CHAPTER V--A TRAMP THROUGH THE SNOW
"What do you make of this, Dave?"
"I don't know what to make of it, Roger--excepting that somebody hastaken our things."
"Do you think it's a joke, or just plain stealing?" demanded Ben.
"That remains to be found out," replied Ben. "One thing is certain, thethings didn't walk off by themselves."
"Footprints of two persons!" exclaimed Gus, who had been scanning thesnow-covered ground in the vicinity of the trees and bushes.
"Where do they lead to?" asked Dave, eagerly.
"Here they are--you can follow them as easily as I can," was the reply,and the heavy-set youth pointed out the tracks in the snow. They led allaround the trees and bushes and then in the direction of the river. Herethere were a jumble of tracks and further on the marks of skate runners.
"Stopped to put on their skates," remarked the senator's son.
"And they have skated off with all our things!" grumbled Buster Beggs."What are we going to do?"
"Say, that puts me in mind of a story," came quickly from Shadow. "Oncetwo boys were out skating and----"
"For the sake of the mummies of Egypt, let up on the story-telling,Shadow!" burst out Phil. "Don't you realize what this loss means to us?It's bad enough to lose the hamper and clothing, but what are we to doin this snowstorm, with night coming on, and so far from Oak Hallwithout skates?"
"Humph! I guess we'll have to walk," grumbled the story-teller of theschool. "But that will take time, and if this storm keeps up----"
"We'll be snowed under!" finished Chip Macklin.
"Well, no use in staying here," came from two of the students.
"That is just what I say," said Dave. "Those skate marks lead down theriver and that is the way we want to go. By following them we'll begetting nearer to the Hall and at the same time closer to the fellowswho took our things."
"We'll never catch those fellows," grumbled Ben. "They can skate fivetimes as fast as we can walk."
"Never mind, we'll go after 'em anyway," replied Gus. "And if we catch'em----" He did not finish in words but brought his right fist down hardinto his left palm, which left no doubt as to how he intended to treatthe thieves.
"Maybe it's a trick, of some of the Rockville cadets," suggested Buster,when the crowd were on their way down the river.
"Say, don't you remember my saying I thought I saw somebody near thecamp, just before we went away?" burst out Ben. "You all thought I wasmistaken."
"Well, I reckon you were not mistaken," answered Dave. "It's a greatpity we didn't investigate more before leaving."
"No use in crying over spilt milk," said Sam.
"Which puts me in mind of a sto----" commenced Shadow, and then suddenlystopped talking and commenced to whistle to himself.
"Say, boys, if anybody should ask you, you can tell him it is snowingsome," puffed Buster, who was struggling to keep up with those in front."If it wasn't that we were on the river, it would be easy to lose ourway."
"That's true," replied Dave. "The snow seems to be coming down heavierevery minute."
"Yes, and the wind is coming up," added Roger. "We'll have a hard timeof it reaching the Hall. We'll never do it by supper-time."
"Then where are we going to get something to eat?" demanded Buster. "I'mnot going without my supper just because I can't get back."
"Perhaps we can get something at some farmhouse," suggested Phil.
"I've got an idea!" cried Dave. "Why can't we get some farmer to hook upa carriage or a sleigh and take us to the Hall that way?"
"Hurrah, just the cheese!" cried Ben, who did not relish walking such adistance. "The thing is, though, to find the farmer," he continuedsoberly.
"Keep your eyes open for lights," suggested Dave, and this was done.
A quarter of a mile more was covered, the students hugging the northshore of the stream, as that afforded the most shelter from the risingwind. Then Roger gave a cry.
"I think I saw a light through the snow! Just look that way, fellows,and see if I am right."
All gazed in the direction indicated, and presently three of the boysmade out a glimmer, as if it came from a lantern being swung to and fro.Then the light disappeared.
"Perhaps it's some farmer going out to care for his cattle," said Dave."Let us walk over and see," and this was done.
Dave was correct in his surmise, and soon the boys approached a bigcow-shed, through a window of which they saw the faint rays of alantern. Just as they did this they heard a voice cry out in wonder.
"What be you fellers a-doin' in my cow-shed?"
"Oh, we just came in to rest out of the storm," was the answer, in avoice that sounded strangely familiar to Dave. "We are not going to hurtyour shed any, or the cattle either."
"It's Mallory, of Rockville!" whispered Dave to his fellow students,naming the cadet who was the star hockey player of the military academyteam.
"And Bazen and Holt are with him," added Phil, gazing through apartly-open doorway, and naming two other Rockville cadets.
"Hello, who's out there?" cried the owner of the cow-shed, and, lanternin hand, he turned to survey the newcomers.
"Why, it's Mr. Opper!" cried Sam. "Don't you remember me? I called lastsummer, to see some of your young lady boarders."
"Oh, yes, I remember you," replied Homer Opper. "You hired my dappledmare for a ride."
"That's it, Mr. Opper. Say, that mare could go."
"Go? Ain't no hossflesh in these parts kin beat her," cried the farmerproudly. "She won the prize at the last county fair, she did! But wotbrung ye here, sech a night as this?" added Homer Opper curiously.
