THE CAMP OF THE POACHERS
Upton had just glanced at his watch and noted that the hour was 3 A. M.
Hal and Sparrer were both asleep, the long vigil having proved too much
for them despite their assertions early in the evening that they
couldn't sleep a wink. A slight sound outside the door caught Walter's
attention. A second later the door swung open and Pat and Alec entered.
It was clear that they had expected to find all the boys asleep, and
were endeavoring to make as little noise as possible.
Walter flashed a keen look at the two faces and read there the success
of the trip. "Hey, you sleepy-heads, they've found the camp!" he
shouted, thumping Hal on the back.
"Wha-wha-what?" stammered Hal, rubbing his eyes and staring about him
wildly, while Sparrer blinked stupidly. Then fully recovering his senses
Hal sprang to his feet. "Did you really find the camp?" he asked
eagerly.
Pat nodded. "Hurrah!" cried the impetuous boy. "Say, who hit me? I was
right in the middle of a dream. I had three outlaws lined up against a
cabin wall and covered with a rifle when I felt that thump, and for a
minute I thought it was another one of 'em who had stolen up behind me
and got me foul, I'm certainly glad it was only a dream."
Everybody laughed. Upton meanwhile had hung a kettle of soup over the
fire and was setting a couple of places at the table for the two
trappers, knowing that they must be hungry after their long tramp. "Now
tell us about it," he commanded when they had had a chance to dispose of
the soup and a big slab of corn bread.
"There isn't much to tell," began Pat. "We found their camp and watched
it for a while and then came back."
"So simple," murmured Hal. "'We found their camp.' I suppose you shut
your eyes and let a good fairy take you by the hands and lead you
straight to it! It's a wonder you haven't been over to make a friendly
call before, seeing it is so handy and easily found."
There was no mistaking the sarcasm in Hal's voice, and Pat laughed
aloud. "'Twas no fairy led us to ut, me bye, but just common woods sense
and me partner's knowledge av the counthry." Then dropping his brogue he
continued: "You know enough about camping to know that one of the first
and most important things to look out for in locating a camp is a good
water supply. Alec knows every good spring for twenty miles around.
Having made up our minds that the camp was within five miles Alec just
ran over in his mind the likely springs within that distance and the lay
of the land. The fact that those bloody-minded thieves have been working
our long trap lines was a pretty good indication that their camp lay
somewhere handy to these. That narrowed it down to two springs, the
first of which is at the head of a little draw which makes in to the
north about four miles west of here just before our line swings north.
The second is in a draw which makes in to the south of a pond about a
mile farther on and somewhat off our trap line. We made straight for
the first one and found nothing there. Then we cut across to the second
and as soon as we were in the draw we knew that we were on the right
track."
"How?" interrupted Hal eagerly.
"The smell of wood-smoke," replied Pat. "We worked around to the spring,
mighty careful to keep under cover and make no noise, expecting to find
the camp right there, but there wasn't a thing to be seen. Then we
followed our noses up wind over a little rise and there in the middle of
a clump of spruce was the cabin, pretty near buried in snow. We watched
it for a while and then as there was nothing doing we came back, and
that's the whole of the story."
"What's the next move?" Upton asked the question with an eagerness he
could not conceal.
"A little daylight surprise party," replied Pat with a grin.
"Are we in on it?" demanded the three boys in chorus.
"That depends," replied Pat. "Alec and I have been talking it over, and
if you'll agree to obey orders and keep under cover maybe we'll take
you along. Witnesses may come in handy. But you've got to agree to do
just as you're told."
"We will!" chorused the three joyously.
"Our plan is to surround the cabin before daylight. The fact that those
fellows haven't pulled out already indicates that they are planning to
lie low. But they'll be up and out early to spy on us. We've got to be
in hiding before they are up, and that means that we must start in half
an hour. You fellows are to remain in hiding and leave Alec and me to
handle those chaps, and you're not to show yourselves unless we signal
you to."
"How many of them are there?" asked Upton.
"Two, we think," replied Pat. "The cabin isn't big enough for more. Now
get busy and stow away a good meal, because there is no knowing when
you'll get another."
