CHAPTER XV.
HALBERT'S MALICE.
Robert was forced, by Ben Haley's, taking possession of his boat to giveup for the present his design of recrossing the river. He felt bound togo back and inform Paul of Ben's escape.
"He has carried off my gold," exclaimed Paul, in anguish. "Why didn'tyou catch him?"
"He had too much start of us," said Robert's companion. "But even if wehad come up with him, I am afraid he would have proved more than a matchfor us. He is a desperate man. How much money did he take away withhim?"
"More than five hundred dollars," wailed the old man. "I am completelyruined!"
"Not quite so bad as that, Mr. Nichols. You have your farm left."
But the old man was not to be comforted. He had become so wedded to hisgold that to lose it was like losing his heart's blood. But was these nohope of recovery?
"Why don't you go after him?" he exclaimed, suddenly. "Raise theneighbors. It isn't too late yet."
"He's across the river before this," said Robert.
"Get a boat and go after him."
"I am willing," said our hero, promptly. "Where can we find a boat, Mr.Dunham?"
"There's one about a quarter of a mile down the stream--Stetson's boat."
"Let's go, then."
"Very well, Robert. I've no idea we can do anything, but we will try."
"Go, go. Don't waste a moment," implored the old man, in feverishimpatience.
Robert and Mr. Dunham started, and were soon rowing across the river inStetson's boat.
"Whereabout would he be likely to land?" asked the farmer.
"There's my boat now," said Robert, pointing it out. "He has left itwhere I usually keep it."
Quickly they rowed alongside. Then to his great sorrow Robert perceivedthe malicious injury which his enemy had wrought.
"Oh, Mr. Dunham, look at that!" he said, struck with grief. "The boat isspoiled!"
"Not so bad as that. It can be mended."
"What will Will Paine say? What will his father say?"
"Then it isn't your boat?"
"No, that is the worst of it. It was lent me by Will Paine, and Ipromised to take such good care of it."
"It isn't your fault, Robert?"
"No, I couldn't help it, but still it wouldn't have happened if it hadnot been in my charge."
"You can get it repaired, so that it will look almost as well as new."
If Robert had had plenty of money, this suggestion would have comfortedhim, but it will be remembered that he was almost penniless, dependenton the fish he caught for the means of supporting his mother andhimself. Now this resource was cut off. The boat couldn't be used untilit was repaired. He felt morally bound to get it repaired, though he wasguiltless of the damage. But how could he even do this? One thing wasclear--Mr. Paine must at once be informed of the injury suffered by theboat. Robert shrank from informing him, but he knew it to be his duty,and he was too brave to put it off.
But first he must try to find some clew to Ben Haley. He had now apersonal interest in bringing to justice the man who had made him somuch trouble. He had scarcely got on shore than the boy who had sold BenHaley the hatchet, strolled up.
"Who was that man who came across in your boat?" he asked.
"Did you see him?" asked Robert, eagerly.
"To be sure I did," said Tom Green, with satisfaction. "I sold him myold hatchet for money enough to buy a new one, and he give me a quarterbesides for my trouble."
"I wish you hadn't done it, Tom," said Robert, gravely. "See what he'sdone with it."
Tom Green opened his eyes wide with astonishment.
"What did he do that for?" he asked.
"To be revenged on me. I'll tell you what for another time. Now I wantto find him. Can you tell me where he went?"
"No; I left him here, while I went to the store for a new hatchet."
The old hatchet was found under a clump of bushes. Robert tookpossession of it, feeling that he had a right to it, as partcompensation for the mischief it had done.
"We'd better go to the railroad depot, Mr. Dunham," he said. "He'd bemost likely to go there."
"You're right. We'll go."
They walked rapidly to the station, but too late, of course, for thetrain. The station-master was standing on the platform, superintendingthe removal of a trunk.
"Mr. Cross," said Robert, "I want to find out if a particular man leftby the last train. I'll describe him."
