br/> +     22—Frank Merriwell’s Danger By Burt L. Standish<br/> + <br/> +     To Be Published in November, 1921.<br/> +     23—Frank Merriwell’s Loyalty By Burt L. Standish<br/> +     24—Frank Merriwell in Camp By Burt L. Standish<br/> + <br/> +     To Be Published in December, 1921.<br/> +     25—Frank Merriwell’s Vacation By Burt L. Standish<br/> +     26—Frank Merriwell’s Cruise By Burt L. Standish<br/> +</p> + +<p>In order that there may be no confusion, we desire to say that +the books listed above will be issued, during the respective +months, in New York City and vicinity. They may not reach +the readers at a distance promptly on account of delays in +transportation.</p> + +<p> +     MARY J. HOLMES<br/> +     CHARLES GARVICE<br/> +     MAY AGNES FLEMING<br/> +     MRS. GEORGIE SHELDON<br/> +</p> + +<p>Four authors enshrined in the heart of every +reader of fiction in America. See the list of +their works in the NEW EAGLE SERIES.</p> +<hr style='border:none; border-bottom:1px solid silver; width:70%; margin:2em auto' /> + +<p class='center' style='font-size:1.6em;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;'>FRANK MERRIWELL’S ALARM</p> + +<p class='center' style='margin-top:1em;margin-bottom:0;'>OR,</p> + +<p class='center' style='font-size:1.4em;margin-top:1em;margin-bottom:0;'>DOING HIS BEST</p> + +<p class='center' style='margin-top:2em;margin-bottom:0;'>BY</p> + +<p class='center' style='font-size:1.2em;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;'>BURT L. STANDISH</p> + +<p class='center' style='margin-top:2em;margin-bottom:0;'>Author of the famous <span style='font-variant:small-caps'>Merriwell Stories</span>.</p> + +<p class='center' style='margin-top:1em;margin-bottom:0;'>STREET & SMITH CORPORATION</p> + +<p class='center' style='margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;'>PUBLISHERS</p> + +<p class='center' style='margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;'>79-89 Seventh Avenue, New York</p> +<hr style='border:none; border-bottom:1px solid silver; width:70%; margin:2em auto' /> + +<p class='center' style='margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;'>Copyright, 1903 By STREET & SMITH</p> + +<p class='center' style='margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;'>Frank Merriwell’s Alarm</p> + +<p class='center' style='font-size:0.9em;margin-top:1em;margin-bottom:0;'>All rights reserved, including that of translation into foreign</p> +<p class='center' style='font-size:0.9em;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;'>languages, including the Scandinavian.</p> +<hr style='border:none; border-bottom:1px solid silver; width:70%; margin:2em auto' /> + +<p class='center' style='font-size:1.2em;margin-top:0em;margin-bottom:1em;'>CONTENTS</p> + +<table id='toc' style='margin:auto' summary='TOC'> +<tr><td> + <a href='#clink01'>I—ADRIFT IN THE DESERT</a><br/> + <a href='#clink02'>II—ON TO THE MOUNTAINS</a><br/> + <a href='#clink03'>III—THE SKELETON</a><br/> + <a href='#clink04'>IV—“INDIANS!”</a><br/> + <a href='#clink05'>V—BLUE WOLF TRIES THE BICYCLE</a><br/> + <a href='#clink06'>VI—TRICK RIDING</a><br/> + <a href='#clink07'>VII—ESCAPE</a><br/> + <a href='#clink08'>VIII—THE MYSTERY EXPLAINED</a><br/> + <a href='#clink09'>IX—A NIGHT ADVENTURE</a><br/> + <a href='#clink10'>X—THE STORY</a><br/> + <a href='#clink11'>XI—ANOTHER ESCAPE</a><br/> + <a href='#clink12'>XII—AT LAKE TAHOE</a><br/> + <a href='#clink13'>XIII—A RACE ON THE LAKE</a><br/> + <a href='#clink14'>XIV—THE HERMIT’S POWER</a><br/> + <a href='#clink15'>XV—RECOVERY</a><br/> + <a href='#clink16'>XVI—LOST UNDERGROUND</a><br/> + <a href='#clink17'>XVII—BROTHER AND SISTER</a><br/> + <a href='#clink18'>XVIII—OLD FRIENDS</a><br/> + <a href='#clink19'>XIX—BART HODGE MAKES A CONFESSION</a><br/> + <a href='#clink20'>XX—FRANK BECOMES ALARMED</a><br/> + <a href='#clink21'>XXI—ARREST AND ESCAPE</a><br/> + <a href='#clink22'>XXII—ISA ISBAN</a><br/> + <a href='#clink23'>XXIII—A KNOCK ON THE DOOR</a><br/> + <a href='#clink24'>XXIV—THE SHERIFF’S SHOT</a><br/> + <a href='#clink25'>XXV—ESCAPE—CONCLUSION</a><br/> +</td></tr> +</table> +<hr style='border:none; border-bottom:1px solid silver; width:70%; margin:2em auto' /> + +<p class='center' style='font-size:1.4em;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;'>FRANK MERRIWELL’S ALARM.</p> + +<h2 class='chapter' id='clink01'><a href='#toc'>CHAPTER I.—ADRIFT IN THE DESERT.</a></h2> + +<p>Once more the bicycle boys pushed on westward, +and it must be said that in spite of all their perils +they were in the best of spirits.</p> + +<p>The beautiful valley in Utah was left behind, and +some time later found them on the edge of the great +American Desert.</p> + +<p>Water was not to be had, and they began to suffer +greatly from thirst.</p> + +<p>The thirst at last became so great that nearly all +were ready to drop from exhaustion.</p> + +<p>Toots was much affected, and presently he let out +a long wail of discouragement.</p> + +<p>“Land of watermillions! mah froat am done parched +so I ain’t gwan teh be able teh whisper if we don’ find +some warter po’erful soon, chilluns! Nebber struck +nuffin’ lek dis in all mah bawn days—no, sar!”</p> + +<p>“You’re not the only one,” groaned Bruce. “What +wouldn’t I give for one little swallow of water!”</p> + +<p>“We must strike water soon, or we are done for,” +put in Jack.</p> + +<p>Toots began to sway in his saddle, and Frank spurted +to his side, grasping him by the arm, as he sharply +said:</p> + +<p>“Brace up! You mustn’t give out now. The +mountains are right ahead, and——”</p> + +<p>“Lawd save us!” hoarsely gasped the darky. “Dem +dar mount’ns had been jes’ as nigh fo’ de las’ two +houah, Marser Frank. We don’ git a bit nearer ’em—no, +sar! Dem mount’ns am a recepshun an’ a delusum. +We ain’t nebber gwan teh git out ob dis desert—nebber! +Heah’s where we’s gwan teh lay ouah +bones, Marser Frank!”</p> + +<p>“You are to blame for this, Merriwell,” came reproachfully +from Diamond. “You were the one to +suggest that we should attempt to cross instead of +going around to the north, and——”</p> + +<p>“Say, Diamond!” cried Harry; “riv us a guest—I +mean give us a rest! You were as eager as any of us +to try to cross the desert, for you thought we’d have it +to boast about when we returned to Yale.”</p> + +<p>“But we’ll never return.”</p> + +<p>“Perhaps not; still I don’t like to hear you piling all +the blame onto Merry.”</p> + +<p>“He suggested it.”</p> + +<p>“And you seconded the suggestion. We started +out with a supply of water that we thought would +last——”</p> + +<p>“We should have known better!”</p> + +<p>“Perhaps so, but that is the fault of all of us, not +any one person. You are getting to be a regular +kicker of late.”</p> + +<p>Jack shot Harry a savage look.</p> + +<p>“Be careful!” he said. “I don’t feel like standing +too much! I am rather ugly just now.”</p> + +<p>“That’s right, and you have been the only one who +has shown anything like ugliness at any time during +the trip. You seem to want to put the blame of any +mistake onto Merry, while it is all of us——”</p> + +<p>“Say, drop it!” commanded Frank, sharply. “This +is no time to quarrel. Those mountain are close at +hand, I am sure, and a last grim pull will take us to +them. We will find water there, for you know we +were told about the water holes in the Desert Range.”</p> + +<p>“Those water holes will not be easy to find.”</p> + +<p>“I have full directions for finding them. After we +get a square drink, we’ll feel better, and there’ll be no +inclination to quarrel.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, water! water!” murmured Browning; “how +I’d like to let about a quart gurgle down past my +Adam’s apple!”</p> + +<p>“Um, um!” muttered Rattleton, lifting one hand to +his throat. “Why do you suppose a fellow’s larynx +is called his Adam’s apple?”</p> + +<p>“Nothing could be more appropriate,” declared +Bruce, soberly, “for when Adam ate the apple he got it +in the neck.”</p> + +<p>Something like a cackling laugh came from Harry’s +parched lips.</p> + +<p>Diamond gave an exclamation of disgust.</p> + +<p>“This is a nice time to joke!” he grated, fiercely.</p> + +<p>“The matter with you,” said Rattleton, “is that +you’ve not got over thinking of Lona Ayer, whom you +were mashed on. You’ve been grouchy ever since you +and Merry came back from your wild expedition into +the forbidden Valley of Bethsada. It’s too bad, +Jack——”</p> + +<p>“Shut up, will you! I’ve heard enough about that!”</p> + +<p>“Drop it, Harry,” commanded Frank, warningly. +“You’ve worn it out. Forget it.”</p> + +<p>“Great Scott!” grunted Browning. “I believe my +bicycle is heavier than the dealer represented it to be.”</p> + +<p>“Think so?” asked Rattleton.</p> + +<p>“Sure.”</p> + +<p>“Then give it a weigh.”</p> + +<p>Browning’s wheel gave a sudden wobble that nearly +threw him off.</p> + +<p>“Don’t!” he gasped. “It’s not original. You +swiped it from the very same paper that had my +Adam’s apple joke in it.”</p> + +<p>“Well, it was simply a case of retaliation.”</p> + +<p>“I’d rather have a case of beer. Oh, say!—a case +of beer! I wouldn’t do a thing to a case of beer—not +a thing! Oh, just to think of sitting in the old room +at Traeger’s or Morey’s and drinking all the beer or +ale a fellow could pour down his neck! It makes me +faint!”</p> + +<p>“You should not permit yourself to think of such a +thing as beer,” said Frank, jokingly. “You know +beer will make you fat.”</p> + +<p>“Don’t care; I’d drink it if it made me so fat I +couldn’t walk. I’d train down, you know. Dumbbells, +punchin’ bag, and so forth.”</p> + +<p>“Speaking of the punching bag,” said Frank, “makes +me think of a good thing on Reggy Stevens. You +know Stevens. He’s near-sighted. Goes in for athletics, +and takes great delight in the fancy manner in +which he can hammer the bag. Well, he went down +into the country to see his cousin last spring. Some +time during the winter his cousin had found a big hornets’ +nest in the woods, and had cut it down and taken +it home. He hung it up in the garret. First day +Stevens was there he wandered up into the garret and +saw the hornets’ nest hanging in the dim light. ‘Ho!’ +said Reggy. ‘Didn’t know cousin had a punching bag. +Glad I found it. I’ll toy with it a little.’ Then he +threw off his coat and made a rush at that innocent looking +ball. With his first blow he drove his fist +clean through the nest. ‘Holy smoke!’ gasped Reggy; +‘what have I struck?’ Then the hornets came pouring +out, for the nest was not a deserted one. They saw +Reggy—and went him several better. Say, fellows, +they didn’t do a thing to poor Reggy! About five hundred +made for him, and it seemed to Reggy that at +least four hundred and ninety-nine of them got him. +His howls started shingles off the roof of that old +house and knocked several bricks out of the chimney. +He fell down the stairs, and went plunging through the +house, with a string of hornets trailing after him, like +a comet’s tail. The hornets did not confine themselves +strictly to Reggy; some of them sifted off and +got in their work on Reggy’s cousin, aunt, uncle, the +kitchen girl, the hired man, and one of them made for +the dog. The dog thought that hornet was a fly, and +snapped at it. One second later that dog joined in the +general riot, and the way he swore and yelled fire in +dog language was something frightful to hear. Reggy +didn’t stop till he got outside and plunged his head into +the old-fashioned watering trough, where he held it under +the surface till he was nearly drowned. The +whole family was a sight. And Reggy—well, he’s +had the swelled head ever since.”</p> + +<p>Rattleton laughed and Bruce managed to smile, +while Toots gave a cracked “Yah, yah!” but Diamond +failed to show that he appreciated the story in the least.</p> + +<p>However, it soon became evident that the spirits of +the lads had been lightened somewhat, and they pedaled +onward straight for the grim mountains which had +seemed so near for the last two hours.</p> + +<p>The sun poured its stifling heat down on the great +desert, where nothing save an occasional clump of sage +brush could be seen.</p> + +<p>Heat shimmered in the air, and it was not strange +that the young cyclists were disheartened and ready to +give up in despair.</p> + +<p>Suddenly a cry came from Diamond.</p> + +<p>“Look!” he shouted. “Look to the south! Why +haven’t we seen it before? We’re blind. Water, +water!”</p> + +<p>They looked, and, at a distance of less than a mile it +seemed they could see a beautiful lake of water, with +trees on the distant shore. The reflection of the trees +showed in the mirror-like surface of the blue lake.</p> + +<p>“Come on!” hoarsely cried Jack, as he turned his +wheel southward. “I’ll be into that water up to my +neck in less than ten minutes!”</p> + +<p>“Stop!” shouted Merriwell.</p> + +<p>Jack did not seem to hear. If he heard, he did not +heed the command. He was bending far over the +handlebars and using all his energy to send his wheel +spinning toward the beautiful lake.</p> + +<p>“I must stop him!” cried Frank. “It is a race for +life!”</p> + +<p>Frank forgot that a short time before Jack Diamond +had accused him of leading them all to their doom by +inducing them to attempt to cross the barren waste—he +forgot everything save that his comrade was in +danger.</p> + +<p>No, he did not forget everything. He knew what +that race meant. It might exhaust them both and +render them unable to ride their wheels over the few +remaining miles of barren desert between them and +the mountain range. When Diamond learned the +dreadful, heart-sickening truth about that beautiful +lake of water it might rob his heart of courage and +hope so that he would drop in despair and give himself +up to death in the desert.</p> + +<p>Frank would save him—he must save him! He +felt a personal responsibility for the lives of every one +of the party, and he had resolved that all should return +to New Haven in safety.</p> + +<p>“Stop, Jack!” he shouted again.</p> + +<p>But the sight of that beautiful lake had made +Diamond mad with a longing to plunge into the water, +to splash in it, to drink his fill till not another swallow +could he force down his throat.</p> + +<p>Madly he sent his wheel flying over the sandy plain, +panting, gasping, furious to reach the lake.</p> + +<p>How beautiful the water looked! How cool and +inviting was the shade of the trees on the other shore! +Oh, he would go around there and rest beneath those +trees.</p> + +<p>Frank bent forward over the handlebars, muttering:</p> + +<p>“Ride now as you never rode before!”</p> + +<p>The wheel seemed to leap away like a thing of life—it +flew as if it possessed wings.</p> + +<p>But Frank did not gain as swiftly as he desired, for +Diamond, also, was using all his energy to send his +bicycle along.</p> + +<p>“Faster! faster!” panted Frank.</p> + +<p>Faster and faster he flew along. The hot breath of +the desert beat on his face as if it came rushing from +the mouth of a furnace. It seemed to scorch him. +Fine particles of sand whipped up and stung his flesh.</p> + +<p>He heard a strange laugh—a wild laugh.</p> + +<p>“Heaven pity him!” thought Frank, knowing that +laugh came from Jack’s lips. “The sight of that +ghostly lake has nearly turned his brain with joy. I +fear he will go mad, indeed, when he knows the truth.”</p> + +<p>On sped pursued and pursuer, and the latter was +still gaining. Frank Merriwell had engaged in many +contests of skill and endurance, but never in one where +more was at stake. His success in overtaking his +friend meant the saving of a human life—perhaps two +lives.</p> + +<p>Now he was gaining swiftly, and something like a +prayer of thankfulness came from his lips.</p> + +<p>Once more he cried out to the lad in advance, but it +seemed that Diamond’s ears were dumb, for he made +no sound that told he heard.</p> + +<p>One last spurt—Frank felt that it must bring him +to Diamond’s side. He gathered himself, his feet +clinging to the flying pedals as if fastened there.</p> + +<p>A slip, a fall, a miscalculation might mean utter failure, +and failure might mean death for Diamond.</p> + +<p>Now Frank was close behind his friend. He could +hear the whirring sound of the spokes of Diamond’s +wheel cutting the air, and he could hear the hoarse, +panting breathing of his friend.</p> + +<p>A steady hand guided Merriwell’s wheel alongside +that of his friend; a steady and a strong hand fell on +the shoulder of the lad who had been crazed by the alluring +vision of the lake in the desert.</p> + +<p>“Stop, Jack!”</p> + +<p>Diamond turned toward his friend a face from +which a pair of glaring eyes looked out. His lips +curled back from his white teeth, and he snarled:</p> + +<p>“Hands off! Don’t try to hold me back! Can’t you +see it, you fool! The lake—the lake!”</p> + +<p>“There is no lake!”</p> + +<p>“Yes, there is! You are blind! See it!”</p> + +<p>“Stop, Jack! I tell you there is no lake!”</p> + +<p>Frank tried to check his friend, but Diamond made +a swinging blow at him, which Merriwell managed to +stop.</p> + +<p>“Wait—listen a moment!” entreated Frank.</p> + +<p>But the belief that a lake of water lay a short distance +away had completely driven anything like reason +from Diamond’s head.</p> + +<p>“Hands off!” he shouted. “If you try to stop me +you’ll be sorry!”</p> + +<p>Frank saw he must resort to desperate measures. +He secured a firm grip on the shoulder of the young +Virginian, and, a moment later, gave a surge that +caused them both to fall from their wheels.</p> + +<p>Over and over they rolled, and then lay in a limp +heap on the desert, where the earth was hot and baked +and the sun beat down with a fierce parching heat.</p> + +<p>Diamond was the first to stir, and he tried to scramble +up, his one thought being to mount his wheel +again and ride onward toward the shimmering lure.</p> + +<p>Frank seemed to realize this, for he caught at his +friend, grasped him and held him fast.</p> + +<p>Then there was a furious struggle there on the +desert, Diamond making a mad effort to break away, +but being held by Frank, who would not let him go.</p> + +<p>The eyes of both lads glared and their teeth were +set. Frank tried to force Diamond down and hold +him, but Jack had the strength of an insane person, +and, time after time, he flung his would-be benefactor +off.</p> + +<p>The eyes of the young Virginian were red and +bloodshot, while his lips were cracked and bleeding. +His cap was gone, and his straight dark hair fell in a +tousled mass over his forehead.</p> + +<p>Occasionally muttered words came from Diamond’s +lips, but the other was silent, seeming to realize that +he must conquer the mad fellow by sheer strength +alone.</p> + +<p>So they fought on, their efforts growing weaker and +weaker, gasping for breath. Seeing that fierce struggle, +no one could have imagined they were anything +but the most deadly enemies, battling for their very +lives.</p> + +<p>At last, after some minutes, Diamond’s fictitious +strength suddenly gave out, and then Frank handled +and held him with ease. Merriwell pinned Jack down +and held him there, while both remained motionless, +gasping for breath and seeking to recover from their +frightful exertions.</p> + +<p>“You fool!” whispered the Virginian, bitterly. +“What are you trying to do?”</p> + +<p>“Trying to save your life, but you have given me a +merry hustle for it,” answered Frank.</p> + +<p>“Save my life! Bah! Why have you stopped me +when we were so near the lake.”</p> + +<p>“There is no lake.”</p> + +<p>“Are you blind? All of us could see the lake! It is +near—very near!”</p> + +<p>“I tell you, Jack, there is no lake.”</p> + +<p>“You lie!”</p> + +<p>“You have been crazed by what you fancied was +water. Some time you will ask my pardon for your +words.”</p> + +<p>“You will ask my pardon for stopping me in this +manner, Frank Merriwell! You did it because I was +the first to discover the lake! You were jealous! +You did not wish me to reach it first! I know you! +You want to be the leader in everything.”</p> + +<p>“If you were not half crazy now, you would not +utter such words, Jack.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I know you—I know!”</p> + +<p>Then Diamond’s tone and manner suddenly +changed and he began to beg:</p> + +<p>“Please let me up, Merry—please do! Oh, merciful +heaven! I am perishing for a swallow of water! +And it is so near! There is water enough for ten +thousand men! And such beautiful trees, where the +shadows are so cool—where this accursed sun can’t +pour down on one’s head! Please let me up, Frank! +I’ll do anything for you if you’ll only let me go to +that lake!”</p> + +<p>“Jack, dear old fellow, I am telling you the truth +when I say there is no lake. There could be no lake +here in this burning desert. It is an impossibility. +If there were such a lake, the ones I asked about the +water-holes would have told me.”</p> + +<p>“They did not know. I have seen it, and I know +it is there.”</p> + +<p>Frank allowed his friend to sit up.</p> + +<p>“Look, Jack,” he said; “where is your lake?”</p> + +<p>Jack looked away to the south, the east, the north, +and then toward the west, where lay the mountains.</p> + +<p>There was no lake in sight.</p> + +<h2 class='chapter' id='clink02'><a href='#toc'>CHAPTER II.—ON TO THE MOUNTAINS.</a></h2> + +<p>“Where—where has it gone?” slowly and painfully +asked Diamond. “I am sure I saw it—sure! The +lake, the trees, all gone!”</p> + +<p>“I told you there was no lake.”</p> + +<p>“Then—then it must have been a mirage!”</p> + +<p>“That is exactly what it was.”</p> + +<p>With a deep groan of despair Diamond fell back +limply on the sand, as if the last bit of strength and +hope had gone from him.</p> + +<p>“This ends it!” he gasped. “What’s the use of +struggling any more! We may as well give up right +here and die!”</p> + +<p>“Not much!” cried Merriwell, with attempted cheerfulness. +“That is why I ran you down and dragged +you from your wheel.”</p> + +<p>“What do you mean?”</p> + +<p>“I knew the mirage might lure you on and on into +the desert, seeming to flee before you, till at last it +would vanish in a mocking manner, and you, utterly +exhausted and spirit-broken, would lie down and die +without another effort.”</p> + +<p>Jack was silent a few moments.</p> + +<p>“And you did all this for me?” he finally asked. +“You pursued and pulled me from my wheel to—to +save me?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>Another brief silence.</p> + +<p>“Frank.”</p> + +<p>“Well, Jack?”</p> + +<p>“I was mad.”</p> + +<p>“You looked it.”</p> + +<p>“My thirst—the sight of what I took to be water—the +shadows of the trees! Ah, yes, I was mad, +Frank!”</p> + +<p>“Well, it’s all over now.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, it is all over. The jig’s up!”</p> + +<p>“Nonsense! Get a brace on, old man. We must +get to the mountains. It is our only chance, Jack.”</p> + +<p>“The mountains! I shall never reach the mountains, +Frank. I am done for—played out!”</p> + +<p>“That’s all rot, old fellow! You are no more played +out than I am. We are both pretty well used up, but +we’ll pull through to the mountains and get a drink of +water.”</p> + +<p>“You never give up.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I try never to give up.”</p> + +<p>“Frank, I want you to forgive me for what I said +before we saw the mirage. You know I was making +a kick.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, never mind that! It’s all right, Jack.”</p> + +<p>“I want you to say you forgive me.”</p> + +<p>“That’s dead easy. Of course I forgive you. Think +I’m a stiff to hold a grudge over a little matter like +that?”</p> + +<p>Diamond looked his admiration from his bloodshot +eyes.</p> + +<p>“You’re all right, Merry,” he hoarsely declared. +“You always were all right. I knew it all along. +Sometimes I get nasty, for I have a jealous nature, although +I try to hold it in check. I never did try to +hold myself in check in any way till I knew you and +saw how you controlled your tastes and passions. +That was a revelation to me, Merry. You know I +hated you at first, but I came to admire you, despite +myself. I have admired you ever since. Sometimes +the worst side of my nature will crop out, but I always +know I am wrong. Forgive me for striking you.”</p> + +<p>“There, there, old chap! Why are you thinking of +such silly things? You are talking as if you had done +me a deadly wrong, and this was your last chance to +square yourself.”</p> + +<p>“It is my last chance—I am sure of that. I am +played out, and I can’t drive that wheel farther. It’s +no use—I throw up the sponge right here.”</p> + +<p>A look of determination came to Frank’s face.</p> + +<p>“You shall not do anything of the kind!” he cried. +“I won’t have it, Jack!”</p> + +<p>Diamond did not reply, but lay limp on the ground. +Frank put a firm hand on his shoulder, saying:</p> + +<p>“Come, Jack, make a bluff at it.”</p> + +<p>“No use!”</p> + +<p>“I tell you it is! Come on. We can reach the +mountains within an hour.”</p> + +<p>“The mountains!” came huskily from Diamond’s +lips. “God knows if there are any mountains! They, +too, may be a mirage!”</p> + +<p>“No! no!”</p> + +<p>“Think—think how long we have been riding +toward them and still they seemed to remain as far +away as they were hours ago.”</p> + +<p>“That is one of the peculiar effects of the air out +here.”</p> + +<p>“I do not believe any of us will reach the mountains. +And if we should, we might not find water. +Those mountains look baked and barren.”</p> + +<p>“Remember, I was told how to find water there.”</p> + +<p>But this did not give the disheartened boy courage.</p> + +<p>“I know you were told, but the man who told you +said that at times that water failed. It’s no use, +Frank, the game is not worth the candle.”</p> + +<p>Then it was that Merriwell began to grow angry.</p> + +<p>“I am ashamed of you, Diamond!” he harshly cried. +“I did think you were built of better stuff! Where is +your backbone! Come, man, you must make another +try!”</p> + +<p>“Must?” came rather defiantly from Jack. “I’ll not +be forced to do it!”</p> + +<p>“Yes, you will!”</p> + +<p>The Virginian looked at Frank in astonishment.</p> + +<p>“What do you mean?” he asked.</p> + +<p>“I mean that you will brace up and attempt to reach +the mountains with the rest of us, or I’ll give you the +blamedest licking you ever had—and there won’t be +any apologies afterward, either!”</p> + +<p>That aroused Jack somewhat.</p> + +<p>“You—you wouldn’t do that—now?” he faltered.</p> + +<p>“Wouldn’t I?” cried Frank, seeming to make preparations +to carry out his threat. “Well, you’ll see!”</p> + +<p>“But—but——”</p> + +<p>“There are no buts about it! Either you get up and +make one more struggle, or I’ll have the satisfaction +of knowing you are not in condition to make a struggle +when I leave you. This is business, and it’s straight +from the shoulder!”</p> + +<p>Diamond remonstrated weakly, but Frank seemed +in sober earnest.</p> + +<p>“I believe it would do you good,” he declared. “It +would beat a little sense into you. It’s what you want, +anyway.”</p> + +<p>A sense of shame came over Jack.</p> + +<p>“If you’ve got enough energy to give me a licking, I +ought to have enough to make another try for life,” +he huskily said.</p> + +<p>“Of course you have.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I’ll do it. It isn’t because I fear the licking, +for that wouldn’t make any difference now, but I can +make another try for it, if you can.”</p> + +<p>Frank dragged the other boy to his feet, and then +picked up their fallen wheels. Jack was so weak that +he could scarcely stand, seeming to have been quite exhausted +by his last furious struggle with the boy who +had raced across the desert sands to save his life. +Twice Frank caught him and kept him from falling.</p> + +<p>“What’s the use?” Diamond hoarsely whispered. “I +tell you I can’t keep in the saddle!”</p> + +<p>“And I tell you that you must! There are the other +fellows, coming this way. I will signal them to ride +toward the mountains, and we will join them.”</p> + +<p>Frank made the signal, and the others understood, +for they soon turned toward the mountains again.</p> + +<p>Then Merriwell aided Jack in mounting and getting +started, mounting himself after that, and hurrying +after the Virginian, whose wheel was making a very +crooked track across the sand.</p> + +<p>When it was necessary Frank supported Jack with a +hand on the arm of the dark-faced lad, speaking encouraging +words into his ear, urging him on.</p> + +<p>And thus they rode toward the barren-looking +Desert Range, where they must find water or death.</p> + +<p>They came to the mountains at last, when the burning +sun was hanging a ball of fire in the western sky. +From a distance Merriwell had singled out Split Peak, +which had served as his guide. At the foot of Split +Peak were two water-holes, one on the east and one on +the south.</p> + +<p>First Frank sought for the eastern water-hole, and +he found it.</p> + +<p>But it was dry!</p> + +<p>Dry, save for the slightest indication of moisture in +the sand at the bottom of the hole.</p> + +<p>“I told you so!” gasped Diamond, as he fell to the +ground in hopeless exhaustion. “There is no water +here.”</p> + +<p>“Wait,” said Frank, hoarsely. “We’ll see if we +can find some. Come, boys; we must scoop out the +sand down there in the hole—we must dig for our +lives.”</p> + +<p>“By golly!” said Toots; “dis nigger’s reddy teh dig +a well fo’ty foot deep, if he can fine about fo’ swallers +ob wattah.”</p> + +<p>“A well!” muttered Rattleton. “We’ll sink a shaft +here!”</p> + +<p>“Well, I don’t know!” murmured Browning.</p> + +<p>So they went to work, two of them digging at a +time, and, with their hands, they scooped out the sand +down in the water-hole. As they worked a little +dirty water began to trickle into the hole.</p> + +<p>“Yum! yum!” muttered Toots, his eyes shining. +“Nebber saw muddy wattah look so good befo’! I +done fink I can drink ’bout a barrel ob dat stuff!”</p> + +<p>They worked until quite exhausted, and then waited +impatiently for the water to run into the hole. It rose +with disheartening slowness, but rise it did.</p> + +<p>When he could do so, Frank dipped up some of the +water with his drinking cup and gave it to Jack first +of all.</p> + +<p>Diamond’s hands shook so with eagerness that he +nearly spilled the water, and he greedily turned it down +his parched throat at a gulp.</p> + +<p>“Merciful goodness! how sweet!” he gasped. “More, +Frank—more!”</p> + +<p>“Wait a bit, my boy. You have had the first drink +from this hole. The others must take their turn now. +When it comes around to you again, you shall have +more.”</p> + +<p>“But there may not be enough to go around!” Jack +almost snarled. “What good do you think a little like +that can do a fellow who is dying of thirst? I must +have more—now!”</p> + +<p>“Well, you can’t have another drop till the others +have taken their turn—not a taste!”</p> + +<p>When Frank spoke like that he meant what he said, +and Jack knew it. But the little water he had received +had maddened Diamond almost as much as had +the mirage. As Frank turned toward the water-hole, +Jack started to spring upon him, crying:</p> + +<p>“We’ll see!”</p> + +<p>“Hold on!” said Browning, as one of his hands went +out and grasped Diamond. “I wouldn’t do that. +You are excited. I reckon I’ll have to sit on you, +while you cool off.”</p> + +<p>Then the big fellow took Jack down, and actually +sat on him, while the Virginian raved like a maniac.</p> + +<p>“Poor fellow!” said Frank, pityingly. “He has almost +lost his reason by what he has passed through.”</p> + +<p>One by one the others received some of the water, +and then it came Jack’s turn once more. By this time +he was silent, but there was a sullen light in his eyes. +When Frank passed him the water in the drinking cup +he shook his head, and refused to take it.</p> + +<p>“No!” he muttered. “I won’t have it! Drink it all +up! You don’t care anything about me! Let me +die!”</p> + +<p>“Well, hang a fool!” snorted Browning, in great +disgust.</p> + +<p>“Say, jes’ yo’ pass dat wattah heah, Marser Frank, +an’ see if dis coon’ll refuse teh let it percolate down +his froat!”</p> + +<p>“Yes, give it to Toots!” grated Diamond. “You +think more of him than you do of me, anyway! Give +it to him!”</p> + +<p>“Don’t chool with that fump—I mean don’t fool +with that chump!” snapped Rattleton. “Let him have +his own way! He’s got a bug in his head; that’s what +ails him.”</p> + +<p>“Let him alone, Bruce,” said Frank, quietly. “I +want to talk to him.”</p> + +<p>“He struck at you behind your back.”</p> + +<p>“Never mind; he won’t do so again.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, you don’t know!” muttered Diamond.</p> + +<p>“Yes, I do,” declared Frank, with confidence.</p> + +<p>“Never mind us, fellows. I want a little quiet talk +with Jack.”</p> + +<p>They understood him, and the two lads were left +alone.</p> + +<h2 class='chapter' id='clink03'><a href='#toc'>CHAPTER III.—THE SKELETON.</a></h2> + +<p>Frank began talking to Diamond in a smooth, pleasant +way, appealing to his sense of justice. At first +Jack turned away, as if he did not care to listen, but +he heard every word, and he was affected.</p> + +<p>“You are not yourself, old fellow,” said Frank, +softly, placing his hand gently on Diamond’s shoulder. +“If you were yourself you would not be like this. It +is the burning desert, the blazing sun, the frightful +thirst—these have made you unlike yourself. I don’t +mind anything you have said about me, Jack, for I +know you are my friend, and you would not think of +saying such things under ordinary circumstances. A +little while ago, away out on the desert, you told me +that much. It was then that reason came back to you +for a little while. Knowing how you have suffered, I +gave you the first drink from this water-hole. The +water ran in slowly, and I did not know that there +would be enough to go around twice. You were not +the only one who had suffered from thirst, but the +others made no objection to your having the first +drink—they wanted you to have it. But it was necessary +that they should have some of the water, so that +all of us would be in condition to search for the other +water-hole. Surely, old fellow, you see the common +sense of this. And now, Jack, look—the water has +cleared, and more is running into the hole. It will +quench your thirst, and you will be yourself again. +You are my friend, and I am yours. We stand ready +to fight for each other at any time. If one of my enemies +were to try to get at me behind my back, why, +you would——”</p> + +<p>“Strangle the infernal cur!” shouted Diamond. +“Give me that water, Frank! You are all right, and +I’m all wrong! Just let me have a chance to fight for +you, and see if I don’t fight as long as there is a drop +of blood in my body!”</p> + +<p>Merriwell had conquered, but he showed no sign of +triumph, although he quietly said:</p> + +<p>“I knew all the while, dear old fellow; in fact, I believe +I know you better than you know yourself.”</p> + +<p>Then, when the others came up, ready to jolly Diamond +about refusing to drink, Frank checked them +with a gesture.</p> + +<p>Jack felt better when he had taken a second drink +of water. As water had risen in the hole, all the boys +were able to get another round, and the spirits of all +of them were raised.</p> + +<p>“I believe we have some hard bread and jerked beef, +haven’t we, Merry?” asked Browning.</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“Well, we are all right, then. Can’t knock us out +now. All I need is a good chance to rest.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, you need rest!” nodded Rattleton. “You always +need that. You can take more rest and not complain +than any fellow I ever saw.”</p> + +<p>“Young man,” said Bruce, loftily, “it won’t work. +I refuse to let you get me on a string, so drop it.”</p> + +<p>“You’ll be lucky if you get out of this part of the +country without getting on a string with the other end +hitched to the limb of a tree.”</p> + +<p>“That reminds me,” drawled Bruce; “at the last +town where we stopped I asked a citizen if there were +any horse thieves in that locality, and he said there +were two of ’em hanging around there the night before.”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” nodded Harry, “that was the place where +they said they were going to stop lynching if they had +to hang every durned lyncher they could catch.”</p> + +<p>“Boys,” laughed Merriwell, “we are all right. +When you chaps get to springing those things I feel +there is no further danger. We’ll pull out all right.”</p> + +<p>“Suttinly, sar,” grinned Toots. “I’s gwan teh bet +mah money on dis crowd ebry time, chilluns. We’s +hot stuff, an’ dar ain’t nuffin’ gwan teh stop us dis side +ob San Francisco—no, sar!”</p> + +<p>Finally, refreshed and filled with new hope, the boys +mounted their wheels and started to seek for the second +water-hole.</p> + +<p>Frank led the way, and they turned to the south, riding +along the base of some barren cliffs.