CHAPTER V
WHAT THE PLOT LED TO
It was a clear night, with no moon, but with countless stars bespanglingthe heavens. All was quiet around Oak Hall, and the three boys found itan easy matter to steal across the campus, gain the shade of a row ofoaks, and get out on the side road leading to the Cadmore farm.
"We don't want to get nabbed at this," was Phil's comment. "If FarmerCadmore caught us, he would make it mighty warm. He's as irritable asold Farmer Brown, and you'll remember what a time we had with him andhis calf."
"Does he keep a dog?" asked Dave. "I haven't any use for that sort of ananimal, if he is savage."
"No, he hasn't any dog," answered Phil. "I was asking about it lastweek." But Phil was mistaken; Jabez Cadmore did have a dog--one he hadpurchased a few days before. He was a good-sized mastiff, and far fromgentle.
Walking rapidly, it did not take the three boys long to reach the firstof Farmer Cadmore's fields. This was of corn, and passing through itand over a potato patch, they came to an orchard, wherein they knew theram was tied to one of the trees.
"Now, be careful!" whispered Dave, as he leaped the rail-fence of theorchard. "Somebody may be stirring around the farmhouse"--pointing tothe structure some distance away.
"Oh, they must be in bed by this time," said Phil. "Farmers usuallyretire early. Cadmore is a close-fisted chap, and he won't want to burnup his oil or his candles."
With hearts which beat rather rapidly, the boys stole along from onetree to another. Then they saw a form rise out of the orchard grass, andall gave a jump. But it was only the ram, and the animal was morefrightened than themselves.
"Look out that he doesn't butt you," warned Dave. "Some of 'em arepretty _ram_bunctious."
They approached the ram with caution, and untied him. Then Phil startedto lead him out of the orchard, with Dave and Sam following. At first hewould not go, but then began to run, so that Phil kept up withdifficulty.
"Stop!" cried the boy. "Not so fast! Don't you hear?" But the ram paidno attention, and now turned to the very end of the orchard. Here theground was rough, and in a twinkling all three of the boys went down ina hollow and rolled over and over, while the ram, finding himself free,plunged on, and was hidden from view in the darkness.
"He got away!" gasped Phil, scrambling up. "We must--Hark!"
He stopped short, and all of the boys listened. From a distance came thedeep baying of the mastiff. The sounds drew closer rapidly.
"A dog--and he is after us!" cried Dave. "Fellows, we have got to getout of this!"
"If we can!" replied Sam Day. "Which is the way out? I am all turnedaround."
So were the others, and they stared into the darkness under the appletrees in perplexity. The dog was coming closer, and to get away byrunning appeared to be out of the question.
"Jump into a tree!" cried Dave, and showed the way. The others followed,clutching at some low-hanging branches and pulling themselves up asrapidly as possible. Dave and Sam were soon safe, but the mastiff,making a bound, caught Phil by the sole of his shoe.
"Hi!" roared Phil. "Let go!" And he kicked out with the other foot. Thismade the mastiff make another snap, but his aim was poor, and he droppedback to the ground, while Phil hauled himself up beside his companions.
"Phew! but that was a narrow escape and no mistake," was the comment ofthe big youth, after he could catch his breath. "I thought sure he hadme by the foot!"
"We are in a pickle," groaned Sam. "I suppose that dog will camp rightat the foot of this tree till Farmer Cadmore comes."
"Yes, he is camping now," announced Dave, peering down into the gloom.The moment the mastiff saw him, the canine set up a loud barking.
For a full minute after that none of the boys spoke, each being busywith his thoughts.
"We are treed, that is certain," said Phil, soberly. "And I must say Idon't see any way to escape."
"Yes, and don't forget about the ram," added Sam. "Old Jabez Cadmorewill want to know about him, too."
"I've got an idea," said Dave, presently. "Perhaps it won't work, but itwon't do any harm to try it."
"Give it to us, by all means!"
"The trees are pretty thick in this orchard. Let us try to work our wayfrom one tree to another until we can reach the fence. Then, perhaps, wecan drop outside and get out of the way of that animal."
This was considered a good plan, and they proceeded to put it intoexecution at once. It was no easy matter to climb from tree to tree, andeach got a small rent in his clothing, and Sam came near falling to theground. The mastiff watched them curiously, barking but little, much totheir satisfaction.
At last, they came to the final row of apple trees. A long limb hungover a barbed-wire fence, and the boys paused, wondering if it would besafe to drop to the ground.
"If that mastiff should come through the fence, it would go hard withus," was Phil's comment. "I'd rather stay up here and take what comes."