"Yes," said the station-master, "that's the man I was wondering about.He had a wound in the shoulder."
"He got that from me," said Robert.
"Sho! you don't say so," returned the station-master, in surprise. "Hesaid he was out hunting with a friend, and his friend's gun went offaccidentally."
"I don't believe he feels very friendly to me," said Robert, smiling."He's stolen five or six hundred dollars in gold from old Paul Nichols."
"It'll about kill the old man, won't it?"
"He feels pretty bad about it. For what place did he buy a ticket?"
"For Cranston; but that ain't no guide. When he gets there, he'll buy aticket for further on."
Had there been a telegraph station, Robert would have telegraphed on tohave Ben Haley stopped, but there was none nearer than the next town. Hedetermined to give information to a justice of the peace, and leave thematter in his hands. But Justice in a country town is slow, and it mayas well be stated here, before anything was done Ben Haley was out ofdanger. But Robert was destined to fall in with him at a future day.
This business attended to, Robert bent his steps to Mr. Paine's office.This brings us to his meeting with Halbert Davis at the door. He wasslightly surprised at the encounter, but was far from guessing theobject of Halbert's call.
Mr. Paine looked up as he entered, and had no difficulty in guessing hiserrand.
"What can I do for you, Robert?" he asked, kindly.
"I bring bad news, Mr. Paine," said our hero, boldly plunging into thesubject which had brought him to the office.
"It's about the boat, isn't it?" said the lawyer.
"What, do you know about it?" asked Robert, in surprise.
"Yes; a disinterested friend brought the news."
"Halbert Davis?"
"The same. He takes a strong interest in your affairs," added thelawyer, dryly. "Now tell me how it happened."
Robert gave a full explanation, the lawyer occasionally asking aquestion.
"It seems, then," he said, "that you incurred this man's enmity by yourdefense of Mr. Nichols' money."
"Yes, sir."
"It was incurred in a good cause. I can't blame you, nor will my son. Iwill get Mr. Plane, the carpenter, to look at the boat and see what hecan do to repair it."
"Some time I will pay you the cost of the repairs, Mr. Paine. I wouldnow if I had any money; but you know how I am situated."
"I shall not call upon you to do that," said the lawyer, kindly. "It wasnot your fault."
"But the damage would not have happened if Will had not lent the boat tome."
"That is true; but in undertaking the defense of Mr. Nichols you showeda pluck and courage which most boys would not have exhibited. I aminterested, like all good citizens, in the prevention of theft, and inthis instance I am willing to assume the cost."
"You are very kind, Mr. Paine. I was afraid you would blame me."
"No, my boy; I am not so unreasonable. It will save me some trouble ifyou will yourself see Mr. Plane and obtain from him an estimate of theprobable expense of putting the boat in order."
Robert left the office, feeling quite relieved by the manner in whichhis communication had been received. A little way up the road heovertook Halbert Davis. In fact, Halbert was waiting for him, expresslyto get an opportunity of enjoying his discomfiture at the ruin of theboat.
"Hallo, Rushton!" he said.
"Good-morning, Halbert!"
"Are you going out in your boat this afternoon?" asked Halbert,maliciously.
"You know why I can't."
"I wonder what Will Paine will say when he sees the good care you takeof it."
"I don't believe he will blame me when he knows the circumstances."
"You ain't fit to have the charge of a boat. I suppose you ran it on arock."
"Then you suppose wrong."
"You won't be able to go out fishing any more. How will you make aliving?"
"Without your help," said Robert, coldly. "You will probably see me outagain in a few days, if you take the trouble to look."
"How can you go?"
"Mr. Paine has asked me to see Mr. Plane about repairing the boat."
"Is he going to pay the expenses?"
"Yes."
"Then he's a fool."
"You'd better not tell him so, or he might give you a lesson inpoliteness."
"You're a low fellow," said Halbert, angrily.
"You are welcome to your opinion," returned Robert, indifferently.
Brave and Bold; Or, The Fortunes of Robert Rushton Page 15