CHAPTER V
KIDNAPPED BY SMUGGLERS
When Hugh regained his senses, about half an hour later, he foundhimself lying on the bottom of a canoe, bound and gagged, staring upat the sky. The sun beat down upon him, full in his face, causinghim to close his eyes until he could just see through thelashes,---a trick he had learned in many games played in thewoodlands. In the present instance it served him well, for thethree men who were paddling the canoe swiftly toward the mainlandbelieved that he had not yet recovered fully from the punishing theyhad given him; so, after their first glance, they paid littleattention to the captive.
Though the threatened storm which Captain Vinton and Dave had lookedfor on the previous evening had given way to a mild and sunny day,the breeze was still brisk and the sea was choppy. The canoe bobbedup and down on the short waves, and Hugh was rolled from one side tothe other or bounced roughly with every motion of the light craft.He felt sick and sore, his head ached miserably, and though he hadhad no breakfast, the very thought of food was repugnant to him.
On the island, he mused, his friends would have discovered hisdiscarded garments by this time, and would be calling and hallooingto him---in vain. What would they think of his prolonged absence?That he had been drowned, or attacked by sharks, or lost in aquicksand?---what on earth would they imagine had happened to him?And Billy? Poor Billy, he would be quite frantic over the strangedisappearance of his chum! The actual state of affairs would beabout the last guess to enter their minds.
Well, it could not be helped now. He would have to bide his time andawait developments, trusting that his friends would not delay theircoming to the rescue. Meanwhile, where were these three villainstaking him against his will?
After dodging from one island or key to another, slipping along theshady shores, the canoe suddenly struck out across the wider stretchof water, beyond which lay the mainland. Presently it thrust itsnose into the soft bank of a stream, or, rather, a sluggishwater-course which made a clear channel in an ocean of wavingsaw-grass. The men shipped their paddles, stepped out, and liftedHugh to his feet; then they dragged him ashore.
He was able now to look about him, to see where they had landed.
A desolate spot it was, being merely an indentation in the swampycoast, a deep cove formed by two projecting arms of land whichboasted of no vegetation except the tall grass and a group ofstunted palmettos. Into this cove flowed a stream, and at a littledistance from the mouth of the stream stood three log cabins,thatched with bundles of grass. They were all that remained ofa little camp of fishermen and beach-combers, which had once shownpromise of becoming a village before it had been finally abandonedto the wilderness.
From the stove-pipe chimney of one of these cabins, the largest, athin spiral of blue smoke rose and drifted away on the breeze. Thiswas the only sign of human occupancy. The other two dilapidatedbuildings might readily be imagined to shelter only spiders andsnakes. Toward this habitation the smugglers now led their youngcaptive, having first removed the gag from his mouth.
"Now you can shout an' yell all you've a mind to," said Branks, hisblack eyes twinkling with grim mirth. "Raise the roof, if you want;there won't be anybody for miles around to hear you."
Hugh made no reply, though his quick temper was at the boiling point.He did not believe a word of the taunt; indeed, on the way overfrom the island, listening to the men's talk, he had formed theopinion that they were trying to "bluff" him, trying to impresshim with the idea that he was helpless and far away from his friends.
The chief thing which puzzled him was:
Why had not the _Arrow_ given chase to the canoe if his friends hadcaught sight of it, as they must have done? It seemed very unlikelythat no one of his party had seen the canoe stealing out across thewater. Hugh did not know that Vinton, as soon as the canoe had beensighted, had given orders to go aboard the sloop at once, and that the_Arrow_ had promptly gone in pursuit, but such was the case. Only, bysome accident, the sloop had struck shoal water and was now stuck faston a sandbar, waiting for the tide to lift her afloat.
Meanwhile, approaching the hut, Branks strode forward, paused, andgave a weird, low whistle. He was answered by a similar one, and thenthe cabin door was opened by a man dressed in a brown flannelhunting-shirt, corduroy trousers, and hip boots rolled down to theknees. He stood shading his eyes with both hands, as if blinded bythe sunlight on emerging from the windowless cabin.
"That you, Harry?" he inquired.
"No, it's me---Branks," replied the other man. "Confound youreyesight, Joe! can't you tell an honest poor cuss from a crook?"