A hasty meal of bacon and cold corn bread, with hot chocolate, was
speedily disposed of, and they were ready to start. At Pat's suggestion
the boys had put on extra clothing to protect them should they be
compelled to remain inactive for some time. With the exception of
Sparrer each carried a rifle. In single file, Alec in the lead and Pat
in the rear, they threaded their way through the forest. Never will the
three city boys forget the uncanny strangeness of that tramp through the
moonlit wilderness. The silence of the great frozen waste, oppressive
even in the light of day, was doubly so now. Their errand and the
thought of what might happen at the end of their journey combined to
stimulate already overexcited imaginations to a point where nothing
seemed real. They felt as if moving in a dream. It was as if by
enchantment they had been translated from their commonplace selves into
the heroes of one of their favorite books of adventure. They had the
feeling that at any moment they might return to normal conditions and
find it all a figment of the imagination.
Down the Hollow past the trail by which they had entered it Alec led the
way, and out at the western end. Then for a couple of miles he bore
slightly north along the old trapper's trail that Upton remembered the
sheriff had taken in his search for Alec the previous fall. From this
point they bore south, and presently came to the edge of a small pond
glistening white and spotless in the moonlight. At that hour it was
seemingly safe to cross, but Alec was taking no chances and kept to the
cover around the edge.
At the entrance to the draw of which Pat had told them they paused for a
whispered conference. The boys were cautioned to watch every step and to
guard against the slightest sound. Pat was to place them in hiding to
the rear of the camp where they would be out of all possible danger
should there be any shooting and he once more impressed upon them the
fact that they were Scouts under orders and under no circumstances were
they to move unless signaled. Alec would hide near the spring, while Pat
would secrete himself where he could cover the cabin-door.
Making a detour Pat led the boys to a point slightly up the hill and
back of the clump of hemlocks in which he said the cabin was hidden.
Upton and Sparrer he placed together in a thicket directly to the rear
of the camp, and Hal he stationed a hundred yards to the right. Then
once more charging them to make no sound he left them and vanished as
completely as if the ground had opened and swallowed him.
The moon still rode high, but already the gray of approaching dawn
appeared in the east and dulled its silver radiance. They had arrived
none too soon. Upton strained his eyes to make out the cabin, but in the
uncertain shadows it was impossible. He found himself actually wondering
if Pat and Alec were not mistaken. He found it hard to believe that
there could be any other human beings within miles of them. It was
bitter cold, and despite the extra clothing the boys felt the chill of
it. It seemed to creep into the very marrow of their bones and the
excitement which had exhilarated them at the start subsided in direct
ratio to their increasing discomfort.
The gray in the east crept higher and the moon waxed pale. The shadows
grew less dense and objects more distinct. Little by little something
took shape down there among the firs. At first it was little more than a
mound of white, but presently Upton made out that what he had at first
taken to be a little blacker shadow than the rest was nothing less than
the smoke-blackened top of a short chimney into which he could look from
his position on the hill above. This gave him a clue to the cabin's
situation. Evidently it backed up against the hill and at the rear was
almost drifted over with snow. In fact the snow was banked to the eaves
on both sides, the front only having been cleared. This was screened
from view by a thicket of young firs in such a way that one might pass
in front within thirty yards and not see the cabin unless looking
especially for it. It reminded Walter of nothing so much as the
cunningly hidden home of a fox.
The gray in the east had given way to a touch of rose color when Sparrer
sniffed softly and silently pointed to the chimney. A thin column of
smoke was beginning to rise. It was evident that the inmates were astir.
The situation was rapidly approaching a climax. Muffled sounds from
within the cabin reached the boys. With hearts thumping painfully the
watchers waited. Presently there was the creak of a door. From their
position Upton and Sparrer could not see what Hal from his location
farther to the right had a clear view of, a dark, roughly clad man who
stooped to pass out of the low doorway. But a moment later they saw him
as he entered the thicket, a pail in one hand. He was going to the
spring for water.
He passed from sight over the little rise that separated the slight
hollow where the cabin was located from the deeper hollow where the
spring was. As he reached the bottom he came into view again. They saw
him stop abruptly in his tracks as if frozen, then drop his pail and
half turn as if to run, only to stop again and throw his arms above his
head. Then Alec appeared, his rifle covering the man before him. There
was evidently a parley of some kind, but the distance was too great for
the sound of their voices to carry. Undoubtedly Alec had warned the
other not to raise his voice. With bated breath the boys watched the
strange pantomime below. It was plain that Alec was giving orders to
which the other objected, for he violently shook his head. The former,
who had partly lowered his rifle, raised it again menacingly, whereat
his captive appeared to capitulate. Lowering one arm he fumbled at his
belt and presently drew forth a wicked looking knife which with evident
reluctance he tossed at Alec's feet. The latter then permitted his
victim to lower the other arm and evidently issued an order, for the man
turned and with Alec behind him disappeared in the woods.
