JOE'S PLANS.
When they had had their laugh out, Mr. Warren said to Uncle Hallet:
"Don't you think it would be a good plan for the boys to bring their
outfit to a place of safety until the sheriff has had time to go up
there and take care of those robbers? If they take it into their heads
to burn the cabins, we don't want them to burn everything there is in
them."
"Of course not," assented Mr. Hallet. "Tom, tell Hawley to hitch up and
move you down at once--you and Joe. Mind, now, I want him to go with
you."
"We don't need him," protested Tom. "We can take care of ourselves."
Uncle Hallet did not think it necessary to discuss this point. He had
given his orders, and he knew that they would be strictly obeyed.
He stepped into Mr. Warren's wagon, and the latter drove out of the
yard, leaving the boys to themselves.
"He didn't say that we couldn't go back again as soon as the robbers
have been caught, did he?" observed Bob, whose fears on that score were
now set at rest. "It's going to be a bother to walk up there and back
every day, when we might just as well remain in our cabins, but it
seems that we've got to do it."
Tom replied that it certainly looked that way; adding, that it would be
of no use for them to "kick," because he knew by the expression that
was on Uncle Hallet's face when he laid down the law to them, that he
meant every word he said.
They went out to the barn, and found Hawley, the hostler, gardener, and
man-of-all-work, who could hardly believe the story they told him while
he was hitching up; and it needed the sight of Mr. Warren's blacks,
stepping out for Hammondsport at their best pace, and an examination
of the broken fastenings of Joe's cabin, to convince him that the boys
had not dreamed it all, and that there had really been something going
on up there on the mountain.
"I wouldn't sleep in one of these shanties as long as those robbers are
at liberty for twice fifteen dollars a month, and I think Uncle Hallet
did just right in telling you to keep away from here after dark," said
Hawley.
And he was in such haste to get the things into his wagon and start for
home, that the boys were surprised, and wondered if he would be of any
use to them if they got into any trouble.
"There," said Tom, at length; "Joe's cabin is as empty as it was two
days ago. Now, let us go over to our own domicile, and see how things
look there. We can move faster than you can, Hawley, so we will go on
ahead."
"Well, I guess you'd better not," was the man's reply. "I judged from
what you said that it was your uncle's wish that I should keep an eye
on you. And how am I going to do it if you don't stay with me?"
"We are in a great hurry to find out whether or not our house was
robbed at the same time that Joe's was," replied Bob, "and we can look
out for ourselves. Come on boys!"
"He acts as if he were afraid to be left alone," whispered Joe Morgan.
"And I believe he is," answered Bob. "Events may prove that we are in
more danger up here than we think for."
Bob didn't know how close he shot to the mark when he uttered these
careless words, but he found it out afterwards.
Paying no heed to Hawley's remonstrances, the boys hastened on in
advance of him, and in due time came within sight of Tom's cabin.
Nothing there had been disturbed.
If the robbers knew of its existence, they probably did not think it
safe to go there, because it was so far from their hiding-place.
"We don't want those things to go," said Tom, when Hawley drove up and
jumped out of his wagon. "We've kept out grub enough for our dinner."
"Ain't you going back with me?" inquired the man.
"What's the use? We would have to come up here again, and we don't
care to prance up and down this mountain any more times than we are
obliged to. It is understood that we are to stay here during the day.
If we didn't, these wood-lots would be black with shooters in less than
twenty-four hours."
"Well, I wouldn't stay, day or night," said Hawley. "Them birds ain't
worth the danger that you fellows put yourselves in every minute you
spend here."
Hawley's anxiety to get through with his work and start for home, was
so apparent, that it is a wonder the young game-wardens did not grow
frightened and decide to go back with him; but they didn't think of
it. They helped him load his wagon, and saw him depart without any
misgivings.
"Now, what arrangements shall we make about dinner?" said Bob, as soon
as Hawley was out of sight. "I say, let's eat it at once, and be done
with it; then we will save ourselves the trouble of packing it around
through the woods for an hour and a half."
The boys were all hungry, and knowing by experience that a loaded
haversack or game-bag is an awkward thing to carry through bushes, they
agreed to Bob's proposition, and set to work immediately.
By their united efforts a substantial meal was quickly made ready and
as quickly disposed of, and then they bade one another good-by and
separated.
"Joe's got good pluck, I must say," exclaimed Tom Hallet, turning about
to take a last look at Mr. Warren's warden, who was just disappearing
in the gloom of the woods. "I don't think I should be afraid to be left
here alone, but I am very well satisfied to have you with me."
