Then, unable to resist the temptation to get into the fight, Fred caught up his gun and also fired, managing to catch one of the fleeing beasts in the hind quarters.
“I guess that’s the last of those wolves,” remarked Spouter. “I don’t believe they’ll come around here again all winter.”
The wolf shot through the neck was dead, while at least two of the others were so badly wounded they could scarcely drag themselves away through the storm. The others disappeared as if by magic, racing along at the top of their speed.
“Hello there!” came from out of the storm. “How did you make out with those wolves?” It was Jack who was calling, and a moment later he appeared with Gif following.
“There is what is left of the pack!” cried Randy, pointing to the dead wolf. “Spouter brought that one down, and we managed to wound at least two others.”
“And those that could do it left quicker than them came,” added his twin.
“Good for you, Spouter!” cried Jack. “Evidently spraining your ankle didn’t interfere with your marksmanship.”
“Huh! anybody could hit a target if he was right on top of it,” answered the other cadet; nevertheless Spouter was immensely pleased over his success in laying the big wolf low.
The carcass of the dead beast was dragged into the entryway, and then Gif and Jack brought a few more sticks of wood from the shed.
“We’ll have to skin that wolf,” said Gif. “Spouter, you can get a very nice rug out of it, or maybe use the fur for some kind of a garment.”
“I’ll send it home,” said Spouter. “I know it will please the folks very much.”
It was not until some days later that the storm cleared away sufficiently for the boys to go out once more. Then, as they were running short of supplies, they decided to accompany Stowell down to Henryville, going as before on their skates.
“I must say I rather hate to leave you fellows,” declared the little cadet. “You’ve treated me very nicely—much better than I was treated by Bill and Gabe. When we get back to Colby Hall I won’t forget it.”
“Well, you turn over a new leaf, Henry, and join the right crowd, and you’ll get along much better,” answered Jack. “It will never do a fellow any good to train with chaps like Glutts and Werner or with fellows like Nappy Martell and Slugger Brown.”
They found quite a little snow on the river and had often to plough across the drifts on their skates as best they could. But there were many long, cleared spaces, and here all of the cadets made good time, for even Stowell was a fairly good skater.
“You’ll be just in time, Henry,” said Gif, as they came in sight of the town. “It’s now half-past ten, and, if I remember rightly, the public sleigh for Timminsport leaves at eleven o’clock.”
Gif’s surmise proved correct and all walked over to the hotel from which the sleigh for the other town started. It was an easy matter for Stowell to obtain accommodations in this turnout, and soon he had said good-bye and was bound for home.
“I’m mighty glad he is going to give up training with Glutts and Werner,” remarked Fred, and the others agreed with him.
The boys had made out a list of what they wanted, and, leaving the hotel, they went over to the general store where they had traded before. The proprietor was glad to see them, especially when he found out they needed so many things.
“I had a man in here last night asking about you,” said the storekeeper when he was busy putting up their things.
“Asking about us?” repeated Jack. “Who was he?”
“I don’t know. He was in here once before, two or three weeks ago asking about the different hunting lodges and lumber camps in this vicinity. He didn’t give any name, and he didn’t say what his business was.”
“What sort of looking man was he?” asked Gif.
“Oh, just an ordinary looking sort of fellow—not very tall and not very short either. He had a clean-shaven face and dark hair and dark eyes.”
“How was he dressed?” questioned Fred.
“He wore a dark grey overcoat and a slouch hat and fur gloves. He bought a couple of my best cigars, and stood around awhile, talking about the people who came to the store to trade. Then he asked about Cedar Lodge, and he wanted to know all about who was staying there. When he heard the name Rover he was very much interested, and when I told him you were a bunch of cadets from Colby Hall he said he would have to look you up.”
“Maybe he’s a friend of ours!” cried Randy. “Too bad you didn’t get the name.”
“I don’t know as he was any particular friend. You see, he asked about some of the other places around here too—about Jed Wallop’s place, and those shacks belonging to Tony Duval, and about the old Hunker cabin and the deserted Parkingham house, and the old Crosby camp, and those shacks down at Miller’s saw mill, and a lot of places like that. I thought maybe he had an idea of buying some place and locating here.”
“He may have been nothing but a real estate agent,” declared Andy.
“What did you tell him about the old Parkingham house?” questioned Jack curiously.
“I told him a bunch of foreigners were staying up there—I thought possibly they might be Germans trying to hide themselves so as to keep out of the draft. Say! do you suppose he might be a Government agent rounding up the slackers?” continued the storekeeper, with interest.
“I’m sure I don’t know,” answered Jack. “If he calls again ask him his name, and if he is a friend of ours tell him we would be glad to see him up at the lodge at any time.”
“All right, I’ll do that.”
Had they not been hampered by so many bundles and packages, some of which were quite heavy, the cadets would have remained out hunting for the rest of the day. But as it was, they decided to skate directly home and obtain a belated lunch at the Lodge, and then, if they felt like it, go out later.