</p> + +<p>“Are you sure we’ll be able to find our way back to +the water-hole we have left if we fail to discover the +other one?” asked Rattleton.</p> + +<p>“I am taking note of everything, and I do not think +there will be any difficulty,” answered Frank.</p> + +<p>They had proceeded in this manner for about two +miles when they saw before them a place where the +barren cliffs opened into a pass that seemed to lead +into the mountains.</p> + +<p>“There is our road!” cried Merriwell, cheerfully. +“It should lead us straight to the second water-hole.”</p> + +<p>“Yah! yah!” laughed Toots. “Cayarn’t fool dat +boy, chilluns! He knows his business, yo’ bet! Won’t +s’prise me a bit if he teks us stret to a resyvoyer—no, +sar!”</p> + +<p>They made for the pass, and, in a burst of energy, +the colored boy spurted to the front, taking the lead.</p> + +<p>Of a sudden, as they approached a point where the +bluffs narrowed till they were close together, the negro +gave a sudden wild howl of terror, tried to turn his +wheel about and went plunging headlong to the +ground.</p> + +<p>“Wow!” gasped Rattleton. “What’s struck him?”</p> + +<p>“Something is the matter with him, sure as fate,” +said Frank.</p> + +<p>Toots was seen to sit up and stare toward the wall +of stone, while it was plain that he was shaking as if +struck by an attack of ague. Then he tried to scramble +up, but fell on his knees, with his hands clasped +and uplifted in a supplicating attitude, while he wildly +cried:</p> + +<p>“Go ’way, dar, good Mr. Debbil! I ain’t done nuffin’ +teh yo’! Please don’ touch me! I’s nuffin’ but a +po’ good-fo’-nuffin’ nigger, an’ I ain’t wuff bodderin’ +wif—no, sar! Dar am some white boys wif me, an’ +I guess yo’ll lek them a heap sight better. Jes’ yo’ +tek one of them, good Mr. Debbil!”</p> + +<p>“Has he gone daffy, too?” muttered Frank, in astonishment.</p> + +<p>Then the boys came whirling up and sprang from +their wheels, at which Toots made a scramble for +Frank, caught hold of his knees, and chatteringly +cried:</p> + +<p>“Don’ yeh let him kerry me off, Marser Frank! I +knows yo’ ain’t afeared of nuffin’, so I wants yeh ter +protect po’ Toots from de debbil wif de fiery eyes!”</p> + +<p>But Frank was so astonished that he scarcely heard +a word the colored boy uttered.</p> + +<p>Seated on a block of stone in a niche of the wall was +a human skeleton. It was sitting bolt upright and +seemed to be staring at the boys with eyes that flashed +a hundred shades of light.</p> + +<p>“Poly hoker—no, holy poker!” palpitated Harry, +leaning hard on his wheel. “What have we struck?”</p> + +<p>For a time the others were speechless.</p> + +<p>Wonderfully and fantastically was the skeleton decorated. +On its head was a rude crown that seemed to +be of glittering gold, while gold bracelets adorned its +arms. About the fleshless neck was a chain of gold, +to which a large locket was attached, and across the +ribs was strung a gold watch-chain, while there were +other fantastic and costly ornaments dangling over +those bones of a human being.</p> + +<p>The eyes of the skeleton, flashing so many different +lights, seemed to be two huge diamonds of enormous +value.</p> + +<p>No wonder the young cyclists stared in astonishment +at the marvelously bejeweled skeleton!</p> + +<p>“Well,” drawled Browning, with his usual nonchalance, +“the gentleman seems to have dressed up in his +best to receive us. Some one must have sent him +word we were coming.”</p> + +<p>Toots, seeing the others did not seem frightened, +had got on his feet and picked up his bicycle.</p> + +<p>“Goodness!” muttered Diamond. “If all those +decorations are solid gold, there is a small fortune in +sight!”</p> + +<p>“What is the meaning of this, Frank?” asked Rattleton. +“How do you suppose this skeleton happens +to be here?”</p> + +<p>“Ask me something easy,” said Merriwell, shaking +his head.</p> + +<p>“The skeleton must have been decorated in that manner +by some living person,” asserted Rattleton.</p> + +<p>“But where is that person?”</p> + +<p>“Not here, that is sure.”</p> + +<p>“It may be a warning,” said Jack, gloomily.</p> + +<p>“Warning, nothing!” exclaimed Frank. “It is plain +the thing has been left there by some person, and we +are the discoverers. It must be that the skeleton is +that of some poor devil who perished here for want +of water.”</p> + +<p>“And it may be that the one who placed it there perished +also,” said Rattleton.</p> + +<p>“Very likely.”</p> + +<p>“In which case,” came eagerly from Jack’s lips, “all +that treasure belongs to us! Boys, it is a wonderful +stroke of fortune! We have made enough to take the +whole of us through Yale, and——”</p> + +<p>“If we ever get back to Yale, old fellow! This unfortunate +fellow perished here, and our fate may be +similar.”</p> + +<p>“Boo!” shivered Browning. “That’s pleasant to +think about!”</p> + +<p>“More than that,” Frank went on, “the treasure +does not belong to us if we can find the real owner or +his heirs.”</p> + +<p>The excitement and interest of the boys was great. +They were eager to examine the decorations of the +mysterious skeleton.</p> + +<p>“We’ll stack our wheels, and then one of us can +climb up and make an inspection,” said Frank.</p> + +<p>So they proceeded to stack their wheels, Toots observing:</p> + +<p>“Yo’ can fool wif dat skillerton if yo’ wants to, chilluns, +but dis nigger’s gwan teh keep right away from +it. Bet fo’ dollars it will jest reach out dem arms and +grab de firs’ one dat gits near it. Wo-oh! Land ob +wartermillions! it meks me have de fevah an’ chillins +jes’ to fink ob it!”</p> + +<p>“We’ll draw lots to see who goes up,” said Frank, +winking at the others. “You will have to go if it falls +to you, Toots.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, mah goodness!” gasped the frightened darky. +“I ain’t gwan teh draw no lots, Marser Frank—no, +sar! I’s got a po’erful bad case ob heart trouble, an’ +mah doctah hab reckermended dat I don’t fool roun’ +no skillertons. He said it might result distrus if I +boddered wif skillertons.”</p> + +<p>“What’s that?” cried Frank, sternly. “Would you +drink your share of water when water is so precious +and not take even chances with the rest of us in any +danger?”</p> + +<p>“Now, Marser Frank!” cried the darky, appealingly; +“don’ go fo’ to be too hard on a po’ nigger! +De trubble wif me is dat I’m jes’ a nacheral bo’n +coward, an’ I can’t git over hit nohow. Dat’s what +meks mah heart turn flip-flops ebry time dar’s any +dangar, sar.”</p> + +<p>“But think of the treasure up there that we have +found. If it should fall to you to investigate, and you +were to bring down that treasure, of course you would +receive your share, the same as the rest of us.”</p> + +<p>“Lawd bress yeh, honey! I don’ want no treasure +if I’ve goter go an’ fotch hit down. I’d a heap sight +rudder nebber hab no treasure dan git wifin reachin’ +distance of dat skillerton—yes, sar!”</p> + +<p>“Don’t fool with him, Merry,” said Diamond, impatiently. +“Of course you don’t expect to send him +up, and you won’t think of giving him any part of the +treasure.”</p> + +<p>Frank flashed a look at the Virginian, and saw that +Jack was in earnest.</p> + +<p>“You are mistaken, old man,” he said. “I do not +expect Toots to go up there, but, if there is a real +treasure and it is divided, you may be sure he will +receive his share.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, well!” cried Jack, somewhat taken aback; “of +course I don’t care what you do about that, but I +thought you were in earnest about what you were +saying.”</p> + +<p>“The trouble with you,” muttered Rattleton, speaking +so low that Jack could not hear him, “is that you +never see through a joke.”</p> + +<p>“Come,” spoke Browning, “if we’ve got to take +chances to see who goes up and makes the examination, +come on. I hope to get out of it myself, but if +I must, I must.”</p> + +<p>“We need not take chances,” said Frank, promptly. +“I will go.”</p> + +<p>“It will not be difficult, for it is no climb at all,” +said Jack. “Two of us can swing ourselves up there +in a moment, and I will go with you, Merry.”</p> + +<p>Then it was that Rattleton suddenly gave a great +cry of stupefied amazement.</p> + +<p>“What’s the matter?” asked Merriwell.</p> + +<p>“Look! Look!” gasped Harry, pointing toward the +niche in the rocks. “The skeleton—it has disappeared!”</p> + +<p>They looked, and, dumb for the time with amazement +and dismay, they saw Rattleton spoke the truth.</p> + +<p>The mysterious skeleton had vanished!</p> + +<h2 class='chapter' id='clink04'><a href='#toc'>CHAPTER IV.—“INDIANS!”</a></h2> + +<p>“Gone!” cried Jack.</p> + +<p>“Sure!” nodded Frank.</p> + +<p>“Lordy massy sakes teh goose-grease!” gasped +Toots, again shivering with terror. “Didn’t I done +tole yeh, chilluns! If yo’ know when yo’ am well off, +yeh’ll git erway from heah jes’ as quick as yeh can +trabbel! Oh, mah goodness!”</p> + +<p>Shaking in every limb, the colored boy tried to get +his bicycle out from the others, lost his balance, fell +over, and sent the entire stack of wheels crashing to +the ground.</p> + +<p>“Well, this seems to be a regular sleight-of-hand +performance,” coolly commented Browning. “Now +you see it, and now you don’t; guess where it’s gone. +It drives me to a cigarette.”</p> + +<p>But he discovered that his cigarettes were gone, +which seemed to concern him far more than the vanishing +of the skeleton. He declared he had lost a whole +package, and seemed to feel quite as bad about it as if +they were solid gold.</p> + +<p>Rattleton was excited.</p> + +<p>“What sort of pocus-hocus—no, hocus-pocus is this, +anyway?” he spluttered. “Where’s it gone? Who +wayed the old thing a took. I mean who took the old +thing away?”</p> + +<p>“It couldn’t have gone away of its own accord,” +said Frank, “so some one must have removed it.”</p> + +<p>“Don’ yeh fool yo’se’f dat way, Marser Frank!” +cried Toots, sitting up amid the fallen wheels. “Dat +skillerton am de berry ol’ scratch hisse’f! De next +thing some ob dis crowd will be disumpearin’ dat way. +Gwan ter git kerried off, chilluns, if yo’ don’ git out +ob dis in a hurry.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, shut up!” snapped Diamond. “You make me +tired with your chatter!”</p> + +<p>“Mistah Dimund,” said the colored boy, with attempted +dignity, “if yo’ll let dat debbil kerry yo’ off +yo’ll nebber be missed—no, sar.”</p> + +<p>Jack pretended he did not hear those words.</p> + +<p>“Here goes to see what has become of the thing!” +cried Frank, as he scrambled up to the niche where the +skeleton had sat.</p> + +<p>“I am with you!” cried Diamond, as he followed +Frank closely.</p> + +<p>Reaching the nook in the face of the cliff, they looked +about for some sign of the skeleton that had been +there a short time before, but not a sign of it could +they see. The ghastly thing was gone, and the glittering +ornaments had vanished with it. The block of +stone on which the object had sat was still there.</p> + +<p>“Well, fat do you whind—I mean what do you +find?” cried Rattleton, impatiently.</p> + +<p>“Not a thing,” was the disgusted reply. “It has +gone, sure as fate!”</p> + +<p>“So have my cigarettes!” groaned Browning.</p> + +<p>“The treasure—is any of that there?” asked Harry, +eagerly.</p> + +<p>“Not a bit of it.”</p> + +<p>“Well, that’s what I call an unfair deal,” murmured +Bruce. “It is a blow below the belt. If the old skeleton +had desired to go away, none of us would have +objected, but it might have left the trimmings with +which it was adorned.”</p> + +<p>Frank was puzzled, and the more he investigated +the greater grew his wonder. He knew they had seen +the skeleton, yet it had vanished like fog before a +blazing sun.</p> + +<p>Jack shrugged his shoulders and shivered, saying:</p> + +<p>“There’s something uncanny about it, old man. I +believe it is a warning.”</p> + +<p>“Nonsense!” cried Frank. “What sort of a warning?”</p> + +<p>“A warning of the fate that awaits all of us.”</p> + +<p>“You are not well, Jack.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, it is not that! First we see a lake of water, +and that disappears; then we see this skeleton, and +now that has vanished. You must confess that there +is something remarkable in it all.”</p> + +<p>“The vanishing of the mirage came about in a +natural manner, but——”</p> + +<p>“But you must confess there was something decidedly +unnatural about the vanishing of the skeleton.”</p> + +<p>“It was removed by human hands—I will wager +anything on that.”</p> + +<p>“Then where is the human being who removed it?”</p> + +<p>“I don’t know.”</p> + +<p>Unable to remain below, Rattleton came climbing +up to the niche.</p> + +<p>“I’ve got to satisfy myself,” he said, as he felt +about with his hands, as if he expected to discover the +vanished skeleton in that manner. “I can’t see how +the blamed old thing could get away!”</p> + +<p>“Well, you can see quite as well as we can,” acknowledged +Frank. “It is gone, and that is all we can +tell about it.”</p> + +<p>The boys satisfied themselves that the thing had +really disappeared, and they could not begin to solve +the mystery. After a time they returned to the +ground.</p> + +<p>“It am de debbil’s work!” asserted Toots. “Don’ +yeh mek no misteks ’bout dat, chilluns.”</p> + +<p>They held a “council of war,” and it was resolved +that they should go on through the pass and try to +find the second water-hole before darkness fell.</p> + +<p>Already night was close at hand, and they must +needs lose no time.</p> + +<p>“We can come back here in the morning and see +if we’re able to solve the mystery,” said Merriwell. +“I, for one, do not feel like going away without making +another attempt at it.”</p> + +<p>“Nor I,” nodded Rattleton.</p> + +<p>“It is folly,” declared Jack, gloomily. “I say we +have been warned, and the best thing we can do is get +away as soon as possible.”</p> + +<p>“By golly! dat am de firs’ sensibul fing I’ve heard +yo’ say in fo’ days!” cried Toots, approvingly.</p> + +<p>They picked up their wheels, and soon were ready +to mount.</p> + +<p>“Here’s good-by to the vanishing skeleton for to-night,” +cried Frank.</p> + +<p>He was answered by a wild peal of mocking laughter +that seemed to run along the face of the cliff in +a most remarkable manner.</p> + +<p>“Ha! ha! ha!” it sounded, hoarsely, and “Ha! ha! +ha!” came down from the rocks, like a mystic echo.</p> + +<p>“O-oh, Lordy!”</p> + +<p>Toots made a jump for the saddle of his bicycle, +but jumped too far and went clean over the wheel, +striking his knee and turning in the air, to fall with a +thump on the back of his neck.</p> + +<p>“Mah goodness!” he gurgled, as he lay on the +ground, dazed by the shock of the fall. “De ol’ debbil +done gib meh a boost then fo’ suah!”</p> + +<p>The other lads looked at each other in perplexity.</p> + +<p>“Well, wh-wh-what do you think of that?” stammered +Rattleton.</p> + +<p>“He ought to file his voice, whoever he is,” coolly +observed Browning. “It’s a little rough along the +edges.”</p> + +<p>“It strikes me that somebody is having fun with us,” +said Merriwell, a look of displeasure on his face.</p> + +<p>“What are you going to do about it?” asked Harry.</p> + +<p>“We don’t seem able to do much of anything now. +Come on.”</p> + +<p>Toots scrambled up, and they mounted their wheels. +As they started to ride away, a hollow-sounding voice +cried:</p> + +<p>“Stop!”</p> + +<p>“Oh, riv us a guest—I mean give us a rest!” flung +back Rattleton.</p> + +<p>“Stop!” repeated the mysterious voice. “Do not +try the pass. There is danger beyond. Turn back.”</p> + +<p>“I told you it was a warning!” cried Jack. “What +do you think of it now?”</p> + +<p>“I think somebody is trying to have a lot of sport +with us!” exclaimed Frank.</p> + +<p>“Well, what are you going to do?”</p> + +<p>“Not a thing. I don’t propose to pay any attention +to it, Come on, fellows. We must have more +water, and there’s none too much time to find it before +dark.”</p> + +<p>Diamond was tempted to declare he would not go +any further, but he knew the others would stand by +Frank, and so he pedaled along.</p> + +<p>As they drew away from the spot where they had +seen the skeleton, they heard the mysterious voice +calling to them again, commanding them to stop and +turn back. Thus it continued till they had ridden on +so that it could be heard no longer.</p> + +<p>Despite himself Frank had been impressed by what +he had seen and heard, and a feeling of awe was on +him. Ahead the shadows were thick where the dark +cliffs seemed to come together, and there was something +grim and overpowering about the bare and +towering mountains that sullenly frowned down upon +the little party.</p> + +<p>The boys were silent, for they had no words to +speak. Each was busy with his thoughts, and those +thoughts were not of the most pleasant character.</p> + +<p>A feeling of heart-sickening loneliness settled down +upon them and made them long for the homes that +were so far away. What satisfaction was there, after +all, in this great ride across the continent? They had +encountered innumerable perils, and now it seemed +that they were overshadowed by the greatest peril +of all.</p> + +<p>How still it was! The mountains seemed like +crouching monsters of the great desert, waiting there +to spring upon and crush them out of existence. There +was something fearsome and frightful in their grim +air of waiting.</p> + +<p>The whirring of the wheels was a warning whisper, +or the deadly hiss of a serpent. As they passed between +the frowning bluffs, which rose on either hand, the +whirring sound seemed to become louder and louder +till it was absolutely awesome.</p> + +<p>Frank looked back, and of all the party Bruce +Browning was the only one whose face remained stolid +and impassive. It did not seem that he had been +affected in the least by what had happened.</p> + +<p>“He has wonderful nerve!” thought Merriwell.</p> + +<p>Diamond’s dark face seemed pale, and there was an +anxious look on the face of Rattleton. Toots betrayed +his excitement and fear most distinctly.</p> + +<p>Frank feared they would not get through the pass +in time to find the second water-hole, and he increased +his speed.</p> + +<p>The ground was favorable for swift riding. At that +time Merriwell thought it fortunate, but, later, he +changed his mind.</p> + +<p>Of a sudden the pass between the bluffs ended, and +they shot out into a valley or basin.</p> + +<p>A cry of astonishment and alarm came from Frank’s +lips, and he used all his energy to check and turn his +flying wheel.</p> + +<p>Before them blazed a fire, and around that fire were +gathered——</p> + +<p>“Indians!” palpitated Harry Rattleton.</p> + +<h2 class='chapter' id='clink05'><a href='#toc'>CHAPTER V.—BLUE WOLF TRIES THE BICYCLE.</a></h2> + +<p>“Indians!” echoed Jack Diamond.</p> + +<p>“Indians?” grunted Bruce Browning, astonished.</p> + +<p>“O-oh, Lordy!” gasped Toots. “Dis am whar a +nigger boy I know is gwan teh lose his scalp fo’ suah!”</p> + +<p>“Turn!” commanded Frank—“turn to the left, and +we’ll make a run to get back through the pass.”</p> + +<p>But they were seen, and the redskins about the fire +sprang to their feet with loud whoops.</p> + +<p>At the first whoop Toots gave a howl and threw up +both hands.</p> + +<p>“Don’ yo’ shoot, good Mistar Injunses!” he shouted. +“I’s jes’ a common brack nigger, an’ I ain’t no ’count +nohow. Mah scalp wouldn’ be no good teh yo’ +arter——”</p> + +<p>Then he took a header off his wobbling machine +and fell directly before Jack, whose bicycle struck his +body, and Diamond was hurled to the ground.</p> + +<p>“Stop, fellows!” cried Merriwell. “We mustn’t +run away and leave them! Come back here!”</p> + +<p>From his wheel he leaped to the ground in a moment, +running to Diamond’s side. Grasping Jack by +the arm he exclaimed:</p> + +<p>“Up, old fellow—up and onto your wheel! We +may be able to get away now! We’ll make a bluff +for it.”</p> + +<p>But it was useless, for Jack was so stunned that he +could not get on his feet, though he tried to do so.</p> + +<p>Toots was stretched at full length on the ground, +praying and begging the “good Injunses” not to +bother with his scalp, saying the hair was so crooked +that it was “no good nohow.”</p> + +<p>Up came the redskins on a run and surrounded the +boys, Bruce and Harry having turned back.</p> + +<p>Browning assumed a defensive attitude, muttering:</p> + +<p>“Well, if we’re in for a scrap, I’ll try to get a crack +at one or two of these homely mugs before I’m polished +off.”</p> + +<p>There were seven of the Indians, and nearly all of +them carried weapons in their hands. Although they +were not in war paint, they were a decidedly ugly-looking +gang, and their savage little eyes denoted anything +but friendliness.</p> + +<p>“Ugh!” grunted the tallest Indian of the party, an +old fellow with a scarred and wrinkled face.</p> + +<p>“Ugh! ugh! ugh!” grunted the others.</p> + +<p>Then they stared at the boys and their bicycles, the +latter seeming a great curiosity to them.</p> + +<p>“Well, this is a scrolly old jape—I mean a jolly old +scrape!” fluttered Rattleton. “We’re in for it!”</p> + +<p>Toots looked up, saw the Indians, uttered another +wild howl, and tried to bury his head in the sand, like +an ostrich.</p> + +<p>Frank singled out the tall Indian and spoke to him.</p> + +<p>“How do you do?” he said.</p> + +<p>“How,” returned the Indian, with dignity.</p> + +<p>“Unfortunately we did not know you were here, or +we should not have called,” explained Merriwell.</p> + +<p>The savage nodded; the single black feather in his +hair fluttering like a pennant as he did so.</p> + +<p>“Um know,” he said. “Um see white boy heap +much surprised.”</p> + +<p>“Jee! he can talk United States!” muttered Rattleton.</p> + +<p>“Talk it!” said Bruce, in disgust. “He can chew it, +that’s all.”</p> + +<p>“I trust we have not disturbed you,” said Frank, +calmly; “and we will leave you in your glory as soon +as my friend, who fell from his wheel, is able to +mount and ride.”</p> + +<p>“No, no!” quickly declared the tall Indian; “white +boy no go ’way. Injun like um heap much.”</p> + +<p>Browning lifted his cap and felt for his scalp.</p> + +<p>“It may be my last opportunity to examine it,” he +murmured.</p> + +<p>“But we are in a hurry, and we can’t stop with you, +however much we may desire to do so,” declared +Frank, glibly. “You see we are on urgent business.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, very urgent,” agreed Rattleton. “Smoly +hoke—no, holy smoke! don’t I wish I were back to +New Haven, New York, any old place!”</p> + +<p>“White boys must stop,” said the big savage. +“Black Feather say so, that settle um.”</p> + +<p>“I am afraid it does,” confessed Browning.</p> + +<p>Diamond got upon his feet, assisted by Frank.</p> + +<p>“Well,” he said, somewhat bitterly, “that is what we +have come to by failing to heed the warning we received!”</p> + +<p>“Don’t go to croaking!” snapped Rattleton. “These +Indians are peaceable. They are not on the war path.”</p> + +<p>“But they are off the reservation,” said Frank, in a +low tone; “and that is bad. They have us foul, and +there is no telling what they may take a notion to do.”</p> + +<p>“It’s pretty sure they’ll take a notion to do us,” +sighed Harry.</p> + +<p>The tall Indian, who had given his name as Black +Feather, professed great friendliness, and, when the +boys told him they had been looking for the water-hole, +he said:</p> + +<p>“Um water-hole dare by fire. Good water, heap +much of it. Come, have all water um want.”</p> + +<p>“Well, that is an inducement,” confessed Browning. +“We may be able to get a square drink before we are +scalped.”</p> + +<p>It was with no small difficulty that Toots was forced +to get up, and, after he was on his feet, he would look +at first one Indian and then dodge, and look at another, +each time gurgling:</p> + +<p>“O-oh, Lord!”</p> + +<p>And so, surrounded by the Indians, the boys moved +over to the fire, which was near the water-hole, as +Black Feather had declared.</p> + +<p>“Well, we’ll all drink,” said Frank, as he produced +his pocket cup and proceeded to fill it. “Here, fellows, +take turns.”</p> + +<p>While they were doing so the Indians were examining +their bicycles with great curiosity. It was plain +the savages had never before seen anything of the +kind, and they were filled with astonishment and mystification. +They grunted and jabbered, and then one +of them decided to get on and try one of the wheels.</p> + +<p>It happened that this one was the smallest, shortest-legged +redskin of the lot, and he selected the machine +with the highest frame.</p> + +<p>“Ugh!” he grunted. “White boy ride two-wheel +hoss, Injun him ride two-wheel hoss heap same. +Watch Blue Wolf.”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” said Browning, softly, nudging Merriwell +in the ribs with his elbow, “watch Blue Wolf, and you +will see him smash my bicycle. I sincerely hope he +will break his confounded head at the same time!”</p> + +<p>“White boy show Injun how um git on,” ordered +Blue Wolf.</p> + +<p>“Go ahead, Bruce,” directed Frank.</p> + +<p>“Oh, thunder!” groaned the big fellow. “I’m so +tired!”</p> + +<p>But he was forced to show the Indians how he +mounted the wheel, which he did, being dragged off +almost as soon as he got astride the saddle.</p> + +<p>“Ugh!” grunted Blue Wolf, with great satisfaction. +“Um heap much easy. Watch Blue Wolf.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, watch Blue Wolf!” repeated Browning. “It +will be good as a circus! Oh, my poor bicycle!”</p> + +<p>With no small difficulty the little Indian steadied +the wheel, reaching forward to grasp the handlebars +while standing behind it. The first time he lifted his +foot to place it on the step he lost his balance and fell +over with the machine.</p> + +<p>The other Indians grunted, and Blue Wolf got up, +saying something in his own language that seemed to +make the atmosphere warmer than it was before.</p> + +<p>The bicycle was lifted and held for the little Indian +to make another trial. He looked as if he longed to +kick it into a thousand pieces, but braced up, placed his +foot on the step and made a wild leap for the saddle. +He missed the saddle, struck astride the frame just back +of the handlebars, uttered a wild howl of dismay, and +went down in hopeless entanglement with the unfortunate +machine.</p> + +<p>“Wow!” howled Blue Wolf.</p> + +<p>“Oh, my poor bicycle!” groaned Browning, once +more.</p> + +<p>The fallen redman kicked the bicycle into the air, +but it promptly came down astride his neck and drove +his nose into the dirt.</p> + +<p>“Ugh!” grunted the watching Indians, solemnly.</p> + +<p>“Whoop!” roared Blue Wolf, spitting out a mouthful +of dirt.</p> + +<p>Then he made another frantic attempt to cast the +machine off, but it persisted in sticking to him in a +wonderful manner. One of his arms was thrust +through the spokes of the forward wheel to the shoulder, +and as he tried to yank it out, the rear wheel spun +around and one of the pedals gave him a terrific thump +on the top of the head.</p> + +<p>“Yah!” snarled the unlucky Indian.</p> + +<p>“Two-wheel hoss kick a heap,” observed Black +Feather.</p> + +<p>Blue Wolf tried to struggle to his feet, but he was +so entangled with the bicycle that it seemed to fling +him down with astonishing violence.</p> + +<p>Then as the noble red man kicked, and squirmed, +and struggled, the bicycle danced and pranced upon his +prostrate body like a thing of life.</p> + +<p>“O-o-oh!” wailed Blue Wolf, in pain and fear.</p> + +<p>Toots suddenly forgot his fears, and holding onto +his side, he doubled up with a wild burst of “coon” +laughter.</p> + +<p>“Oh, land ob watermillions!” he shouted. “Dat +bisuckle am knockin’ de stuffin’ out ob Mistah Injun! +Yah! yah! yah! Lordy! lordy! ’Scuse meh, but I +has ter laff if it costs me all de wool on mah haid!”</p> + +<p>Browning folded his arms, a look of intense satisfaction +on his face as he observed:</p> + +<p>“I have made a discovery that will be worth millions +of dollars to the government of the United States. +Now I know a swift and sure way of settling the Indian +question. Provide every Indian in the country +with a bicycle, and there will be no Indians left in +a week or two.”</p> + +<p>“Gamlet’s host—I mean Hamlet’s ghost!” chuckled +Rattleton, holding his hand over his mouth to keep +from shrieking with laughter. “I never saw anything +like that before!”</p> + +<p>Merriwell sprang forward and assisted Blue Wolf +in untangling himself from the wheel, fearing the bicycle +would be utterly ruined.</p> + +<p>The little Indian was badly done up. His face was +cut and bleeding in several places, and he was covered +with dirt. With some difficulty he got upon his feet, +and then he backed away from the bicycle, at which +he glared with an expression of great fear on his +countenance.</p> + +<p>“Heap bad medicine!” he observed.</p> + +<p>It seemed that the other Indians were really amused, +although they remained solemn and impassive.</p> + +<p>“Give me hatchet!” Blue Wolf suddenly snarled. +“Heap fix two-wheel hoss!”</p> + +<p>He would have made a rush for the offending wheel, +but Frank held up a hand warningly, crying:</p> + +<p>“Beware, Blue Wolf! It is in truth bad medicine, +and it will put a curse upon you if you do it harm. +Your squaw will die of hunger before another moon, +your children shall make food for the coyotes, and your +bones shall bleach on the desert! Beware!”</p> + +<p>Blue Wolf paused, dismay written on his face. He +longed to smash the bicycle, but he was convinced that +it was really “bad medicine,” and he was afraid to +injure it.</p> + +<p>“Say, that is great, old man!” enthusiastically whispered +Rattleton in Merriwell’s ear. “Keep it up.”</p> + +<p>“Blue Wolf not hurt two-wheel hoss,” declared +Black Feather, who seemed to be the chief of the little +band. “Want to see white boy ride.”</p> + +<p>“Do you mean that you want me to ride?” asked +Frank.</p> + +<p>“Ugh!”</p> + +<p>“All right,” said Frank. “I’ll show you how it is +done.”</p> + +<p>Then he motioned for the savages to stand aside.</p> + +<p>“No try to run ’way,” warned Black Feather. “Injun +shoot um.”</p> + +<p>“All right, your royal jiblets. If I try to run away +you may take a pop at me.”</p> + +<h2 class='chapter' id='clink06'><a href='#toc'>CHAPTER VI.—TRICK RIDING.</a></h2> + +<p>The Indians made room for Frank to mount and +ride.</p> + +<p>Standing beside the wheel Frank sprang into the +saddle without using the step, caught the pedals and +started.</p> + +<p>The savages gave utterance to a grunt of wonder +and admiration.</p> + +<p>Frank had practiced trick riding, and he now proposed +to exhibit his skill, feeling that it might be a +good scheme to astonish the savages.</p> + +<p>He started the bicycle into a circle, round which +he rode with the greatest ease, and then of a sudden he +passed one leg over the frame, and stood up on one +of the pedals, which he kept in motion at the same +time.</p> + +<p>The Indians nodded and looked pleased.</p> + +<p>Then Frank began to step cross-legged from pedal +to pedal, passing his feet over the cross bar of the +frame and keeping the wheel in motion all the time.</p> + +<p>A moment later he whirled about, and with his face +toward the rear, continued to pedal the bicycle ahead +the same as if he had been seated in the usual manner +on the saddle.</p> + +<p>“Heap good!” observed Black Feather.</p> + +<p>Then, like a cat Merriwell wheeled about, lifted his +feet over the handlebars to which he clung, slipped +down till he hung over the forward wheel, placed his +feet on the pedals, and rode in that manner. This made +it look as though he were dragging the bicycle along +behind him.</p> + +<p>There was a stir among the Indians, and they looked +at each other.</p> + +<p>Without stopping the bicycle, Frank swung back +over the handlebars to the saddle. Having reached +this position, he stopped suddenly, turning the forward +wheel at an angle, sitting there and gracefully +balancing on the stationary machine.</p> + +<p>“Heap much good!” declared Black Feather, growing +enthusiastic.</p> + +<p>“Oh, those little things are dead easy,” assured +Frank, with a laugh. “Do you really desire to see me +do something that is worth doing?”</p> + +<p>“What more white boy can do?”</p> + +<p>“Several things, but I’ll have to make a larger +circle.”</p> + +<p>It was growing dark swiftly now, the sun being +down and the shadows of the mountains lying dark +and gloomy in the valleys.</p> + +<p>“Go ’head,” directed Black Feather.</p> + +<p>Frank started the bicycle in motion, and then, with +it going at good speed, he swung down on one side +and slowly but neatly crept through the frame, coming +up on the other side and regaining the saddle without +stopping.</p> + +<p>“Paleface boy great medicine!” said Black Feather.</p> + +<p>“Ugh!” grunted all the Indians but Blue Wolf.</p> + +<p>The little savage was looking on in a sullen, wondering +way, astonished and angered to think the white +boy could do all those things, while he had been unable +to mount the two-wheeled horse.</p> + +<p>“How do you like that, Black Feather?” asked +Frank, cheerfully.</p> + +<p>“Much big!” confessed the chief. “Do some more.”</p> + +<p>“All right. Catch onto this.”</p> + +<p>Then away Frank sped, lifting the forward wheel +from the ground and letting it hang suspended in the +air, while he rode along on the rear wheel.</p> + +<p>“Merry is working hard enough,” said Rattleton. +“I never knew he could do so many tricks.”</p> + +<p>“There are lots of things about that fellow that none +of us know anything about,” asserted Browning, who +was no less surprised, although he did not show it.</p> + +<p>“He is a fool to work so hard to please these +wretched savages!” muttered Diamond.</p> + +<p>“Now, don’t you take Frank Merriwell for a fool in +anything!” came swiftly from Harry. “I never knew +him to make a fool of himself in all my life, and I have +seen a good deal of him.”</p> + +<p>“Well, why is he cutting up all those monkey tricks? +What will it amount to when it is all over?”</p> + +<p>“Wait and see.”</p> + +<p>“The Indians will treat us just the same as if he had +not done those things.”</p> + +<p>“Perhaps so.”</p> + +<p>“Of course they will!”</p> + +<p>“Now, Black Feather, old jiblets,” cried Frank, in +his merriest manner, “I am going to do something +else. Get onto this.”</p> + +<p>Sending the bicycle along at high speed Frank lay +over the handlebars and swung his feet into the air +till he held himself suspended in that manner, head +down and feet up.</p> + +<p>The Indians were more pleased and astonished than +ever.</p> + +<p>“Oh, it’s all in knowing how!” laughed Frank, as +he gracefully and lightly dropped back to the saddle.</p> + +<p>Again the Indians grunted.</p> + +<p>“Now, Black Feather, old chappie,” said Frank, “I +am going to do the greatest trick of all. I’ll have to +get a big start and have lots of room. Watch me +close.”</p> + +<p>Away he went, bending over the handlebars and +sending the bicycle flying over the ground. He acted +as if he intended to make a big circle, but suddenly +turned and rode straight toward the pass by which +they had entered the basin. Before the Indians could +realize his intention, he was almost out of sight in the +darkness of the young night.</p> + +<p>Howls of rage and dismay broke from the redmen. +They shouted after the boy, but he kept right on, +quickly disappearing from view.</p> + +<p>“There,” sighed Browning, with satisfaction, “I +told you he was not doing all that work for nothing, +fellows.”</p> + +<p>“He’s done gone an’ lef us!” wailed Toots.</p> + +<p>“That’s what he has!” grated Diamond—“left us +to the mercy of these miserable redskins! That’s a +fine trick!”</p> + +<p>“Oh, will you ever get over it?” rasped Rattleton. +“Why shouldn’t he? He had his chance, and he’d +been a fool not to skin out!”</p> + +<p>“I thought he would stand by us in such a scrape +as this.”</p> + +<p>“What you thought doesn’t cut any ice. He’ll come +back.”</p> + +<p>“After we are murdered.”</p> + +<p>Rattleton would have said something more, but the +Indians, who had been holding an excited conversation, +suddenly grasped the four remaining lads in a +threatening manner.</p> + +<p>“Oh, mah goodness!” palpitated Toots. “Heah is +whar I’s gwan teh lose mah wool! It am feelin’ po’erful +loose already!”</p> + +<p>Browning was on the point of launching out with his +heavy fists and making as good battle of it as he could +when he heard Black Feather say:</p> + +<p>“No hurt white boys. Make um keep still, so um +not run ’way off like odder white boy. That am all.”</p> + +<p>“I’ll take chances on it,” muttered Bruce, giving up +quietly.</p> + +<p>The four lads were forced to sit on the ground, and +some of the savages squatted near. The fire was replenished, +and the Indians seemed to hold a council.</p> + +<p>“Deciding how they will kill us,” said Diamond, +gloomily.