CHAPTER XXX.
VISITORS.
ONE and all in the camp now began to look forward to the coming ofCanady with the mules. The Spaniards because, until a new light wasinstalled, they could only work half time and consequently could onlyearn half their usual wages. The rest of the party because they weregetting really alarmed over the Missourian's long absence.
"He ought to have been back long before this," said Charley, the dayafter the tragic discovery of the dead gunmen. "If he does not show upby to-morrow morning, I am going to hire a pony from the Indians andstart in and look for him. Something surely must have happened to him."
"If you do go in you are liable to miss him on the way," Walterobjected. "He may come back by one route while you are going in byanother. Better give him a little more time. Jim impressed me as beingperfectly well able to look out for himself."
"You don't think he could have been tempted by the big amount of moneyhe carried?" asked Captain Westfield, with some hesitation. "Fivehundred dollars is a lot of money to a poor man."
"But not to Jim," Charley said decidedly. "Jim is a true Southerner anda thief is almost a curiosity among Southern races. No, Jim would nottouch a cent that did not belong to him. Something has happened to him,that's all."
"Well, if you go in to-morrow, I am going with you," Walter saiddecidedly.
"We will talk that over later," Charley said. "We have nothing to doto-day so we might as well amuse ourselves and try to forget for a timethat, if we are not actually ruined, we are pretty close to it."
"That's a good idea," his chum agreed heartily. "What shall the programbe?"
"I would like to explore the country to the side of the road a bit, sayout where you and McCarty went when you killed the deer. I have notbeen out that way yet."
"Suppose we all go," Walter suggested. "All can get away except theman running the machine, and even a little change like that will do afellow a pile of good."
"Good!" Charley approved. "We will all go that want to and make a dayof it."
It developed that all the Americans were eager for something in the wayof a change. Even the Captain was willing to take a day off and Chrisinsisted that his assistant Sam was now competent to prepare a meal forthose left behind. Armed with guns and lunch baskets, and with Bob, thedog, frisking ahead, the merry little party set out determined to havea pleasant time.
Quail was plentiful and a great number were bagged before the littleparty reached the prairie regions with its sandy bottomed lakes. Theystopped by one of the lakes and rested at noon. They had broughtfishing tackle with them and enjoyed huge sport pulling in the big fishwith which the lake was full. Several of these roasted over the coalsmade a welcome addition to the lunch they had brought with them.
The afternoon was spent killing more quail, fishing, following up ahoming bee which led them straight to a big hollow tree filled withdelicious honey, and digging in the mounds which dotted the prairie.These mounds were found to contain quantities of human bones, arrow andspear heads, stone hatchets, and vessels of earthen ware. They wereevidently the relics of a race long since gone out of existence, a racethat lived in the country long before the Seminole Indians.
Tired but happy, the little party got back to camp just after sundown.Here a surprise greeted them, for they found the sheriff, and half adozen of his aids, awaiting their arrival. The sheriff's face was verygrave and he answered their cordial greetings crisply.
"Gentlemen," he said, "I have a warrant for the arrest of Charley West,Walter Hazard, Capt. Benjamin Westfield, Bob Bratton, Will Kitchner andC. P. McCarty (white), and Christopher Columbus (negro)."
The little party stared at each other in stupefied amazement.
"On what charge?" demanded Charley, recovering his breath.
"On the charge of being the principals and accessories before and afterthe fact in the murder of one Levi P. Morton, late of New York City, onthe night of November 23d, 1913," read the sheriff droningly.
"That gunman!" gasped Walter. "Why no one murdered him, Mr. Sheriff. Hewas kicked to death by mules he attempted to poison."
"I shall have to warn you that anything you say can be used against youat your trial," said the sheriff sternly. "I have found the grave ofthe dead man near this camp."
"Rats!" sneered McCarty angrily. "No sane judge would hold us tenminutes on such a charge."
"Well," observed the sheriff coolly, "you will have a chance to testthat. Even if I were convinced of your innocence, I would have toarrest you just the same. When a warrant is given me it is my swornduty to serve it."
