CHAPTER XVII
A GOOD DEED REWARDED
The dumbfounded boys could only stare at Howells.
"Where did you come from and where is Dick?" cried Garry, when he hadrecovered his voice sufficiently to speak.
"If you will untie my hands first, I will feel better and be able tothink. My wrists are all raw from trying to work the ropes off, but theman that tied me up knew his business too well," said Howells.
Since the boys' belongings had been restored them by King, they hadtheir knives, and it was a small matter to cut the bonds.
"Now what do you mean by Dick being with me?" asked Howells.
"Why, Dick has been a prisoner at the camp, and we were given tounderstand that he was to be brought here to join us. We were prisonershere ourselves; fell into a foolish trap because we were too sure ofourselves. Fortunately, because of a good turn that we were able to do,we have been set free by the squatter chief," answered Garry.
"What do you mean free, with an armed guard outside the door?" demandedArt. "I should say you were pretty closely kept in confinement."
"That is only a ruse so the suspicion of whoever brought any prisonerhere would not be raised. As soon as he goes we will be free to do whatwe please. Now how did you come to be captured?" went on Garry.
"Oh, I made a fool blunder too. I wanted to see you chaps to tell youthat a lot of lumber was being shipped from a place called Harrison.It's about five miles away from Dutton Lake, so that seems to show thatthe lake figures in the stealing of the timber. I crawled into camp onenight and went to your shack, and walked in expecting to find yousleeping there. Instead I ran right into the arms of a couple of huskieswho had me overpowered before I knew what was going on. I found out in afew minutes that the pair were LeBlanc and that precious scoundrel thattried to do me up that night you chaps appeared so providentially on thescene."
"Did Barrows say anything about what had been going on in the camp, ordrop any word that would give us a hint as to his plans?" put in Phil.
"No, he was very closemouthed. There was a swarthy chap with him, whofrom your description I take to be Jean LeBlanc. All that was said wasthat I should be taken to a place called Misery Camp. From the looks ofthis place I judge that is where I am now. What have you run into, asquatter camp?"
"Yes, you've hit the nail on the head."
Garry was about to speak further, when the door opened and the squatterchief came in.
"That fellow is gone, and you kin come out any time you want," was thewelcome news that he brought. The three followed him into the sunlightand then decided that a start should be made for the lumber camp atonce.
"That is, unless you are too tired to start now, Art," said Garry.
"Oh, I'm feeling fit as a fiddle. I don't know that I'd care to walk allthe way back, but we can save time by going part of the way," remarkedArt cheerfully.
The packs were brought out and soon all was ready for the return trip.They were surprised at the appearance of King with his rifle, and fearedfor a moment that he had thought better of allowing them to go and wasgoing to make them prisoners again.
"Just decided that I'll go with you fellows. If there's goin't to befightin', and I think there is, I want to be in it. Besides, you won'tbe safe wanderin' around through strange country alone. I'll see thatyou get where you want to go in safety, and mebbe you'll find that alittle bit of extra help won't come in amiss? Do you want me to come?"concluded King.
The light of battle was in the old man's eyes, and Garry at once decidedthat he might prove a valuable ally in case trouble arose and welcomedhim to come with them.
"We'll take a little different way back, so we won't be liable to runinto any of that gang from the camp. We'll go until you fellows gettired, then eat, and you can roll in while I watch for you."
This was what they wanted to do, and so they agreed to follow his adviceentirely on the return trip.
"What about some of the men coming to your place to see if we are allright, or if they bring Dick with them, what then?" questioned Garry.
"In case any o' them come here from now on, they'll get a treat theywon't like. I told my men to seize anyone who came, and if the fat boycomes, he is to be guided to a place where me and my men know, and thenhe can join us," answered King.
The squatter seemed to have covered everything necessary, and offstarted the quartet. King led them on a roundabout trail, and theywalked until darkness fell, when Howells declared that he would like torest.
For fear of possible detection by some prowler from the camp, no firewas built, and a cold bite was eaten. King refused to let any of theothers do any work, and himself gathered enough boughs for them all tosleep on. Garry insisted that when King had watched for a while, hewaken either himself or Phil, and they could provide a relief for awhile. King protested that he was able to watch the entire night, butGarry reminded him that on the coming day there might be strenuous work,and he would not want to be handicapped by fatigue. This finally madethe old man agree to waken Garry at midnight and let him stand a watch.
True to his word, King shook Garry about midnight.
"Don't believe there's any real need o' watchin', everything been quietso far; but there's nothin' like bein' on the safe side."
Garry looked to see that his rifle was loaded and ready, then took aseat under a tree where he could be comfortable and yet hear anything.King laid down on the ground, scorning the boughs, and was fast asleepin a moment.
After about two hours Garry began to feel drowsy, and rather than runthe risk of dropping off to sleep, he woke Phil, who had had a goodsleep and was able to stand sentry for the rest of the night.
After they had eaten in the morning, the old man asked what the nextstep was.
Garry had been thinking it over as they ate, and so he asked King if heknew the region around Kanamo Lake. King answered that he knew everyinch of the territory in that part of the state, and so it was decidedthat he lead them by a roundabout route to the lake shore. Here theycould hide out in a safe place, and after dark could portage the canoeacross the timberland to Dutton Lake. Garry was determined to try andcatch the thieves at work that night. Then plans could be made for araid on the camp and the rescue of Dick could be effected.
It was almost nightfall when they reached the lake shore, and theythought best to turn in for a while before making for the spot wherethey had concealed the canoe.