</p> + +<p>“Nothing of the sort,” declared Rattleton. “See +them making motions toward the bicycles. They are +talking about the wonderful two-wheeled horses.”</p> + +<p>“Gracious!” gasped Toots; “dat meks mah hair feel +easier!”</p> + +<p>Browning held a hand on his stomach in a pathetic +manner.</p> + +<p>“Oh, my!” he murmured. “How vacant and lonely +my interior department seems to be! Methinks I +could dine.”</p> + +<p>“The hard bread and jerked beef,” whispered Jack. +“It is in the carriers attached to the wheels.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, and we had better let it remain there.”</p> + +<p>“Why?”</p> + +<p>“These Indians look hungry, too.”</p> + +<p>“You think——”</p> + +<p>“I do. They will take it away from us and eat it if +we bring it out. That would leave us in a bad fix.”</p> + +<p>“But they can get it out of the carriers.”</p> + +<p>“They can, but they won’t.”</p> + +<p>“Why not?”</p> + +<p>“They are afraid of those bicycles—so afraid that +they will not go near them. Therefore our hard bread +and jerked beef is safe as long as we let it remain where +it is.”</p> + +<p>Harry agreed with Bruce, and they decided not to +touch the food in the carriers; but all were thirsty +again, and they expressed a desire to have another +drink from the water-hole.</p> + +<p>To this the Indians did not object, and they took +turns at drinking, although the water did not taste +nearly as sweet as it had the first time.</p> + +<p>Having satisfied themselves in this manner they sat +down on the ground once more, being compelled to do +so by the redskins, who were watching them closely.</p> + +<p>“They have us in a bad position in case they take +a notion to crack us over the head,” said Harry. “We +wouldn’t get a show.”</p> + +<p>“Mah gracious!” gurgled Toots, holding fast to his +scalp with both hands. “We’s gwan teh git it fo’ suah, +chilluns! De fus’ fing we know we won’t no nuffin’!”</p> + +<p>“We must get out of this somehow,” muttered +Bruce.</p> + +<p>“That’s right,” nodded Jack. “Merriwell has taken +care of himself, and left us to take care of ourselves.”</p> + +<p>He spoke in a manner that showed he felt that Frank +had done them a great wrong.</p> + +<p>“It’s a good thing he got away as he did,” asserted +Harry. “Now we know we have a friend who is +not a captive like ourselves, and we know he knows +the fix we are in. You may be sure he will do what he +can for us.”</p> + +<p>“He’ll do what he can for himself. How can he +do anything for us?”</p> + +<p>“He’ll find a way.”</p> + +<p>“I doubt it.”</p> + +<p>“You have become a great doubter and kicker of +late, Diamond. It is certain the loss of that Mormon +girl who married the other fellow has soured you, for +you were not this way before. Why don’t you try +to forget her?”</p> + +<p>“I wish you might forget her! You make me sick +talking about her so much! I don’t like it at all!”</p> + +<p>“If you don’t like it lump it.”</p> + +<p>Jack and Harry glared at each other as if they were +on the point of coming to blows, and this gave Browning +an idea. He saw the Indians had noticed there +was a disagreement between the boys, and he leaned +forward, saying in a low tone:</p> + +<p>“Keep at it, fellows—keep at it! I have a scheme. +Pretend you are fighting, and they will let you get +on your feet. When I cry ready we’ll all make a jump +for our wheels, catch them up, place them in the form +of a square, and stand within the square. The redskins +are afraid of the wheels—think them ‘bad medicine.’ +They won’t dare touch us.”</p> + +<p>Browning had made his idea clear with surprising +swiftness, and the other boys were astonished, for they +had come to believe that the big fellow never had an +original idea in his head.</p> + +<p>Both Jack and Harry were taken by the scheme, and +Diamond quickly said:</p> + +<p>“It’s a go. Keep on with the quarrel, Rattleton.”</p> + +<p>Harry did so, and in a very few seconds they were +at it in a manner that seemed intensely in earnest. +Their voices rose higher and higher, and they scowled +fiercely, flourishing their clinched hands in the air and +shaking them under each other’s nose.</p> + +<p>Browning got into the game by making a bluff at +stopping the quarrel, which seemed to be quite ineffectual. +He seemed to try to force himself between +them, but Rattleton hit him a hard crack on the jaw +with his fist, with which he was threatening Diamond.</p> + +<p>“Scissors!” gurgled Bruce, as he keeled over on his +back, holding both hands to his jaw. “What do you +take me for—a punching bag?”</p> + +<p>“You have received what peacemakers usually get,” +said Harry, as he continued to threaten Diamond.</p> + +<p>The Indians looked on complacently, their appearance +seeming to indicate that they were mildly interested, +but did not care a continental if the two white +boys hammered each other.</p> + +<p>Jack scrambled to his feet and dared Harry to get +up. Harry declared he would not take a dare, and he +got up. Then Bruce and Toots lost no time in doing +likewise, and, just when it seemed that the apparently +angry lads were going to begin hammering each other +Browning cried:</p> + +<p>“Ready!”</p> + +<p>Immediately the boys made a leap for the bicycles, +caught them up, formed a square with them, and stood +behind the machines, like soldiers within a fort.</p> + +<p>The Indians uttered shouts of astonishment, and +the four boys found themselves looking into the muzzles +of the guns in the hands of the savages.</p> + +<p>“What white boys mean to do?” harshly demanded +Black Feather. “No can run away.”</p> + +<p>“Heap shoot um!” howled Blue Wolf, who seemed +eager to slaughter the captives. “Then no can run +away.”</p> + +<p>“Hold on!” ordered Browning, with a calm wave of +his hand. “We want to parley.”</p> + +<p>“Want to pow-wow?” asked Black Feather.</p> + +<p>“That’s it.”</p> + +<p>“No pow-wow with white boys. White boys Injuns’ +prisoners. No pow-wow with prisoners.”</p> + +<p>“No!” shouted Blue Wolf. “Shoot um! shoot um!”</p> + +<p>“Land ob massy!” gurgled Toots. “Dey am gwan +teh shoot!”</p> + +<p>“Black Feather,” said Browning, with assumed assurance +and dignity, “it will not be a healthy thing for +your men to shoot us.”</p> + +<p>“How? how?”</p> + +<p>“Do you see that we are protected by the ‘bad +medicine’ machines? If you were to do us harm now, +these machines would utterly destroy you and every +one of your party. The moment you fired at us these +machines would be like so many demons let loose, and +as they are not made of flesh and blood, they could +not be harmed. Not one of your party could escape +them.”</p> + +<p>The light of the fire showed that the Indians looked +at each other with mingled incredulity and fear.</p> + +<p>“Wow!” muttered Rattleton. “Is this Browning I +hear? How did you happen to think of such a bluff?”</p> + +<p>“Have to think in a case like this,” returned the big +fellow, guardedly. “I think only when it is absolutely +necessary. This is one of those occasions.”</p> + +<p>The Indians got together and held a consultation.</p> + +<p>“Can’t we make a run for it now?” asked Diamond, +eagerly.</p> + +<p>“We can,” nodded Bruce, “but we won’t run far. +They’d be able to drop us before we could get out +of the light of the fire.”</p> + +<p>“What can we do?”</p> + +<p>“Why, we’ll have to——”</p> + +<p>Browning was interrupted by a clatter of hoofs, +which caused him to turn toward the East. The Indians +heard the sound, and they turned also.</p> + +<p>Then wild yells of terror rent the air.</p> + +<h2 class='chapter' id='clink07'><a href='#toc'>CHAPTER VII.—ESCAPE.</a></h2> + +<p>Coming through the darkness at a mad gallop was +what seemed to be the gleaming skeleton of a horse. +The ribs, the bones of the neck, legs and head, all +showed plainly, glowing with a white light.</p> + +<p>And on the back of the horse, which had sheered to +the north and was passing the fire, sat what seemed +to be the skeleton of a human being, the bones gleaming +the same as those of the horse.</p> + +<p>It was almost an astonishing and awe-inspiring +spectacle, and it frightened the Indians greatly.</p> + +<p>“Howugh—owugh—owugh!” wailed Black Feather, +dismally.</p> + +<p>Then the savages dropped on their faces, covering +their eyes, so they could not see the skeleton horseman.</p> + +<p>Almost at the same moment as the horseman was +passing the spot the ghastly appearing thing seemed +to give a sudden swing about and completely disappear.</p> + +<p>“Poly hoker!” gasped Rattleton. “It’s gone!”</p> + +<p>“That’s right!” palpitated Diamond—“vanished in +a moment!”</p> + +<p>“Oh, mah soul—mah soul!” wailed Toots. “Dat +sholy am de ol’ debbil hisse’f, chilluns! When we see +it next it’s gwan teh hab one ob us fo sho!”</p> + +<p>“Hark!” commanded Browning.</p> + +<p>The beat of the horse’s feet could be distinctly heard, +but the creature had turned about and was going back +toward the pass through the bluffs.</p> + +<p>Chucker-chucker-chuck! chucker-chucker-chuck! +chucker-chucker-chuck! came the ghostly sounds of the +galloping horse.</p> + +<p>“It’s turned about!” gasped Harry, in astonishment.</p> + +<p>“It’s going!” fluttered Jack.</p> + +<p>“And we’d better be going, too!” put in Browning.</p> + +<p>Then with a familiar whirring sound something +came flying toward them through the darkness, causing +Toots to utter a wild shriek of terror.</p> + +<p>Into the light of the camp-fire flashed a boy who +was mounted on a bicycle, and they saw it was Frank +Merriwell.</p> + +<p>“Away!” he hissed, as he flew past them. “Make +straight for the pass by which we entered this pocket. +I will join you.”</p> + +<p>Then he was gone.</p> + +<p>Browning gave Toots a sharp shake, fiercely whispering:</p> + +<p>“Mount your wheel and keep with us if you want to +save your scalp! If you don’t you will be left behind.”</p> + +<p>Then the boys leaped upon their bicycles and were +away in a moment, before the prostrate Indians had +recovered from the shock of terror given them by the +appearance of the skeleton horse and rider.</p> + +<p>For the time Bruce Browning took the lead, and the +others followed him. Toots had heeded the big fellow’s +warning words, and he was not left behind.</p> + +<p>Barely had they passed beyond the range of the firelight +and disappeared in the darkness when wild yells +of anger came from behind them, and they knew the +Indians had discovered they were gone.</p> + +<p>“Bend low! bend low!” hissed Diamond. “They +may take a fancy to shoot after us! Stoop, fellows!”</p> + +<p>Stoop they did, bending low over the handlebars of +their bicycles.</p> + +<p>Bang! bang! bang!</p> + +<p>The Indians fired several shots, and they heard some +of the bullets whistle past, but they were not hit.</p> + +<p>“Well, that’s what I call luck!” muttered the young +Virginian.</p> + +<p>“What do you call luck?” asked Rattleton.</p> + +<p>“The appearance of that skeleton horse and rider in +time to scare the Indians and give us a chance to get +away.”</p> + +<p>“Oh!” said Harry, sarcastically, “I didn’t know but +it was Merry’s return. I told you he would not desert +us.”</p> + +<p>“I wonder how he happened to come back just +then?”</p> + +<p>“He came back because he was watching for an opportunity +to help us, and he saw we had a splendid +chance to get away while the redskins were scared by +the appearance of the horse and rider. You ought to +know him well enough to know he is not the fellow to +desert his friends in a scrape like this.”</p> + +<p>Diamond was silent.</p> + +<p>“I wonder where Frank is?” said Browning. “He +said he would join us, and he is——”</p> + +<p>“Right here, old man,” said a cheerful voice, as a +flying bicycle brought Merriwell out of the darkness +to Browning’s side. “This way, fellows! We’ll hit +the pass and get out of here as soon as we can.”</p> + +<p>“Lawd bress yeh, Marser Frank!” cried Toots, joyfully. +“I didn’t know’s I’d see yeh no mo’, boy!”</p> + +<p>“I hope you didn’t think I had left you for good?”</p> + +<p>“No, sar!” declared the colored boy. “I done knows +yeh better dan dat, sar! I knowed yeh’d come back, +but I was afeared yeh’d come back too late, sar. Dem +Injunses was gittin’ po’erful anxious fo’ dis yar wool +ob mine—yes, sar!”</p> + +<p>“Well, I am glad to know you thought I would not +desert you. I don’t want any of my friends to think I +would go back on them in the hour of need.”</p> + +<p>Diamond was silent.</p> + +<p>The pass was found without difficulty, and they went +speeding through it.</p> + +<p>“How did you happen to turn up just then, Frank?” +asked Harry.</p> + +<p>“I was waiting for a chance to come to you, and I +saw the chance when that horse and rider frightened +the Indians.”</p> + +<p>“The horse and rider—where are they?” asked +Browning.</p> + +<p>“Gone through the pass ahead of us.”</p> + +<p>“Mah gracious!” exclaimed the colored boy. +“What if dat ol’ debbil teks a noshun teh wait fu’ us?”</p> + +<p>“What sort of ghost business was it, anyway?” questioned +Rattleton. “It seemed to be a skeleton horse +and a skeleton rider, and it disappeared in a twinkling. +I will admit this skeleton business is beginning to +work on my nerves.”</p> + +<p>“It is rather creepish,” laughed Frank; “but I do not +think it is very dangerous.”</p> + +<p>“All the same, you do not attempt to explain the +mystery.”</p> + +<p>“Not now.”</p> + +<p>“Not now? Can you later?”</p> + +<p>“Perhaps so.”</p> + +<p>“It is plain he knows no more about it than the rest +of us,” said Diamond. “As for me, I am getting sick +of seeking vanishing lakes and vanishing skeletons. If +I get out of this part of the country alive, you’ll never +catch me here again.”</p> + +<p>“Meh, too!” exclaimed Toots.</p> + +<p>“Well, I don’t know as any of us will care to revisit +it,” laughed Frank. “Anyway, we have been very +lucky in escaping from those Indians. That you can’t +deny.”</p> + +<p>“You fooled them easily,” said Rattleton.</p> + +<p>“Yes, and they did not even take a shot at me, which +was a surprise. I expected they would pop away a +few times.”</p> + +<p>“What are we going to do after we get out on the +open desert again?” asked Jack. “It seems to me we’ll +be as bad off as ever.”</p> + +<p>“We’ll have to go around the range to the south, +or wait for the Indians to get away from that water-hole, +so we can go through the mountains as we originally +intended.”</p> + +<p>“The Indians may not go away.”</p> + +<p>“I rather think they have been scared so they’ll not +hang around there long. I don’t fancy they’ll be anywhere +in the vicinity by morning.”</p> + +<p>“If they are gone——”</p> + +<p>“We’ll be all right, providing we can make our hard +bread and dried beef hold out till we can reach one of +the small railroad towns.”</p> + +<p>“How far away is the railroad?”</p> + +<p>“Not much over fifty miles.”</p> + +<p>“That is easy!” declared Rattleton. “We can make +it on a spurt!”</p> + +<p>As they reached the eastern opening of the pass their +attention was attracted by a bright light that seemed to +shine out from the very niche where they had found +the jewel-decorated skeleton.</p> + +<p>“What does that mean?” exclaimed Jack, in astonishment.</p> + +<p>“Land ob wartermillions!” gasped Toots. “It am +de debbil’s light fo’ suah, chilluns! Don’ yeh go near +it!”</p> + +<p>“By Jove!” cried Frank. “That is worth investigating! +Come on, fellows!”</p> + +<p>He headed straight toward the light, and as they +came near the niche they saw the bejeweled skeleton +was again seated as they had seen it in the first place, +and a bright flood of light was shining upon it from +some mysterious place.</p> + +<p>“It’s back!” exclaimed Harry, in astonishment.</p> + +<p>“Sure enough!” said Frank. “It is on deck again.”</p> + +<p>“I tells yeh to keep away from dat skillerton!” +shouted Toots. “Hit am gwan teh grab yo’ this time +if yo’ gits near hit!”</p> + +<p>“We’ll take chances on that,” declared Frank. “This +time we won’t give it time to get away, but we’ll go +right up and examine it.”</p> + +<p>“That’s what we will!” agreed Harry.</p> + +<p>But even as he spoke, the light disappeared, and this +made it impossible for them to see anything up there +in that dark nook.</p> + +<p>“Ha! ha! ha!”</p> + +<p>Again they heard the mocking laughter, smothered, +hollow and ghostly in sound.</p> + +<p>“Somebody is having lots of fun with us,” said +Frank, as he leaped from his wheel. “It may be a +good joke, but I fail to see where the ‘ha, ha,’ comes +in.”</p> + +<p>“Is the skeleton gone?”</p> + +<p>“I don’t know, but I’ll mighty soon find out.”</p> + +<p>Without hesitation he swung himself up to the niche +in the rocks, and Rattleton followed, determined that +Frank should not go alone into danger.</p> + +<p>Harry afterward confessed that he was shivering all +over when he climbed up there in the darkness, but +his fear did not keep him from sticking to Merry.</p> + +<p>A cry broke from Frank’s lips.</p> + +<p>“What is it?” called Browning, from below.</p> + +<p>“By the eternal skies, it’s gone again!”</p> + +<p>“Didn’t I tole yeh!” cried Toots, from a distance. +“Come erway from dar, Marser Frank! If yo’ don’, +yo’s gwan teh be grabbed!”</p> + +<p>“It is gone!” agreed Rattleton. “This beats the Old +Nick!”</p> + +<p>Again they heard that mocking laugh, which seemed +to come down from some point above their heads.</p> + +<p>“Wooh!” shivered Harry. “That sounds pleasant!”</p> + +<p>“Hang it all!” exclaimed Frank, in a voice that indicated +chagrin. “I don’t like to be made fun of this +way! If we don’t solve this mystery before we go +away I shall always regret it.”</p> + +<p>“Beware!”</p> + +<p>It was the same voice that had uttered the warning +when they were riding into the pass, and now, in the +darkness of night, it sounded even more dismal and uncanny +than before.</p> + +<p>“Come out and show yourself,” called Frank.</p> + +<p>For some time the boys remained there, but they +were forced to abandon the task of solving the mystery +that night. Frank descended to the ground with +no small reluctance, and Harry kept close to him. +They mounted their wheels and rode away once more, +fully expecting to hear the mocking laughter, or the +ghostly voice calling after them. In this, however, +they were disappointed, as nothing of the kind happened.</p> + +<p>After they had ridden some distance, Frank proposed +that they halt for the night.</p> + +<p>“We are in for an open-air camp to-night,” he said. +“It is something we did not expect, but it can’t be +helped, and as the night is not cold I think we can get +along all right. We need rest, too.”</p> + +<p>“That’s right,” agreed Bruce. “I feel as if I need +about a week of steady resting, but I don’t care to +take it here.”</p> + +<p>“How about the Indians?” asked Jack. “We are +not very far from them, and they might find us.”</p> + +<p>“I scarcely think there is any danger of that.”</p> + +<p>“Why not?”</p> + +<p>“Those redskins were so badly frightened that +they’ll not go hunting after white boys to-night. It is +more likely they will skin out and make for the Shoshone +Reservation, on which they must belong.”</p> + +<p>“But what if they should happen to follow us?” Jack +persisted.</p> + +<p>“We must take turns at standing guard to-night, and +the guard should be able to give us warning of danger +in time for us to mount our wheels and get away.”</p> + +<p>It was plain that Diamond was not in favor of stopping +there, but he said no more.</p> + +<p>Fortunately the night was warm, so they suffered no +discomfort by sleeping thus. No dew fell out there +on the desert.</p> + +<p>It was arranged that Diamond should stand guard +first, while Frank came second, with Toots for the last +guard toward morning.</p> + +<p>They ate some of the hard bread and jerked beef and +then threw themselves down, with their bicycles near +at hand, so they could spring up and mount in a hurry +if necessary.</p> + +<p>Browning was the first to stretch himself on the +ground, and he was snoring almost immediately. The +others soon fell asleep.</p> + +<p>The rim of a round, red moon was showing away to +the eastward when Jack awoke Frank.</p> + +<p>“How is it?” Merriwell asked. “Have you heard +or seen anything suspicious?”</p> + +<p>“Not a thing,” was the reply. “All is still as death +out here—far too still. I don’t like it.”</p> + +<p>“Well, it is not real jolly,” confessed Frank, with a +light laugh; “but I don’t think we need to be worried +about visitors; and that is one good thing.”</p> + +<p>Jack was fast asleep in a short time.</p> + +<p>Morning came, and Toots was the first to awaken. +Dawn was breaking in the east as he sat up, rubbing +his eyes and muttering:</p> + +<p>“Good land! dat am de hardes’ spring mattrus dis +coon ebber snoozed on—yes, sar! Nebber struck nuffin’ +lek dat befo’.”</p> + +<p>Then he looked around in some surprise.</p> + +<p>“Gracious sakes!” he continued. “Whar am de +hotel? It done moved away in de night an’ lef’ us.”</p> + +<p>It was some time before he realized that they had not +put up at a hotel the night before.</p> + +<p>“Reckum dis is whar we stopped las’ night,” he +finally said. “I ’membah ’bout dat now. We was ter +tek turns watchin’. I ain’t took no turn at all, an’ it’s +wamnin’. He! he! he! Guess de chap dat was ter +wake me fell asleep hisself an’ clean fergot it. Dat +meks meh ’bout so much sleep ahaid ob de game.”</p> + +<p>He was feeling good over this when he noticed that +three forms were stretched on the ground near at hand, +instead of four.</p> + +<p>“Whar am de odder one?” he muttered. “One ob +dem boys am gone fo’ suah. Land ob wartermillions! +What do hit mean? Dar am Dimun, an’ dar am +Rattletum, an’ dar am Brownin’, but whar—whar am Marser +Frank?”</p> + +<p>In a moment he was filled with alarm, and he lost no +time in grasping Harry’s shoulder and giving it a +shake, while he cried:</p> + +<p>“Wek up heah, yo’ sleepy haid—wek up, I tells yeh! +Dar’s suffin’ wrong heah, ur I’s a fool nigger!”</p> + +<p>“Muts the whatter?” mumbled Rattleton, sleepily. +“Can’t you let a fellow sleep a minute? It isn’t my +turn yet.”</p> + +<p>“Yoah turn!” shouted Toots. “Wek up, yo’ fool! +It’s done come mawnin’, an’ dar’s suffin’ happened.”</p> + +<p>“Eh?” grunted Harry, starting up and rubbing his +eyes. “Why the moon is just rising.”</p> + +<p>“Moon!” snorted the colored boy. “Dat’s de sun +comin’ up! An’ I don’t beliebe yo’ took yoah turn +keepin’ watch.”</p> + +<p>Browning grunted and rolled over, flinging out one +arm and giving Toots a crack on the neck that keeled +him over on the ground.</p> + +<p>“Landy goodness!” squealed the darky, grasping +his neck with both hands. “What yo’ tryin’ ter do, +boy? Want ter coon? Nebber seen such +car’less pusson, sar!”</p> + +<p>“Oh, shut up your racket!” growled the big college +lad. “I’m not half rested yet. Call me when breakfast +is ready.”</p> + +<p>“Yo’ll done git yeh own breakfas’ dis mawnin’, sar; +but befo’ dar’s any breakfas’ we’s gwan ter know what +has become of Marser Frank. He’s gone.”</p> + +<p>“Gone?” replied Bruce, sitting up with remarkable +quickness.</p> + +<p>“Gone?” ejaculated Harry, popping up as if he were +worked by springs.</p> + +<p>“Gone where?” asked Diamond, also sitting up and +staring around.</p> + +<p>“Dat’s jes’ what I wants ter know, chilluns,” declared +Toots. “Dat boy ain’t heah, an’ I’s po’erful +feared de old skillerton debbil has cotched him.”</p> + +<p>“Why—why,” said Jack, “I woke him and he took +my place.”</p> + +<p>“But nobody roused me,” declared Rattleton.</p> + +<p>“Nor me,” asserted Browning.</p> + +<p>“Git up, chilluns—git up!” squealed Toots, excitedly. +“We’s gotter find dat boy in a hurry! ’Spect he’s in a +berry bad scrape!”</p> + +<h2 class='chapter' id='clink08'><a href='#toc'>CHAPTER VIII.—THE MYSTERY EXPLAINED.</a></h2> + +<p>By this time the boys were fully aroused. An investigation +showed that Merriwell’s wheel was gone.</p> + +<p>“Didn’t I tole yeh old debbil skillerton would done +cotch some ob us!” cried Toots, in great distress.</p> + +<p>“I hardly understand what the skeleton could have +wanted with Merry’s wheel,” observed Browning.</p> + +<p>“G’way dar, boy! Didn’ de skillerton ride a hawse!”</p> + +<p>“And you think it is an up-to-date skeleton that has +decided to ride a bicycle hereafter. In that case, I congratulate +Mr. Skeleton on his good sense.”</p> + +<p>“It must be that Frank has gone on a ride without +saying anything to us,” said Jack. “I do not see any +other way of explaining it.”</p> + +<p>“But why should he do such a thing?” asked Rattleton.</p> + +<p>“That is where you stick me.”</p> + +<p>Browning slowly shook his head.</p> + +<p>“It is remarkable that he should do such a thing +without saying anything to us,” declared the big fellow.</p> + +<p>“And he must have taken that ride in the night,” +said Jack.</p> + +<p>“While he should have been on guard,” added +Harry.</p> + +<p>The boys stood looking at each other in sober +dismay.</p> + +<p>“It isn’t possible that Merry could have gone daffy,” +muttered Rattleton. “He is too well balanced for +that.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t know,” came gloomily from Diamond. +“This dismal, burning desert is enough to turn the +brain of any fellow.”</p> + +<p>“Yah!” cried Toots. “Don’ yeh git no noshun dat +boy ebber had his brain turned! It am de weak brains +dat git turned dat way. His brain was all right, but I +jes’ know fo’ suah dat he hab been cotched.”</p> + +<p>“And I suppose you want to run away as soon as +possible before you are ‘cotched?’”</p> + +<p>Then the colored boy surprised them all by saying:</p> + +<p>“No, sar, I don’ want teh go ’way till we knows +what hab become ob Marser Frank. Dat boy alwus +stick by his frien’s, an’ dis coon am reddy teh stick by +him, even if he do git cotched.”</p> + +<p>“Good stuff, Toots!” cried Rattleton, approvingly. +“You are all right! If anything has happened to +Frank we’ll know what it is or leave our bones here.”</p> + +<p>The boys were worried. They hurriedly talked over +the remarkable disappearance, trying to arrive at an +understanding of its meaning.</p> + +<p>At length it was agreed that Frank might have gone +back to try to solve the mystery of the skeleton, and +then they decided that two of the party should remain +where they had made their night bivouac, while the +other two proceeded to search for Merriwell.</p> + +<p>Diamond insisted on being one of the searchers, +and Rattleton was determined to be the other, so +Browning and Toots were left behind.</p> + +<p>The boys mounted their wheels and rode back +toward the pass through the bluffs.</p> + +<p>Diamond was downcast again.</p> + +<p>“Everything is going against us,” he declared. +“There is fate in it. I am afraid we’ll not get out of +this wretched desert.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, you’re unwell, that’s what’s the matter with +you!” declared Harry, scornfully. “I’ll be glad when +you are yourself again.”</p> + +<p>“That’s all right,” muttered Diamond. “You are +too thoughtless, that’s what’s the matter with you.”</p> + +<p>They approached the spot where the mysterious +skeleton had been seen, and both were watching for the +niche in the rocks.</p> + +<p>Suddenly they were startled by hearing a wild cry +from far above their heads, and looking upward they +saw Frank Merriwell running along the very brink of +the cliff, but limping badly, as if he were lame.</p> + +<p>But what astonished and startled them the most +was to see a strange-looking, bare-headed man, who +was in close pursuit of Frank. Above his head the +man wildly flourished a gleaming, long-bladed knife, +while he uttered loud cries of rage.</p> + +<p>“Smoly hoke!” cried Harry. “Will you look at +that!”</p> + +<p>Diamond suddenly grew intensely excited.</p> + +<p>“What can we do?—what can we do?” he exclaimed. +“Frank is hurt! That creature is running +him down! He will murder him!”</p> + +<p>“If Merry had a pistol he would be all right.”</p> + +<p>“But he hasn’t! We must do something, Harry—we +must!”</p> + +<p>“Neither of us has a gun.”</p> + +<p>“No, but——”</p> + +<p>“We can’t get up there.”</p> + +<p>“But we must do something!”</p> + +<p>“We can’t!”</p> + +<p>Jack grew more and more frantic. He leaped from +his wheel and seemed to be looking for some place to +try to scale the face of the bluff.</p> + +<p>“Oh, if I could get up there!” he groaned. “I’d +show Frank that I was ready to stand by him! I’d +fight that man barehanded!”</p> + +<p>And Rattleton did not doubt it, for he well knew +how hot-blooded Diamond was, and the young Virginian +had never failed to fight when the occasion +arose. He would not shirk any kind of an encounter.</p> + +<p>Merriwell saw them and shouted something to them, +but they could not understand what he said.</p> + +<p>“Turn! turn!” screamed Jack. “You must fight +that man, or he will stab you in the back! He is going +to strike you!”</p> + +<p>Frank seemed to hear and comprehend, for he suddenly +wheeled about and made a stand. In a moment +the man with the knife had rushed upon him and struck +with that gleaming blade.</p> + +<p>A groan escaped Jack’s lips as he saw that blow, but +it turned to a gasp of relief when Frank stopped it by +catching the man’s wrist.</p> + +<p>“Give it to him! Give it to him!” shrieked Diamond, +dancing around in a wild frenzy of anxiety and +fear.</p> + +<p>Then the boys below witnessed a terrific struggle on +the heights above them.</p> + +<p>The man seemed mad with a desire to plunge the +knife into Frank, and it was plain that Merriwell did +not wish to harm the unknown, but was trying to disarm +him.</p> + +<p>“What folly! what folly!” panted Diamond. “He’ll +get his hand free and stab Merry sure! Beat him +down, Frank—beat him down!”</p> + +<p>Once Frank slipped and fell to his knees. A fierce +yell of triumph broke from the man, and it seemed +that he would succeed in using the knife at last.</p> + +<p>With a groan of anguish Diamond covered his eyes +that he might not witness the death of the friend he +loved. For Jack Diamond did love Frank Merriwell, +for all that he had complained against him of late.</p> + +<p>A cry of relief from Rattleton caused Jack to look +up again, and he saw Frank had regained his feet and +was continuing the battle.</p> + +<p>And now the man fought with a fury that was nerve +thrilling to witness. His movements were swift and +savage, and he tried again and again to draw the knife +across Frank’s throat.</p> + +<p>Jack and Harry scarcely breathed until, with a display +of strength and skill, Frank disarmed his assailant +by giving his arm a wrench, causing the knife to +fly through the air and fall over the edge of the cliff.</p> + +<p>Down to the ground below rattled the knife, and +then Diamond said:</p> + +<p>“Now Frank will be able to handle the fellow!”</p> + +<p>But, flinging his arms about the boy, the man made +a mad effort to spring over the brink. For some seconds, +locked thus in each other’s arms, man and boy +tottered on the very verge, and then they swayed back.</p> + +<p>Frank broke the hold of the man, striking him a +heavy blow a second later. The man reeled and +dropped on the edge of the precipice. He scrambled +up hastily, but a great slice of rock cleaved off beneath +his feet and went plunging downward.</p> + +<p>Then the watching boys saw the unknown +tottering on the brink, wildly waving his arms in an endeavor +to regain his balance. Frank sprang forward +to aid him.</p> + +<p>Too late!</p> + +<p>With a wild scream of despair, the strange man toppled +over and whirled downward to his death.</p> + +<p>Frank climbed down.</p> + +<p>“It’s all up with him, poor fellow,” said he, as he +stood near the body of the unknown man, looking +down at the face that was white and calm and peaceful +in death.</p> + +<p>“Who is he?” asked Harry.</p> + +<p>“What is he?” asked Jack.</p> + +<p>“I am afraid those questions cannot be answered,” +confessed Frank. “That he was a raving maniac I am +sure, and he lived in a remarkable cave close at hand; +but who he is or how he came to be there in that cave +I do not know.”</p> + +<p>“Well, how you came to be up there with him running +you down to stick a knife in you is what I want to +know,” said Harry.</p> + +<p>“That’s right,” Jack nodded. “Explain it, old +man.”</p> + +<p>Then Frank told them how, after the moon rose the +night before, he had taken his wheel with the intention +of riding around the camp, feeling he could keep +watch as well that way as any. After the moon was +well up, he saw there was no one anywhere about, and +a desire to revisit the spot where they had seen the +skeleton seized upon him. He rode to the spot, but +there was no skeleton in the niche among the rocks. +Leaving his bicycle, he climbed up there to examine +once more, and to his astonishment, found that what +seemed to be a solid, immovable stone had turned in +some manner, disclosing an opening.</p> + +<p>Then, with reckless curiosity, Frank resolved to +investigate further, and he descended into the opening, +found some stone steps, and was soon in a cavern. +The first thing he discovered was the skeleton, +still decorated as the boys had seen it in the first place, +and he remained there till he found how it could be +placed in view on the block of stone and then removed +in a twinkling. He also found a lamp with a strong +reflector, which had thrown its light on the skeleton +from a hole in the rocks. There was another opening +near that, where a person in the cave could look out on +the desert, and Frank knew the ghostly voice they had +heard must have come from that place.</p> + +<p>Merriwell continued his investigations, having +lighted the lamp, by the light of which he wandered +through the cave. Suddenly he came face to face with +an old man, who seemed surprised, but spoke quietly +to him.</p> + +<p>The old man declared he was “Prof. Morris Fillmore,” +but did not say what he was professor of, and +he volunteered to explain everything to the boy.</p> + +<p>This he did, telling how he worked the skeleton +to frighten away those who might molest him in +his solitude, as he wished to be alone. There was +another entrance to the cave, and, in a large, airy +chamber a horse was kept. The horse was coal black, +but on one side of him was drawn the outlines of the +skeleton frame of a horse, and the strange old man explained +that he had a suit of clothes on one side of +which he had traced the skeleton of a human being. +This had been done with phosphorus, and it glowed +with a white light in the darkness.</p> + +<p>The old hermit had entered the pocket and ridden +near the camp of the Indians. When he turned about +the skeleton tracings in phosphorus could not be seen, +and so the ghostly horse and rider seemed to disappear +in a most marvelous manner.</p> + +<p>Frank questioned him concerning the treasure, and +the old man seemed to grow excited and suspicious. +He said something about the treasure being the property +of some one who had fled from the destroying +angels of the Mormons in the old days, but had perished +in the desert. Frank was led to believe that +the skeleton was that of the original owner of the +treasure.</p> + +<p>But when the boy would have left the cave the +stranger told him he could not do so. He informed +Frank that he could never go out again, and then it +was that the boy became sure Fillmore was crazy.</p> + +<p>As the man was armed, Frank decided to use strategy. +First he sought to lull the man’s suspicions, and +after being watched closely for hours he found a +chance to slip away.</p> + +<p>Almost immediately the man discovered what had +happened and pursued. By chance Frank fled out +through a passage that led upward till the top of the +bluff was reached, but he fell and sprained his ankle, +so he was unable to get away. The hermit followed, +and the mad battle for life took place.</p> + +<p>“Well, this is amazing!” gasped Jack. “What are +you going to do with that treasure?”</p> + +<p>“Take it to some place for safe deposit and advertise +for the legal heirs of Prof. Millard Fillmore.”</p> + +<p>“And if no heirs appear——”</p> + +<p>“The treasure will belong to us.”</p> + +<p>“Hurrah!”</p> + +<h2 class='chapter' id='clink09'><a href='#toc'>CHAPTER IX.—A NIGHT ADVENTURE.</a></h2> + +<p>Frank’s plan was carried out. All the treasure was +removed from the cavern in which the mysterious old +hermit was buried. The hermit’s horse was set free, +and the boys carried the treasure to Ullin, Nevada, +where it was shipped to Carson and deposited in a +bank there.</p> + +<p>“If it is not claimed in a year’s time, boys,” said +Frank, “we will go about the work of having it evenly +divided among us. In that case we will have made a +good thing out of this trip across the continent.”</p> + +<p>Nothing more was seen of the Indians, and the boys +continued on their trip until Carson City was reached.</p> + +<p>One evening Frank was strolling along alone when +a shrill, piercing cry of pain, ending abruptly, cut the +still evening air.</p> + +<p>“Hello!” muttered Frank, as he paused to listen. +“Something is wrong with the person who gave that +call.”</p> + +<p>He listened. In a moment the cry was repeated, +and this time it ended with a distinct appeal for help.