He laughed at this merry sally, and Joe Durgan responded with a snort.
"Who you-all got thar?" was his next question, as the others cameup. "A kid, eh? What you-all doin' with _him_?" He blinked at Hugh,much as a sleepy owl blinks at a hunter who has discovered its nest.Then a thought crossed his mind: "O-ho! you're one o' the crowdcampin' o'er yonder!"
"Right you are, Mr. Durgan!" declared Hugh with calm politeness. "Butwhy I've been captured and brought here, I don't quite see. I wasn'tdoing any harm that I know of just prowling around the islands forthe fun of it,---nothing more."
"Whar your frien's?"
"Don't know, I'm sure. They'll be over here looking for me in ashort while, I guess."
"They will, eh? Don't say so? Well, come in and make yourself tohome."
There was something so sinister in this invitation and in the leerwhich accompanied it, that Hugh felt a qualm of misgiving. He hungback, uncertain what to say next, until cross-eyed Harry gave him apush that sent him staggering through the doorway. The four menthen entered the cabin after him, closing the door cautiously.
Inside the hut they were in comparative darkness, the only lightcoming in between the chinks in the log walls. An opening whichhad once served as a window was now boarded across, for some unknownreason. The only furniture in the dwelling consisted of a fineold mahogany table---sadly out of place---three cheap wooden chairs,a cupboard against one wall, and a rude bunk beside it coveredwith deer-skins. From the cupboard Durgan brought forth a tallowcandle set upright on a broken saucer. Lighting this, he placedit on the table.
"Sit o'er thar," he said to Hugh, pointing to the bunk.
Hugh obeyed in silence; and the men then gathered around the table,speaking in tones so low that he could scarcely distinguish the words.
"A strange scene!" he thought, surveying the dingy interior."Outside, broad daylight; in here, four scoundrels in candle-council,planning deeds of darkness; and I, trussed up like a calf, watchingthem because there doesn't seem to be anything else I can do. Atleast, not just now."
He lay down on the bunk, heaving a sigh of weariness.
Hearing the sigh, Joe Durgan glanced up. "If you'll behave likea good lad an' not try to run away," he said, grinning, "I'lluntie your hands, and you kin be more comf'table-like. What say?"
"Thanks!" said Hugh; and when Durgan, assuming the word to be apromise of good behavior, unbound the prisoner, Hugh lay down againand feigned sleep. In his heart he was grateful to Durgan for thekindness, but he was no less resolved to take every opportunity forescaping that might arise.
The men continued to speak in low voices, but he heard enough oftheir discussion to convince him once more that they were arrangingto meet at a spot where some sort of a cargo was to be run, the firstnight when there would be no moon and an off-shore wind. As far ashe could learn from the snatches of talk which reached his ears, thespot was to be close to this deserted settlement; before them was alittle sandy bay where boats could come ashore, even should there bea heavy sea running outside.
It was further decided that Joe Durgan would show a light in a windowof one of the smaller cabins if the coast was clear.
In order to draw off the revenue cutter men from the spot, theyproposed also to set afire two small hay ricks which stood near.By so doing, they hoped that the crew of the _Petrel_ would try toextinguish the flame
s, so as to prevent the fire spreading inland toan extensive grove of valuable cypress trees. As this was sure to beno easy work, the smugglers calculated to run the cargo and carry thegoods into the cellar of the cabin.
"Didn't know this hang-out had a cellar," said Branks. "Why don'twe-----"
"Shut up!" interrupted the cross-eyed man, holding up a grimy fingerwhich he pointed at Hugh. "Did you say cigar, Branks?" he addedcraftily in a louder tone, so that Hugh might hear.
"No, I said cel-----"
"I won't sell one, but I'll give you one," again interposed the other."Here, take it!" And he added under his breath with an ugly oath,"You double-dyed fool!"
Hugh lay still, breathing deeply and heartily wishing the men wouldgo away. He began to fear they would spend the day there in hiding.Presently, however, they rose from the table and went out, closingand locking the door behind them. He was a prisoner! He sprang upand rushed over to the door.
"Let me out!" he cried, beating on it with clenched fists. "Youcrooks'll have to pay for this when you're caught!"
A loud laugh was the only answer.
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