“We’re up here just for the fun of it, so there is no necessity of being too strenuous,” said Gif. “We want to go back to Colby Hall feeling really refreshed.”
They had reached the river once more, and were busy putting on their skates, when they heard a shout behind them. Turning, they beheld a man who, as soon as he saw they were looking in his direction, waved his hand at them.
“Excuse me, but are some of you the Rover boys?” he questioned, as he came closer.
“Yes,” answered Jack. “I am one of the Rovers, and these are my cousins,” and he indicated the others.
“I was up at the store, and the storekeeper told me you had just gone away and were bound up the river. If you don’t mind, I would like to have a talk with you.”
The man was of medium size, with dark hair and dark eyes, and as he wore a dark grey overcoat and a slouch hat, the cadets immediately put him down for the individual mentioned to them by the storekeeper. He had a quiet smile on his face which was reassuring to all of the lads.
“What is it you want to know?” questioned Fred.
“Are you the Rovers from Colby Hall—the young men who had so much to do with rounding up those Germans at Camp Barlight and capturing that hidden submarine?”
“Yes.”
“And you also helped in rounding up those other fellows who were trying to put through some deal with two men named Brown and Martell?”
“We did,” said Andy.
“It was a fine thing to do, and it shows that you fellows are true blue,” returned the man, with satisfaction.
“Are you a Secret Service man?” questioned Jack suddenly.
“Why do you want to know that, Rover?” was the counter question.
“If you belong to the Secret Service you are just the man we are looking for.”
CHAPTER XXIX
WHAT HAPPENED AT THE LODGE
“So you want to see a Secret Service man, eh?” said the newcomer, after a slight pause. “Wh
at’s in the wind?”
“We think we have discovered something that the Government ought to know about,” answered Jack slowly.
“But there isn’t any use of our saying anything about it unless you are really a public official of some sort or other,” broke in Randy hastily.
After this there followed quite a conversation, the newcomer leading the boys on to tell what they knew concerning the Germans at the old Parkingham house, and also what they knew about Herman Crouse and Tony Duval.
“I think I am on the right track at last,” said the man. “And since you have told me so much I will return your confidences by stating that Iam a Secret Service officer. We had an idea that the Germans might try something of that sort in this vicinity, and I am pretty sure now that we are on the right track.”
“Try something of what sort?” questioned Andy.
“We received word in a roundabout way over six weeks ago that an attempt would be made by the Germans to establish a radio station somewhere along this portion of the coast. The hills back of Timminsport and Henryville would make an ideal spot for such a station.”
“Do you mean a radio station from which they could send wireless messages all the way to Germany?” cried Fred.
“Oh, no! Not such a distance as that. Such a station would require more power than they would be able to generate without heavy and complicated machinery. But it was thought they might establish a lesser station from which they could send wireless messages to any of their submarines or warships that might be sailing within a given distance of our shore.”
“You surely have struck it!” cried Randy. “Those coils of wire and the electrical things we saw in the packing cases up at their barn prove it.”
The Secret Service agent, who gave his name as William Pollock, questioned them still further, and then said he would get into immediate communication with his superiors.
“You’ll hear more from me in the near future,” said he, when the talk had come to an end. “I’ll probably be at Cedar Lodge in two or three days. In the meantime, if you want to do Uncle Sam a real service say nothing at all to any outsider of what you have discovered, or of your meeting with me.”
To this the cadets readily consented, and then William Pollock hurried off, to obtain a private turnout in which to get to Timminsport as speedily as possible.
“Now I guess there will be something doing up at the Parkingham house before long,” declared Gif, when they were once more on their way to the Lodge.
“Yes, and there will be something doing at Tony Duval’s place too,” returned Jack.
“I wish we could be on hand to see what happens!” cried Randy wistfully.
“Perhaps, if the Secret Service men come up here to make an arrest, they will allow us to go along with them,” added his twin.
On account of his ankle, which was still somewhat weak, Spouter had remained at the bungalow. When the others returned he listened with keen interest to all they had to tell.
“Gee, that’s great!” he exclaimed. “If those Germans are really guilty I hope the government officials round them up in short order.”
“Yes, and round up Tony Duval, too,” added Fred.
“What about Glutts and Werner?” questioned Andy.
“Well, if they have been guilty of any treachery toward our Government, they ought to suffer,” was the way Gif expressed himself.
“Do you know, I’ll feel rather sorry for that Herman Crouse, if he is mixed up in this,” said Jack. “He seemed to be a pretty decent sort.”
“Well, in these war times a man has either got to be for Uncle Sam or against him,” answered Spouter.
Feeling certain that William Pollock would be unable to do anything that afternoon, the boys got a hasty lunch, and late in the afternoon went out for some more hunting. They tramped a distance of over two miles through the snow, and managed to bring down several rabbits and likewise a pheasant and some smaller birds.
“I hope we don’t see any more of those wolves,” said Fred, when they had started to return to the Lodge.