</p> + +<p>Frank was unarmed, but he was aroused by the +thought that a fellow being was in distress, and he ran +quickly to a dark corner, from beyond which the cry +had seemed to come.</p> + +<p>To the left was a dark and narrow street, which +looked rather forbidding and dangerous.</p> + +<p>“I believe the cry came from this street,” said Frank, +to himself. “If there were a few lights——”</p> + +<p>“Help!”</p> + +<p>There could be no mistake this time; the cry did +come from that street. A short distance away in the +darkness a struggle seemed to be going on. Frank +could hear the sound of blows, hoarse breathing, muttered +exclamations and cries of pain.</p> + +<p>“Some fellow is being done up there!” thought the +boy from Yale.</p> + +<p>Without further hesitation he ran toward the point +from which the sounds seemed to come.</p> + +<p>In a moment Frank was close upon two dark forms +that were battling fiercely on the ground. He could +see them indistinctly in the darkness.</p> + +<p>“Ah-h-h, you little whelp!” snarled a harsh voice +“So ye will run away, hey? Well, ye’ll never run +away no more after this!”</p> + +<p>“Oh, please, please don’t beat me so!” pleaded a +weak voice. “You—you are killing me! Oh! oh! +oh!”</p> + +<p>“I’ll make ye ‘oh, oh, oh!’” grated the other.</p> + +<p>Then the blows fell thick and fast.</p> + +<p>“Here, you miserable brute!” rang out the clear +voice of Frank. “You ought to be shot!”</p> + +<p>Then he grasped the figure that was uppermost and +attempted to drag him off the other.</p> + +<p>To Frank’s surprise, although the attack had been +sudden, he did not succeed in snatching the assailant +from the unfortunate person he was beating.</p> + +<p>“Get out!” roared a bull-like voice. “Lemme +alone, or I’ll cut yer hide open! This is none of your +business!”</p> + +<p>“Help, sir—help!” cried the weak voice. “He has +beaten me nearly to death! He will kill me!”</p> + +<p>“Ye oughter be killed, ye ungrateful little whelp!”</p> + +<p>“Break away!” commanded Frank, as he lifted them +both by a wonderful outlay of strength and literally +tore them apart.</p> + +<p>The one who had been assailed could not keep on +his feet, but swayed weakly and sank to the ground.</p> + +<p>With a sound that was like the snarl of a ferocious +beast, the other grappled with Frank. He was so +short that he stood not much higher than Frank’s +waist, but his shoulders were wonderfully broad, and +he had arms that were almost long enough to reach +the ground when he was on his feet.</p> + +<p>“Great heavens!” thought Merriwell. “What is +this I have run against? Is it a human gorilla?”</p> + +<p>And then he found that the creature possessed marvelous +strength, for Frank was literally lifted off his +feet and flung prostrate, the other coming down upon +him.</p> + +<p>The fall came about so suddenly that Frank was +dazed, and his breath was nearly knocked out of his +body. For a moment he did nothing, and the creature +scrambled up and grasped the fallen lad by the throat +with hands that were like iron.</p> + +<p>“Bother with me, will ye!” snarled that beastlike +voice. “I’ll fix ye so ye won’t do it no more!”</p> + +<p>Frank felt that he was in deadly peril, and that +caused him to clutch the man’s wrists and hold fast.</p> + +<p>He saw something uplifted, and he knew well enough +that the furious creature had drawn a weapon of some +sort.</p> + +<p>“Look out!” panted the weak voice from close at +hand. “He will kill you! He has a knife!”</p> + +<p>Then, as Merriwell used all his strength to hold +back that uplifted hand, he began to realize that, athlete +though he was, he was no match for the person he +had tackled.</p> + +<p>The strength of those long arms was something +wonderful, for little by little the man forced Frank’s +hand back, and his knife approached the boy’s breast.</p> + +<p>Merriwell felt that his power of resistance might +give out suddenly at any instant, and then the blade +would be driven to its hilt.</p> + +<p>He was desperate and frantic, for there was something +awfully horrifying in the steady manner in which +that knife was forced nearer and nearer.</p> + +<p>Cold sweat started out all over him, and he panted +for breath, while it seemed that his madly leaping +heart would burst from his bosom.</p> + +<p>He could see two glaring eyes that seemed to shine +with a baleful light of their own in the darkness. He +could see the writhing features of a ghastly face, and +he could hear the creature grate his teeth.</p> + +<p>Nearer and nearer came the blade.</p> + +<p>Crying and panting, the one whom Frank had attempted +to save got upon his feet, swayed a bit, and +then steadied himself with a great effort.</p> + +<p>“You shall not do it—you shall not!” he gasped.</p> + +<p>Then he flung himself on the man, seeking to drag +him from the prostrate lad.</p> + +<p>Frank saw that the time had come to make a last +effort for the mastery, and so, aided by the other, he +succeeded in forcing his opponent back enough so he +could squirm out from beneath.</p> + +<p>In a moment Frank gained his feet, and then, as +the man with the knife came up, out shot the fist of the +young athlete.</p> + +<p>Smack!</p> + +<p>The blow landed fairly, sounding clear and distinct.</p> + +<p>Over went the dwarf, and the knife flew out of his +hands, falling with a clattering ring upon some stones.</p> + +<p>Merriwell knew he must follow up his advantage, +but he was barely quick enough, for the fallen ruffian +scrambled to his feet with the nimbleness of a cat.</p> + +<p>But again Frank struck the fellow, using all his +skill and muscle. He barely escaped being clutched +by those long arms, but the dwarf was knocked down +once more.</p> + +<p>The sounds which came from the throat of the man +were decidedly unpleasant to hear. They did not +seem to be words, but were a succession of snarls.</p> + +<p>By the time Frank had struck the creature again, +he did not scramble up so quickly.</p> + +<p>At that moment, having heard the sounds of the +struggle, some person brought a light to the broken +window of an old house that stood almost within the +limits of the street.</p> + +<p>That light shone out and fell full on the dwarf man +as he was rising to his feet after the third blow. His +long arms were extended so that his hands lay on the +ground, and he was standing in a crouching position +on all fours. His face was pale as marble, and disfigured +by a red scar that ran down his left cheek from +his temple to the corner of his mouth. His eyes were +set near together, and were blazing with ferocity.</p> + +<p>Taken altogether, Frank thought that the most horrible +face he had ever seen.</p> + +<p>The light seemed to startle the horrid-appearing +creature, and, with a low, grating cry of baffled fury, +he turned and ran swiftly away, still in a somewhat +crouching position, his hands almost touching the +ground, while he made queer leaps and bounds.</p> + +<p>In a moment the dwarf had disappeared.</p> + +<p>Frank gave a breath of relief.</p> + +<p>“Good riddance!” muttered the lad from Yale.</p> + +<p>Then he turned to look for the person he had saved +from the dwarf.</p> + +<p>That person had disappeared.</p> + +<p>“Gone!” exclaimed Merriwell, in astonishment and +regret. “He must have been frightened away during +the last of the struggle. He was weak, and he may +not have gone far.”</p> + +<p>Frank resolved to search, and immediately set about +doing so. He had not proceeded far when he came +upon a form stretched motionless on the ground.</p> + +<p>A hasty examination showed Frank it was a boy, +who seemed to have fainted.</p> + +<p>“It is the chap the dwarf was beating!” decided Merriwell.</p> + +<p>He lifted the unconscious boy in his arms, tossing +him over one shoulder, and started toward the lighted +street.</p> + +<p>“I must take the poor fellow to the hotel, and then +we’ll see what can be done for him. He seems to be +in a bad way.”</p> + +<p>By the time the lighted street was reached the boy +recovered consciousness. He struggled a bit, moaned +slightly, and then, in a pathetic, pleading voice, he +said:</p> + +<p>“Please don’t take me back to Bernard Belmont, +Apollo—please don’t! I know he will kill me!”</p> + +<p>“Don’t be afraid,” said Frank, gently. “I am not +taking you to any one who will harm you.”</p> + +<p>A cry of astonishment broke from the boy.</p> + +<p>“Why,” he exclaimed, “you are not Apollo!”</p> + +<p>“No; I am Frank Merriwell. Who is Apollo?”</p> + +<p>“A dwarf—a wretch—the hired tool of Bernard +Belmont! Oh, he is a monster, without heart or +soul!”</p> + +<p>“He must be the one with whom I had the lively +little set-to.”</p> + +<p>“You—you came to my aid—you saved me from +him! How can I thank you! But I thought he would +kill you!”</p> + +<p>“And so he might if you hadn’t helped me throw +him off. You did it just in time, and I believe you +saved my life.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, but he had a knife—I could see it! And I +knew he would use it. He has such wonderful +strength.”</p> + +<p>“He is strong.”</p> + +<p>“Strong! I do not see how you held him off! But +I could see him forcing the knife nearer and nearer, +and I grew frantic, for it seemed that you would be +killed before my eyes.”</p> + +<p>“I was rather anxious myself,” confessed Frank, +with something like a laugh.</p> + +<p>“It was a nasty position.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t know how I dared touch him, but I remember +that I did. Then you flung him off and got +up. After that, I remember that you were fighting, +and I felt sure you could not conquer him. He would +get the best of you in the end, and then he’d finish +me. I was scared and tried to run away; but I did not +go far before I became sick and weak, and—and I +don’t remember anything more.”</p> + +<p>“You fainted.”</p> + +<p>“And you whipped Apollo?”</p> + +<p>“Not exactly. I knocked him down a few times, +but he seemed to spring to his feet almost as soon as +he went down. Then somebody brought a light to a +window and he was scared away.”</p> + +<p>The boy clung to Frank.</p> + +<p>“He did not go far!” he excitedly whispered. “He +is not far away! He is liable to spring upon us any +time! Bernard Belmont has sent him for me, and he +will not rest till he gets me. Oh, I must get away—quick—to +my sister! She is near—so near now! But +my strength is gone, and—and——”</p> + +<p>The boy began to cough, and each convulsion shook +him from head to feet. There was a hollow, dreadful +sound about that cough—a sound that gave Frank +a chill.</p> + +<p>“Never mind if your strength is gone,” said Merriwell, +encouragingly. “You’ll get along all right, for +I’ll stick by you and see that you do.”</p> + +<p>“You are so kind!”</p> + +<p>“What’s your name?”</p> + +<p>“George Morris.”</p> + +<p>“Where do you live—here in Carson?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, no, no! I live in Ohio.”</p> + +<p>“That is a long distance away.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir.”</p> + +<p>“How do you happen to be here?”</p> + +<p>The boy hesitated, seeming in doubt and fear, and +then, with what appeared to be a sudden impulse, he +said:</p> + +<p>“I am going to tell you—I am going to tell you +everything. Put me down here. Let’s rest. I am +tired, and I must be heavy.”</p> + +<p>They sat down on some steps, the boy seeking to +keep in the shadow, showing he feared being seen.</p> + +<p>“It’s—it’s like this,” he began, weakly. “I—I ran +away.”</p> + +<p>“Oh-ho!” exclaimed Frank.</p> + +<p>The lad quickly, almost fearfully, clutched his arms.</p> + +<p>“Don’t think I ran away foolishly!” he exclaimed, +coughing again. “I—I came out here to find my sister, +who is buried.”</p> + +<p>“Then your sister is dead?”</p> + +<p>“No.”</p> + +<p>“Not dead? You said she is buried. How can a +person be buried and not be dead?”</p> + +<p>Frank began to think it possible the boy was rather +“daffy.”</p> + +<p>“There—there’s lots to the story,” came painfully +from the boy. “I can’t tell you all. The letter said +she was buried—buried so deep that Bernard Belmont +could never find her. That letter was from Uncle Carter.”</p> + +<p>“Uncle Carter?”</p> + +<p>“My father’s brother, Carter Morris. He lives +somewhere in the mountains west of Lake Tahoe. He +has a mine up there, and he is very queer. He thinks +everybody wants to steal his mine, and he will let no +one know where it is located. They say the ore he has +brought here into Carson is of marvelous richness. +Men have tried to follow him, but he has always succeeded +in flinging them off the trail. Never have they +tracked him to his mine.”</p> + +<p>“Then he is something of a hermit?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, he is a hermit, and my sister is with him. +He wrote that she was buried deep in the earth—that +must be in his mine.”</p> + +<p>“How did your sister come to be with him?”</p> + +<p>“I helped her—I helped her get away!” panted the +boy, excitedly. “I knew they meant to kill us both!”</p> + +<p>“They? Who?”</p> + +<p>“Bernard Belmont and Apollo.”</p> + +<p>“Who is Bernard Belmont?”</p> + +<p>“My stepfather. He married my mother, after the +death of my father. He is a handsome man, but he +has a wicked face, and he is a wretch—a wretch!”</p> + +<p>The boy grew excited suddenly, almost screaming +his words, while he struck his clinched hands together +feebly.</p> + +<p>“Steady,” warned Frank. “You must not get so +excited.”</p> + +<p>The boy began to cough, holding both hands to his +breast. For some minutes he was shaken by that +convulsive cough.</p> + +<p>“Come,” said Frank, “let me get you to the hotel. +You must have a doctor. There must be no further +delay.”</p> + +<p>“No, stop!” and the boy held to Merriwell’s arm. +“I must tell you now. I seem to feel that my strength +is going—going! I must tell you! He—he killed my +mother!”</p> + +<p>“Who—Bernard Belmont?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, yes!”</p> + +<p>“Killed her? You charge him with that?”</p> + +<p>“I do. He killed her by inches. He tortured her +to death by his abusive treatment—he frightened my +poor mother to death. And then, when he found +everything had been left to us—my sister and myself—then +he set about the task of destroying us by inches. +It was fixed so that he could get hold of everything +with us out of the way, and he——”</p> + +<p>Another fit of coughing came on, and, when it was +finished, the boy was too weak to proceed with the +story.</p> + +<p>“You shall have a doctor immediately!” cried Frank, +as he lifted the lad and again started for the hotel.</p> + +<h2 class='chapter' id='clink10'><a href='#toc'>CHAPTER X.—THE STORY.</a></h2> + +<p>Frank succeeded in getting George Morris to the +hotel, took him to a room, and put him on the bed.</p> + +<p>“Do not leave me!” pleaded the boy. “Apollo will +come and carry me off if you do. Stay here with me!”</p> + +<p>“I’ll stay,” assured Frank; “but I must find some +of my friends and send for a physician. You must +have a doctor right away.”</p> + +<p>Bruce, Diamond and Toots had gone out, but he +found Harry, and told him what was desired. Harry +started out to search for a doctor, while Frank returned +to the boy, who was in a state of great agitation +when he re-entered the room.</p> + +<p>“Oh, I thought you would never come!” coughed +the unfortunate lad. “You were away so long!”</p> + +<p>He was thin and pale, with deep-sunken eyes, which, +however, were strangely bright. He was poorly and +scantily dressed, and the hand that lay on his bosom +seemed so thin that it was almost transparent. One +of his eyes had been struck by the fist of the brutish +dwarf, and was turning purple. On one cheek there +was a great bruise and a slight cut.</p> + +<p>Frank’s heart had gone out in sympathy to this unfortunate +lad, and he was filled with rage when he +thought how brutally the poor boy had been treated.</p> + +<p>Merriwell sat down on the edge of the bed, and took +that thin, white hand. It felt like a little bundle of +bones, and was so cold that it gave Frank a shudder.</p> + +<p>“You are very ill,” declared the boy from Yale. +“I believe you have been starved.”</p> + +<p>“That was one way in which he tried to get rid of +us,” said George.</p> + +<p>“You are speaking of Bernard Belmont?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“He tried to starve you?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, and my sister also. Little Milly! You +should see her! She is such a sweet girl, and she is +so good! I don’t see how he had the heart to torture +her.”</p> + +<p>“This Belmont must be a human brute!” cried Merriwell, +in anger. “He deserves to be broken on the +wheel!”</p> + +<p>“He is a brute!” weakly cried the boy. “He killed +my mother—my dear, sweet mother! Oh, she was so +good, and so beautiful! She loved us so—Milly and +me! Listen, my dear friend,” and the the boy drew +Frank closer. “I—I think he—poisoned her!”</p> + +<p>These words were whispered in a tone of such horror +and grief that the soul of the listening lad was +made to quiver like the vibrating strings of a violin +when touched by the bow.</p> + +<p>“You mustn’t think about that now,” said Frank, +soothingly. “It will hurt you to think about it.”</p> + +<p>“But I must, for, do you know, dear friend, I feel +sure I shall not have long to think of it.”</p> + +<p>“What do you mean?” asked Merry, with a chill.</p> + +<p>“Something—something tells me the end is near. +Apollo, he hurt me—here.”</p> + +<p>The boy pressed one hand to his breast and coughed +again.</p> + +<p>“You are excited—you are frightened,” declared +Frank. “You will be all right in the morning. The +doctor will fix you up all right. You shall have the +very best food you can eat, and I’ll see that you receive +the tenderest care.”</p> + +<p>The eyes of the lad on the bed filled with tears and +his lips quivered, while he gazed at Frank with a look +of love.</p> + +<p>“You are so good!” he said, weakly, but with deep +feeling. “Why are you so good to me—a stranger?”</p> + +<p>“Because I like you, and you are in trouble.”</p> + +<p>“There are not many like you—not many! I know +I can trust you, and I do wish you would do something +for me!”</p> + +<p>“I will. Tell me what it is. I promise in advance.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t want you to promise till you know what it +is, for I have no right to ask so much of you.”</p> + +<p>“Very well. Tell me.”</p> + +<p>“When I am dead, for I know I shall not last long—will +you find my sister and tell her everything? Tell +her how near I came to reaching her, and let her know +that I am gone. She loves me. I am only fifteen, +but she is eighteen and very beautiful. She looks like +my angel mother. Dear little Milly! Will you do +this?”</p> + +<p>“I will do it, if the occasion arises; but we’ll have +you all right in a short time, and you will go to her +yourself.”</p> + +<p>“If I recover, I shall not be able to go to her.”</p> + +<p>“Why not?”</p> + +<p>“Bernard Belmont has followed me, and he will drag +me back to the old prison—I know it.”</p> + +<p>“He shall not!” exclaimed Frank, with determination.</p> + +<p>“The law is with him,” said the boy, weakly. “He +has the best of it, for he is my legal guardian.”</p> + +<p>“At that he has no right to abuse you, and he can +be deprived of guardianship over you. It shall be +done.”</p> + +<p>But no light of hope illumined the face of the unfortunate +boy.</p> + +<p>“It will be no use,” George said. “He has starved +me and beaten me. He has drenched me with water, +and left me where it was icy cold, so that I have been +awfully ill. And all the time I had this—this cough.”</p> + +<p>Frank leaped to his feet and paced the small room +like a caged tiger, his soul wrought to an intense fury +at the thought of the treatment the boy had received. +He longed for power to punish the monster who had +perpetrated such dastardly acts.</p> + +<p>“Your sister,” he finally asked—“did this brute treat +her thus?”</p> + +<p>“Nearly as bad, but she was older and stronger.”</p> + +<p>“Tell me, how did your sister get away from him?”</p> + +<p>“We planned to run away together, and then I became +so ill that I could not. I—I made her leave me. +I told her she must find Uncle Carter—must let him +know everything. It was our only hope. He must +save us.”</p> + +<p>“But how did she reach your uncle?”</p> + +<p>“It was this way: We knew where Bernard Belmont +kept some money in a little safe, and I—I knew +how to get into that safe. That money belonged to +us—it was mother’s money. Belmont was not worth +a dollar when he married my mother. It would not +be stealing for us to take it. Sometimes he went away +and left us to be cared for by Apollo, the dwarf. Such +care! Apollo was a monster—a brute! Bernard Belmont +hired him to torture us. This time, when Belmont +went away, Apollo shut us up in a room, leaving +some bread and water for us, and we were left +there, while he visited the wine cellar and got beastly +drunk. He thought we were safe in that room—thought +we could not get out. But we had been imprisoned +there before, and I had made a key of wire. +We got out. We found the dwarf in a drunken sleep, +and we tied him. Then we went to the safe and +opened it. There was but a trifle over fifty dollars in +that safe. It was not enough to take us both to Nevada—to +Uncle Carter. Then I fainted, and I was too +ill to try to run away when my sister restored me. She +insisted on staying with me, but I commanded her to +go. I begged her to go. I told her it was the only way. +If she did not go, we were lost, for Bernard Belmont +would discover what we had done, and he would make +sure we had no opportunity to repeat the trick. She +wanted to stay and care for me. I told her Belmont +would not dare harm me till he had caught her. It might +be some days before he got back. It was possible she +could reach Uncle Carter, and then Uncle Carter could +come East and save me. After a time I convinced her. +She took the money, dressed herself for the street, and, +after kissing me and weeping over me, left me. I +have never seen her since.”</p> + +<p>“But she escaped—she reached your uncle?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“He made no effort to save you?”</p> + +<p>“No.”</p> + +<p>“Why was that?”</p> + +<p>“I know nothing, except that he is queer. Perhaps +he thought I was not worth saving. It was nearly a +week before Bernard Belmont returned. All that time +I kept Apollo tied fast, and I rejoiced as the days went +by. When Belmont came there was a terrible +outburst. I was beaten nearly to death. He tried to +make me tell where my sister had gone, but I would +only say, ‘Find out.’ When I had become unconscious +and he could not restore me to my senses to question me +further, he started to trace Mildred. He traced her +after a time, but she had reached Uncle Carter, and +she was safe. He wrote a letter to Uncle Carter, and +the reply he received made him furious. It told him +that Milly was buried so deep that he would never see +her again. She was dead to him and to the world. +Then Bernard Belmont swore that I would soon be +dead in truth. After that—oh, I can’t tell it!”</p> + +<p>Frank saw it was exhausting the unfortunate boy, +and he quickly said:</p> + +<p>“Do not tell it; you have told enough. But you escaped.”</p> + +<p>“After nearly a year. I escaped without a cent of +money, and how I worked my way here I do not know. +Several times I dodged detectives, whom I knew were +in the employ of Belmont. I got here at last, but I +found Bernard Belmont and Apollo were waiting for +me. I tried to escape, but Apollo found me, and—you +know the rest.”</p> + +<h2 class='chapter' id='clink11'><a href='#toc'>CHAPTER XI.—ANOTHER ESCAPE.</a></h2> + +<p>The poor boy relapsed into silence, closing his eyes +and breathing with no small difficulty. A great flood +of pity welled up in the heart of Frank Merriwell as +he looked at that thin, bruised face, and he felt like +becoming the boy’s champion and avenger.</p> + +<p>Again Frank pressed the thin hand that looked so +weak and helpless. He held it in both his own warm, +strong hands, and he earnestly said:</p> + +<p>“My poor fellow! you have been wretchedly treated, +and it is certain that Bernard Belmont shall suffer for +what he has done. Retribution is something he cannot +escape.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I don’t know!” weakly whispered George. “I +used to think so—I used to think that the wicked people +all were punished, but I’m beginning to believe it isn’t +so.”</p> + +<p>“You must not believe it isn’t so,” anxiously declared +Frank. “Of course you believe there is an All-wise +Being who witnesses even the sparrow’s fall?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“Then you cannot doubt that such a Being will visit +just punishment upon the wicked man who has caused +you so much suffering and pain. His way is past finding +out, but you must trust Him.”</p> + +<p>There was something noble and manly on the face of +Frank Merriwell as he spoke those words, and the manner +in which he uttered them told that he had the utmost +and implicit confidence in the wisdom of the +Being of whom he spoke.</p> + +<p>At that moment it scarcely seemed possible that +Frank was the same merry, laughing, lively lad who +was usually so full of fun and pranks. Those who +fancied they knew him best would have been amazed +could they have seen him and heard his words.</p> + +<p>Thus was shown one of the many hidden sides of +Frank’s nature, which was most complex and yet honest +and guileless.</p> + +<p>The boy on the bed opened his eyes and looked at +Frank in silence, for a long time. Finally he said:</p> + +<p>“I see you really believe what you say, and you have +given me new faith. I have suffered so much—so +much that I had begun to doubt. It is hard to trust +in the goodness of God when it seems that nearly all +the wicked ones in the world are the ones who are +prosperous. Bernard Belmont is believed to be an +upright and honorable man in the town where he lives, +and the people there think he was very kind to the two +invalid children left on his hands when his wife died.”</p> + +<p>“Some day they will know the truth.”</p> + +<p>“It will be when I am dead!”</p> + +<p>“Nonsense!”</p> + +<p>“I am sure of it. Do you know, dear friend, Apollo +hurt me so much to-night! It seems that he hurt me +somewhere in—here.”</p> + +<p>The boy pressed his hand to his side.</p> + +<p>“But the doctor is coming, and he will make you well +again.”</p> + +<p>“Perhaps he can’t. I had rather not get well than +be turned over to Belmont again and left for him to +torture.”</p> + +<p>George shuddered at this, and Frank ground his +teeth softly, as he thought what intense satisfaction it +would give him to see the man Belmont punished as he +deserved.</p> + +<p>“Why doesn’t Harry come with the doctor?” +thought Frank, as he got up and impatiently paced the +floor. “He has had plenty of time.”</p> + +<p>A few moments later the boy on the bed beckoned +with his thin hand.</p> + +<p>Frank hastened to the bedside, anxiously asking: +“Is there anything I can do?”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” whispered George; “sit down and listen.”</p> + +<p>“I wish you would save your strength. You must +stop talking.”</p> + +<p>“I must talk, for it is my last chance. I want to tell +you again that I know my sister is somewhere in the +mountains up around Lake Tahoe. You have said you +would find her. Do so; tell her I am gone. She is +an heiress, for all the money Bernard Belmont has will +belong to her then. If you could do something to aid +her in obtaining her rights. Will you try?”</p> + +<p>“I will try.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, you are so good—and you are so brave! How +you fought that terrible dwarf! You did not seem +afraid of him! It is wonderful! I never saw anybody +like you! Yes, yes, I am beginning to have faith. +How can I help it after this?”</p> + +<p>He smiled at Frank, and there was something so +joyous and so pathetic in that smile that Merry turned +away to hide the tears which welled into his eyes.</p> + +<p>When Frank turned back he was bravely smiling, +as he said, in a most encouraging manner:</p> + +<p>“Now you must have faith that you are going to get +well. That is what you need. It will be better than +medicine and doctors. Think—think of meeting your +sister again!”</p> + +<p>“Yes, yes!” panted the boy. “Dear little Milly!”</p> + +<p>“How happy she will be!”</p> + +<p>“Yes, yes!”</p> + +<p>“And think of regaining possession of what is rightfully +your own—of getting square with Bernard Belmont.”</p> + +<p>A cloud came to the face of the boy.</p> + +<p>“Of course I want what is mine—I want Milly to +have her rights,” he slowly said; “but—but it is not +my place to punish the man who has wronged us.”</p> + +<p>“The law will do that.”</p> + +<p>“God will do that! I believe it once more since talking +with you. I trust Him fully.”</p> + +<p>There were footsteps outside the door, a gentle tap, +and Frank admitted Harry and a physician.</p> + +<p>The doctor sat down in a chair by the bed and asked +the boy a few questions, while Frank and Harry +anxiously watched and listened. The doctor’s face was +unreadable.</p> + +<p>“Who is this boy, Frank?” whispered Harry. +“Where did you find him?”</p> + +<p>“Wait,” said Merry. “I will tell you later, but not +here.”</p> + +<p>The doctor declared that the unfortunate lad must +have some light stimulating food without delay, and +he wrote a prescription.</p> + +<p>“Take this to a druggist and have it filled,” he said, +handing it to Harry.</p> + +<p>Harry left the room.</p> + +<p>The boy lay back on the bed, his eyes closed, breathing +softly. The doctor arose and walked to the window, +motioning Frank to join him.</p> + +<p>“How is it, doctor?” Merriwell anxiously asked, +in a whisper.</p> + +<p>The man shook his head.</p> + +<p>“I can’t tell yet,” he confessed; “but I fear he is +done for. He has been starved, and his lungs are in a +bad way. What he needs most is stimulants and food, +but everything must be mild, as his system is in such +a weakened condition. As for the injury to his side, +of which he complains, of course I cannot tell how severe +that may be.”</p> + +<p>Frank’s heart sank, for the doctor was more discouraging +in his manner than in his words.</p> + +<p>“Save him if you can, doctor!” he entreated.</p> + +<p>“I will. Is he a friend or relative of yours?”</p> + +<p>“He is an utter stranger to me. I never saw him +before to-night.”</p> + +<p>The doctor lifted his eyebrows in astonishment.</p> + +<p>“Indeed! Then who is to pay the bills for his care +and treatment?”</p> + +<p>“I will,” Frank promptly answered. “Here, take +this as a fee in advance.”</p> + +<p>A bill was thrust into the physician’s hand.</p> + +<p>After looking at the bill the doctor assumed a very +deferential manner.</p> + +<p>“He should have a first-class nurse,” he declared.</p> + +<p>“He shall,” assured Merriwell; “the best one to be +obtained in Carson.”</p> + +<p>“This is very strange,” said the physician. “I can’t +understand why you should do such a thing for one +who is a stranger to you. You must have an object.”</p> + +<p>“I have.”</p> + +<p>“Ah! I thought so!”</p> + +<p>“My object is to see this poor, abused boy live and +get his just due. He has been misused, and the man +who has misused him should be punished. I hope to +live to know that man has been punished as he deserves.”</p> + +<p>“Ah!” came from the doctor once more. “Then +you have a grudge against the man?”</p> + +<p>“I never saw him in all my life. I never heard of +him before this night.”</p> + +<p>The physician was more puzzled than before.</p> + +<p>“Then I must say you are a most remarkable person!” +he exclaimed.</p> + +<p>Once more there were steps outside the door—heavy +shuffling steps.</p> + +<p>The boy on the bed heard those steps, and a gasp +came from his pale lips, as he turned his head toward +the door, his face distorted by fear.</p> + +<p>“He is coming!”</p> + +<p>The words came in a hoarse whisper from the injured +boy.</p> + +<p>Frank started toward the door and the boy wildly entreated:</p> + +<p>“Stop him—don’t let him come in here! Hark! +There is another step! They are both there! They +have come for me—come to drag me back to a living +death!”</p> + +<p>“Why, he is raving!” exclaimed the doctor.</p> + +<p>Bang!—open flew the door. Without stopping to +knock or ask leave to enter, a tall, dark-bearded man +stepped into the room.</p> + +<p>At this man’s heels came a crouching figure that +seemed half human and half beast. It had a short, +thick body and long arms that nearly reached the floor. +Its face was pale as marble, save for a red scar that +ran down the left cheek to the corner of the mouth. +The eyes were set near together, and they glistened +with a savage, cruel light.</p> + +<p>Frank stepped between the intruders and the bed, +but the boy had seen them, and he sat up, uttering a +wild scream of fear, then fell back on the pillow.</p> + +<p>“Who are you? and what do you want?” demanded +Merriwell, boldly confronting the man and the creature +at his heels.</p> + +<p>“Never mind who we are; we want that boy, and we +will have him!” declared the man. “He can’t escape +us this time!”</p> + +<p>Frank glanced at the figure on the bed, and then +turned back, crying with great impressiveness:</p> + +<p>“He can and has escaped you, Bernard Belmont; but +he will stand face to face with you at the great bar of +justice in the day of judgment!”</p> + +<p>“What!” hoarsely cried the man, starting back and +staring at the ghastly face of the boy on the bed; “he +is dead!”</p> + +<h2 class='chapter' id='clink12'><a href='#toc'>CHAPTER XII.—AT LAKE TAHOE.</a></h2> + +<p>Poised like a sparkling gem in a grand and glorious +setting of mountain peaks, lies Lake Tahoe, the highest +body of water on the American continent.</p> + +<p>The sun was shining from a clear sky when Frank +Merriwell and Harry Rattleton reached a point where +they could look down upon the bosom of the lake, from +which the sunlight was reflected as from the surface +of a mirror.</p> + +<p>“There it is, old man!” cried Frank, enthusiastically—“the +most beautiful lake in all the wide world!”</p> + +<p>“That is stutting it rather peep—I mean putting it +rather steep,” said Harry, with a remonstrating grin.</p> + +<p>“But none too steep,” asserted Frank. “People raved +about the beauties of Maggiore and Como, and thousands +of fool Americans rush over to the old world +and go into raptures over those lakes, but Tahoe +knocks the eye out of them both.”</p> + +<p>“I think you are stuck on anything American, +Frank.”</p> + +<p>“I am, and I am proud of it, too. Rattleton, we +have a right to be proud of our country, and we would +be blooming chumps if we weren’t. It is the greatest +and grandest country the sun ever shone upon, and a +fellow fully realizes it after he has been abroad and +traveled around over Europe, Asia and Africa. I’ve +been sight-seeing in those lands, my boy, and I know +whereof I speak.”</p> + +<p>“You are thoroughly American, anyway, Frank.”</p> + +<p>“That’s right. I love my native land and its beautiful +flag—Old Glory! I never knew what it was to +feel a thrill of joy that was absolutely painful till I +saw the Stars and Stripes in a foreign land. The +sight blinded me with tears and made me feel it would +be a privilege to lay down my life in defense of that +starry banner.”</p> + +<p>“Well, you’re a queer duck, anyway!” exclaimed +Harry. “I never saw a chap before who seemed cool +as an iceberg outside and had a heart of fire in his +bosom.”</p> + +<p>Frank laughed.</p> + +<p>“Every man is peculiar in his own way,” he said +“I never try to be anything different than I am. I am +disgusted by affectation.”</p> + +<p>“We have found Lake Tahoe, but that is not finding +the ‘buried heiress,’ as you call her.”</p> + +<p>“But we will find her.”</p> + +<p>“I scarcely think it will be an easy task.”</p> + +<p>“Nor do I think so, but I gave George Morris my +word, and I am going to keep my promise to him, poor +fellow!”</p> + +<p>“You never seem to consider the possibility of failure, +Frank.”</p> + +<p>“The ones who consider the possibility of failure are +those who fail, old fellow. Those who succeed are the +ones who never think of failure—who believe they cannot +fail. Confidence in one’s self is an absolute +requisite in the battle of life.”</p> + +<p>“There is such a thing as egotism.”</p> + +<p>“Yes. That consists in bragging about what you +can do. It is most offensive. It is the fellow who +does things without boasting who cuts ice in this +world. The other fellow often spends his time in telling +what he can do, but never does much.”</p> + +<p>“I think you are right; but let’s get down nearer the +lake. I’ve heard that the water is marvelously clear.”</p> + +<p>“It is so clear that a small fish may be seen from +the surface, though the fish is near the bottom where +the lake is the deepest.”</p> + +<p>“Then it can’t be very deep.”