"The sheriff is right," Charley said hopelessly. "We will have to gowith him, and we might as well do it without argument. The judge willturn us loose as soon as he hears our story, but it will be too latethen."
"Too late for what, lad?" asked Captain Westfield.
"Why, can't you see this warrant is a put-up job," Charley exclaimedimpatiently. "Don't you understand it's the latest move of the enemy toget us out of the way while they disable the machine and destroy ourcamp?"
"By Jove, I believe you're right," exclaimed McCarty.
"Right, of course I'm right," said the lad fiercely. "What other reasoncould there be for such an absurd charge? You will see that no one willappear against us when we are brought up in court. Well, the game's up,boys. We have all put up a good fight, but this settles it. I would notgive ten cents for what we will find here if we return after being setfree. May we have time enough, Mr. Sheriff, to pay off our men and packup our things?"
"You can have all night," replied the officer. "We will not go in untilmorning. It's a long journey, for, with the bridges gone, we will haveto pick our way back through the woods."
After our little party had finished a silent, gloomy supper, theyretired to their tents to pack up their scattered belongings.
Charley called the workers to his tent one by one and gave each a checkfor a full month's wages. He made all of them promise to stay and guardcamp and machine during their absence, but he really had but littlehope that they would remain in camp long after all the Americans weregone.
Their packing done, the little party gathered around the campfire asgloomy and disheartened a little bunch of men as it would be possibleto find. One of the larger of the tents had been given up to thesheriff and his posse, and to it the officer sent his tired men early,saying he would stand guard over the prisoners himself the first partof the night.
"Boys," he said, when the last one of his men had retired, "I hate toexecute this warrant. I had to be stern to you before my men, for everyone of them wants my job and would be glad to make any trouble theycould for me at headquarters. Being as we are alone together now, Iwill say that I believe you fellows are as guiltless as a babe of thecrime with which you are charged. I believe, as you say, that it's aframe-up, but I've got to take you all in to answer to it, unless----"
"Unless what?" asked Walter eagerly.
"Unless," said the sheriff suggestively, "you overpower me, tie me up,and make your escape to-night."
Charley grasped the meaning in the officer's tones. "No, it would be ofno use," he said. "It might make you trouble and we would be no betteroff, compelled to hide out in the woods, than we would be in jail."
"I guess you're right," the sheriff admitted. "It's too bad, it's toobad."
"We thank you for your kindness," Charley said gratefully. "We knowwhat your duty demands and do not blame you in the slightest for this.You could not do otherwise."
"I'm glad you understand that," said the sheriff, brightening. "By theway, I had to arrest your teamster, too, day before yesterday, on thesame charge." He grinned at the recollection. "He was just starting outfor here with a new pair of mules when we nabbed him. Lord, he foughtlike a wild cat and swore like a pirate while we were taking him to thelock-up."
"So that's why Jim hasn't come back," said Charley, with a grim smile.
"That's the reason," assented the sheriff. "He hasn't had a hearingbefore the judge
yet. My eldest boy is looking out for the mules forhim. When I left, Lawyer Bruce was flying around trying to get Jimout. Swore he would have him set free before noon."
"Did Mr. Bruce know you were coming out for us?" Charley inquired, withinterest.
"I dropped him a hint," said the sheriff. "My, you ought to have heardhim rave. He had Jim Canady's cussing beat a mile. He used longerwords, and more of them."
"I'm glad he knows the position we are in," said the lad, with relief."He may be able to help us in some way."
"Don't you worry, lad. Bruce will do all he can for you--he's thatkind," said the sheriff kindly. "Now you had better all turn in and geta good night's rest. It will be a long hard trip in to-morrow."
All hands thanked the kind officer and retired to their tents, wherethey were soon fast asleep.
Chris, who, as usual, was the first one out in the morning, awakenedthe others with shouts of delight.
"Jim's coming," he cried in their ears. "Jim an' Mr. Bruce and thatlittle man, Jones. They are within a half mile of camp."
The Boy Chums in the Florida Jungle Page 30