* * * * *
To return now to Dick, who had been left all this time in the cellar.Food was brought to him on occasion, but always by two or three incompany, and he had no opportunity of trying to fight his way from thecellar. Once when the cook and cookee came, he attempted to bribe themto let him escape, but they turned a deaf ear to his words.
Back at the office, Barrows was having a council with his henchmen.These consisted of the two LeBlancs, the cookee and the boss sawyer.
"Things are beginning to get too brisk here, so we'll make a goodcleanup and light out," said Barrows. "I didn't expect when we startedthis thing that there would be all the trouble that has since come uponus. We've all done enough now to land us in prison, what with thiskidnapping and everything. Catching Howells around here was what hasmade me suspicious. There's no telling what he has done on the outside.He may have written to Boone and told him what was going on, and thatwould sure spill the beans, for Boone would probably order me off theplace and give me my walking papers. Then we would be all done. What Ipropose is this: We have already cut a good bit of timber and that hasbeen sawed, thanks to the saw I had hidden in the storehouse. We wouldhave wasted time, as usual, waiting for another, but this suits my endsbetter. All this timber has been left on the tote road, and tonightwe'll make a number of trips and clean it up. Tomorrow night we'll makea grand cleanup and then fire the sawmill and wreck the machinery andlight out. By the time they have things ready to fix up, Boone will betoo late to keep his contracts and my work will have been done," Barrowsconcluded
as he rubbed his hands in evil satisfaction over histreachery.
"And the boys?" inquired Jean LeBlanc softly.
"I know what's on your mind, LeBlanc. Ugh, I'd hate to have you for anenemy. I suppose you want to stick a knife in them and put them out ofthe way."
"That would be safest. They know too much," answered the halfbreed.
"Well, I have a better plan than that. You remember we wrote a letter todecoy them away and mentioned a ransom. What's to prevent us from reallygetting one from old man Boone? We could stick him up for a big sum, andthat would be clear profit aside from what the Carson people are payingus. King will keep them till we arrange things and then we could freethem. After that, LeBlanc, you can do what you like; it will be out ofmy hands then. Now we'll start for the lake. Will the boat be there atthe usual time?" and he turned to the boss sawyer.
"Usual time," laconically answered the man.
The door was thrown open, and a man walked into the room.
"So it's the Carson people that are back of you this time, eh, Barrows?Guess I got here just in time!"
The men gasped in amazement, for there stood "Moose" Boone.
In the face of this crisis, the only one to keep his head was LeBlanc.
"Seize him," he whispered sibilantly to his brother, in French.
Before Mr. Boone could make a move, he was grabbed by the powerfulbrothers. One of them clasped a hand over his mouth, and without a word,as though they had practiced for this very moment, Jean snatched asoiled bandanna from his pocket, and in another minute Mr. Boone waseffectually gagged.
Barrows also had sprung into action. Rummaging around under the pinetable that served as a desk, he brought forth a length of rope, and soonBoone was tightly bound.
"Carry him over to the storehouse. Don't put him in the cellar. Thismakes things better. We can keep him prisoner for several days and cleanup. Lively now," ordered Barrows.
"Moose" Boone was carried to the storehouse and unceremoniously dumped.He lay on the floor thinking how foolish he had been to come alone to acamp where he knew there was treachery afoot, but now it was too late tocry over spilled milk. He wondered where the boys were, since he hadseen no sign of them about the camp.
His reason for coming was the note that Garry had sent him, and whichthe hermit had succeeded in having posted.
He twisted around several times in an effort to relieve the pain in hisarms and feet from lying tied on the hard floor.
Nearly two hours passed, and then the door was softly unlocked andopened. In stepped the cook. Mr. Boone wondered what was to happen now,and he received the surprise of his life when the cook fished out hisknife and proceeded to cut the bonds that bound him.
"Have you come to the conclusion that this was a fool thing to do? I amthankful, of course, and will see that you are let go when the rest ofthis gang is rounded up," said Boone.
The cook did not speak until he had cut the bonds.
"First, Mr. Boone, I'll tell you something and then I'll show yousomeone. I don't suppose you will remember a cold spring day nearlytwenty-five years ago on the Umculcos, when you risked your own life tosave a lumberjack that was trying to ride a log and fell into the riverwith the logs crushing down about him?"
Boone's mind travelled swiftly back to the day, although he had notgiven it a thought for years.
"Yes, I remember pulling a man out, and then falling sick from the cold,and when I got well the man I had pulled out was gone," he answered.
"Well, I was the man you pulled out. I left the camp because I was onlya fool young fellow and they made so much fun of me for falling in thatI picked up and got out. I never knew you were the man until I saw youtonight and hitched your name up with the man who saved me. Now I'llshow you something like I promised."
He rolled the barrels away and raised the trap. "Come up," he calledinto the darkness.
Dick awoke from a troubled sleep and painfully crawled up the ladder. Ittook a few moments for his eyes to get accustomed to the light, and thenhe looked as though he saw a ghost.
"Uncle," he almost shouted, for so it was that he always addressed Mr.Boone.
They clasped hands with a hearty good will and were about to exchangenotes when the door was thrown open and Barrows and the two LeBlancsentered.
Each held a revolver with a steady hand.
"So, cook, you've turned traitor, have you? Well, it just makes anotherprisoner. Now Boone, it's no use trying to do anything. Most of the menin the camp are in my pay, and just to be sure that we clean up tonightand tomorrow night as we had planned, we have seized all the men we arenot sure of and have them herded in the bunkhouse and under heavy guard.This time we'll succeed!"
The Ranger Boys Outwit the Timber Thieves Page 17