</p> + +<p>“It is, nevertheless. In many places it is thirty or +forty feet—even more than that.”</p> + +<p>“Then who invented the fish story?”</p> + +<p>“The fish story is all right,” laughed Merriwell. “I +know.”</p> + +<p>“How do you know?”</p> + +<p>“I’ve been here before.”</p> + +<p>“Here—at Lake Tahoe?”</p> + +<p>“Sure.”</p> + +<p>“Well, say!” cried Rattleton, in astonishment, “I’d +like to know where you haven’t been!”</p> + +<p>“Oh, there are lots of places where I haven’t been, +but this is one of the places where I have been. That’s +all.”</p> + +<p>“What brought you here?”</p> + +<p>“I came here in pursuit of a young lady in whom a +friend of mine, Bart Hodge, was interested.”</p> + +<p>“I think I have heard you speak of Hodge.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, he was my chum when I was in Fardale Military +Academy. We were enemies at first, and Hodge +did his best to down me, but we became friendly after +that, and Hodge turned out to be a very decent fellow.”</p> + +<p>“Where is he now?”</p> + +<p>“Give it up. Haven’t heard from Bart in a long +time. Last I knew he was out here in the West somewhere.”</p> + +<p>The boys had reached Tahoe on their wheels, there +being a road to the lake. The road was not a very +good one for bicycle traveling, but they had ridden a +portion of the way.</p> + +<p>Now they had left the road and pushed down to the +lake by a winding path, along which they had been +forced to carry their wheels at times.</p> + +<p>They made their way down to the edge of a bluff, +from the verge of which they could look over into the +water.</p> + +<p>“Say! it is clear!” cried Harry.</p> + +<p>“I told you so,” smiled Frank.</p> + +<p>“But—but—why, it almost seems to magnify! I +can count the pebbles on the bottom. Look at those +tiny fishes swimming around there.”</p> + +<p>In truth the water was marvelously clear, and things +on the bottom could be seen almost as plainly as if they +were not beneath the surface.</p> + +<p>“Why, it don’t seem possible that a boat can float +on it!” broke from Harry.</p> + +<p>“It is something like floating in the air.”</p> + +<p>“Are there boats to be obtained near here?”</p> + +<p>“There are a number of boats on the lake. There +once was a man near here by the name of Big Gabe +who owned a boat.”</p> + +<p>“Let’s get it, if he is here now. I want to take a +sail on this lake. How do we find Big Gabe?”</p> + +<p>“I don’t know that we’ll be able to find him at all. +He was a consumptive.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, then he may be dead?”</p> + +<p>“Not from consumption. He came here to die, but +in less than a year he was stronger and heartier than +he had ever before been, and he was so lazy that he +didn’t care to do anything but lay around and take life +easy. He said he was going to stay here till he died, +but there seemed little prospect that he’d ever die. +He——”</p> + +<p>At this moment there was a sudden wild snarl behind +them, and, before they could turn, each lad received a +powerful thrust that sent him whirling from the bluff +to fall with a great splash into the water below.</p> + +<p>Both lads had pulled their bicycles over the brink, +so the wheels fell with a loud splash into the water +which washed against the base of the steep rock.</p> + +<p>The boys themselves had been sent whirling still +farther out, and they sank like stones when they struck +the water.</p> + +<p>But they came up quickly, wondering what had happened.</p> + +<p>“Blate glisters—no, great blisters!” gurgled Harry, +as he spurted water like a whale. “Where are we at?”</p> + +<p>“Christmas!” said Frank. “What struck us?”</p> + +<p>And then, on the top of the bluff, they saw a creature +that was dancing and howling with rage and satisfaction.</p> + +<p>It was Apollo, the dwarf.</p> + +<p>“May I be hanged!” exploded Rattleton. “It’s that +thing!”</p> + +<p>“It is!” agreed Frank; “and I supposed that thing +must be hundreds of miles from here.”</p> + +<p>“Going East.”</p> + +<p>“Of course.”</p> + +<p>“Belmont didn’t let any grass grow under his feet +before he got out.”</p> + +<p>“Not much.”</p> + +<p>The creature on the bluff danced and screamed and +waved its long arms, while its hideous face was convulsed +with expressions of rage.</p> + +<p>“Oh, I’d like to get at him!” grated Frank.</p> + +<p>“Thank you, I’d much rather keep away!” exclaimed +Harry.</p> + +<p>Then the boys started to swim ashore.</p> + +<p>Suddenly the dwarf began throwing stones at them. +He picked up huge stones from the ground and sent +them whizzing through the air with great force and +something like accuracy.</p> + +<p>“Well, this is getting rather hot!” exclaimed Frank, +as a huge jagged stone shot down past his head and +sank in the water.</p> + +<p>“Hot!” gurgled Rattleton. “I should say so—some!”</p> + +<p>“Look out!”</p> + +<p>Another huge stone struck between them.</p> + +<p>“If that had hit either of us, it would have fixed us!” +came from Frank.</p> + +<p>“You bet!”</p> + +<p>“Swim, old fellow! We must get away.”</p> + +<p>But as they swam, looking for a place to go ashore, +the dwarf followed along the top of the bluff, still +pelting them with stones, while he uttered those savage +cries.</p> + +<p>One of the smaller stones struck Merry and hurt +him not a little.</p> + +<p>“Wait!” he muttered. “I’ll get a chance at you +yet!”</p> + +<p>Then, regardless of the shower of stones, he started +to swim in toward the shore where he saw a place that +they could get out of the water.</p> + +<p>But another stone whizzed down, and there came a +broken, strangling cry from Harry.</p> + +<p>“What happened, old fellow?” asked Frank, who +was now a bit in advance. “Did the cur hit you?”</p> + +<p>No answer.</p> + +<p>Frank looked around, and found Harry had disappeared +from view.</p> + +<p>The dwarf on the bluff danced and howled with +fierce delight.</p> + +<p>As quickly as he could, Frank turned about, swam +back a little and dived. It did not require a great effort +to go down, for now his clothes were thoroughly +wet, and he sank easily.</p> + +<p>As soon as he was below the surface, keeping his +eyes open, he saw his friend lying on the bottom. The +water was so clear that there was not the least difficulty +in this.</p> + +<p>Down Frank went till he reached Harry, whom he +grasped. Planting his feet on the bottom, he gave a +great leap and shot upward.</p> + +<p>The water was not more than eight feet deep, and +he quickly reached the surface, immediately striking +for the shore.</p> + +<p>But his watersoaked garments and Harry’s weight +dragged on him, and it was a desperate battle to keep +from going down again.</p> + +<p>“You must do it, Merriwell!” he told himself. “It’s +your only show! Pull him out somehow!”</p> + +<p>Several times his head was forced below the surface +and it seemed that the struggle was over; but he would +not give up, and he would not let go his hold on Harry.</p> + +<p>“Both or none!” he thought. “If I can’t get out +with him, I’ll not get out without him!”</p> + +<p>The dwarf had disappeared from the bluff, which +was a fortunate thing, as he would have been given a +fine opportunity to pelt them with rocks as Frank +slowly and laboriously swam ashore. Just then, if +Merriwell had been struck on the head by a stone, it +must have ended the whole affair.</p> + +<p>“Oh, if my clothes were off!” panted Frank. “Then +I could do it. I must do it anyway.”</p> + +<p>He wondered how badly Harry was hurt, but it was +impossible to tell till the shore was reached.</p> + +<p>The water did not seem so buoyant as it should, and +he almost felt that there was a force dragging him +down.</p> + +<p>Purely by his power of determination he succeeded +in reaching the rocks and dragging himself out with +his burden, when he sank down utterly exhausted.</p> + +<p>“Thank goodness!” he gasped. “I did it!”</p> + +<p>He had not been there many moments when he heard +a cry above, and, looking upward, saw the dwarf had +returned to the edge of the bluff.</p> + +<p>The dwarf seemed astonished when he saw the boys +had reached shore, and he sent a stone whistling down +at them.</p> + +<p>Frank dodged the missile, and then, with a fresh +feeling of strength, hastened up the rocks toward the +top of the bluff.</p> + +<p>Apollo saw the boy coming and immediately took to +his heels, quickly disappearing from view.</p> + +<p>Finding the dwarf had escaped, Frank turned back, +lifted Harry in his arms, and again mounted the rocks.</p> + +<p>He reached the top and bore his friend to a place +where he could rest on some short grass where he was +sheltered from the sunlight.</p> + +<p>Then Frank looked for Harry’s injury.</p> + +<p>Rattleton had been struck on the head by a stone, +which had cut a short gash in the scalp, and from this +blood was flowing.</p> + +<p>“It doesn’t seem very bad,” said Frank, as he examined +the wound. “I rather think it stunned him, +and that is all. He was not under water long enough +to drown.”</p> + +<p>Frank took a handkerchief from his pocket and +wrung it out, intending to bind up Harry’s head +with it.</p> + +<p>At that moment, happening to glance up, he saw a +pale, horrible face peering out from a mass of shrubbery.</p> + +<p>It was the face of Apollo, the dwarf.</p> + +<p>“That creature still here!” grated Merriwell, as he +sprang up. “If he isn’t driven away, he may find +a way to injure us further.”</p> + +<p>Then he ran after Apollo, who quickly disappeared.</p> + +<p>Frank pursued the dwarf hotly, hearing the little +wretch crashing along for some distance, but Apollo +succeeded in keeping out of sight, and, at last, he +could be heard no more.</p> + +<p>Merry was disgusted. He spent some time in +searching for Apollo, and then returned to the spot +where he had left Harry.</p> + +<h2 class='chapter' id='clink13'><a href='#toc'>CHAPTER XIII.—A RACE ON THE LAKE.</a></h2> + +<p>To Frank’s amazement, he found Rattleton reclining +in a very comfortable position, with the handkerchief +bound about his head.</p> + +<p>“Hello, old boy!” Merriwell cheerfully called. “I +reckon you are all right, for you are able to do up +your own wound.”</p> + +<p>“I say, Frank,” came eagerly but weakly from Rattleton, +“what has become of her?”</p> + +<p>“Her? Whom?”</p> + +<p>“The fairy, the nymph, the beautiful queen of the +woods! She was here a few moments ago—she was +with me.”</p> + +<p>“By Jove! that crack on the head has knocked him +daffy!” thought Merriwell. “He’s off his trolley +sure!”</p> + +<p>“Why don’t you answer me?” Harry impatiently +demanded. “I closed my eyes but a moment, and +when I opened them again she was gone.”</p> + +<p>“I hope you are not referring to the dwarf,” laughed +Frank, lightly. “I hope you do not mean him when +you talk about a fairy, nymph and beautiful queen of +the woods?”</p> + +<p>“No, no! Of course I do not mean that horrible +creature! I mean the girl—the girl who was here!”</p> + +<p>“There has been no girl here.”</p> + +<p>“What? I know there has! I saw her, although it +seemed like a dream. I saw her before I could fully +open my eyes. She was kneeling here beside me, +and she was so beautiful!”</p> + +<p>“My dear fellow,” said Merriwell, gently, “that tap +on the head has mixed you somewhat—there’s no +doubt about it.”</p> + +<p>Harry made a feeble, impatient gesture.</p> + +<p>“You think I am off,” he said; “but I am not. I +tell you I saw a girl—a girl with blue eyes and golden +hair. Her cheeks were brown as berries, but the tint +of health was in them. And her hands were so soft +and tender and warm!”</p> + +<p>Frank whistled.</p> + +<p>“I’m afraid you are hurt worse than I thought,” he +said, with no small concern.</p> + +<p>“Oh, scrate Gott!” spluttered Harry. “I am not +hurt at all! I tell you I saw her—do you hear?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I hear.”</p> + +<p>“But you don’t believe me, and that is what makes +me hot.”</p> + +<p>“Keep cool.”</p> + +<p>“How can I? Look here, look at my head.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, you did a very good job. I was about to do +it up when I saw that dwarf again, and I chased him.”</p> + +<p>“I didn’t do it up at all.”</p> + +<p>“No?”</p> + +<p>“Not on your retouched negative!”</p> + +<p>“Then who——”</p> + +<p>“The girl—the girl, I tell you! When I came to +my senses, I felt some person at work over me, and +through my eyelashes I saw her kneeling here at my +side. I tell you, Frank, she was a dream—a vision! +I thought I was in heaven, and I scarcely dared +breathe for fear she would disappear.”</p> + +<p>Frank was watching Harry closely.</p> + +<p>“Hanged if the fellow doesn’t believe it!” muttered +Merry.</p> + +<p>Rattleton’s ears were sharp, and he caught the +words.</p> + +<p>“Believe it!” he weakly shouted—“I know it! I +not only saw her, but I felt her hands as she gently +brushed back my wet hair and tied this bandage in +place. Look at it, Merry, old fellow; I couldn’t have +put it on like that—you know I couldn’t.”</p> + +<p>“Well, it would have been quite a trick.”</p> + +<p>“I think she saw us thrown into the water, for she +murmured something about it. She must live near +here, Frank.”</p> + +<p>Harry was fluttering with suppressed eagerness.</p> + +<p>“If you saw such a girl, it is likely that she does.”</p> + +<p>“If I saw such a girl! Oh, smoly hoke! will you +never be convinced?”</p> + +<p>“Perhaps so,” nodded Frank, as he examined the +ground.</p> + +<p>“What are you looking for?”</p> + +<p>“Her trail.”</p> + +<p>“If you were an Indian, you might find it; but no +white man could find it here, as the ground is not +favorable.”</p> + +<p>“I think that is right,” admitted Frank, as he gave +over the attempt. “If you saw such a girl, I have a +fancy I know who she is.”</p> + +<p>Harry started up, shouting:</p> + +<p>“You do?”</p> + +<p>“Sure.”</p> + +<p>“Then you saw her when you visited the lake before?”</p> + +<p>“No.”</p> + +<p>“How is it that you are sure you know who she is if +you never saw her before?”</p> + +<p>“You are little numb just now, Harry, or you +would have thought of it yourself. She must be the +buried heiress.”</p> + +<p>Rattleton caught his breath.</p> + +<p>“Right you are!” he exclaimed. “Why, it must be +her!”</p> + +<p>“It strikes me that way,” nodded Frank.</p> + +<p>“By Jove!” palpitated Harry; “she is a peafect +perch—I mean a perfect peach! Merry, old chap, she +takes the bun!”</p> + +<p>Frank laughed.</p> + +<p>“It’s not often you get this way, Rattles,” he said. +“She must have hit you hard.”</p> + +<p>“Right where I live, old man. I’d like to win her.”</p> + +<p>“But you must not forget she is an heiress.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, come off! That doesn’t cut any ice in this +case. She was dressed like anything but an heiress, +and——”</p> + +<p>“You know why. She is living like anything except +an heiress, and still she is one, just as hard.”</p> + +<p>“And that infernal dwarf is here searching for her!”</p> + +<p>“Sure.”</p> + +<p>“We supposed he had gone East, with Bernard +Belmont.”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“Instead of that, Belmont sent him here to find the +girl.”</p> + +<p>“Correct me, noble dook.”</p> + +<p>Harry started up, in great excitement.</p> + +<p>“We must defend her, Frank—we must protect her +from that wretched creature!” he cried. “I am ready.”</p> + +<p>“I see you are,” smiled Merry. “The thought that +she might be in danger has aroused you more than any +amount of tonics. We can’t protect her unless we can +find her.”</p> + +<p>“And you said a short time ago that we would not +fail to find her.”</p> + +<p>“We will not, and I hope we may be able to find +her in time to be of assistance to her. To begin with, +we must get our bicycles out of the lake. It is a fortunate +thing they fell in the water.”</p> + +<p>“Fortunate?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“Why?”</p> + +<p>“It is pretty certain the dwarf would have smashed +them if they had not.”</p> + +<p>“That’s right. I never thought of it. He would +have had a fine opportunity. It is fortunate.”</p> + +<p>“We can remove our clothes and hang them in the +sunshine to dry while we are getting the wheels.”</p> + +<p>A look of horror came to Harry’s face.</p> + +<p>“No, no!” he cried, wildly. “We can’t do that!”</p> + +<p>“Why not?”</p> + +<p>“The girl—she is somewhere near here. What if +she should see us? Good gracious; it hakes my mart—I +mean it makes my heart stand still to think of it!”</p> + +<p>Harry’s expression of horror and the way in which +he uttered the words caused Frank to shout with +laughter.</p> + +<p>“Oh, my dear fellow!” he cried; “if you could do +that on the stage! It would be great! You’d make a +great hit!”</p> + +<p>For once in his life Harry failed to see the humorous +side of a thing, and he did not crack a smile.</p> + +<p>“What’s the use to ‘ha-ha’ that way, Merry?” he +cried, “You wouldn’t want a thing of that kind to +happen, and you know it.”</p> + +<p>“Of course not, old man, so we’ll have to keep on +part of our clothing while we are recovering the +wheels.”</p> + +<p>They approached the edge of the bluff, and, as they +did so, a canoe shot out from the mouth of a small +cove nearly half a mile away.</p> + +<p>There was a single person in the canoe and, immediately +on seeing her, Harry cried:</p> + +<p>“There she is—that is the girl!”</p> + +<p>It was a girl, and she was handling the paddle with +the skill of an expert, sending the light craft flying +over the bosom of the lake.</p> + +<p>“We must call to her!” exclaimed Harry. “She +must stop!”</p> + +<p>“We can’t stop her by shouting to her, Rattles,” declared +Frank, quickly. “It would frighten her, that’s +all.”</p> + +<p>“But—but what can we do?”</p> + +<p>“Unless we can find a boat, absolutely nothing.”</p> + +<p>Rattleton was desperate.</p> + +<p>“It’s terrible, Frank!” he cried. “We may lose the +only chance of finding her! At least, she should be +warned!”</p> + +<p>“Look!” directed Merriwell, who was watching the +girl closely. “She is looking back! See her use the +paddle now! She is alarmed! She makes the canoe +fly! She makes it spin along at great leaps! Surely +something has frightened her! What is it?”</p> + +<p>Harry’s excitement grew.</p> + +<p>“It’s something, that’s sure. She is using all her +strength! How beautifully she handles the paddle! +See the sunshine strike her hair! It is like gold! And +now—look! look!”</p> + +<p>Around a point just beyond the cove came a boat in +which two men were seated. Both men were paddling, +but the boat was heavy, and they were not gaining +on the fleeing girl.</p> + +<p>“Great Scott!” exclaimed Frank. “It is Apollo, the +dwarf!”</p> + +<p>“Yes; and the other—the other is——”</p> + +<p>“Bernard Belmont!”</p> + +<p>“Then he is here—he did not go East at all. That +was a blind.”</p> + +<p>“Sure enough. They are here to find the girl.”</p> + +<p>“To put her out of the way, perhaps!”</p> + +<p>“It would be like that man. If he gets hold of her, +some terrible accident is likely to happen to Mildred +Morris. But they are not gaining; she is keeping the +lead with ease.”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” nodded Frank, satisfaction on his face; “she +will not be taken.”</p> + +<p>The boys watched the race with great interest, seeing +the girl draw farther and farther from her pursuers, +till, at last, they gave over the attempt in disgust, +although they still paddled along after her.</p> + +<p>She headed for a distant shore, and Frank and Harry +did not cease to watch till both boats had disappeared +in the shadow of the mountains and timber.</p> + +<p>“There,” said Merriwell—“over there somewhere +must be the present home of that girl. It is a wild +region, for I was there once myself, and I know. We +will go there and see what we can find.”</p> + +<p>“But we must recover our wheels first.”</p> + +<p>“That is right; and now we can remove our clothes +to do so, without fear of being seen. Come on.”</p> + +<p>It was no simple task to get the bicycles out of the +lake, but the thought of the girl’s possible danger +seemed to have restored Harry’s strength, and, +between them, they succeeded, after many efforts, in accomplishing +their object.</p> + +<p>In the meantime their clothes, which had been hung +where sun and wind would reach them, had partly +dried.</p> + +<p>“We can’t wait for them to get entirely dry,” said +Frank. “We’ll put them on just as they are. Nobody +ever gets cold around Lake Tahoe at this time of +year.”</p> + +<p>Harry did not object, but the garments were just +wet enough so it was not an easy thing to get into +them. This, however, was done, after a severe struggle +and a small amount of startling and highly picturesque +language from Rattleton.</p> + +<p>“Woo!” said Harry. “If we had a fine road, we +could get on our bikes and send them spinning at +such speed that the breeze would soon dry us; but +now—how do you propose to get over across this +part of the lake, anyhow?”</p> + +<p>“Well,” said Frank, “you heard me speak of Big +Gabe?”</p> + +<p>“Of course.”</p> + +<p>“His cabin was not far from here.”</p> + +<p>“What of that?”</p> + +<p>“He owned a sailboat.”</p> + +<p>“Wheejiz—no, jeewhiz! that’s the stuff! That’s +what we want!”</p> + +<p>“I rather thought so. With the aid of a sailboat +we can get across the lake easily.”</p> + +<p>“Let’s look for Mr. Big Gabe without delay.”</p> + +<p>Frank took the lead, and they went in search of the +big hermit, trundling their wheels or carrying them, +as was necessary.</p> + +<p>The modern bicycle is so light, although it is strong +and stanch, that it may be carried almost anywhere, +and so the task of taking the wheels along was not as +difficult as it might have been.</p> + +<p>Within half an hour they came in sight of Big Gabe’s +hut, which lay on the shore of the little cove out of +which the girl had sped in the light canoe.</p> + +<p>“It was from this very spot that I first saw that +building,” said Frank. “I’ll never forget it. Bart +Hodge was with me. When we drew nearer, Big +Gabe himself came out and threatened to shoot us, +thinking we were trying to steal his boat, or something +of that sort.”</p> + +<p>“Where is the boat now?”</p> + +<p>“There it is, down where the tree overhangs the +lake. See?”</p> + +<p>They could see the single mast and stern of the boat.</p> + +<p>“Good luck!” cried Rattleton. “With the aid of +that, we won’t do a thing but make a lively cruise +across the lake, for the wind is rising, and we’ll have +a fair breeze.”</p> + +<p>Frank was looking steadily toward the hut, and +there was something like a frown on his face, which +his companion observed.</p> + +<p>“What’s the matter?” Harry asked.</p> + +<p>“The hut looks deserted. The first time I saw it +smoke was coming out of the chimney. Now the +chimney is giving forth no smoke, and the door stands +open. It doesn’t look as if any one had been around +the place for a year.”</p> + +<p>“That’s right,” admitted Harry, anxiously. “But +the boat is there.”</p> + +<p>“It may be in bad condition, else why didn’t Belmont +and the dwarf take it?”</p> + +<p>“There was no breeze a short time ago, and they +could not have sailed it across the lake. Besides, they +were in pursuit of the girl in the canoe, and they +hoped to overtake her with the aid of a boat they could +row or paddle.”</p> + +<p>“Your reasoning is all right, my boy. We will hope +the sailboat is all right, too. Come on.”</p> + +<h2 class='chapter' id='clink14'><a href='#toc'>CHAPTER XIV.—THE HERMIT’S POWER.</a></h2> + +<p>Around the shore of the cove the two boys went +toward the hut. As they approached it Frank placed +his hands to his mouth in the form of a horn, and +shouted:</p> + +<p>“Oh, Gabe! Oh, Mr. Blake!”</p> + +<p>His voice came back in a distinct echo from a distant +rocky steep, but that was all the answer he received. +The rising breeze stirred the open door, seeming +to wave it at the boys in derision, but the air of +loneliness about the place was oppressive.</p> + +<p>“There’s no one about,” said Frank.</p> + +<p>“Not a soul,” agreed Harry.</p> + +<p>They reached the cabin and looked in. It had not +been occupied for two months, at least.</p> + +<p>“Big Gabe is dead or gone,” said Merriwell, with +sincere regret. “I hoped to find him here.”</p> + +<p>“Well, let’s see if his boat is all right,” came anxiously +from Rattleton. “That is what we want to +know most.”</p> + +<p>Leaving their wheels leaning against a tree, they +hastened to the spot where the boat lay moored at a +short distance from the shore.</p> + +<p>“We’ll have to swim to get it,” said Frank. “It is +plain that other boat in which we saw Belmont and +the dwarf was used by Gabe to get from the shore to +the sailboat.”</p> + +<p>Frank stripped off quickly and plunged into the lake, +although the water was cold, as he well knew from recent +experience.</p> + +<p>Out to the boat he swam, came up by her stern, and +got in without difficulty, which was a very neat thing +to do, as the average boy would have tried to crawl +in over the side, with the probable result of upsetting +the boat.</p> + +<p>“How’s she look, Merry?” called Harry, anxiously.</p> + +<p>“O. K.,” answered Frank. “There’s some water in +her, but it is a small amount, and the sails are well +reefed. They may be somewhat rotten, but we’ll be +careful of them.”</p> + +<p>“How are we to get our wheels on board?”</p> + +<p>Frank stood up and surveyed the bottom, which he +could do with ease, because of the unruffled surface +of the cove, as the wind did not touch it there.</p> + +<p>“There’s a channel leading up to that large rock,” +he said. “I’ll bring the boat up there.”</p> + +<p>“Look out to not get her aground so she can’t be +brought off,” warned Harry. “That would be a +scrape.”</p> + +<p>“I’ll look out.”</p> + +<p>Frank did not find it difficult to get up the anchor, +and then, with the aid of a long oar, he guided the +boat to the rock.</p> + +<p>In the meantime, Harry had hastened to bring the +bicycles down to the cove, and they were all ready to +be taken on board. This was accomplished, and Harry +followed them.</p> + +<p>“Now away, away,” he cried. “We’ll set our course +for yonder shore.”</p> + +<p>“Of course,” punned Frank, and Rattleton made a +grimace.</p> + +<p>“Bad—very bad,” he said. “That habit has been +the cause of more sudden deaths than anything else of +which I know.”</p> + +<p>Frank laughed, and they pushed the boat from the +great rock.</p> + +<p>Rattleton set about unfurling the sails and getting +them ready for hoisting.</p> + +<p>“Are you a sailor, Merry?” he asked, as if struck +by a new thought.</p> + +<p>“Am I?” cried Frank. “Ha! ha! also ho! ho! Wait +a wee, and you shall see what you shall see.”</p> + +<p>“Then you have been to sea?”</p> + +<p>Frank gave the other boy a look of reproach.</p> + +<p>“And you had the nerve to do that after saying what +you did about the bad pun I made a short time ago!” +he cried. “Rattleton, your crust is something awful!”</p> + +<p>They made preparations for running up the sail, +saw that the tiller was all right and the rudder worked +properly, and looked after other things. The bicycles +were in the way, but that could not be helped.</p> + +<p>Harry aided Frank in setting the sail, and, with +the aid of the oar, the boat was worked out to a point +where they could feel the breeze.</p> + +<p>“By Jove! this is rather jolly,” commented Rattleton, +as they began to make headway. “With a fair +wind, we’ll run over there in a short time, and then—then +if we can find that girl!”</p> + +<p>“My boy, your face is aglow with rapture at the +thought,” smiled Frank. “You have been hit a genuine +heart blow. Look out that it doesn’t knock you +out.”</p> + +<p>Away they went, making fair speed, although the +boat was decidedly crude and cumbersome.</p> + +<p>The mountainous region beyond the lake was wild +and picturesque, but, fortunately, the boys found a +cut that led down to the very shore of the lake.</p> + +<p>They reached a spot where they could run up close +to the shore, which enabled them to take their bicycles +off without trouble.</p> + +<p>The boat was made fast, the sails having been reefed +once more, and then the lads deliberately mounted their +wheels and attempted to ride into the cut.</p> + +<p>This was not so difficult as might be thought, for +they found what seemed to be an antelope “run” that +led from the shore, and they pedaled along that path.</p> + +<p>“It was somewhere in this region that we found the +retreat of the gang of money makers when I was here +before,” said Frank.</p> + +<p>“What’s that? A gang that made money?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“I suppose they had some kind of an old hut here-abouts +in which they did the work?”</p> + +<p>“They had a cave—a most wonderful cave it was +said to be. That cave had never been fully explored, +and—— By Jove!”</p> + +<p>Frank interrupted himself with the exclamation, a +strange look having come to his face.</p> + +<p>“What is it?” asked Harry.</p> + +<p>“I have an idea.”</p> + +<p>“Put us on.”</p> + +<p>“That cave, my boy—that cave!”</p> + +<p>“What about it?”</p> + +<p>“It is said that Carter Morris, the queer old miner, +lives in some sort of an underground place.”</p> + +<p>“That’s right!” cried Rattleton, catching Frank’s +meaning, and growing excited.</p> + +<p>“He has some sort of mysterious mine.”</p> + +<p>“Sure, old man!”</p> + +<p>“And he wrote Bernard Belmont that Mildred Morris +was buried from the sight of the world.”</p> + +<p>“Now, you believe——”</p> + +<p>“I do—I believe it possible that man may be occupying +the very cave once occupied by the counterfeiters.”</p> + +<p>Rattleton was following Frank along the path, and +he nearly ran Merriwell down in his excitement.</p> + +<p>“You know the way to that cave?” he shouted. +“You can find it?”</p> + +<p>“I might be able to do so, although I am not sure +of it. I can try. Even if we find the cave, we may +not find the man and girl there.”</p> + +<p>“It is a chance, anyway. It’s the best we can do.”</p> + +<p>After they had proceeded into the mountains some +distance, Frank began to look for a slope they could +scale, so they might get out of the pass.</p> + +<p>It was finally found, and, with their wheels on their +backs, they labored to the top. Getting down on the +other side was even more difficult, but they succeeded.</p> + +<p>Then Frank led Harry a wild chase, till Rattleton +was pretty well played out. His head had ceased to +bleed, and he had removed the handkerchief, but he +could feel that the blow had taken not a little of the +stamina out of him.</p> + +<p>“How long are you going to keep this up, Merry?” +he asked.</p> + +<p>“We must be somewhere near that cave,” declared +Frank. “It is getting toward night. I hoped to be +fortunate and find it before dark.”</p> + +<p>“If we don’t——”</p> + +<p>“There’s another day coming. We have hard bread +and smoked beef in the carriers, and we can find water +here. We’re not nearly as bad off as we were on the +Utah desert.”</p> + +<p>“That’s right. That was a bad fix, but we pulled +out of it all right. If our clothes were somewhat drier +I could regard the approach of night with greater +complaisance.”</p> + +<p>“Our clothes are nearly dry, and they will be much +more so in two hours.”</p> + +<p>They continued the restless search, Frank seeming +utterly tireless. Rattleton admired him for his resistless +energy and unwavering determination and confidence.</p> + +<p>Fortune must have smiled on them, for, as they were +making their way along a narrow cut, they turned a +short corner and beheld the dark mouth of a cave just +ahead of them.</p> + +<p>Both lads stopped and stood beside their wheels, uttering +exclamations of satisfaction.</p> + +<p>“Is that it, Frank?” asked Harry.</p> + +<p>“It may be one of the entrances to the old cave of +the counterfeiters,” answered Merry. “That cave has +several mouths. This is not the one I saw, but——”</p> + +<p>“It is a cave, and it may be the one we are searching +for. Come on!”</p> + +<p>“What are you going to do?”</p> + +<p>“Go in.”</p> + +<p>“We can’t go in without torches.”</p> + +<p>“That’s right—dead right! Was so excited I didn’t +think of that. But—hooray!—we have found it!”</p> + +<p>“Don’t be so sure yet. We’ll go up and look in.”</p> + +<p>They approached the mouth of the cave.</p> + +<p>Suddenly, as they came near, there was a roar from +within, and out of the cave rushed a man whose long +hair and beard were white, and whose clothes were +rude and worn.</p> + +<p>The boys halted in amazement, staring at this man, +who also stopped.</p> + +<p>Frank spoke to Harry:</p> + +<p>“It must be Carter Morris!”</p> + +<p>“It is!” cried the old man, whose ears had caught +the words. “How do you know me? What right have +you to know my name? I am buried—buried from +the world!”</p> + +<p>“Crazy as a bedbug!” whispered Rattleton.</p> + +<p>“Oh, crazy, am I!” sneered the man, much to Harry’s +astonishment, for it had not seemed possible he +could hear that whisper. “That’s what they think—the +fools!”</p> + +<p>Rattleton clutched Frank’s wrist.</p> + +<p>“Look,” he panted; “she is coming! There she is!”</p> + +<p>Out of the darkness within the mouth of the cave +advanced the strange girl they had seen in the canoe. +She was hatless, and she looked marvelously pretty +with her golden hair hanging about her ears and +reaching down upon her shoulders.</p> + +<p>“Well, she is a fairy!” admitted Merriwell. “If +you win that, you’ll be a lucky lad, Rattles.”</p> + +<p>“Ha! ha! ha!” harshly laughed the man, without a +trace of mirth in face or voice. “That is all they think +of, the fools! That is what brings them here! They +know you are rich, my dear—they know it! And they +seek to win you! But you are dead to the world—dead +and buried!”</p> + +<p>“Mr. Morris,” said Frank, speaking quietly, “we +have a message for the young lady.”</p> + +<p>“Bah!” cried the man.</p> + +<p>“It is from her brother,” said Frank.</p> + +<p>“Bah!” repeated the hermit.</p> + +<p>But the girl started forward, crying:</p> + +<p>“My brother—what do you know of him?”</p> + +<p>The man put out his hand and held her back.</p> + +<p>“It is a trick,” he declared—“a shallow trick! They +think to fool you that way. Don’t listen to them, +child! Let me talk to them.”</p> + +<p>Then he turned on the boys, his face dark with +anger.</p> + +<p>“Go away from here!” he cried. “Every moment +you remain here your lives are in danger! If you care +to live, go away at once!”</p> + +<p>The girl looked frightened.</p> + +<p>“We can’t go away till we have delivered our message,” +said Frank, calmly, as he started forward.</p> + +<p>“Back!” cried the strange old man, flinging out his +hand with a warning gesture. “It means death if you +advance another step!”</p> + +<p>The girl looked more frightened than ever, and the +boys halted again.</p> + +<p>“The old pirate!” whispered Harry. “We must +save her from him somehow, Frank! I know he is +detaining her against her will.”</p> + +<p>Again that harsh, mirthless laugh.</p> + +<p>“You know a great deal,” sneered the man; “but +you do not know enough to go away and save your +lives! You do not know my power, but you shall feel +it!”</p> + +<p>The girl cried out and started to lift a hand. Then +the man stepped to the right and touched the wall of +stone.</p> + +<p>To Frank and Harry it seemed that the mountains +fell on them and beat them down with a great blow +that stretched them helpless and senseless on the +ground!</p> + +<h2 class='chapter' id='clink15'><a href='#toc'>CHAPTER XV.—RECOVERY.</a></h2> + +<p>With a feeling of numbness and pain in every limb +and every part of his body, Frank Merriwell stirred +and tried to sit up. His strength seemed to be gone, +and he wondered at his weakness.</p> + +<p>“What—what does it mean?” he asked himself, puzzled.</p> + +<p>There was a cloud on his brain, and, for the time, +he did not remember what had happened. He realized +he was lying on the ground, and he wondered if he +had been there long.</p> + +<p>After a time he turned his head a bit, and close beside +him he saw Harry Rattleton, stretched on his +back, his arms outspread, his face ghastly pale.</p> + +<p>A chill of horror seized upon Merriwell’s heart.</p> + +<p>Why didn’t Harry move? Why were his eyes +closed? Why was his face so white?</p> + +<p>There was something horrible and awe-inspiring +about those rigid limbs and that ghastly face.</p> + +<p>“He is dead!”</p> + +<p>He succeeded in speaking the words aloud, although +his voice was weak and faint. The sound startled him, +and, with a mighty effort, he lifted himself to one +elbow.</p> + +<p>“Harry!” he panted, thickly—“Harry, wake up!”</p> + +<p>Still no stir.</p> + +<p>“Harry, Harry, are you asleep?”</p> + +<p>Rattleton remained motionless.</p> + +<p>Holding himself thus, Frank watched, but he could +not see that the bosom of his friend rose and fell at +all—he could not see that Harry breathed.</p> + +<p>Surely that pallid face was not the face of a living +person! It had the stamp of death upon it!