"Hello, Porter, old man!" cried Mallory, rising from a box on which hehad been seated and shaking hands. "Caught in the storm, too, eh?"
"Yes," answered Dave. He gazed curiously at the Rockville cadet and hiscompanions. "Been up the river?"
"Not any further than this."
"Hunting?"
"No, skating. We would be going back, only Holt broke one of his skatesand that delayed us. Been out hunting, eh? Any luck?"
"Some--good and bad. We shot some rabbits, squirrels, and partridges, andwe likewise had our hamper, our skates, an overcoat, and some otherthings stolen."
"Stolen!" cried Homer Opper. "By gum, thet's tough luck! Who tuk thethings?"
"That is what we want to find out," and as Dave spoke he looked sharplyat Mallory and the other Rockville cadets.
"Not guilty," came promptly from Bazen. "Honest Injun, Porter, if youthink we touched your things, you are on the wrong track; isn't that so,fellows?"
"It is," came promptly from Mallory and Holt. Then suddenly the starhockey player of Rockville Academy let out a long, low whistle ofsurprise.
"You know something?" demanded Dave.
"Maybe I do," was Mallory's slow answer. "Yes, I am sure I do," headded. "You can put the puzzle together yourself if you wish,Porter--because, you see, I hate to accuse anybody."
"What do you know?"
"I know this: Less than an hour ago we met two fellows on the river, onewith a hamper and the other with a bundle that looked as if it was doneup in an overcoat turned inside out. We came on the fellows rathersuddenly, at a turn where there were some bushes."
"Our stuff, as sure as you're a foot high!" cried Phil.
"Who were the fellows, do you know?" demanded the senator's son.
At this question Mallory looked at Holt and Bazen.
"I wasn't exactly sure, but----" He hesitated to go on.
"I was sure enough," chimed in Holt. "They were those chaps who came toour school from Oak Hall and then ran away--Jasniff and Merwell. Howabout it, Tom?"
"I think they were Jasniff and Merwell," answered Tom Bazen. "To besure, as soon as they saw us, they skated away as fast as they could,and kept their faces hidden. But if they weren't Jasniff and Merwellthey were pretty good doubles."
"Jasniff and Merwell," murmured Dave, and his heart sank a little. Herewas more un
derhanded work of his old enemies.
The farmer and the Rockville cadets were anxious to hear the particularsof the happening, and the Oak Hall lads told of what had occurred.
"I know those chaps," said Homer Opper. "They stayed here one night lastsummer. But they cut up so the boarders didn't like it, so my wife told'em she didn't have no room for 'em, an' they left. They ought to belocked up."
"They will be locked up, if we can lay hands on them," replied Phil.
"They must have followed us to Squirrel Island, and spied on us," saidShadow. "Ben, you were right about seeing somebody. It must have beeneither Merwell or Jasniff."
"Have you any idea where they went?" asked the shipowner's son.
"No, they skated away behind an island and that's the last we saw ofthem," answered Mallory.
"Yes, and I reckon it's the last we'll hear of our things," returnedBuster, mournfully. "But come on, let us see about getting back," hecontinued. "It's 'most time for supper now."
"Mr. Opper, can you take us back to Oak Hall?" asked Dave. "We'll payyou for your trouble."
The farmer looked at the students and rubbed his chin reflectively. Thenhe gazed out at the storm and the snow-covered ground.
"Might hook up my big sleigh and do it," he said. "But it would be quitea job."
"What would it be worth?" asked Ben.
"Oh, I dunno--three or four dollars, at least. It's a tough night to beout in--an' I'd have to drive back, or put up at the town all night."
"Supposing we gave you fifty cents apiece," suggested Roger.
"And we'll go along--as far as Rockville, at the same price--if you'llhave us," added Mallory, quickly.
"Why, yes, Mallory, and welcome," answered Dave cordially. "That is, ifthe turnout will hold us all."
"Sure it will," answered Homer Opper. "An' if ye all go an' pay fiftycents each,"--he counted them mentally as he spoke--"I'll hook up my fourhosses an' git ye there in jig time."
"Then it's a go," answered Dave, after his chums and the Rockvillecadets had nodded their approval.
"And do hurry," called out Buster, as the farmer moved away to preparefor the journey. "We don't want to miss our suppers."
"Ye ain't goin' to miss nuthin'," called the farmer.
Inside of fifteen minutes he came around to the cow-shed with a big, lowsleigh, to which were attached four fine-looking horses. The sleighcontained two lanterns and a quantity of wraps and robes.
"Don't want ye to catch cold, when we're a-drivin' fast," chuckled HomerOpper. "Now pile right in, an' we'll be movin'."
The boys needed no second invitation, and soon all were aboard--Dave andRoger on the front seat with the driver and the others behind, includingthe Rockville cadets. Then came a crack of the whip, and away throughthe swirling snow moved the big sleigh, bound for the two schools.
Dave Porter on Cave Island; Or, A Schoolboy's Mysterious Mission Page 6