"I am going to risk it," answered Dave. "I see a stick down there, andI'll grab that as soon as I land," and down he dropped, and caught upthe stick with alacrity. The dog pounced forward, struck the sharp barbsof the fence, and retreated, howling dismally with pain. Then he madeanother advance, with like results.
"Hurrah! he can't get through!" ejaculated Dave. "Come on, fellows, it'sperfectly safe." And down his chums dropped, and all hurried away fromthe vicinity of the orchard.
"We had better be getting back," said Sam, after the orchard and potatopatch had been left behind. "That farmer may be coming after us beforewe know it. He must have heard the dog." But in this he was mistaken,the distance from the house was too great, and the farmer and his familyslept too soundly to be disturbed.
"It's too bad we must go back without the ram," observed Dave. "Theother fellows will think we got scared and threw up the job."
"Well, it can't be helped," began Phil, when he caught sight ofsomething moving along the road ahead of them. "Look! Is that the ram?"
"It is!" exclaimed Dave. "Wait! If you are not careful, he'll run awayagain. Stay here, and I'll catch him. I was brought up on a farm, and Iknow all about sheep."
The others came to a halt, and Dave advanced with caution until he waswithin a few feet of the ram. Then he held out his hand and made apeculiar sound. The ram grew curious and remained quiet, while the youthpicked up the end of the rope which was around the animal's neck.
"I've got him," he said, in a low, even tone. "Now, keep to the rear andI'll manage him." And on they went. Once in a while the ram showed adisposition to butt and to stop short, but Dave coaxed him, and thetrouble was not great.
When they came in sight of the school building, they realized that themost difficult part of the task lay before them. It was decided thatDave should keep the ram behind the gymnasium building until Sam andPhil ascertained that the coast was clear.
Left to himself, Dave tied the ram to a post and crawled into thegymnasium by one of the windows. He procured several broad straps, andalso a small blanket. Just as he came out with the things, Sam and Philcame hurrying back, each with a look of deep concern on his face.
"The jig is up!" groaned Sam. "Plum and Poole are on to our racket, andthey won't let us in!"
"Plum and Poole!" exclaimed Dave. "Are they at that back door?"
"Yes, and when we came up, they jeered us," said Phil. "Oh, but wasn't Imad! They said if we tried to force our way in, they'd ring up thedoctor, or Mr. Dale."
"Does our crowd know about this?"
"I don't think they do."
"Plum and Poole intend to keep us out all night, eh?"
"It looks that way. They said we could ask Haskers to let us in when hecame."
"I am not going to Haskers," said Dave, firmly. "Sam, you look afterthis ram for a few minutes. I'll make them let us in, and not give usaway, either. Phil, you come along."
"But I don't see how you are going to do it," expostulated the big boy.
"Never mind; just come on, that's all. Plum isn't g
oing to have awalk-over to-night."
Somewhat mystified, Phil accompanied Dave across the campus and to therear door of the Hall. Here the barrier was open only a few inches,with Plum peering out, and Poole behind him. The face of the bully worea look of triumph.
"How do you like staying out?" he whispered, hoarsely. "Fine night for aramble, eh? You can tell old Haskers what a fine walk you have had!He'll be sure to reward you handsomely!"
"See here, Plum, I am not going to waste words with you to-night," saidDave, in a low, but intense, tone. "You let us in, and at once, oryou'll regret it."
"Will I?"
"You will. And what is more: don't you dare to say a word to anybodyabout what is happening now."
"Oh, dear, but you can talk big! Maybe you want me to get down on myknees as you pass in," added the bully, mockingly.
"If you don't let us in, do you know what I shall do?" continued Dave,in a whisper. "I shall go to Doctor Clay and tell him that you are inthe habit of going out after midnight to row on the river."
If Dave had expected this statement to have an effect upon the bully,his anticipations were more than realized. Gus Plum uttered a cry ofdismay and fell back on Nat Poole's shoulder. His face lost its color,and he shook from head to foot.
"Yo-you----" he began. "Wha-what do you know about my--my rowing on theriver?"
"I know a good deal."
"Yo-you've been--following--me?" For once the bully could scarcelyspeak.
"I shan't say any more," said Dave, giving his chum a pinch in the armto keep quiet. "Only, are you going to let us in or not?"
"N-no--I mean, yes," stammered Gus Plum. He could scarcely collecthimself, he seemed so upset. "You can come in. Poole, we'll have to letthem in this time."
"And you will keep still about this?" demanded Dave.
"Yes, yes! I won't say a word, Porter, not a word! And--and I'll see youto-morrow after school. I--that is--I want to talk to you. Until then,mum's the word on both sides." And then, to the astonishment of bothDave and Phil, Gus Plum hurried away, dragging Nat Poole with him.
Dave Porter in the South Seas; or, The Strange Cruise of the Stormy Petrel Page 8