</p> + +<p>“Merciful goodness!” whispered Frank, as he +dragged himself nearer. “I know—I am sure some +frightful thing has happened to us! But I do not seem +to remember.”</p> + +<p>He paused and stared about. Sunset light was on +the snow-capped peaks of the Sierras, and away up +there they were dazzling to the eye; but there were +deep shadows below—black shadows in the heart of +Frank Merriwell.</p> + +<p>“The mountains!” he faintly murmured—“they are +all around us! This is not the desert—no, no! We +were not overcome by hunger and thirst. Something—something +else struck us down!”</p> + +<p>He lifted one hand to his head, which was so numb +and felt so lifeless. What was the trouble?</p> + +<p>Concentrating all his faculties, he forced himself to +think. Then he seemed to remember.</p> + +<p>“The girl!” he faintly exclaimed—“we were searching +for her! We were trying to find the cave, and—we +found it!”</p> + +<p>He remembered at last. He remembered the appearance +of the old man of the white hair and beard; +he remembered that the girl had come forth from the +mouth of the cave; he remembered the warning of the +strange man and the frightful shock that had followed.</p> + +<p>“Jingoes!” he said. “I believe we were struck by +lightning! I’m not completely knocked out, but Harry +seems to be.”</p> + +<p>Then he reached Rattleton and touched his face, felt +for his pulse, sought to discover if his heart beat.</p> + +<p>Close to the breast of his friend Frank placed his +ear, and what he heard caused him to utter a cry of +satisfaction.</p> + +<p>“Not dead!” he exclaimed. “He still lives! There +is a chance for him.”</p> + +<p>The thought that Harry’s life might depend on his +efforts aroused him still more. He loosened Harry’s +sweater and the collar about his throat, he chafed his +wrists and temples, he fanned him, called to him, +sought in many ways to arouse him.</p> + +<p>At last he saw signs of success. Rattleton’s breast +rose and fell, and he gave a great sigh.</p> + +<p>“That’s right, old man!” cried Frank, with satisfaction. +“Just open your peepers and let us know you +are recovering.”</p> + +<p>Harry opened his eyes.</p> + +<p>“Where—what—why——”</p> + +<p>He seemed unable to ask the questions that sought +for utterance.</p> + +<p>“I was thinking the same things a few moments +ago,” said Frank. “We were knocked out in the first +round with the old hermit.”</p> + +<p>“Hermit—what hermit?”</p> + +<p>“That’s it,” nodded Merry. “You’re as bad off as +I was. Why, Carter Morris, the uncle of the girl +with the golden hair, who has hit you so hard.”</p> + +<p>A light of understanding came to Harry’s face, and +he revived with wonderful swiftness.</p> + +<p>“I remember it all now!” he faintly exclaimed. +“But I do not know what happened to us. It seemed +to me that something struck me.”</p> + +<p>“Something did.”</p> + +<p>“What was it?”</p> + +<p>“I don’t know, but something knocked us both out. +You remember that the old man warned us not to advance +another step—said it would mean instant death +if we did.”</p> + +<p>“Yes; but I thought the old duffer was bluffing.”</p> + +<p>“So did I. I have since decided that he wasn’t.”</p> + +<p>“You think he gave us the knock-out?”</p> + +<p>“I do.”</p> + +<p>“How could he?”</p> + +<p>“Some way. He has some mysterious power, with +the aid of which he guards the mouth of that cave.”</p> + +<p>“And that power must be——”</p> + +<p>“Electricity!”</p> + +<p>“It’s a dead-sure thing!” cried Harry. “We were +given an electric shock. When the man touched the +wall with his hand, he turned on the current.”</p> + +<p>“I believe it.”</p> + +<p>“But how did the shock reach us?”</p> + +<p>“Don’t know. I saw no wires.”</p> + +<p>“Nor I.”</p> + +<p>“There must have been wires.”</p> + +<p>“I presume so.”</p> + +<p>“Well, where are we now?”</p> + +<p>They looked around, but there was nothing about +their surroundings that they remembered having seen +before.</p> + +<p>“We are not in front of the cave,” said Frank.</p> + +<p>“No, we are not where we fell, that is sure.”</p> + +<p>“We must have been removed to this spot.”</p> + +<p>“Sure.”</p> + +<p>“The bicycles—where are they?”</p> + +<p>With no small difficulty they got upon their feet, +and then they saw their wheels leaning against the +face of a black rock near by.</p> + +<p>At first their legs seemed scarcely able to support +their weight, but they grew stronger as the moments +passed, and they approached the wheels.</p> + +<p>Then it was they saw something drawn with white +chalk on the smooth surface of the black rock.</p> + +<p>It was the representation of a human hand, with +the index finger pointing in a certain direction.</p> + +<p>Beneath the hand were these words:</p> + +<p class='center' style='margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;'>“THIS WAY—GO!”</p> + +<p>“It is a warning!” cried Frank.</p> + +<p>“You boot your bets—I mean bet your boots! It +tells us to git.”</p> + +<p>“Well?”</p> + +<p>With that word Frank turned on Harry sharply.</p> + +<p>“You may go if you want to,” said Rattleton; “but +I never knew you to run away. You are not easily +scared.”</p> + +<p>“How about you?”</p> + +<p>“I am here to find that girl, and I am going to stay +till I find her or croak! That’s how about me!”</p> + +<p>“Good stuff!” cried Merry, approvingly, as he +grasped the hand of his comrade. “We’ll both stay +till we find her.”</p> + +<p>In a short time the boys began to feel like themselves +once more. Taking their wheels along, they +sought for a spring, and were able to find one.</p> + +<p>There they stopped and made a meal from the hard +bread and jerked beef, which was washed down with +clear water from the spring.</p> + +<p>“Now I am all right,” Harry declared. “A feed +was what I needed.”</p> + +<p>They discussed matters a few minutes, and then, +carefully observing the surroundings, decided to conceal +the bicycles in the vicinity of the spring and seek +for the mouth of the cave once more.</p> + +<p>They found a good hiding place for the wheels, and +there the machines were stowed away.</p> + +<p>“We can’t be so awfully far from that cave,” Frank +decided. “One man and a girl would not be able to +bring us a long distance.”</p> + +<p>But the cave was not easy to find, and the more +they searched the more bewildered they became.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile night was coming on swiftly.</p> + +<p>“Hist!” warned Harry, suddenly grasping Frank’s +wrist and drawing him down behind some bowlders. +“Look there!”</p> + +<p>“What is it?”</p> + +<p>“Moving figures! I saw them distinctly over +there.”</p> + +<p>“The man and the girl?”</p> + +<p>“Couldn’t tell. There they are again. Look!”</p> + +<p>“I see! It is not the man and the girl. It is two +men.”</p> + +<p>“That is right—or, at least, a man and something +that resembles a man.”</p> + +<p>“It is Bernard Belmont and his gorilla man!”</p> + +<p>“You are right, Merry, my boy; and they, too, are +searching for the mouth of the cave. It will be a good +scheme to watch them.”</p> + +<h2 class='chapter' id='clink16'><a href='#toc'>CHAPTER XVI.—LOST UNDERGROUND.</a></h2> + +<p>The boys followed Belmont and Apollo, being aided +in doing so without danger of discovery by the gathering +darkness; but they knew very well that, in a short +time it would become so dark that they might lose track +of the two.</p> + +<p>Apollo seemed to be guiding his master to some spot, +and they clambered over the rocks with haste that indicated +a desire to reach the place without delay.</p> + +<p>At last the dwarf paused and swept aside some +matted vines from the face of what seemed to be a +cliff of solid stone.</p> + +<p>A black opening, large enough to admit a man in a +stooping posture, was revealed.</p> + +<p>Apollo urged Belmont to follow, and then they disappeared +beyond the vines, which fell down and hid +the opening again.</p> + +<p>“It’s a cave, Merry!” whispered Rattleton.</p> + +<p>“Yes,” nodded Frank; “it may be one of the many +entrances to the great cavern of the ‘queer’ makers. +This may lead into the cave occupied by Carter Morris!”</p> + +<p>“Then let’s get in there quick!” exclaimed Harry, +eagerly. “If we don’t, we may lose track of those +men.”</p> + +<p>“We must use something like caution, my boy. If +we were to rush in after them, it might do us up, for +they may be laying for us.”</p> + +<p>So the mouth of the cave was approached with +caution.</p> + +<p>When they had reached it, Frank listened.</p> + +<p>From a distance inside he could hear voices, and, +peering through the vines, he caught the glimmer of +a light.</p> + +<p>“Come in quickly after me, Harry,” he directed. +“Be ready to fight for your life if attacked.”</p> + +<p>Rattleton’s heart was in his throat, and he felt that +they were plunging into unknown and terrible danger, +but he said:</p> + +<p>“Go ahead. I am with you to the end.”</p> + +<p>Gently and swiftly Frank made the opening in the +vines larger, and then he quickly stepped through, +holding them aside for his friend to follow.</p> + +<p>The vines fell back into place, and the lad crouched +close to the ground.</p> + +<p>“There,” said Frank, “see that light? It is not a +torch.”</p> + +<p>“No. It seems to be some sort of lamp.”</p> + +<p>“It is a miner’s lamp. Look—another is being +lighted.”</p> + +<p>A match flared up, and its bright glow revealed the +pale and terrible face of the gorilla man, who was +lighting the lamp.</p> + +<p>The lamps were arranged to be placed in the hats +of those who carried them, and this was what the two +men did with them.</p> + +<p>When everything was arranged to their satisfaction, +Belmont and the dwarf started onward into the cave.</p> + +<p>“We’ll follow them, Harry,” said Frank.</p> + +<p>The light from the lamps made it a comparatively +easy task for the boys to accomplish their purpose.</p> + +<p>Deeper and deeper into the great cave went the two +men. Once or twice they stopped and listened. Once +the boys distinctly heard Apollo say:</p> + +<p>“Master, I think I heard a step.”</p> + +<p>“Nonsense!” returned the man, sharply. “You +heard nothing.”</p> + +<p>“I am sure I heard something,” the dwarf insisted.</p> + +<p>“Then it was a rat, or, if there are no rats here, it +was a piece of falling stone.”</p> + +<p>“It may have been,” acknowledged Apollo.</p> + +<p>Onward they went.</p> + +<p>Frank and Harry had stopped and were listening. +Harry’s hands grasped Merriwell’s arm, and he was +filled with excitement. He drew a breath of relief +when the men moved on.</p> + +<p>“Jy bove—no, by Jove!” he gasped. “I thought +the trick was up then!”</p> + +<p>“Still!” cautioned Frank. “We must not alarm that +dwarf too much. He has wonderfully keen ears.”</p> + +<p>The passage, in places, broadened into great chambers, +while in other places it narrowed till they were +forced to make their way along one at a time.</p> + +<p>“If we lose sight of those lights we may have some +trouble getting out,” whispered Harry.</p> + +<p>“That’s so,” confessed Merriwell. “I have seen +other passages besides the one taken by them.”</p> + +<p>The thought of being lost underground in that great +cave was enough to turn them cold with fear.</p> + +<p>And then, without the least warning, the lights in +advance suddenly vanished.</p> + +<p>“Down!” whispered Merriwell. “I believe they +have discovered we are after them. Close to the +ground and listen!”</p> + +<p>Down they crouched, their hearts beating riotously +in their bosoms.</p> + +<p>Not a sound seemed to break the deathlike stillness +of the cave.</p> + +<p>“What’s happened?” whispered Harry. “Where +have they gone?”</p> + +<p>“Give it up,” answered Frank. “They have disappeared, +but that is as much as I know.”</p> + +<p>“Perhaps they are laying for us.”</p> + +<p>But, although they waited a long time, not a sound +could they hear save those sounds made by themselves.</p> + +<p>“I am going ahead,” declared Merriwell.</p> + +<p>“We may run into them.”</p> + +<p>“Got to chance it, old man. That might be better +than to have them run away from us. Come on.”</p> + +<p>“I’m with you.”</p> + +<p>Keeping close together, they crept forward slowly, +not knowing but they might be attacked at any moment.</p> + +<p>Of a sudden, Frank gave a gasp and cry. Harry +tried to grasp his companion, and then he found himself +slipping, sliding, falling.</p> + +<p>Down they went, getting hold of each other, but +being unable to stop their descent. It was impossible +to see anything there in that frightful darkness, and +that made their peril seem awful indeed.</p> + +<p>Fortunately their fall was not always direct. There +were times when they seemed to be sliding down a +steep slope, while dust filled their eyes and mouths, +and they were bruised and scratched and robbed of +breath.</p> + +<p>Finally, when it had seemed they would never cease +falling, they stopped with a great thump and lay panting +side by side.</p> + +<p>“Great humping misery!” gasped Rattleton, weakly. +“Are we diving or are we lead—I mean are we living +or are we dead?”</p> + +<p>“We seem to be living,” said Frank, “but we might +be better off if we were dead. I think we are in a bad +scrape.”</p> + +<p>“What happened to us, anyway?”</p> + +<p>“We fell.”</p> + +<p>“Or were we pushed?”</p> + +<p>“There was no pushing about it. We took the +tumble ourselves.”</p> + +<p>“You don’t suppose the chaps we were following +fell down here ahead of us?”</p> + +<p>“No.”</p> + +<p>“Then what could have become of them?”</p> + +<p>“They must have turned off into a side passage we +did not see. That is the only way I can explain it.”</p> + +<p>“Well, we may not be able to get out of this.”</p> + +<p>“We’ll have to get out.”</p> + +<p>“What if we can’t?”</p> + +<p>“We mustn’t think of that.”</p> + +<p>“All right; but I can’t help it.”</p> + +<p>They sat up and felt of themselves, finding no bones +were broken, although they had been bruised somewhat.</p> + +<p>Harry was about to get on his feet, but Frank would +not allow that till he had lighted a match, as there was +danger of taking another mad tumble.</p> + +<p>Frank always carried matches in a watertight case, +and he produced and struck one. By the aid of the +tiny blaze they first satisfied themselves that they were +not on the brink of another descent, and there was no +immediate danger of falling again. Then they tried to +look around.</p> + +<p>“Murder!” gasped Harry. “We are in it—bad!”</p> + +<p>Frank felt that Rattleton was right; without doubt +they were in a very bad scrape. But it was Merry’s +policy to keep up his courage and put on a front, so he +joked and laughed as if it were a matter to be made +light of.</p> + +<p>“I don’t know how you do it, old man,” said Harry, +gloomily; “but I can’t laugh while we are in this sort +of a hole.”</p> + +<p>“We’ve both been in bad scrapes before. Keep a +stiff upper lip. We’ll pull out all right. First, we +must see if we can scale this place where we fell.”</p> + +<p>Another match was lighted, and they made an examination. +It was not long before they were convinced +that it was utterly useless to think of trying to +get out that way.</p> + +<p>“Can’t be done!” groaned Harry.</p> + +<p>“Not that way,” admitted Frank. “But we’ll find +a way.”</p> + +<p>“We came here to find the buried heiress, and now +we are buried ourselves. That’s what I call hard +lines.”</p> + +<p>With the aid of their matches, they made their way +along slowly, both fearing they might take another fall, +and that it might be fatal.</p> + +<p>“Perhaps it would be the best thing that could happen +to us,” said Rattleton, dolefully. “It would be a +great deal better than starving down here underground.”</p> + +<p>Frank said nothing. He saw their matches were +running out, and the thought of being left there in the +darkness of that great cavern, with no means of procuring +a light of any sort, was overcoming him and +making it impossible for him to assume an air of carelessness +and merry spirits.</p> + +<p>Finally, when there were but a few matches left, +Frank said:</p> + +<p>“We’ll have to feel our way along and take chances, +Harry. I am not going to use up all these matches, +for there is no telling how valuable they may be later +on.”</p> + +<p>So, clinging to each other, they crept along inch by +inch, lost in the Stygian darkness of the great cavern +of the Sierras.</p> + +<h2 class='chapter' id='clink17'><a href='#toc'>CHAPTER XVII.—BROTHER AND SISTER.</a></h2> + +<p>“There’s a light ahead, Harry!”</p> + +<p>Frank uttered the words in an excited whisper, after +they had been groping their way through the darkness +of the great cavern for what seemed to be many hours.</p> + +<p>Rattleton was greatly agitated.</p> + +<p>“It is a light, sure!” he panted. “Frank, we’re all +right at last!”</p> + +<p>For some time they had heard a strange puffing +sound that seemed smothered and far away, like the +panting breathing of some subterranean monster. This +was accompanied by a singular buzzing roar that +sounded very uncanny.</p> + +<p>“What is it?” asked Rattleton, in awe—“what can +it be?”</p> + +<p>“Give it up,” confessed Frank. “Let’s find out. +Come on.”</p> + +<p>They moved toward the light, and soon they found +themselves looking down into a round chamber of the +great cavern from a height of many feet.</p> + +<p>What they saw filled them with inexpressible astonishment.</p> + +<p>The place was lighted with electric lamps, and down +there in the chamber was a steam engine and a small +electric dynamo.</p> + +<p>The engine was running steadily, and the dynamo +hummed with a sound about which there now was +nothing uncanny.</p> + +<p>Near the engine, watching it with interest, was the +girl of the golden hair.</p> + +<p>Harry clutched Frank’s arm.</p> + +<p>“There she is!” he panted. “We have found her +at last!”</p> + +<p>They stood in silence for several moments, watching +the girl, who looked very pretty beneath the light of +the electric lamps.</p> + +<p>Suddenly a cry came from Harry, and he clutched +Merriwell’s arm with quivering fingers, pointing with +his other hand.</p> + +<p>“Look! look!” he exclaimed. “The dwarf—there +he is!”</p> + +<p>Sure enough, the crouching figure of Apollo was +seen emerging from the darkness of a black opening +and advancing toward the girl with swift, catlike steps.</p> + +<p>The girl had heard Harry’s exclamation, and, +startled, she looked up toward where the boys were +standing.</p> + +<p>Then the dwarf rushed upon her and clutched her +with his iron hands.</p> + +<p>A scream of terror came from the lips of the frightened +girl, and rang in weird echoes through the cave.</p> + +<p>The hand of Apollo was pressed over her mouth.</p> + +<p>But that scream had been heard, and there was an +answering shout from not very far away.</p> + +<p>The girl struggled, but the dwarf dragged her along +toward the dark opening.</p> + +<p>“How can we get down there, Frank? We must +take a hand! How can we do it? It is too far to +jump!”</p> + +<p>Rattleton was frantic.</p> + +<p>Frank was looking for some way of getting down +into the chamber.</p> + +<p>Before either of them could discover a means of +going to the assistance of the girl, Carter Morris, the +strange old hermit, rushed into the cavern.</p> + +<p>Morris sprang to the aid of the girl, but it seemed +Bernard Belmont had been waiting for such a thing +to happen, for he leaped out of the darkness and grappled +with the hermit.</p> + +<p>Then a savage battle took place before the eyes of +the boys.</p> + +<p>“Furies!” roared the man of the cave, writhing to +break the grasp of his assailant. “Who are you?”</p> + +<p>The girl got her mouth free from Apollo’s hand +and screamed:</p> + +<p>“It is my stepfather—it is Bernard Belmont!”</p> + +<p>It seemed that those words filled the hermit with a +mad frenzy. He struggled furiously, and Belmont +was forced to exert all his strength to prevent himself +from being overcome, although he was the assailant.</p> + +<p>“We must go to the rescue, Frank—we must!” palpitated +Rattleton.</p> + +<p>The boys were determined to find a way of getting +down into the round chamber, and Frank fancied he +saw a manner of descending. It would be necessary +to drop at least fifteen feet, but he started to make the +attempt and Harry followed.</p> + +<p>The battle between Belmont and Carter Morris continued +with great fury, and Morris seemed to become +perfectly mad with rage when he was unable to overcome +his assailant.</p> + +<p>Bit by bit the hermit dragged the man toward the +buzzing dynamo, his eyes glowing with an awful purpose.</p> + +<p>Suddenly he tried to hurl Belmont upon the dynamo.</p> + +<p>Belmont realized the intention of the man, and a +scream of fear escaped him.</p> + +<p>A moment later both men went down upon the machine!</p> + +<p>A second they seemed to cling there, and then they +were flung off, falling upon the rocky floor of the cavern +and lying still, holding fast to each other in death!</p> + +<p>The girl screamed, and the dwarf seemed overcome +with sudden fear. He stared at the contorted face of +his dead master, seeming unable to realize what had +happened in the twinkling of an eye.</p> + +<p>Down from the heights above dropped two boys.</p> + +<p>“Give it to him, Frank!” screamed Harry.</p> + +<p>They rushed at the dwarf, but, for once in his life, +at least, Apollo was mastered by terror, for, with a +shout of dismay, he released the girl and fled, disappearing +in a hopping, bounding manner into the darkness.</p> + +<p>Rattleton caught the half-fainting girl in his arms, +crying:</p> + +<p>“Hurrah, Merry, we have found her, and we’ve +saved her!”</p> + +<p>But she had fainted.</p> + +<p>When another morning dawned the two boys and +the girl left the great cave and started for Carson City.</p> + +<p>Already had Mildred explained to them how it happened +that the steam engine and the dynamo were +found in the cavern. The coiners who had occupied +that retreat years before had discovered a valuable +vein of ore, and they had devised a scheme of mining +with the aid of electricity. The engine was brought +there to run the dynamo. As a certain portion of the +cave yielded coal in liberal quantities, it was not difficult +to find fuel for the engine.</p> + +<p>Carter Morris, being somewhat of an electrician, +had put the abandoned machinery in running order +when he took possession of the cave.</p> + +<p>It had been his intention to protect himself from intruders +by the aid of electric currents, and he had given +Frank and Harry a frightful shock at the mouth of the +cavern by means of hidden wires.</p> + +<p>The electric current had caused his death when he +fell upon the dynamo in struggling with Bernard Belmont.</p> + +<p>The graves of both men were made in the cave, and +Little Milly shed tears over the body of her mad uncle, +who had sought to befriend her by “burying” her.</p> + +<p>The hidden bicycles were found, and the sailboat was +discovered where the boys had left it.</p> + +<p>After setting sail to cross the lake, Frank touched +Harry’s arm and pointed to an object that was floating +in the water, at the same time pressing a finger to his +lips and shaking his head, with a look toward Milly.</p> + +<p>Harry looked and started, for he saw the ghastly, +upturned face of Apollo, the dwarf, the scar on his +cheek having turned a purplish blue.</p> + +<p>The girl did not see this object, and the boys believed +it far better to leave the dwarf than to horrify +her by letting her see the body.</p> + +<p>Carson was reached without further adventure, and +there a joyous surprise awaited Mildred Morris.</p> + +<p>Jack Diamond met the little party outside the hotel.</p> + +<p>“Where are Toots and Bruce?” asked Frank, in a +low voice.</p> + +<p>“Standing guard, as you directed,” said Jack. “We +have taken turns since you went away, and he has not +been left alone a moment.”</p> + +<p>“How is he?”</p> + +<p>“Better—much better. The doctor says he thinks +he’ll come around all right.”</p> + +<p>Then Frank and Harry accompanied Milly to a +certain room of the hotel. Browning and the colored +boy were called out of the room, and Merriwell said to +the girl:</p> + +<p>“Go in, Miss Morris. There’s some one in there +who will be glad to see you.”</p> + +<p>He held the door open, and urged her gently into +the room.</p> + +<p>A moment later there was a cry of joy—two cries—a +rush. Then, peering in at the door for a moment, +the delighted lads saw Milly spring toward the bed +and clasp her living brother in her arms.</p> + +<p>Frank closed the door.</p> + +<p>Immediately Toots danced a wild cancan of delight.</p> + +<p>“Golly sakes teh goodness!” he chuckled. “Dat +gal sho’ am a peach. I’d jes’ lek teh take dat sick +boy’s place ’bout five minutes. Yah! yah! yah! Oh, +mommer!”</p> + +<p>The boy whom Mildred had rushed to meet was her +brother, George, who was not dead, but had fainted +at sight of his cruel stepfather and the dwarf. Belmont +had thought the boy dead, and had left Carson +without delay, much to the satisfaction of Frank Merriwell.</p> + +<p>And now the doctor who was attending George said +the boy had a fair show to recover.</p> + +<p>“Say,” observed Diamond, suddenly, “the buried +heiress is out of sight! I think I will——”</p> + +<p>“If you try it,” spluttered Rattleton, menacingly, +“I’ll hake your bread—I mean I’ll break your head! I +saw her first, and I have first claim there!”</p> + +<p>“Break away, there, you chumps,” laughed Frank. +“We have business first, you know. We must speed +on toward California and bring this wonderful trip of +ours to a successful finish. Onward is the cry.”</p> + +<p>That afternoon they bade farewell to George and +Mildred, and rode away, sorry indeed at the parting.</p> + +<h2 class='chapter' id='clink18'><a href='#toc'>CHAPTER XVIII.—OLD FRIENDS.</a></h2> + +<table style='margin:auto' summary=''> +<tr><td> +“We are a set of jolly, jolly lads,<br/> + As we ride—as we ride away!<br/> +You bet we’re up to date, but are no cads,<br/> + As we ride—as we ride away!<br/> +We’ve crossed the plains and scaled the Rockies high,<br/> +And now hurrah! for ’Frisco’s town is nigh;<br/> +We sing as toward that port we swiftly fly,<br/> + As we ride—as we ride away!”<br/> +</td></tr> +</table> + +<p>Through a California forest of monster trees our +five boys were riding, and they sang as they rode, their +voices blending beautifully and making the old woods +echo with sweet music.</p> + +<p>To them it seemed that all the perils of the trip were +past and San Francisco was in view, although in truth, +it was more than two hundred miles away by the route +they would be compelled to follow.</p> + +<p>It was a perfect day, with the sun shining from a +cloudless sky, as it always seems to shine in California. +It was warm, but not too hot for comfort, and the +road through the forest was fairly good, winding to +the right and then to the left beneath the shadows of +the great trees.</p> + +<p>“If this road wasn’t so crooked, we wouldn’t have +to travel so far,” groaned Browning, his manner being +so dismal that the others broke into a shout of laughter.</p> + +<p>“You shouldn’t kick about this road,” smiled Frank. +“I’ve seen a road much more crooked than this.”</p> + +<p>“It must have been pretty crooked.”</p> + +<p>“It was so crooked that when you started to ride on it +you’d meet yourself coming back.”</p> + +<p>“Yow!” whooped Rattleton. “That’s the worst I +ever heard! A man should be put behind bars for +perpetrating anything like that.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t think I’d like to be put behind bars,” confessed +Merry.</p> + +<p>“Huah!” grunted Bruce. “There are others. +Why, I know fellows who want to be in front of bars +all the time.”</p> + +<p>“You mean they drink incessantly?”</p> + +<p>“No, I mean they drink whiskey.”</p> + +<p>“Yah! yah! yah!” shouted Toots, his shrill laugh +awaking the echoes. “Nebber heard Mistah Brownin’ +say nuffin’ funny as dat befo’! Dat teks de cake!”</p> + +<p>“I wouldn’t mind taking a small cake,” said the big +fellow. “This California air makes me hungry.”</p> + +<p>“Land ob wartermillions! yo’s alwus hungry, Mistah +Brownin’, sar. Yo’s been eatin’ all de way ’crost de +country.”</p> + +<p>“That’s right,” was Browning’s confession. “And +there was one strip of country where they didn’t seem +to have anything to eat but corn beef and cabbage. I +actually ate so much corn beef and cabbage that I was +ashamed to look a cow in the face.”</p> + +<p>“Well, we’ll soon be in San Francisco, the greatest +city in all this Western land,” put in Frank. “There +we can get almost any kind of feed we like. Why, I +know a restaurant where we’ll be able to get ‘genuine +Boston baked beans.’”</p> + +<p>“You know a place?” questioned Diamond. “You +know? Look here, Frank Merriwell, what is there +you don’t know about? Have you been everywhere +and seen everything?”</p> + +<p>“Not by a long distance, but I have been in San +Francisco.”</p> + +<p>“Well, it seems to me that we never mention a place +that you don’t know all about. You were perfectly +familiar with Carson City.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I had been there before, and it is a place I +shall not soon forget, for it was there I last saw my old +chum of Fardale, Bart Hodge.”</p> + +<p>“You have spoken of him often of late.”</p> + +<p>“Yes; I have been thinking of him very much. It +is natural, as I am near where I saw him last. Dear +old fellow! How we fought in the old days when we +first met! And, after that, what firm friends we became! +Hodge had his failings, but he was white at +heart. He would lay down his life for a friend. His +parents were wealthy, and they had indulged him in +everything he desired, till he was completely spoiled +and they could do nothing with him. Fardale was +noted as a place where just such fellows were taken +and broken into the traces, and so his father sent him +there. Hodge didn’t do a thing at first—oh, no! not +a thing! He raised merry thunder, and he hated me +with a virulent hatred. He tried to injure me in every +way he could devise, but when I pulled him out of +several bad scrapes, incidentally saving his life, he +began to see that he was in the wrong. He had a +fierce battle to overcome his natural inclination to do +dirty things, but overcome it he did, and he became +fairly popular in time, although no one knew him and +understood him like myself. Between us there was a +perfect understanding, and I could control him when +he would not listen to reason from any other person.”</p> + +<p>“I believe you were stuck on Hodge!” said Diamond, +somewhat piqued.</p> + +<p>“No more than I am on any of my true friends,” +answered Frank.</p> + +<p>“It seems you put yourself to lots of trouble with +him.”</p> + +<p>“I did; but I fancied there was the making of a fine +man in him, and I felt that it was a shame to see a +chap go to the dogs. Several times he came near +being fired from Fardale, for they could do nothing +with him. If he had been fired, his father would have +forced him to hustle for himself. With a boy of +Hodge’s nature that must have meant ruin, as he would +have fallen in with fast companions, would have required +money, and would have obtained it by some +means or other. If his companions had been crooked, +Hodge, although his nature would have rebelled against +anything dishonest, would have become crooked also. +He told me that, and he said I was his good angel.”</p> + +<p>“Hang it, Merry!” spluttered Rattleton; “you’ve +been a good angel for lots of us. It seems that every +fellow who sticks by you gets on better than he ever +did before.”</p> + +<p>“I’m a mascot,” laughed Frank. “Follow me and +you’ll wear diamonds—or something else.”</p> + +<p>“There’s no doubt about it,” grunted Browning. +“We’ll be arrested if we don’t. Can’t go naked in this +country.”</p> + +<p>“Yah!” cried Toots. “Don’ yo’ try so hard to say +somefin’ funny, Mistah Brownin’, fo’ dat is where yo’ +meks a mistook, sar. Yo’ falls do’n on yo’se’f, an’ yo’ +don’ get funny at all.”</p> + +<p>“Thanks, my colored counsellor,” murmured the big +fellow. “You have a shocking habit of giving advice +when it isn’t asked. I wouldn’t do it so much if +I were you.”</p> + +<p>“Choke off, Toots,” advised Frank.</p> + +<p>“All right, sar—all right,” muttered the colored +boy; “but I knows what I knows—yes, sar. It done +do some of de crowd good if dey took mah advice, +sar.”</p> + +<p>The boys admired the trees and the weather, and +they were supremely happy. All were hearty and +healthy, with muscles as hard as iron and eyes clear as +the eagle’s.</p> + +<p>Browning, although still stout and sturdy, had +worked himself down to a hard, healthy condition, and +was really a stunningly handsome fellow. There was +about him a suggestion of great strength, and almost +any man might have hesitated about facing him in +anger.</p> + +<p>As Merriwell was one who constantly kept himself +in perfect condition, it cannot be said that he was looking +better than when the party left New York, although +he, like the others, was tanned by exposure to +all sorts of weather.</p> + +<p>As the party came around a bend of the road, they +saw another young bicyclist, who was standing beside +his wheel, somewhat uneasily regarding their approach.</p> + +<p>“Hello!” exclaimed Diamond. “Here’s a fellow +traveler.”</p> + +<p>Frank took off his cap and waved it about his head, +but the stranger did not answer the salute.</p> + +<p>“Some way he doesn’t seem at all pleased to see us,” +said Rattleton.</p> + +<p>“It may be the way with Californians,” said Diamond.</p> + +<p>“Anyhow we’ll stop and ask him a few questions,” +Merriwell said. “At least, he can’t refuse to answer +us, if we are civil.”</p> + +<p>So, as the boys came up, they slackened their speed +and prepared to dismount. To their surprise the +stranger made preparations to mount, as if he contemplated +riding away if they stopped.</p> + +<p>“He’s going to run away,” grunted Bruce, in disgust.</p> + +<p>“Hold on,” urged Merriwell, addressing the +stranger. “We want to talk with you.”</p> + +<p>Then the boys sprang off their wheels.</p> + +<p>To their surprise, the stranger suddenly held out his +hand, almost shouting:</p> + +<p>“It is Frank Merriwell, or my eyes can’t see +straight!”</p> + +<p>“Bart Hodge, as I live!” cried Frank, grasping the +outstretched hand.</p> + +<h2 class='chapter' id='clink19'><a href='#toc'>CHAPTER XIX.—BART HODGE MAKES A CONFESSION.</a></h2> + +<p>It was Bart Hodge!</p> + +<p>How they did shake hands! Strangely enough, +neither of them laughed, but there was a look of joy on +their faces that told of satisfaction and delight too +great for laughter.</p> + +<p>“Merriwell, old man,” said Hodge, his voice unsteady +with emotion, “I can scarcely believe it is true! +It seems too good to be true!”</p> + +<p>“Hodge!” exclaimed Frank, “there is fate in this. +I was speaking of you not more than ten minutes +ago.”</p> + +<p>“Speaking of me?”</p> + +<p>“Sure.”</p> + +<p>“Then you had not forgotten me?”</p> + +<p>“Forgotten you?” came reproachfully from Frank—“you +should know I am not the kind of fellow to forget +my friends.”</p> + +<p>“That’s right,” nodded Bart, quickly; “you always +did stick to your friends through thick and thin.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, through thick and thin, old chum.”</p> + +<p>“But it is most astonishing to see you away out here +in this part of the country. Where did you drop +from?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, we are on a little run across the country,” +smiled Merry. “We started from New York, and +we’re bound for San Francisco. Permit me to introduce +my friends.”</p> + +<p>Then he presented the others of the party in turn, +and Bart shook hands with them all, expressing his +satisfaction at meeting them, but seeming rather reserved +and uneasy. Frank observed that Hodge +turned his head to glance down the road now and then +as if expecting the appearance of some one or something.</p> + +<p>“So you’re Hart Bodge—I mean Bart Hodge?” +said Harry, as he was introduced. “Well, I’m glad to +know you. Merry has talked about you ever since I +first met him at Yale. He has told everything about +you.”</p> + +<p>“If that is true, I’m afraid you have not formed a +very good opinion of me,” said Hodge, somewhat +gloomily.</p> + +<p>“On the contrary, I have formed a very good opinion +of you,” assured Rattleton.</p> + +<p>“Then it can’t be Merry has told you everything.”</p> + +<p>Frank was not a little surprised by Bart’s manner, +for Hodge had been a fellow who could not easily +suppress his self-conceit, and it had always been his +desire to impress strangers with the idea that he was +something quite out of the ordinary.</p> + +<p>A vague feeling that something was wrong with +Bart seized upon Merriwell.</p> + +<p>“You’re not well, old man,” he said. “I know it. +Don’t say you are.”</p> + +<p>“Never was better in all my life.”</p> + +<p>“But something is the trouble—I can see that.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, no!” assured Bart; “you are mistaken, I assure +you.”