And Joe Morgan would have been better satisfied if he, too, had had
a companion to talk to, instead of being obliged to roam about by
himself. But he was working for money, of which his mother stood in
need, and he did his duty, although (candor compels us to say it) he
gave the gorge a wide berth.
The startling events of the morning and the many warnings he had
received were of too recent occurrence to be forgotten, and he didn't
care if he never saw that gorge again; still, he would have gone even
there if he had seen or heard the least thing to indicate that poachers
were at work in that vicinity.
He kept a sharp eye on his watch, and when the clumsy-looking hands
told him that he had just time enough left to get home before dark,
he bent his steps toward the wood-pile, which he always took as his
point of departure, carrying a light heart in his breast, and the happy
consciousness that he had left nothing undone.
"On the contrary, it's the best day's work I ever did," said Joe, to
himself. "Three thousand three hundred dollars, and a little more for
my share of the reward! Wh-e-w! I do wish I could think of some way to
keep it from father's knowledge and Dan's; but they are bound to hear
of it, and make me all the trouble they can concerning it, and I don't
know but I might as well face the music to-night as any other time."
The future looked as bright to the young game-warden as it did to Silas
Morgan the first time we saw him moving down that road. But there was
this difference between the two: Joe had something tangible upon which
to build his hopes, while his father had nothing but the letter he held
in his hand.
His mother was the first to greet him when he reached home; indeed, she
was the only one of the family there was in sight. She was surprised
and startled to see him, but she saw at a glance that there was no
cause for alarm.
"Where's father and Dan?" inquired Joe, taking the precaution to open
the door, which had been closed behind him.
He did not want either of the two worthies whose names he had just
mentioned to slip up and hear what he had to say to his mother.
"I don't know where they are now," was Mrs. Morgan's answer. "Daniel
has been sitting there on the bank almost ever since you went away; but
your father, would you believe it, Joe?--he has been down to the Beach
to give up the setters that he has had in his keeping so long."
"Good enough!" exclaimed Joe, who was delighted to hear it. "I have
been afraid that those dogs would get him into trouble sooner or later,
and they would, too, if he had held fast to them much longer. Did he
find the owner?"
"No; but he gave them to the landlord, to be kept until they were
called for. I don't know what sort of a story he told regarding them,
but he seemed to feel better when he came back."
"Have you any idea what induced him to take that step?"
"I think it was the fright he had."
"Good enough!" said Joe, again. "Those hants--for there are two of
them--are the best friends we ever had. Now, don't say a word, for I
want to tell you something before anybody comes to interrupt me. I
repeat, they are good friends of ours. They have led father into making
restitution of property that he never ought to have had in his hands,
and they have been the means of--"
Before he told what the hants had been the means of doing, Joe stepped
to the door and looked out.
It was pitch dark now, but the light that streamed from the door of the
cabin was bright enough to show him that there was no eavesdropper in
sight.
Why didn't he think to go around the corner and look behind the chimney?
"They have made us rich, mother," continued Joe, stepping to Mrs.
Morgan's side, and speaking in low but distinct tones. "I made three
thousand three hundred dollars this morning by doing less than two
hours' work. Hold on till I get through. I know you are astonished, and
so am I; but it's all true. Sit down, for I've a long story to tell."
The young game-warden, who stood in constant fear of interruption,
talked rapidly, but he went into all the details, and, by the time he
got through, his mother knew as much about it as he did himself; but
she said she was afraid it was too good to be true.
"No, it isn't," exclaimed Joe. "When Tom told our story to Mr. Hallet's
hired man, he declared that we had been asleep and dreamed it all. But
it isn't reasonable to suppose that we could all dream the same thing,
is it? When other folks begin talking about it, you will find that it
is true, every word of it. I wish there was some one here to hold me on
the ground," cried Joe, jumping from his chair and swinging his arms
around his head. "Mother, your hard days are all over, and I can go to
school, can't I? I am going to study hard this winter, and whenever I
get stumped, I'll ask Tom and Bob to help me out."
Having worked off a little of his surplus enthusiasm, Joe sat down
again and talked coolly and sensibly with his mother regarding his
prospects for the future.
So deeply interested did he become in what he was saying, that he did
not hear the very slight rustling behind the cabin that was occasioned
by his brother Dan, who withdrew his ear from the crack between the
boards against which it had been closely pressed, and stole off into
the darkness.
But Dan was there and heard it all; and he pounded his head with both
his fists as he walked away.