CHAPTER XXVIII.
THE BAXTERS TALK IT OVER,
"Tom, we are in a fix."
"So it would seem, Sam. Who ever dreamed of running across the Baxtersin this fashion?"
"We are in the hands of a trio of rascals now, for Crabtree is as badas the others."
"Perhaps, but he hasn't the nerve that Arnold Baxter has. What shall wedo?"
"Try to get free."
"I can't budge an inch. Dan Baxter took especial delight in tying meup."
"I can move one hand and if--It is free! Hurrah!"
"Can you get the other hand free?"
"I can try. The rope--that's free, too. Now for my legs."
Sam Rover worked rapidly, and was soon as free as ever. Then he ranover to where Tom was tied up and liberated his brother.
"Now, what shall we do?"
"I move we go after the people on that steam tug and get them to helpus rescue Mrs. Stanhope."
"That's a good idea, and the quicker we go the better."
Sam remembered very well in what direction he had seen the tug, and nowset a straight course across the island to the cove.
But the trail led over a hill and through a dense thicket, and longbefore the journey was half finished both lads were well-nighexhausted.
"We ought to have followed the shore around--we would have got therequicker," panted Tom, as he fairly cut his way through the densebrush-wood.
"I hope there are no wild animals here."
"I doubt if there is anything very large on the island. If so, we wouldhave seen it before this."
So speaking, they pushed on once more. The woods passed, they came to aswamp filled with long grass. They hurried around this, and then intothe forest skirting the lake shore.
At last the cove came into sight. Alas! the steam tug was nowhere to beseen.
"She has gone!" groaned Sam. "Oh, what luck!
"I can't see a sign of her anywhere?" returned Tom. "She must havesteamed away right after you came down the tree."
"More than likely."
Much disappointed and utterly worn out, they cast themselves down inthe shade to rest. As they rested they listened intently, but only thebreeze through the trees and the soft lap-lap of the waves striking therocks reached their ears.
"I never thought a spot on our lakes could be so lonely," said Sam atlength. "Why, it's as if we were in the middle of the Pacific!"
"I trust no harm befalls Mrs. Stanhope, Sam. Perhaps it is our duty togo back to her, in spite of the danger."
"I was thinking of that, too. But we are only two boys against two menand a boy, and they are armed."
"I think the Canadians will prove our friends in a mix-up. They hateCrabtree, for they half fancy he bewitched their boat."
"We might go back on the sly and do some spying."
"That is what I mean."
But they were too tired to go back at once, and spent a good hour nearthe beach. Close at hand was a tiny spring, and here they procured adrink of water and took a wash-up, after which they felt somewhatbetter.
They were about to start on the return when Tom suddenly plucked hisbrother by the sleeve.
"Somebody is coming," he whispered. "Let us hide."
They had scarcely time to get behind some brushwood when the Baxterscame into view, moving very slowly and gazing sharply around them.
"I don't see a thing, dad," came from Dan Baxter in disgusted tones. "Idon't believe they came this way."
"They certainly didn't go back to that old boat," replied ArnoldBaxter. "Let us take a walk along the beach."
"I am tired to death. Let us rest first."
So speaking, Dan Baxter threw himself on a grassy bank overlooking thelake, and Arnold Baxter followed.
Both were out of sorts and did a large amount of grumbling. The fatherlit a short briar-root pipe, while the son puffed away at a cigarette.
"I'd give a hundred dollars if a boat would come along and take us tothe mainland," observed the father. "I am sick and tired of this gameall through."
"So am I sick of it, dad. We made a mistake by ever coming East, itseems to me."
"If I could get to the mainland I might make money out of it even so,Dan. Anderson Rover may have sent that ten thousand dollars to BayCity, after all. He thinks an awful lot of his sons, and won't want ahair of their head harmed."
"So the money was to go to Bay City. You didn't tell me that before."
"I wanted to keep the matter secret."
"Who will receive it there?"
"A man I can trust."
"Oh, pshaw! you needn't be so close-mouthed about it," growled the son,lighting a fresh cigarette.
"Well, the man's name is Cowdrick--Hiram Cowdrick. He comes fromColorado, and used to know the Roebuck crowd."
"I suppose old Rover was to send the money in secret?"
"Certainly. I wrote him a long letter, telling him that if there wasthe least effort made to follow up the money on his part the lives ofhis sons should pay the forfeit."
"That's the way to put it, dad. I shouldn't wonder if old Rover sentthe money on."
"I'd soon find out, if I could get to shore. If I had the money theboys could rot here, for all I care."
"Thank you for nothing," muttered Tom, under his breath. "Just you waittill I have a chance to square accounts, that's all!"
"Hush!" whispered Sam. "They must not discover us." And then Tom becamesilent again.
"Josiah Crabtree is in a fix, too," went on Dan, with something of alaugh. "He don't seem to know what to do."
"Where is Mrs. Stanhope's daughter?"
"I don't know. If Crabtree marries Mrs. Stanhope, it will break Doraall up."
"Well, that isn't our affair. But it is queer we should run together onthis island. We can--What is that? A sail!"
Arnold Baxter leaped to his feet, and so did Dan. Tom and Sam alsolooked in the direction pointed out.
There was a sail, true enough, far out on the lake. All watched it withinterest and saw it gradually grow larger. Evidently the craft washeading directly for the island.
"She is coming this way, dad!" almost shouted Dan.
"It looks so to me," replied Arnold Baxter, with increasing interest."And she isn't the _Peacock_, either."
"No, she's a strange ship--a sloop, by her rig."
The Baxters watched the coming sail eagerly, and it must be confessedthat the Rover boys were equally interested.
"If the folks on that boat are honest, they will surely help us againstthe Baxters," murmured Sam.
"Just what I was thinking," replied his brother.
At last the vessel was near enough to be signaled, and, running to ahigh rock overlooking the water, Dan swung his hat and a handkerchiefin the air.
At first the signals were not seen, but at last came a voice through aspeaking trumpet.
"Ahoy, there!"
"Ahoy!" shouted Dan. "Come here! Come here!"
"What's the trouble?"
"We are wrecked. We want you to take us off."
"Wrecked?"
"Yes. Will you take us off?"
"Certainly."
Slowly, but surely, the sloop drew nearer. She was a fair-sized craft,and carried a crew of three. The men seemed to be nice fellows, and notat all of the Captain Langless class. Soon the sloop dropped anchorclose in shore and the mainsail came down at the same time.
The Rover Boys on the Great Lakes; Or, The Secret of the Island Cave Page 28