</p> + +<p>But, for all of these words, Frank was not satisfied, +as Bart’s manner had plainly betrayed the fact that he +was trying to conceal something.</p> + +<p>“Which way are you traveling?” Frank asked.</p> + +<p>“East.”</p> + +<p>“Too bad! We are going the other way, and I +hoped you’d go along.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, no! it is impossible,” Hodge quickly asserted.</p> + +<p>“Business important?”</p> + +<p>“Well, it is—er—somewhat so.”</p> + +<p>“Where are you from last?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I’ve been traveling—yes, traveling,” answered +Bart, vaguely.</p> + +<p>“Now, look here!” cried Merry, decisively; “you’ve +got to travel with us, old man. I won’t take no for +an answer, for I believe you can do it. You’ll turn +about and go to San Francisco with us.”</p> + +<p>“That’s right; come on,” cried the others.</p> + +<p>Bart shook his head.</p> + +<p>“Can’t do it—I can’t. You don’t know—I can’t +explain—now.”</p> + +<p>“Do you think this is using me just right?” asked +Frank, reproachfully. “You’ll find us a jolly crowd, +and we’ll have dead loads of sport. We’ve made a +quick run across, and we can take our time going back. +None of the fellows are obliged to hurry home. +Come along with us, Bart, and we’ll do you good.”</p> + +<p>Something like a smile flitted over Hodge’s serious +face.</p> + +<p>“You are the same old Merriwell,” he said. “It has +done me good to see you a little while, Frank.”</p> + +<p>“It will do you more good to see me longer, and it’ll +do me good to have you come with me. Come along.”</p> + +<p>Bart wavered. It was plain enough that he longed +to go, but, for some reason, he hesitated.</p> + +<p>Frank passed an arm about Hodge’s shoulders, saying, +gently but firmly:</p> + +<p>“You’ve got to do it; you can’t get out of it, old +chum.”</p> + +<p>A wave of feeling fled across Hodge’s face, and +there was something like a suspicious quiver of his +sensitive chin.</p> + +<p>“You do not understand,” he slowly murmured. +“I’d like to have a talk with you, Frank. I—I might +tell you——”</p> + +<p>“That’s right,” said Harry, heartily. “Old friends +like you chaps want a chance to talk over old matters +and things. Excuse us. We’re going to find a chance +to stretch our weary limbs on the ground. Browning +has an attack of that tired feeling, and he will fall asleep +in his tracks if he doesn’t recline without delay.”</p> + +<p>“Huah!” grunted Bruce.</p> + +<p>Then the boys withdrew, leaving Hodge and Merriwell together.</p> + +<p>Bart seemed embarrassed and uneasy. He glanced +at Frank slyly, as if in doubt, which Merry did not fail +to note, although pretending not to observe it.</p> + +<p>They sat down near the foot of a monster tree, +against which they could lean in a comfortable position +as they chatted. The great forest of redwood trees +was all about them, and a Sabbath peace brooded over +the gentle slope of the Sierras.</p> + +<p>“Well, Bart,” said Frank, insinuatingly, “I trust +things are going well with you?”</p> + +<p>A sudden change came over Hodge. A fierce look +of rage came to his face and his eyes blazed, while his +voice was harsh and unpleasant, as he cried:</p> + +<p>“Things are not going well with me! Everything +has gone wrong! Oh, I’ve had infernal luck! I know +I was born under an unlucky star, and the only time I +ever did get along was when you and I were together at +Fardale.”</p> + +<p>“Then stick by me, and change your luck again.”</p> + +<p>“I’d like to do it, but you are going the wrong way.”</p> + +<p>“What’s the odds? There is no reason why you +should not turn back and——”</p> + +<p>“There is a reason.”</p> + +<p>“Of course I do not know about that, but——”</p> + +<p>“Listen, Frank; you remember Isa Isban?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, and Vida Milburn, Isa’s half-sister, with +whom you were in love. I distinctly remember that +Vida was a beautiful and charming girl.”</p> + +<p>Hodge’s teeth ground together with a nerve-tingling, +grating sound, and his face was set as stone, although +his eyes still blazed.</p> + +<p>“Yes, a beautiful girl—a charming girl!” he admitted, +but with sarcasm that could not be mistaken.</p> + +<p>“What’s the matter? Where is Vida now?”</p> + +<p>“I don’t know, and I don’t care a rap!”</p> + +<p>“Oh, say! I think I tumble. It is a case of lovers’ +quarrel. Now, now, now! Don’t be foolish, my boy! +It will come out all right. You know true love persistently +refuses to run smooth. You’ll make it all up +in time.”</p> + +<p>Hodge grinned, but there was nothing of mirth in +the expression. It seemed to Frank as if some wild +animal had shown its teeth.</p> + +<p>“Oh, yes, it will come out all right!” he sneered. +“We’ll make it all up in time! It’s too late, Merriwell.”</p> + +<p>“You think so, that’s all.”</p> + +<p>“I know so. She’s married!”</p> + +<p>Frank gasped.</p> + +<p>“Married?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“Married? Why, she is a mere girl! And you—where +do you come in?”</p> + +<p>“I’m not in it, and I think I’m lucky. That’s not +worrying me.”</p> + +<p>“But how—how did it happen? Why did you +throw her over? or why did she go back on you?”</p> + +<p>“I’m not going to tell the whole story now, Frank; +but the fact is that she lacked faith in me. I rather +think I’m dead lucky to get out of it, for she was +rather weak and fickle. You know her half-sister, Isa +Isban, although stunningly handsome, is wild and reckless. +She was married to a gambler and maker of +crooked money.”</p> + +<p>“But he is dead—was shot, and Isa disappeared.”</p> + +<p>“Well, she has reappeared, but I’ll tell you about that +later. It’s Vida I wish to tell you about now. You +know Vida’s old uncle and aunt never did have a high +opinion of me.”</p> + +<p>“Not till they discovered that you were a brave and +honorable fellow. Then they seemed to turn about +and think you one of the finest chaps in the world.”</p> + +<p>“They got over it,” Hodge sneered. “They came +to think me anything but brave and honorable. They +believed me a drunkard, a gambler and a thief!”</p> + +<p>Frank was shocked, and he showed it.</p> + +<p>“Impossible!” he cried. “How could they think +such a thing of you? They had no reason to think +so!”</p> + +<p>Bart turned crimson till it extended all over his face +and neck.</p> + +<p>“You don’t know, Merry,” he muttered, positively +showing shame. “I’m not like you—I make a bad +break sometimes. It is hard for me to resist temptation, +and—well, I was tempted, and I succumbed. +That’s all.”</p> + +<p>“Succumbed? What do you mean? I know your +heart is right, old fellow, and you did not do anything +wrong intentionally.”</p> + +<p>“Appearances were against me—I confess it. First—well, +I was seen drunk. That is, I seemed to be +drunk, but I swear to you that I had not taken but one +drink, and that was not enough to knock out a ten-year-old +boy. It was drugged, Frank—I know it!”</p> + +<p>“Drugged? Who did such a villainous trick?”</p> + +<p>“My enemy—a young fellow who loved Vida. He +has a father who’s got the rocks. He’s older than I, +and I thought him my friend. I met him at her home. +His name is Hart Davis.”</p> + +<p>“The whelp! But did Vida see you?”</p> + +<p>“Yes. I had been out with Davis that night. In +the morning I was found on the steps of Vida’s home, +apparently dead drunk.”</p> + +<p>“How came you there?”</p> + +<p>“I didn’t know at the time. Since then—well, it is +settled in my mind. Davis said I left him to go to the +place where I was boarding in Carson City. He said +I seemed to be all right when I left him, and so he let +me go. He appeared very shocked to think such a +misfortune had happened me: but—burn him!—I believe +he gave me knock-out drops—I believe he carried +me to that house—I believe he left me on the steps, +where I was found!”</p> + +<p>Frank’s eyes were blazing now, and the look on his +expressive face told how he felt toward Mr. Hart +Davis.</p> + +<p>“And did Vida throw you over for that?” he asked, +in an indignant manner.</p> + +<p>“Not entirely for that. She was very shocked and +cold toward me, but when I was arrested——”</p> + +<p>“Arrested?” gasped Frank. “Arrested for what?”</p> + +<p>“For stealing a watch.”</p> + +<h2 class='chapter' id='clink20'><a href='#toc'>CHAPTER XX.—FRANK BECOMES ALARMED.</a></h2> + +<p>“For stealing?”</p> + +<p>Frank’s astonishment was so great that he found it +difficult to utter the words.</p> + +<p>“Yes,” nodded Bart, gloomily, “for stealing a +watch.”</p> + +<p>“But—but I know you never did such a——The +man who would think such a thing ought to be shot!”</p> + +<p>“The watch was found on my person,” said Bart, +slowly.</p> + +<p>“Found on you, was it? I don’t care! I know you +didn’t steal it. Nothing could make me believe that.”</p> + +<p>A gleam of satisfaction seemed to pierce the fierce +look on Hodge’s face, as a shaft of sunshine sometimes +pierces a black and sullen cloud.</p> + +<p>“You are right, Merriwell,” he said; “I did not steal +it. Give me your hand. Oh, it is good—so good to +have some one in the world who has confidence in +me! It has seemed of late that everybody was down +on me.”</p> + +<p>He grasped Frank’s hand, and pressed it warmly.</p> + +<p>“You have been up against hard luck, old friend,” +came feelingly from Frank. “And the girl shook you +quite after you were arrested?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“Were you tried?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“Convicted?”</p> + +<p>“No.”</p> + +<p>“Still she threw you over?”</p> + +<p>“She did.”</p> + +<p>“Well, you are dead lucky! Such a girl is not +worth thinking about! Don’t let that break you up, +Hodge.”</p> + +<p>“Wait,” said Bart. “I have not told you all.”</p> + +<p>“Go on.”</p> + +<p>“I was arrested in one of the most notorious gambling +houses in Carson.”</p> + +<p>It was plain that the confession cost Hodge much, +for his shame was evident, and he hastily added:</p> + +<p>“Give it to me, Merriwell! I deserve it! Blow me +up!”</p> + +<p>“I shall do nothing of the kind,” said Frank, slowly, +“although I am very sorry to hear what you have told +me. Were you in that house to play?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“That is the bad part of it, for you know you can’t +let gambling alone once you get at it. I had hoped +you were free of your old bad habits.”</p> + +<p>“You never hoped so more than I!” cried Bart. +“But it’s no use—I can’t reform. Davis induced me +to go to the gambling house, and then he dropped me +like a live coal when I was pinched.”</p> + +<p>“But you said they proved nothing against you.”</p> + +<p>“No, they could not prove anything, for I proved +that I bought the watch of a young man who offered +it to me at a bargain. That cleared me of that +charge.”</p> + +<p>“But Vida Milburn threw you down just as hard?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“Why?”</p> + +<p>“Don’t you see, I was arrested in a gambling house +while playing roulette. She had seen me when I appeared +to be drunk. That was enough. Even though +I did not steal, I drank and gambled. Her aunt forbade +her seeing me. She sent back my presents, and +told me we must become as strangers. Two months +later she married Hart Davis.”</p> + +<p>Frank’s hand fell on the shoulder of his old-time +friend.</p> + +<p>“It was hard luck, Hodge,” he said, in a straightforward +manner, “and you were not entirely blameless. +At the same time, it is certain that girl did not care for +you as she should, and she might have made you miserable +if you had won her. The girl who really loves +a fellow will believe in him and his honor till there is +not a single tattered remnant of his reputation to which +she can pin her faith. I tell you, old chum, you may +congratulate yourself that you got off as you did.”</p> + +<p>“I have tried to do so,” said Hodge, “and I resolved +to be a man and forget her. But it was harder +to forget than I dreamed, and then, when I was beginning +to forget, that other came upon me again.”</p> + +<p>“That other? What other?”</p> + +<p>“Her half-sister.”</p> + +<p>“Isa Isban?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“You met Isa?”</p> + +<p>“In Sacramento.”</p> + +<p>“And she looks as she did long ago—just as handsome?”</p> + +<p>“A hundred times more so!” cried Bart, his eyes +kindling and a flush suffusing his cheeks. “Merriwell, +she is the handsomest girl I ever knew!”</p> + +<p>Frank whistled, regarding Bart searchingly and uneasily.</p> + +<p>“What’s this? what’s this?” he exclaimed. “What +has she been doing with you? Why, hang me if I +don’t believe—I know you were hard hit by her!”</p> + +<p>“I was,” confessed Bart, flushing still more. “When +I first saw her I thought her Vida, but she seemed to +have grown more beautiful than ever, and I could not +help looking at her. Then I discovered there was a +difference—I saw it was not Vida but Isa. When I +spoke to her she remembered me, and then—well, we +became very friendly. I told her everything, and she +laughed. She said Vida was too soft for anything—said +the old aunt made Vida do anything she wished, +and the girl hadn’t spirit enough to do as she desired. +She said she would stick to a fellow if she loved him +even though he were jailed for twenty years. There +was spirit, dash, go about her, Merriwell! She fascinated +me. I saw in her what I had missed in Vida.”</p> + +<p>Frank shook his head in a very sober manner.</p> + +<p>“My dear fellow,” he said, “do you remember Isa +had a husband?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, but he is dead,” said Bart, quickly.</p> + +<p>“I know that; but do you remember the sort of fellow +he was?”</p> + +<p>“Of course; he was a counterfeiter.”</p> + +<p>“Exactly, and Isa ‘shoved the queer’ for him. She +didn’t do a thing to me the first time we met. I +changed a fifty-dollar bill for her, and when I tried to +pass the bill I came near being arrested. You remember +that?”</p> + +<p>“Sure.”</p> + +<p>“I hardly think that is the sort of girl you wish to +get stuck on, old boy.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t know about that,” said Bart, rather defiantly. +“She stuck to her husband through thick and +thin, and I think all the more of her for it.”</p> + +<p>Frank was alarmed.</p> + +<p>“My dear fellow,” he cried, “you are an easy mark. +That girl is shrewd—altogether too shrewd for you to +match your wits against hers. She will play you for +a fool—I am sure of it.”</p> + +<p>Bart reddened again and then turned very pale, his +manner indicating great embarrassment. He drew +from Frank a bit, and something in his air added to +Merriwell’s alarm.</p> + +<p>“I hope you haven’t been very friendly with Isa +Isban,” Frank said.</p> + +<p>“I might have been more friendly, but she had a +foolish idea that it would injure me if I were seen with +her often.”</p> + +<p>“She had such an idea?”</p> + +<p>“Yes; and that goes to show the girl’s heart is all +right. She had consideration for me.”</p> + +<p>Frank bit his lip and scowled.</p> + +<p>“It is remarkable,” he confessed. “Are you sure it +was out of consideration for you that she did not wish +you seen with her?”</p> + +<p>“Sure? Of course.”</p> + +<p>“It seems strange. It seems that the kind of life +she has led with that reckless coiner husband would +be sure to make her careless of others—make her hard +and heartless.”</p> + +<p>“It is not strange you think so, Merriwell; but it is +because you do not know her. I honor and respect +her for standing by her husband, even when she knew +he was a rascal, and I believe she has a heart and soul +a thousand times more noble than the heart and soul +of her half-sister.”</p> + +<p>“Bad, bad!” exclaimed Frank. “Look here, Bart, +you must go along with me. That is settled. Isa +Isban will ruin you if you do not escape from her influence.”</p> + +<p>A look of indignation settled on Hodge’s face, and +he drew away.</p> + +<p>“If you knew her well, Frank, I would not pardon +you for saying that about her; but, as you know nothing +about her, I will overlook it. But, old fellow, +please don’t speak of Miss Isban in that way.”</p> + +<p>“Miss Isban? Her name is Mrs. Scott; her husband’s +name was Paul Scott.”</p> + +<p>“I know, but she has resumed her maiden name since +his death. She calls herself Miss Isban now. You +should see her, Merriwell. She looks like a sweet girl +graduate—a girl of eighteen, and——”</p> + +<p>“She must be twenty-one or two.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t know, and I don’t care. She does not look +it, and I believe she is a splendid girl. I honor and +respect her.”</p> + +<p>“Great Scott!” thought Frank; “Hodge is in the +greatest peril of his life! I am sure of it. I am sure +that girl will work his utter downfall if he is not saved +from her influence. It is my duty to find a way to +save him. I will!”</p> + +<p>When Frank made up his mind to do a thing, he bent +all his energies to accomplish the end. In the past +Hodge had been easily influenced, but he felt sure Isa +Isban had a hold on the lad that could not be broken +with ease. The task must be accomplished by clever +work.</p> + +<p>“Where is she now?” Merry asked.</p> + +<p>“I don’t know.”</p> + +<p>“Don’t? How is that?”</p> + +<p>“Well, you see, I—I left Sacramento rather—rather +suddenly,” faltered Bart.</p> + +<p>“Suddenly? Explain it, old chum. Why did you +leave Sacramento suddenly? I trust you did not get +into trouble there?”</p> + +<p>Hodge ground his heel into the ground, seeming +quite occupied in digging a hole in that manner. Suddenly +he started and listened.</p> + +<p>“A horse is coming this way—up the trail!” he exclaimed. +“It is coming at a hot pace, as if hard ridden.”</p> + +<p>“Let it come. That needn’t bother us. Answer +my questions, Bart. You know I am your friend, and +there should be perfect trust and no secrets between +close friends.”</p> + +<p>But Hodge did not seem to hear those words. He +was listening to the hoofbeats of the galloping horse, +and his face had grown pale.</p> + +<p>“Look here, Merriwell,” he hastily exclaimed, “the +rider of that horse may be a person I do not care to +meet.”</p> + +<p>Bart got up hastily, and Frank arose, saying:</p> + +<p>“You needn’t be afraid of him. The other boys are +good fighters, and there is no single man in this country +that can do you up while you are with this crowd. +We will stand by you.”</p> + +<p>“It’s not that; you don’t understand. I must not +be seen. I’ll get out of sight, and you must bluff him +off, if he asks about me. That’s all. Here he comes!”</p> + +<p>A glimpse of the horseman was obtained as he flitted +along between the great trees.</p> + +<p>Immediately Hodge slipped behind a tree, and lost no +time in getting out of view.</p> + +<p>The horseman came on swiftly, and the boys saw +that he was a large man with a grizzled beard that had +once been coal black. He was roughly dressed, with +his pantaloons tucked into his boots.</p> + +<p>As he approached the man eyed the boys closely. +Close at hand he drew up, saying in a harsh voice:</p> + +<p>“Wa-al, who are you, and whatever are yer doing +here?”</p> + +<h2 class='chapter' id='clink21'><a href='#toc'>CHAPTER XXI.—ARREST AND ESCAPE.</a></h2> + +<p>Frank was inclined to resent the stranger’s words +and manner.</p> + +<p>“I don’t understand how that concerns you, sir,” he +said, rather stiffly.</p> + +<p>“Hey,” cried the man, glaring at Merry. “Don’t +git insolent, youngster! I don’t like it.”</p> + +<p>“Your question was impertinent.”</p> + +<p>“Whatever is that? Be careful. I don’t want any +foolin’.”</p> + +<p>Frank smiled at this, which seemed to make the +horseman angry.</p> + +<p>“Hang ye!” he exclaimed. “You want to be respectful, +for you’re liable to get into trouble with me, +and you won’t like that.”</p> + +<p>“Shoo fly!” chuckled Toots, showing his big white +teeth in a grin. “G’way dar, man! Yo’ gibs me de +fever an’ chillins.”</p> + +<p>“Wa-al, dern me!” roared the man, growing very +red in the face. “It’s the first time an ordinary nigger +ever dared to speak to Bill Higgins that way.”</p> + +<p>“Hole on, sar! I ain’t no ordumnary nigger, sar. +I’s a cullud gemman ob ’stinction, sar, an’ po’ white +trash cayarn’t talk to me lek dat—no, sar!”</p> + +<p>“Choke off that critter!” growled the man, addressing +Frank. “If yer don’t, I’ll shoot him full of holes!”</p> + +<p>“I wouldn’t advise you to do that,” came calmly +from Merriwell. “You might get into serious trouble +if you did.”</p> + +<p>“Trouble?—trouble over shootin’ a nigger?” snorted +the stranger. “Wa-al, I think not! I’ve got the record +of killin’ a dozen white men, and——”</p> + +<p>“Thirteen is an unlucky number you know. Without +doubt you will be hanged, as you deserve, when +you kill the thirteenth one.”</p> + +<p>“Mebbe so, but a nigger won’t count. I’ll bore him +if he opens his trap again!”</p> + +<p>“Land ob mercy!” gurgled Toots, dodging behind +a tree. “Dat man am crazzy fo’ suah! Look out fo’ +him, chilluns; dar am no tellin’ when he’ll tek a noshun +inter his fool haid teh shoot you all.”</p> + +<p>“You must be a very bad man,” said Merriwell, sarcastically.</p> + +<p>“I am; and now yer realize it, mebbe you’ll have a +little more respect. Who be yer? an’ what’re yer +doing here?”</p> + +<p>“If you will show that you have any right to ask +those questions, I will answer them.”</p> + +<p>“Right! Why, hang it! I’m ther sheriff of this +county!”</p> + +<p>“Well, what have we done that the sheriff of this +county or any other county in California should come +around and demand our names, as if we were criminals?”</p> + +<p>“Ye’re suspicious characters.”</p> + +<p>“Is that it? And we look like dangerous criminals?”</p> + +<p>“I’ve seen fellows what didn’t look more dangerous +than you as was rather tough.”</p> + +<p>“Well, we are not tough, and we have no reason +for concealing our names.”</p> + +<p>Then Frank gave the name of each of the boys, +pointing them out as he did so, and told how they +happened to be in California.</p> + +<p>Bill Higgins, as the man had called himself, listened +and looked them over. His manner seemed to change, +and he said:</p> + +<p>“You tell that pretty straight, and I reckon you’re +not giving me a crooked deal, but whar’s to’ other one?”</p> + +<p>“What other one?”</p> + +<p>“The one what owns the other bisuckle. Thar’s +only five of you, and here are six bisuckles.”</p> + +<p>The keen eyes of the sheriff made this discovery, +and Frank realized that Hodge’s wheel should have +been concealed.</p> + +<p>“Oh, the other fellow has just stepped aside to look +at the big trees,” he explained. “This is the first time +we have ever seen trees like these. They are wonders, +sir. Do you have them all over the State? How tall +are they? Can you give us the dimensions of the +largest tree discovered in this State? We desire some +information concerning them.”</p> + +<p>“I see ye do,” said Higgins, with sarcasm, “an’ I desire +a little information myself. You’ll answer my +questions.”</p> + +<p>Frank feared his ruse would fail, but he suavely +said:</p> + +<p>“Oh, certainly—of course, sir. We shall be pleased +to answer your questions. Do these trees make good +timber for building purposes? Are they difficult to +work up? How thick is the bark? And how——”</p> + +<p>“That’ll do!” roared the sheriff, fiercely. “I’m no +bureau of information. Whar is the other feller?”</p> + +<p>Frank assumed a dignified and injured air.</p> + +<p>“As you do not seem inclined to answer my questions, +I must decline to answer yours,” he said, coldly. +“If you will drive along, it will be agreeable to us.”</p> + +<p>Higgins showed his yellow teeth through his grizzled +beard.</p> + +<p>“Oh-ho!” he grated. “So that’s the trick. Wa-al, +I know t’other chap is near, an’ I’m goin’ ter see him. +That is settled.”</p> + +<p>Off his horse he sprang, leaving the animal to stand, +and then, to the surprise of all, he ran to the tree behind +which Bart was concealed, dashed around it, and +gave a shout of triumph.</p> + +<p>A moment later the sheriff reappeared, dragging +Hodge by the collar.</p> + +<p>“Don’t try ter git away!” he commanded. “If ye +do, you’ll be sorry. I don’t fool with a critter of +your caliber.”</p> + +<p>“Let go!” cried Bart, indignantly. “What are you +trying to do with me? Take your hands off, sir!”</p> + +<p>“Not till I lodge ye behind bars, young feller. +You’re under arrest, so cool down and keep still.”</p> + +<p>“Why am I arrested?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, you don’t know; oh, no!”</p> + +<p>“Answer my question, sir! Why am I arrested?”</p> + +<p>“Now, don’t go to gettin’ funny and givin’ orders. +It ain’t necessary to answer.”</p> + +<p>Frank stepped forward.</p> + +<p>“It is no more than right that you should tell me +why you have arrested my friend, sir,” he said.</p> + +<p>“Ho! ho!” cried the sheriff. “So he is your friend! +I thought as much! Well, don’t you get too frisky, or +I may take a notion to arrest you, too.”</p> + +<p>“Such a thing would be an outrage, and I believe +you have perpetrated an outrage in arresting Mr. +Hodge.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t care what you think!”</p> + +<p>“At the same time, I see no reason why you should +refuse to tell me why you have arrested him.”</p> + +<p>“Jive him gesse—I mean give him Jesse!” fluttered +Rattleton, as he sought Frank’s side. “You know +we will stand by you, old man. If you say the word, +we’ll take Hodge away from him.”</p> + +<p>Bill Higgins’ ears were sharp, and he caught the +words. Like a flash he whipped out a huge revolver, +which he held in a menacing manner, while he growled:</p> + +<p>“Thirteen may be an unlucky number, but skin me +if I don’t make it thirteen or more if you chaps tries +the trick!”</p> + +<p>He looked as if he meant what he said.</p> + +<p>“Steady, fellows,” warned Merriwell, as the boys +gathered at his back, ready for anything. “Don’t be +hasty.”</p> + +<p>“It won’t be good fer yer if you are!” muttered Higgins.</p> + +<p>“We can take Hodge away from him—I know we +can!” whispered Diamond, eagerly. “Say the word, +and we’ll jump him!”</p> + +<p>“That’s right,” nodded Browning, with deliberation.</p> + +<p>Higgins backed off a bit, still holding fast to Hodge, +and handling his revolver threateningly.</p> + +<p>“Blamed if I don’t take the whole gang in!” he +shouted. “I reckon you’re all standin’ in together +with this feller.”</p> + +<p>“You will have a warm time taking in this crowd,” +said Frank, quickly. “We are friends of Mr. Hodge, +and therefore we think it no more than right that we +should know why he is arrested.”</p> + +<p>“If that’s goin’ to satisfy ye, you shall know. He’s +arrested for shovin’ the queer.”</p> + +<p>“Shoving—the—queer?”</p> + +<p>“That’s whatever!”</p> + +<p>“But—but there must be a mistake.”</p> + +<p>“Bill Higgins never makes mistakes.”</p> + +<p>Frank was shocked, stunned. He looked at Bart, +and Hodge’s face, which had been pale, turned crimson +with apparent shame. It was like a blow to Merriwell, +for the conviction that Hodge was guilty came over +him.</p> + +<p>“It was that wretched girl—she did it!” he thought. +“She has led him into this. She has influenced him to +put out some of that bogus money, and he, like the infatuated +fool that he was, did it willingly. Oh, it is a +shame!”</p> + +<p>Bart stole a glance at Frank, and saw by the expression +of Merry’s face that he was convinced of his folly. +Immediately Hodge seemed to wilt, as if hope had +gone out of him. The color left his face, and it became +wan and drawn, with an expression of anguish +that aroused Frank’s deepest pity.</p> + +<p>“I don’t care!” Merriwell mentally exclaimed. “He +did it because he was hypnotized—because her influence +compelled him to do so. If he is brought to trial now +it will mean his utter ruin. What can I do for him? +Can I do anything?”</p> + +<p>Bart saw the change that came over Frank’s face, +but did not understand what it meant. Instead, noticing +a hard, determined look, he fancied his former +friend was hardening his heart against him.</p> + +<p>Of a sudden Hodge gave the sheriff a shove and +trip, sending him sprawling on the ground, his revolver +being discharged as he fell. Fortunately the +bullet harmed no one.</p> + +<p>Like a flash, the desperate boy darted away. He +caught his wheel, which stood against a tree, and was +on it in a moment. His feet caught the pedals, and +away he went down the road.</p> + +<p>Bill Higgins scrambled up, uttering language that +was shocking to hear.</p> + +<p>“The cursed whelp!” he roared. “He can’t ride +faster than bullets can travel! I’ll fill him full of +lead!”</p> + +<p>Then he flung up the revolver.</p> + +<p>Merriwell was quite as swift in his movements.</p> + +<p>“No, you don’t!”</p> + +<p>With that cry on his lips, Frank knocked the weapon +aside just as it was discharged, and the bullet sped skyward +through the tree tops.</p> + +<p>Then Bill Higgins whirled and tried to shoot the +boy who had saved Bart Hodge, but the heavy fist of +Bruce Browning fell on his temple, and he dropped +like a log to the ground.</p> + +<p>Frank picked up the sheriff’s revolver, which had +fallen from his hand, and, when Higgins sat up, he +found himself looking into the muzzle of his own +weapon.</p> + +<p>“Get out!”</p> + +<p>Merriwell uttered the words, and Higgins took the +hint.</p> + +<p>“All right,” he snarled; “but this doesn’t end it! I’ll +make all of yer suffer fer this!”</p> + +<p>He arose, mounted his waiting horse, and galloped +away after Hodge.</p> + +<h2 class='chapter' id='clink22'><a href='#toc'>CHAPTER XXII.—ISA ISBAN.</a></h2> + +<p>Late that same afternoon the five boys were riding +westward, when Frank said:</p> + +<p>“Something mysterious has happened, fellows.”</p> + +<p>“What is it?” asked Jack, who was instantly interested +in any mystery.</p> + +<p>“A short time ago I saw a horseman away down +the road here.”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“He was coming toward us.”</p> + +<p>“Well?”</p> + +<p>“We have not met him.”</p> + +<p>“No.”</p> + +<p>“Look—the road lies before us for a mile. Where +is he?”</p> + +<p>“Not in sight, that is sure.”</p> + +<p>“He must have turned off somewhere,” said Rattleton.</p> + +<p>“That is true, but we have seen no road that turned +off from this.”</p> + +<p>“Perhaps he saw us and turned aside to avoid us.”</p> + +<p>“Or it may have been Bill Higgins, the sheriff, and +he is lying in wait to arrest us all,” suggested Browning.</p> + +<p>“It was not Higgins,” assured Merriwell. “It was +a young man, I am sure, although I obtained but a +glimpse of him through the trees. We have passed +no house since then.”</p> + +<p>“Never mind him,” said Harry. “We must find +a place to stop for the night.”</p> + +<p>“I wish we might learn what has happened to Hodge +before we stop. I don’t believe Higgins recaptured +him.”</p> + +<p>“It’s ten chances to one we’ll never hear anything +more about him while we are in California.”</p> + +<p>“I know that, and I am sorry. I wanted to keep +him with us, for he is in great need of friends to +straighten him up. He has fallen in with bad companions, +and they are ruining him.”</p> + +<p>“I should say so!” exclaimed Diamond. “He is a +fool to let himself be worked by a girl.”</p> + +<p>“Don’t take Hodge for a fool, Jack. He is anything +but a fool, but he is easily influenced, and he is +proud and passionate. Fairly started on the wrong +road, he may go to ruin in a hurry. If we could get +him out of this State—save him from arrest! Should +he be arrested, tried and condemned, it would mean +his utter and complete ruin. After serving a term in +prison, he would feel the disgrace so deeply that nothing +could save him.”</p> + +<p>“Well, you have taken a big contract if you are +going to try to save him now,” Diamond declared.</p> + +<p>“It might be done, but——Hello! this looks like a +path.”</p> + +<p>Frank was off his wheel in a moment, and he quickly +decided that a path led from the regular trail into the +dark shadows to the forest to the northward.</p> + +<p>“Wonder where it would take us,” he muttered. +And then, seized by a sudden inspiration, he cried:</p> + +<p>“Come on, fellows; let’s go on an exploring expedition.”</p> + +<p>Diamond protested, and Browning growled after +his usual lazy manner, but Frank was supported by +Rattleton and Toots, and the majority ruled.</p> + +<p>The path, where it turned off from the road, seemed +to be somewhat hidden, but it soon became plain +enough, and they were able to ride along in single file, +Merriwell leading.</p> + +<p>They had proceeded in this manner about a mile +when they came in sight of a small cabin that was set +down in a little hollow amid the trees.</p> + +<p>The place looked lonely and deserted, but Frank +rode straight toward it, and the others followed.</p> + +<p>The boys dismounted before the cabin, and Merriwell +rapped loudly on the door. He was forced to +knock three times before he obtained a response.</p> + +<p>The door opened slowly, and a bent and feeble-looking +man with dirty white hair looked at them.</p> + +<p>“Who are you?” he asked, in a cracked voice, suspicion +showing plainly in his eyes, which were bright +and clear for all of his age.</p> + +<p>“Travelers,” replied Frank, cheerfully. “We were +passing, and, as night is at hand, we decided to ask +shelter here.”</p> + +<p>“It is useless to ask,” the man declared, with a +shake of his head. “I can’t keep you. It is very +strange that you should be passing this place. The +road does not come within a mile of here.”</p> + +<p>“That is true, but we found a path, and became convinced +that it must lead to a house, so here we are.”</p> + +<p>“You have had your trouble for nothing; I shall not +keep you.”</p> + +<p>“Hospitable old man!” murmured Browning, sarcastically.</p> + +<p>Despite his age, the man was not hard of hearing, +for he caught the big fellow’s words and shot him a +look.</p> + +<p>“Surely you will not turn us away now,” urged +Frank. “It will be dark by the time we reach the road +again.”</p> + +<p>“That is nothing to me.”</p> + +<p>The old man was about to close the door, when, to +the astonishment of the boys, a musical, girlish voice +said:</p> + +<p>“Let them stop here, Drew. I know one of the +young gentlemen.”</p> + +<p>The bicyclists looked at each other inquiringly, wondering +which one of them the owner of the voice could +know. They all felt a thrill, for this added zest and +romance to the little adventure.</p> + +<p>“Am I dreaming?” whispered Bruce; “or did I +hear the gentle ripple of a female voice?”</p> + +<p>“Smoly hoke!” gasped Harry. “To find a girl in +this spone lot—I mean lone spot! It is a marvel!”</p> + +<p>“An’ dat voice oh hers am lek honeydew from +heabben, chilluns—’deed it am!” gurgled Toots, poetically.</p> + +<p>The old man seemed astonished and in doubt.</p> + +<p>“Do you mean it, my dear?” he asked. “It was +on your account——”</p> + +<p>“Never mind me, Drew,” came back that musical +voice. “It would be a shame to turn them away.”</p> + +<p>“But—but——”</p> + +<p>“There are no buts about it!” cried the voice +sharply, almost angrily. “You have heard what I +said! They may stop here.”</p> + +<p>“All right—all right, if you say so. There’s nothing +for them to eat, and so——”</p> + +<p>“I’ll cook something, for you have corn meal in the +house. Young men who ride wheels have appetites +that enable them to eat anything.”</p> + +<p>“All right—all right,” repeated the old man, vaguely.</p> + +<p>“Let them put their bicycles under the shed back +of the house.”</p> + +<p>The old man came out, closing the door.</p> + +<p>“It is my niece, young gentlemen,” he explained. +“She is very peculiar, and—well, when she says anything, +that settles it, so you’ll have to stay.”</p> + +<p>“Under the circumstances,” said Frank, his natural +delicacy influencing him, although he was rather curious +to see the owner of that voice, “I am inclined to +think we’re intruding, and we had better go on.”</p> + +<p>For a moment the face of the old man expressed relief, +and then that look vanished, while he shook his +head.</p> + +<p>“No,” he said, “that will not do now. She has decided +that you shall stop, and she will not leave any +hair on my head if you go away. You must stop.”</p> + +<p>“She must be a gentle maiden!” murmured Bruce, +with a faint smile.</p> + +<p>The boys followed the old man around to a shed, +under which they placed their wheels. The shed had +sometimes been used to shelter horses, but no horse +was there then.</p> + +<p>“You mustn’t mind my niece,” said the old man, +apologetically. “She has been spoiled, and she is determined +to have her own way. She runs the ranch.”</p> + +<p>Again the boys looked at each other.</p> + +<p>“I wonder which of us she knows,” said Harry.</p> + +<p>“It must be Merriwell,” Diamond declared. “It +could not be any one else. This is a joke on him.”</p> + +<p>Diamond’s ideas of a joke were decidedly peculiar.</p> + +<p>He seldom saw anything humorous in what pleased +his companions, and he took delight in things which did +not amuse them at all. He seldom laughed at anything.