“Look! look!” cried Gif suddenly.
He had scarcely spoken when Jack raised his gun and fired. Then the oldest Rover boy fired again, both shots being taken before the others could get their guns into action.
“It’s a fox!” cried Randy. “Jack, I guess you got him, too!”
“I hope so,” was Jack’s answer as he stopped to reload his weapon.
The animal he had fired at had been running across a small opening between the trees. At the first shot the game had made a turn, and at the second had given a leap and disappeared into a small hollow filled with snow.
When the boys reached the hollow all they could see at first was the snow which had been kicked in several directions. But then they caught sight of a bushy tail peeping forth from the white covering.
“It’s a fox, all right enough!” exclaimed Gif.
“Look out there! He may not be dead,” warned Fred. “If he’s alive and you touch him he may give you quite a bite.”
They advanced with caution, and Gif turned the animal over with the end of his gun barrel. He exposed a large fox of a silvery grey color. It was quite dead.
“A silver fox!” came from Andy.
“Jack, you’ve had your wish,” said Gif. “It’s a silver fox, all right enough.”
They dragged it forth from the hollow and examined the animal with much interest. The fur was somewhat reddish next to the hide, but the tips were white and silver grey.
“A beautiful piece of fur, that’s certain,” said Gif. “Your folks will be glad to get it.”
“How about Ruth Stevenson getting it,” said Randy, with a grin; and at this remark Jack blushed.
A part of the next day was spent in skinning both the fox and the wolf. The boys wondered if they would see anything of the Secret Service agent, but he did not show himself.
“They may take their own time about working up this case,” remarked Spouter. “They may want to get just the right kind of evidence before they close in on the rascals.”
Another day went by, and again the lads went forth to try their skill both at hunting and at fishing. This time Spouter went along, and while the others were fishing with more or less success the orator of Colby Hall had the honor of stirring up a brook mink of fair size and laying it low.
“You’ve got a nice little neck-piece there for somebody,” said Jack, as he looked at the soft fur of the mink. “You can count yourself lucky.”
Another Sunday was passed in camp, but still the Secret Service agent did not show himself. On the Sabbath day Jed Wallop came down to see them. They said nothing to the old hunter of what was in the wind.
“I am sorry to hear your vacation is drawin’ to a close,” said Jed Wallop. “But you ought to be purty well satisfied over what you’ve got. It ain’t everybody that can git a silver fox and other foxes too, and a wolf and a brook mink, not to say anything about rabbits, squirrels, partridges, and sech. I think you lads have done wonderful well.”
“I think so myself,” answered Gif.
Monday morning the young hunters took it easy, and it was not until after lunch that they thought of going out once again with their guns.
“Might as well make the best of what time is left to us,” was the way Fred expressed himself. “Before long we’ll have to be at the Colby Hall grind again.”
“Don’t mention school to me,” answered Andy. “This kind of a life suits me down to the heels.”
The boys were almost ready to leave the Lodge when they heard the jingle of sleigh bells and to their surprise saw a large sled approaching filled with the bundled-up figures of men.
“Hello, it must be those Secret Service agents!” cried Gif. “Now maybe there will be something doing!”
All watched the approach of the big sl
eigh, and were then surprised to see that the turnout contained the four Germans they had met before, and likewise Tony Duval and a sixth man, who was a stranger to them.
“Are you at home?” called out the largest of the Germans, the man named Bauermann.
“Looks as if we were, doesn’t it?” answered Jack, as he stood in the doorway with the others peering over his shoulders.
“We would like to have a talk with you, young man,” went on Emil Bauermann, with a frown on his face. “We came over here on purpose to see you.”
“If you young men have been trying to make trouble for me you shall suffer for it,” came in a growl from Tony Duval.
“Who said we were trying to make trouble for you, Duval?” demanded Gif.
“Bah! you cannot fool me, Garrison,” said the hunter wrathfully. Evidently he was greatly excited.
“Duval, let me handle this matter,” remonstrated Emil Bauermann. “We want to have a serious talk with you young men,” he added to the boys.
All of the occupants of the big sleigh sprang out in the snow, and without waiting for an invitation to do so stalked into the Lodge.
The Germans were evidently in a bad humor, and they glowered at the cadets in a way that made them feel far from comfortable.
“What is it you want?” demanded Gif, not liking the manner of their intrusion.
“We want to come to an understanding,” growled one of the Germans.
“You cannot play tricks behind our backs without taking the consequences,” grumbled another.
“Maybe you think you’re smart, but you’ll find that we are smarter,” added a third. “Many a man has been so smart that he has stuck his head into the noose.”
“Let me handle this matter,” broke in Emil Bauermann, and then uttered some words in German. An animated discussion in that tongue followed, the cadets understanding next to nothing of what was said.
“I do not like the looks of this at all,” whispered Randy to Jack. “I believe they came here to do us harm.”
“That’s the way it looks to me too,” whispered Fred. “They must have got wind in some way of our being up around their place.”
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