"He's taking him around to where Pat is," whispered Upton. "That wasn't
the fellow that got you, was it?"
Sparrer shook his head. His eyes were blazing with excitement. "Dat
wasn't no Injun," he whispered. "Dat feller was easy. Wonder if de other
gink will be as easy."
Once more they settled down to patient waiting. The smell of frying
bacon mingled with that of wood-smoke and tantalized their nostrils. It
seemed an age before the door creaked again. Hal only of the three boys
could see the dark face that peered out in the direction of the spring.
It was the darker for an ugly scowl which contracted the low brows. For
a long minute the man stared in the direction of the spring and Hal
could see his lips moving as if he muttered to himself. Then he
vanished inside and the door closed. It was not long, however, before it
opened again and once more the scowling face appeared, staring toward
the spring. It was clear that his companion's continued absence was
beginning to puzzle him. Taking a step forward he imitated to perfection
the hoarse croak of a raven. So true to life was it that Hal
instinctively looked up expecting to see the black bird of ill omen.
Then it flashed over him that this was a signal call to the man who had
gone for the water.
Twice it was repeated. The third call was answered from beyond the
thicket in front of the cabin. Hal guessed rightly that it was Pat
endeavoring to entice the Indian, for the man at the cabin was Sparrer's
assailant, to come out. He hoped that by replying he would lead the
Indian to think that the answer was from the latter's partner and that
the redman would assume that something important had been discovered to
keep his partner so long and would seek to join him to find out what it
was. If once the Indian could be led away from the cabin his capture
would be easy.
But Pat's hopes in this respect were doomed to be dashed. The instant
the Indian heard the answering croak from in front of the cabin instead
of from the direction of the spring suspicion flashed into his face. For
a few seconds he stood motionless, his beady eyes boring into the
thicket before him. But Pat was well hidden and Alec and his prisoner
were out of the line of vision. Pat essayed another croak, but it served
only to still further arouse the Indian's suspicions that all was not
right.
[Illustration: FOR A FEW SECONDS HE STOOD MOTIONLESS]
Taking a step forward he darted his keen gaze in all directions, at the
same time listening intently. Then abruptly he turned to reenter the
cabin.
"Stop! Hands up, or I'll shoot!" Pat was taking the one chance open to
him. If he allowed the man to get back inside the cabin there was no
telling when he would show himself again. It was clear that he suspected
something. It was better to take the chance that he would obey orders,
knowing that some one had the drop on him, rather than be obliged to lay
siege to the cabin.
The Indian froze in his tracks, both hands up. "Now walk straight back
five steps and stop," commanded Pat.
The Indian took one step back. Then in a flash he dove head first
through the partly open door, throwing himself flat. The wily fellow
counted on the suddenness of the move and the abrupt change of angle of
fire to escape. Pat's rifle cracked, followed instantly by the bang of
the door. He had missed his man. He afterward confessed that he had made
no real effort to score a hit. The idea of taking a fellow being's life
was repugnant to him even though the fellow was a would-be murderer. He
had shot because the situation had required it. It was necessary that
the fellow should know that he had to deal with those who could shoot
and were not afraid to.
Half the battle was won. One man was captured and the other driven to
cover. Knowing that the latter would make no attempt to get away for the
present and that in any event Hal was posted where he could give the
alarm should an attempt be made Pat and Alec turned their attention to
their captive. His hands were securely bound behind him with a piece of
rope which Pat had had the foresight to bring, and he was then
subjected to a grueling examination, but sullenly refused to commit
himself on any point. He was a French Canadian of the lower type and
Alec recognized him as Big Pierre, a notorious character in the lumber
camps of the region.
There was an ugly glint in his black eyes that boded ill for his captors
should he once gain the upper hand of them. He refused to admit that he
had been robbing the trap lines or that he had even been watching the
camp in Smugglers' Hollow. Only once, and that when Alex charged him
with having a hand in the theft of the black fox, did his face betray
anything but sullen rage. For just a fleeting instant a mingled look of
surprise, interest, cupidity and anger swept across his face. Pat caught
it and signed for Alec to cease his questioning. Then he drew Alec to
one side out of ear-shot of their captive.
"As sure as you're standing here he doesn't know a thing about that
fox," he whispered. "He's been double-crossed by the Injun. Perhaps we
can use him to get the redskin out of his hole. It's worth trying,
anyway."