</p> + +<p>Frank himself felt that he was the one the girl +knew, if, indeed, she knew any of them, and he was +wondering where he had met her. In the course of his +wanderings over the world he had met many girls, +not a few of whom he had forgotten entirely.</p> + +<p>“If she is one of your old girls, I’m going to make +a stagger at cutting you out, old fellow,” chuckled +Rattleton.</p> + +<p>“Oh, I don’t know!” smiled Frank. “You’re not +so warm!”</p> + +<p>“Just now I don’t see any steam coming out of your +shoes,” Harry shot back, quickly. “You’re not the +only good thing on the programme; you might be cut +out.”</p> + +<p>“Land sakes, chilluns!” exclaimed Toots, with uplifted +hands. “I nebber heard no such slanguage as +dat—nebber!”</p> + +<p>“Any of you fellows may have the girl, if you want +her,” said Jack. “I have not seen her, but I’m sure +she is a terror, and I don’t care for that kind.”</p> + +<p>They followed the old man toward the door, and +entered the house.</p> + +<p>A lamp had been lighted while they were disposing +of their wheels, and the girl was standing where +the unsatisfactory light showed her face as plainly as +was possible.</p> + +<p>She was strikingly handsome, with dark hair and +eyes and full red lips. An expectant flush of color +was in her cheeks.</p> + +<p>As Frank entered, the girl extended her hand to +him, saying:</p> + +<p>“I am glad to see you again, Mr. Merriwell. Have +you forgotten me?”</p> + +<p>“Good gracious!” cried Merriwell. “It is Vida +Milburn!”</p> + +<p>She tossed her head, her hand dropping by her side.</p> + +<p>“That is not complimentary to me!” she exclaimed. +“It shows you remembered my half-sister far better +than you did me.”</p> + +<p>“Your half-sister? Then you are not Vida!”</p> + +<p>“No, thank you!”—with another haughty toss of the +head.</p> + +<p>“Then—then you must be—Isa Isban!”</p> + +<p>“How remarkable that you should guess it,” she +said, with biting sarcasm.</p> + +<p>“But—you—you must remember it has been some +time since I saw you, and—and I saw Miss Melburn +last.”</p> + +<p>“You saw me first, and you were so interested in me +that you followed me from Reno to Carson City. +After that you met my sister, and now you mistake me +for her! I am extremely complimented, Mr. Merriwell! +Never mind. You are not so many! Perhaps +you will introduce your friends. Some of them +may have a better memory than you.”</p> + +<p>For once in his life, at least, Frank was “rattled.” +He introduced Browning as Rattling and Diamond +as Brownton, while he completely forgot Harry’s +name.</p> + +<p>The girl laughed sharply, plainly enjoying his embarrassment. +She shook hands with all but Toots, +saying:</p> + +<p>“Mr. Merriwell doesn’t seem to be at his best. +It is possible he has ridden too far to-day.”</p> + +<p>Then Frank pulled himself together, and immediately +became as cool and collected as usual, which +was no easy thing to do.</p> + +<p>“I beg your pardon, Miss Isban, but I was just thinking +I had not ridden far enough.”</p> + +<p>He said it in his most suave manner, but the shot +went home, and it brought still more color to her +flushed cheeks.</p> + +<p>“Oh!” she cried, with the same toss of her head, +“if your wheel is not broken, it is not too late to make +several more miles before absolute darkness comes +on.”</p> + +<p>Diamond edged up to Frank, and whispered:</p> + +<p>“Careful, Merry! You’re getting her very angry, +and she is a mighty fine girl. Go easy, old man!”</p> + +<p>This was very amusing to Merriwell, for but a short +time before Diamond had expressed himself quite +freely in regard to the girl, and it was plain his ideas +had undergone a change since seeing her.</p> + +<p>“Don’t worry,” Frank returned. “She won’t mind +a little scrap. I think she will enjoy it. She is that +kind.”</p> + +<p>This did not seem to satisfy the young Virginian, +who immediately set about making himself as agreeable +as possible with Isa.</p> + +<p>The boys were invited to sit down, and seats were +provided for all of them.</p> + +<p>Frank became rather serious, for thoughts of +Hodge’s misfortune began to trouble him, and he remembered +that this girl was responsible for it all.</p> + +<p>Isa did not look a day older than when he had last +seen her, and it was hard to realize that she was a +woman with an experience and a dead husband.</p> + +<p>Browning was silent and apparently contented. He +seemed to take great satisfaction in sitting down and +resting.</p> + +<p>After a little silence, Isa observed, seeming to take +a malicious satisfaction in what she said:</p> + +<p>“One of Mr. Merriwell’s friends had not forgotten +me, at least.”</p> + +<p>“It might have been better for him if he had,” returned +Frank, in a manner that surprised himself, for +never before had he made such an ungallant remark.</p> + +<p>The girl’s eyes blazed and she bit her lip. It seemed +that she was on the point of an outburst, but she restrained +herself and laughed. That laugh was defiant +and angry.</p> + +<p>“Oh, well, I don’t know!” she said. “The person +I speak of may find I will stand by him better than +some of his friends who would have looked on while +he was dragged away to jail.”</p> + +<p>This was a surprise to Frank, for it showed that +the girl knew something about the adventure with Bill +Higgins, which had taken place that day.</p> + +<p>“So you have seen him since?” asked Merry, eagerly. +“Where is he?”</p> + +<p>“Find out.”</p> + +<p>“I shall be able to find out in time, I think, Miss +Isban.”</p> + +<p>“As far as he is concerned, you need not worry, for +I do not think he cares to see you again.”</p> + +<p>“I do not believe that. He knows me too well, +and he trusts me.”</p> + +<p>“He thought he knew you, but he did not fancy you +would remain passive and see him placed under arrest.”</p> + +<p>“I did not.”</p> + +<p>“What did you do?”</p> + +<p>“I did not have an opportunity to do much except +save his life.”</p> + +<p>“Save his life?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“How?”</p> + +<p>“I kept him from being bored by a bullet from Bill +Higgins’ gun.”</p> + +<p>“How did you do so much?”</p> + +<p>“I spoiled Higgins’ aim.”</p> + +<p>“Well, that was most remarkable! I presume you +expect him to show the utmost gratitude for a service +that any man might render another!”</p> + +<p>She snapped her fingers toward Frank, laughing +scornfully:</p> + +<p>“That’s where you fool yourself. Mr. Hodge has +told me that he hoped he might never meet you again. +He has found other and better friends.”</p> + +<p>“Perhaps you speak the truth.”</p> + +<p>The manner in which Frank uttered the words implied +not only a doubt but a positive belief that she +was not speaking the truth and she did not misunderstand +them. Her teeth clicked together, gleaming +beyond her curved, red lips, and her hands were +clinched. On her white fingers were a number of +rings, set with diamonds, which flashed and blazed like +her eyes.</p> + +<p>“I care not whether you think I speak the truth or +not,” she said, and turned her back upon him.</p> + +<p>Diamond evinced positive distress.</p> + +<p>“I can’t understand you, Merriwell!” he said, in an +aside. “It is not at all like you. Why, you are always +gallant and courteous to ladies.”</p> + +<p>“That is right,” agreed Frank, with deep meaning. +“I am.”</p> + +<p>Jack did not like that.</p> + +<p>“And you mean to insinuate that this beautiful girl +is not a lady?”</p> + +<p>“I have my doubts.”</p> + +<p>“Still it seems to me that you have made a bad break +in your treatment of her. You were very rude. That +is not the way to treat a young lady.”</p> + +<p>“It is not the way to treat the most of them; but, +my dear fellow, you will have to learn that they differ +as much as men. If you were to treat all men with +the utmost courtesy and consideration, you would find +that not a few would regard you as a weak-kneed +slob. They would impose on you, and their opinion +of you would sink lower and lower as you permitted +them to continue their impositions without giving back +as good as they sent. In this respect, there is a class +of women who resemble men. Of course you cannot +handle them as you would men, but you can’t be soft +with them. A man who insulted you you would knock +down. You can’t strike a woman, but you can strike +her in a different way, and, in nine cases out of ten, if +she is of a certain sort, she will think all the more of +you in the end.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I am sure you have made a mistake with +Miss Isban. I could see her deep anger and hatred +for you in her eyes. She would like to strangle you +this minute.”</p> + +<p>“I haven’t a doubt of it,” coolly smiled Frank, his +manner showing not the least concern.</p> + +<p>“She will hate and despise you as long as she lives.”</p> + +<p>“If so, it will make little difference to me.”</p> + +<p>Up to this time Jack had not dreamed that Frank +could be anything but courteous and bending to a lady, +and now the Southerner saw there was a turn to his +friend’s character that he had not suspected.</p> + +<p>Merriwell had not been at all brutal in his manner, +but his words had touched Isa Isban like blows of a +whip. They had stung her and stirred her blood, although +they were spoken in a way that showed the +natural polish and training of their author.</p> + +<p>In truth the girl longed to fly at Frank Merriwell’s +throat. She felt that she could strike him in the +face with her hands and feel the keenest delight in +doing so.</p> + +<p>As she turned toward him again, there came a sharp +knock on the door.</p> + +<h2 class='chapter' id='clink23'><a href='#toc'>CHAPTER XXIII.—A KNOCK ON THE DOOR.</a></h2> + +<p>The old man looked startled, and the girl showed +signs of alarm.</p> + +<p>“Quick, Drew!” she whispered. “Is the door fastened?”</p> + +<p>“Yes!” quavered the old man.</p> + +<p>“My revolver—where is it?”</p> + +<p>“On the shelf—where you placed it.”</p> + +<p>With a spring that reminded the boys of the leap +of a young pantheress, she reached the shelf and +snatched a gleaming pistol from it. Then she faced +the door again, the weapon half raised.</p> + +<p>The boys were on their feet.</p> + +<p>“Land ob wartermillions!” chattered Toots, his eyes +rolling. “Looks lek dar am gwan teh be a rucshun +fo’ suah!”</p> + +<p>Then he looked around for some place of concealment.</p> + +<p>“What is it?” asked Frank. “Is there danger?”</p> + +<p>“To me—yes,” nodded Isa. “But you do not care! +I expect no aid from you, sir.”</p> + +<p>“Who is at the door?”</p> + +<p>“It may be Bill Higgins, the sheriff!”</p> + +<p>“Come to arrest you?”</p> + +<p>“Perhaps.”</p> + +<p>“He can’t do it!” hissed Diamond, as he caught up +a heavy chair and held it poised. “We won’t let him!”</p> + +<p>The girl actually laughed.</p> + +<p>“At least, I have one champion,” she said.</p> + +<p>“To the death!” Diamond heroically declared.</p> + +<p>The knock was repeated, and this time it was given +in a peculiar manner, as if it were a special signal.</p> + +<p>An expression of relief came to the faces of the old +man and the girl, but they seemed very much surprised.</p> + +<p>“Who can it be?” Isa asked, doubtingly.</p> + +<p>“It is the secret signal,” said the man with the gray +hair.</p> + +<p>“That is true, but who should come here to give the +signal?”</p> + +<p>“It must be all right.”</p> + +<p>“Wait. I will go into the back room. If it is repeated, +open the door. Should it be an enemy or +enemies, give me time to get away. That’s all. Hold +them from rushing into the back room.”</p> + +<p>“We will do that,” declared Diamond.</p> + +<p>In a moment Isa disappeared.</p> + +<p>The knock was given for the third time, and the old +man approached the door, which he slowly and deliberately +opened.</p> + +<p>“Who are you, and what do you want?” he asked.</p> + +<p>The reply was muffled and indistinct, but something +like an exclamation of relief escaped the man, and he +flung the door wide open.</p> + +<p>Into the room walked a young man with a smooth-shaved +face and a swaggering air.</p> + +<p>“Hello, Drew!” he called, and then he stopped and +stared at the boys. “I didn’t know you had visitors,” +he said.</p> + +<p>“So it’s you, Kent—so it’s you!” exclaimed the old +man, with relief. “I didn’t know—I reckoned it +might be somebody else.”</p> + +<p>“You knew I was coming.”</p> + +<p>“Yes; but I didn’t ’low you’d get here so soon. It’s +a long distance to Carson, and——”</p> + +<p>“Never mind that,” quickly spoke the man, interrupting +Drew, as if he feared he would say something +it were better the boys did not hear. “My horse is outside. +Where shall I put him?”</p> + +<p>“In the shed. I’ll show ye. Come on.”</p> + +<p>The old man went out, followed by the newcomer, +and the door was left open slightly. Toots quietly +slipped out after them.</p> + +<p>Isa Isban came back into the room.</p> + +<p>“I do not care to be seen here by everybody who +may come along,” she explained; “but this person is +all right, for Drew knows him.”</p> + +<p>This was rather strange to all of the boys except +Frank, but Merry instantly divined that she was afraid +of Higgins and more than half expected the big sheriff +would follow her there.</p> + +<p>The secret signal and the air of mystery and apprehension +shown by the girl and the old man convinced +Merriwell that all was not right.</p> + +<p>Isa had at one time “shoved the queer” for a band +of men who made counterfeit money, and Bart Hodge +had told Frank quite enough to convince Merriwell +that she was still in the same dangerous and unlawful +business.</p> + +<p>The thoughts which ran riot in Merry’s head were +of a startling nature, but his face was calm and passive, +betraying nothing of what was passing in his mind.</p> + +<p>Once more Diamond set about making himself +agreeable to Isa, and she met him more than halfway. +She laughed and chatted with him, seeming to have +forgotten that such a person as Frank Merriwell existed.</p> + +<p>Browning sat down in a comfortable position where +he could lean against the wall, and proceeded to fall +asleep.</p> + +<p>After a short time Toots came slipping into the +cabin, his eyes rolling, and his whole manner betraying +excitement and fear. He would have blurted out +something, but Frank gave him a signal that caused +him to be silent.</p> + +<p>At the first opportunity the colored boy whispered +in Merry’s ear:</p> + +<p>“Marser Frank, de bes’ fing we can do is teh git out +ob dis ’bout as soon as we kin do it, sar.”</p> + +<p>“What makes you think that?” asked Merriwell, +cautiously.</p> + +<p>“We am in a po’erful ba-ad scrape, sar.”</p> + +<p>“What do you mean?”</p> + +<p>“It am mighty ba-ad folks dat libs heah, sar.”</p> + +<p>“Bad? In what way?”</p> + +<p>“Dey hab done suffin’ dat meks dem skeered ob de +ossifers ob de law.”</p> + +<p>“How do you know?”</p> + +<p>“I done hears de ol’ man and de young man talkin’.”</p> + +<p>“What did they say?”</p> + +<p>“Say dat ossifers am arter ’em. De young man say +dat he have to run from Carson City to ’scape arrest, +sar.”</p> + +<p>“He is the horseman I saw ahead of us in the valley,” +said Frank. “He must have seen us coming and +concealed himself, expecting we would pass him. It +is plain he did not wish to be seen.”</p> + +<p>“Suah’s yeh bawn, boy! He has been doin’ suffin’ +mighty ba-ad, an’ he’s dangerous. He said he wouldn’t +be ’rested alive, sar.”</p> + +<p>“This is very interesting,” nodded Frank. “It +seems that we are in for one more exciting adventure +before we finish the tour.”</p> + +<p>“I don’ like it, sar—’deed I don’! No tellin’ what +such folks will do. He am feelin’ po’erful ugly, fo’ +he say suffin’ ’bout trubble wif his wife an’ ’bout habbin’ +her follerin’ him. Dat am how it happen he wur +comin’ from de wes’ ’stead ob de eas’. He done dodge +roun’ teh git ’way from his wife, sar.”</p> + +<p>“He is a brave and gallant young man,” smiled +Merriwell. “I admire him very much—nit!”</p> + +<p>“Now don’ yeh go teh bein’ brash wif dat chap, +Marser Frank. Dar ain’t no tellin’ what he might +do.”</p> + +<p>“Don’t worry. Keep cool, and wait till I take a +fancy to move. I want to look him over some more. +He will be coming back with Drew in a moment, +and—— Here they come now!”</p> + +<p>Into the cabin came the old man, and the young man +was at his heels. There was a sullen, unpleasant look +on the face of the latter, and he glared at the boys as +if he considered them intruders.</p> + +<p>Isa looked up and arose as they entered.</p> + +<p>The light of the lamp fell fairly on her face, and the +newcomer saw her plainly.</p> + +<p>He uttered a shout of astonishment and staggered +back, his eyes opened to their widest and his manner +betraying the utmost consternation.</p> + +<p>“Is it possible!” he grated.</p> + +<p>Then he clutched the old man by the shoulder, snarling:</p> + +<p>“Confound your treacherous old hide! You have +betrayed me. You said the woman was Isa Isban, and +she is——”</p> + +<p>The girl interrupted him with a laugh.</p> + +<p>“You seem excited,” she said. “I am Isa Isban, +and no one else.”</p> + +<p>He took a step toward her, his face working and his +hands clinched.</p> + +<p>“How did you get here ahead of me?” he hoarsely +demanded.</p> + +<p>“In the most natural manner possible,” she answered. +“A friend brought me, Mr. Kent.”</p> + +<p>“You know my real name—you know everything! +I suppose you are here to secure evidence against me. +You are looking for a divorce.”</p> + +<p>“A divorce?”</p> + +<p>“Exactly.”</p> + +<p>“I do not understand you.”</p> + +<p>“You understand well enough. We have not been +married so very long, and our married life hasn’t been +any too happy. You have accused me of abusing you—you +have threatened to leave me.”</p> + +<p>The girl looked bewildered.</p> + +<p>“What is the matter with the man?” she murmured. +“Is he crazy?”</p> + +<p>The man seemed puzzled by her manner, and the +witnesses of the remarkable scene were absolutely at +sea; they could not understand what it was about.</p> + +<p>“I am not crazy,” said the young man; “but I was +a fool to marry you. You were not worth the trouble +I took to get you. I should have let the other fool +have you, instead of plotting to disgrace him in the eyes +of your uncle and aunt, so I could get you.”</p> + +<p>A great light dawned on Frank Merriwell.</p> + +<p>“Great fortune!” he mentally exclaimed. “This is +the fellow who married Vida Melburn, Isa’s half-sister, +and he thinks this girl is his wife! They used to +look so much alike that it was difficult to tell one from +the other.</p> + +<p>“Married—married to you?” cried the girl. “Not +on your life! Why, I never saw you before, although +I have heard of you.”</p> + +<p>The man seemed staggered for a moment, and then, +with a cry of anger, he leaped upon her.</p> + +<p>“What is your game?” he hissed, as he shook her +savagely. “What are you up to? I thought you a +soft, innocent little girl, and now you are showing +yourself something quite different. I believe you +played me for a sucker! And you want a divorce! +Well, here is cause for it!”</p> + +<p>Then he choked her.</p> + +<p>Frank went at him like a cyclone.</p> + +<p>“You infernal villain!” he cried, as his hands fell +on the man, and he tore the gasping girl from his +clutches. “No one but a brute ever lays hands on a +woman in anger, and a brute deserves a good drubbing +almost any time. Here is where you get it!”</p> + +<p>Then he proceeded to polish off the girl’s assailant in +a most scientific manner, ending by flinging him in a +limp and battered condition into a corner of the room.</p> + +<p>Diamond had hastened to support the girl when +Frank snatched her from her assailant, but she repulsed +him and flung him off, saying, hoarsely:</p> + +<p>“Let me alone! I am all right! I want to see this +fight!”</p> + +<p>With interest she watched Frank whip the man +whom she had called Kent, though she swayed and +panted with every blow, her eyes glittering and her +cheeks flushed.</p> + +<p>As Merriwell flung the fellow into the corner, the +girl straightened up and threw back her head, laughing:</p> + +<p>“Well, he was a soft thing, and that is a fact! +Think of being thrashed by a boy! Drew, is it possible +this is our Carson City agent, whom you called ‘a +good man,’ when you were speaking of him this evening? +Such a chap would blow the whole game if he +were pinched. I wouldn’t trust him.”</p> + +<p>The old man stood rubbing his shaking hands together, +greatly agitated and unable to say a word.</p> + +<p>Then there came a thunderous knock on the door, +and a hoarse voice demanded admittance.</p> + +<h2 class='chapter' id='clink24'><a href='#toc'>CHAPTER XXIV.—THE SHERIFF’S SHOT.</a></h2> + +<p>Old Drew was greatly frightened, and Davis showed +alarm.</p> + +<p>“Hold that door—hold that door one minute!” +cried Isa. “It will give us time to get out of the +way!”</p> + +<p>Bruce Browning’s shoulder went against the door, +and he calmly drawled:</p> + +<p>“Anybody won’t come in here in a hurry.”</p> + +<p>“Come!” whispered the girl, catching hold of Hart; +“we must get away! quick!”</p> + +<p>Davis leaped after them.</p> + +<p>“It will not be a good thing for me to be seen here,” +he said. “If there is a way of getting under cover, +you must take me along.”</p> + +<p>“That’s right,” nodded Isa, “for you would peach if +you were pinched. Come!”</p> + +<p>By the way of the door that led into the back room +they disappeared.</p> + +<p>Rap-bang! rap-bang! rap-bang!</p> + +<p>“Open this door instanter!”</p> + +<p>Higgins roared the order from the outside.</p> + +<p>“What’s your great rush?” coolly inquired Browning.</p> + +<p>A volley of fierce language flew from the sheriff’s +lips.</p> + +<p>“I’ll show yer!” he thundered. “Down goes ther +door if ye don’t open it immediate!”</p> + +<p>“Be good enough, Mr. Drew, to ascertain if our +friends are under cover yet,” said Frank.</p> + +<p>The old man hobbled into the back room, was gone +a moment, and then reappeared, something like a look +of relief on his withered face.</p> + +<p>“They’re gone,” he whispered.</p> + +<p>“Will it be all right to open the door?”</p> + +<p>“I reckon ye’ll have to open it.”</p> + +<p>“All right. Admit Mr. Higgins, Bruce.”</p> + +<p>Browning stepped away from the door, lifting the +iron bar.</p> + +<p>Instantly it flew wide open, and, with a big revolver +in each hand, the sheriff strode heavily into the room.</p> + +<p>Behind him came another man, who was also armed +and ready to do shooting if necessary.</p> + +<p>Higgins glared around.</p> + +<p>“Whatever does this mean?” he asked, astonished +by the presence of the bicycle boys.</p> + +<p>“Whatever does what mean?” asked Frank, innocently.</p> + +<p>“You critters bein’ here. I don’t understand it.”</p> + +<p>“We are stopping here for the night.”</p> + +<p>“Sho! Is that it? Well, you’re not the only ones. +Where are the others?”</p> + +<p>“What others?”</p> + +<p>“One in particler—the one you helped to get away +to-day. You’ll have to square with me for that.”</p> + +<p>“I presume you mean Mr. Hodge?”</p> + +<p>“That’s whatever.”</p> + +<p>“I think your memory is at fault, sir. I did not aid +him in getting away, but you owe me thanks for keeping +you from shooting him. He would have made the +unlucky thirteenth man.”</p> + +<p>“Well, hang me if you ain’t got nerve! All the +same, you’ll have to take your medicine for aiding a +criminal.”</p> + +<p>“He has not been proved a criminal yet, sir.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, you know all about it! Well, he’s somewhere +round this ranch, and I’m going to rope him. Watch +the front, Britts.”</p> + +<p>“All right, sir,” said the man who accompanied Higgins.</p> + +<p>Then the big sheriff strode into the back room, picking +up the lamp to aid him in his search.</p> + +<p>Frank held his breath, wondering what Higgins +would find.</p> + +<p>After four or five minutes the sheriff came back, and +he was in a furious mood.</p> + +<p>“I know the critter is here somewhere!” he roared; +“and I’ll have him, too! Can’t hide from me!”</p> + +<p>“That’s right,” smiled Frank, with a profound bow. +“You have an eagle eye, Mr. Higgins, and you should +be able to find anything there is about the place. I +wouldn’t think of trying to hide from you.”</p> + +<p>“Ye-he! ye-he! ye-he!” giggled Toots.</p> + +<p>Higgins’ face was black with fury. He pointed a +revolver straight at Frank, and thundered:</p> + +<p>“You think you’re funny, but I’m going ter bore yer +if you don’t talk up instanter! You know where that +galoot Hodge is hid, and you’ll tell, too.”</p> + +<p>“My dear sir,” returned Frank, as he folded his +arms and looked the furious man fairly in the eyes, “I +do not know where Bart Hodge is hidden, and I would +not tell if I did.”</p> + +<p>Higgins ground has teeth.</p> + +<p>“Say yer prayers!” he grated. “I’m goin’ to make +you the thirteenth!”</p> + +<p>He was in deadly earnest, yet it did not seem that +Frank quailed in the least before him. Indeed, in the +face of such peril, Merriwell apparently grew bolder, +and a scornful smile curled his lips.</p> + +<p>“Shoot!” he cried, his voice ringing out clear and +unshaken—“shoot and prove yourself a detestable coward!”</p> + +<p>The other lads held their breath. They felt like interfering, +but something in Frank’s manner seemed to +warn them to keep still and not try to aid him.</p> + +<p>“You think I won’t do it,” muttered Higgins. +“Well, I’ll show ye! I always do exactly as I say. +Now, you eat lead!”</p> + +<p>There was a scream, a swish, a rush of feet, a flitting +form, and Isa Isban had flung herself in front of +Frank, protecting him with her own body!</p> + +<p>The heavy revolver spoke!</p> + +<p>Bang!</p> + +<p>Frank had realized with wonderful quickness that +the girl meant to save him by protecting him with her +body, and he caught her by the shoulders, flinging her +to the floor in an effort to keep her from being shot at +any cost to himself.</p> + +<p>He would not have been successful, however, but for +big Bruce Browning.</p> + +<p>The big fellow had been watching Higgins as a +hawk watches a chicken. At first, he had not thought +it possible the sheriff would fire. He could not conceive +that the man was such a ruffian. At the last moment, +however, he saw Higgins meant to shoot.</p> + +<p>Browning’s hand rested on the back of a chair. +With a swiftness that was simply marvelous in one +who naturally moved with the greatest slowness, he +swung that chair into the air and flung it at the furious +sheriff.</p> + +<p>Higgins saw the movement out of the corners of +his eyes, and, although the missile had not reached him +when he pulled the trigger, his aim had been disconcerted.</p> + +<p>The bullet touched Frank’s ear as it passed and +buried itself in the wall.</p> + +<p>Then old Drew dashed out the light, and the place +was plunged in darkness.</p> + +<h2 class='chapter' id='clink25'><a href='#toc'>CHAPTER XXV.—ESCAPE—CONCLUSION.</a></h2> + +<p>The sheriff’s assistant lost no time in getting out of +the cabin, rushing to one of the horses, which had been +left a short distance away, and mounted. Then he +rode madly away through the forest, deserting Higgins +in a most cowardly manner.</p> + +<p>When the lamp in the cabin was relighted, Higgins +was found stretched senseless on the floor, the chair +having struck him on the head and cut a long gash, +from which blood was flowing.</p> + +<p>“I’m afraid I’ve killed him!” exclaimed Browning. +“I didn’t mean to do that, but I had to do something. +I couldn’t keep still and see him shoot Frank down like +a dog.”</p> + +<p>“It serves him right!” said Diamond, but his face +was pale, and he looked very anxious.</p> + +<p>“I sincerely hope he will come around all right,” +said Frank, as he knelt by the man’s side. “This +scrape is bad enough, and, although he has shown +himself a ruffian, I do not think we care to take the life of +any human being.”</p> + +<p>Isa Isban was looking down at the man, and her +face softened and showed pity.</p> + +<p>“You are right, Mr. Merriwell,” she gently said. +“You have taught me a lesson. Higgins was a handsome +man in his way, and it is a pity to have him die +with his boots on like this. We’ll see what we can +do to fix him up.”</p> + +<p>Frank looked up at her, and one glance was enough +to convince him of her sincerity.</p> + +<p>“Poor girl!” he thought. “She has never been +taught the difference between right and wrong. Even +now, if she had a show, she might become something +far better than she is.”</p> + +<p>She knelt on the opposite side of the unconscious +man.</p> + +<p>“Bring some water, Drew,” she sharply commanded. +“Bring something with which we can bandage his +head.”</p> + +<p>“Why don’t ye let him die?” whined the old man.</p> + +<p>“It would be a bad thing for you if we did,” she returned. +“His deputy has puckacheed, and he won’t +do a thing but bring a posse here as soon as possible. +It will be all the better for you if Bill Higgins is all +right when the posse appears.”</p> + +<p>“I’m ruined anyway,” declared Drew. “I’ll have to +git out. They will search, and they’re bound to find +everything if they do.”</p> + +<p>“We’ll have everything out of here before morning, +and then let them search. The first job is to fix Bill +Higgins up.”</p> + +<p>Water was brought, and she bathed the head of the +unconscious man, who groaned a little once or twice. +Then Frank aided her in adjusting a bandage. Once +their hands touched, and she drew away quickly, catching +her breath, as if she had been stung.</p> + +<p>Frank looked at her in wonder, and saw that she had +flushed and then grown very pale. Her eyes met his, +and then her lashes drooped, while the blush crept back +into her cheeks.</p> + +<p>What did it mean?</p> + +<p>More than ever was this girl an enigma to him.</p> + +<p>The boys lifted Higgins and placed him on an improvised +couch in the corner, as Drew would not permit +them to place him on the bed in the little back +room.</p> + +<p>By this time Hart Davis had become convinced that +Isa Isban was not the girl he had married, although +she looked so much like Vida that he was filled with +wonder whenever he regarded her.</p> + +<p>He asked her pardon for his actions of a short time +before, but she gave him no heed, as she seemed fully +intent on making the sheriff comfortable and restoring +him to consciousness.</p> + +<p>Hodge did not look at Davis, whom he hated with +the utmost intensity, as he feared he would spring +upon the man if he did so.</p> + +<p>After a while, Higgins opened his eyes and stared +around in a blank manner.</p> + +<p>“Did we stop the mill, pards?” he huskily asked. +“The whole herd was stampeded and goin’ like a +cyclone down the range, horns clanking, eyes glaring, +nostrils smoking and hoofs beating thunder out of the +ground.”</p> + +<p>“What is the man talking about?” asked Frank, in +wonder.</p> + +<p>“He was a cowboy once,” Isa explained. “He seems +to be thinking of that time.”</p> + +<p>“It was a wild ride through the night, wasn’t it, +pards?” Higgins went on, although he did not seem +to be speaking to any one in particular. “It was dark +as ten million black cats, and the cold wind cut like a +knife. But we stopped ’em—we stopped ’em at last.”</p> + +<p>Then he turned his face toward the wall and closed +his eyes.</p> + +<p>“I hope he isn’t going to die,” said Frank.</p> + +<p>“So do I,” muttered Browning, sincerely. “I don’t +want to have that to think about.”</p> + +<p>When morning came Bill Higgins seemed quite +strong, but his head was filled with the wildest fancies. +He talked of strange things, and it was evident that +his mind wandered.</p> + +<p>Higgins did not wish to eat anything, but Isa +brought him bread and coffee, and he took it from her.</p> + +<p>“Pretty girl,” he muttered, with a gleam of reason. +“Fine girl! Wonder how such a girl came to be out +here on the ranch?”</p> + +<p>In vain they waited for the appearance of the deputy +and a posse. The expected did not happen.</p> + +<p>Frank had a long talk with Bart.</p> + +<p>“Old man,” he said, “you must come with me—you +must do it! I will not take no for an answer. If Bill +Higgins comes around all right in his head to-morrow +he will be after you again. You must make for San +Francisco and lose no time in shipping for some +foreign port. After this affair blows over, you can come +back.”</p> + +<p>Frank was not satisfied till he saw Bill Higgins delivered +into the hands of friends.</p> + +<p>As for the deputy who took to flight, he met with a +fatal accident while passing through the forest. Either +he was swept from the back of his horse by a limb or +was thrown off. Be that as it may he was found +with a broken neck.</p> + +<p>And Higgins still wandered in his mind when Frank +left him.</p> + +<p>The boys made great speed on the road to San Francisco, +which they reached in due time, and there, with +the other mail that awaited him, Frank found a brief +letter from Isa Isban.</p> + +<p>“I wish to let you know what the physicians who +have examined Bill Higgins have to say,” she wrote. +“They say he has lost his memory, and, although he +may recover from the injury otherwise, it is doubtful if +he will ever regain his memory. In that case, Hodge +is safe anywhere, but it will be well for him to get out +of California.”</p> + +<p>The news was gratifying to Hodge, and he lost no +time in disappearing from view.</p> + +<p>The arrival of the bicycle boys in San Francisco +was the cause of two celebrations, one among themselves +and another among their friends in the East.</p> + +<p>The tour across the continent had been a success, +and the papers were loud in their praise of plucky +Frank Merriwell and his companions.</p> + +<p>“And now we can take it easy,” said Bruce, lazily.</p> + +<p>“That’s Bruce,” laughed Diamond. “Always willing +to take a rest.”</p> + +<p>“Dunno but wot we hab earned a rest,” put in Toots.</p> + +<p>“Doking snownuts—no, smoking doughnuts! what +a lot of adventures we have had since we left New +York!” came from Harry. “Any of us could write +a book of travels without half trying.”</p> + +<p>“We’ll take it easy for a while,” said Frank. “But +not for long. I’ve got an idea for more sport, while +we are out here.”</p> + +<p>Long letters followed telegrams to the East and long +letters were received in return.</p> + +<p>“You’ve done the trick,” wrote one fellow student. +“When you get back to Yale, well—I reckon the town +won’t be big enough to hold you.”</p> + +<p>“Dear old Yale!” exclaimed Frank.</p> + +<p>That night the boys sang college songs far into +the wee small hours of the morning. They were more +than happy, and all their past perils were forgotten.</p> + +<p class='center' style='margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;'>THE END.</p> + +<p>No. 17 of the <span style='font-variant:small-caps'>Merriwell Series</span>, entitled, “Frank +Merriwell’s Athletics,” gives full play to Frank’s idea +for more sport, and is full of fun, frolic, and daring +deeds.</p> +<hr style='border:none; border-bottom:1px solid silver; width:70%; margin:2em auto' /> + +<p>VALUE</p> + +<p>Nobody objects to paying a fair price for a +fair article; in other words, the public cheerfully +pays for value received.</p> + +<p>We do not know of anything in the way of +reading matter that gives such value for a modest +outlay as do the <i>S. & S. Novels</i>.</p> + +<p>The titles in this list are all 12mo books +printed from good type, bound neatly in colored +covers and are clean and wholesome.</p> + +<p>If you are in search of clean recreation let us +recommend the S. & S. Novels.</p> + +<p>STREET & SMITH CORPORATION</p> + +<p>79 SEVENTH AVENUE, NEW YORK CITY</p> +<hr style='border:none; border-bottom:1px solid silver; width:70%; margin:2em auto' /> + +<p>What Is the Greatest Thing in the World?</p> + +<p>Years ago there lived a kindly man who sought the +greatest thing in the world—and found it.</p> + +<p>His name was Henry Drummond, and the pearl +beyond price that he found was—love!</p> + +<p>All treasure and gifts are as nothing beside this—love +of the man for his fellow—love of the mother +for her babe—love of the one man for the one +woman—clean, pure love!</p> + +<p>It is entirely fitting, therefore, that at last a magazine +has been devoted to love stories, exclusively. +You may now find it at all news dealers. Ask for</p> + +<p class='center' style='margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;'>LOVE STORY MAGAZINE</p> + +<p>In it you will find nothing of the immoral—nothing +sordid, but bright, cheerful love stories in which sunshine +follows the shadows—as it should.</p> + +<p><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>Love Story Magazine</span> is for you, for every human +being who has ever loved or been loved.</p> + +<p>Buy a copy <i>now</i>.</p> + +<p>Published Semimonthly. Price, 15c.</p> + +<p>STREET & SMITH CORPORATION</p> + +<p>Publishers, New York City</p> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Frank Merriwell's Alarm, by Burt L. 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