No one seemed able to say a single word.
Standing or crouching there, with staring eyes those four lads watched
the marvelous ascent of their supper. It was as though an unseen hand
had reached down and plucked the kettle from the rock to carry it
heavenward.
Now it had reached the level of the top of the bluff, and as they
continued to gape, an arm was thrust hastily out from the rank
vegetation that grew there; they saw eager fingers clutch the kettle,
and then it was drawn from their sight.
"Tell me about that!" gasped Jerry, as soon as he could catch his
breath.
Bluff made a dive for Frank's gun. His own repeating shotgun was at
home, out of commission, for which Jerry, who hated the modern arm as
the devil is said to hate holy water, never ceased to give thanks.
But Frank caught his arm.
"No, I wouldn't do that, Bluff. We can afford to lose our stew, for
we've got plenty more behind it. We can even let the little kettle go,
if necessary; but we should hate to have any man's life on our hands, no
matter if he is a crazy being."
"Did you see him, Frank?" exclaimed Will, in great excitement.
"No more than the rest of you. An arm came into view, and the kettle was
drawn in. Somebody is going to enjoy a fine supper to-night. Perhaps the
poor fellow has not tasted decent food for ages. Much good may it do
him," said Frank.
"What are you going to do about it, then?" demanded the warlike Bluff.
"Well, the best thing is to open another can of succotash and one of the
corned beef, since we seem to have set our minds on that stew," smiled
Frank.
He immediately started operations.
"But are we going to sit here like a lot of babies while that scamp runs
off with our supper?" demanded Bluff, indignantly.
"And he's stolen one of your charming little aluminum kettles, too,
Frank," put in Will, in added horror.
"Well, there are plenty more where that came from, and an indulgent dad
will, I am sure, supply me with all I want; but I should hate to have to
tell him that I had filled a poor demented being with bird-shot just
because the tantalizing odor of my favorite canoeist stew had tempted
him beyond endurance."
"How do you think the beggar ever did it?" asked Jerry at this juncture,
as he craned his neck to look straight upward.
"I think I can see how. I noticed a cord of some sort. Evidently he had
a hook attached. This he passed over that branch of a tree sticking out
from the top of the bluff, so that the kettle might be kept away from
the face of the cliff as it rose, and in that way prevented from
spilling its coveted contents," replied the one addressed.
"Talk to me about your aeroplanes, that was an ascension to beat the
band! Wow! I had a chill run up and down my spinal column, for I give
you my word, fellows, at first I really thought of ghosts, and that some
invisible agency had reached down and gobbled our supper."
"And I thought I was dreaming--that I'd fallen asleep by the fire, and
you had eaten up all the stew, while Bluff was throwing up the empty
kettle to practice shooting at, like he did our wash-basin that other
time," admitted Will.
"And that chap was angling for the bale of our kettle while we sat here
and never once suspected what was going on. Say, we're a husky lot of
tenderfeet. Why, some night a thief will come and steal the blankets off
us, and no one be the wiser until morning," declared Bluff, in disgust.
After a while the second kettle of stew was pronounced ready. It was
laughable to see how those four crowded around to protect it against an
invading force; and what suspicious looks they cast upward at the brow
of the innocent little bluff.
But there was no further manifestation of the Presence near them. Jerry
kept an eye on the coffee-pot, and was ready with a keen-edged knife to
immediately proceed against any dangling cord and hook that might come
in sight.
They enjoyed the supper in spite of the uncanny feeling that this
unprovoked and early attack had produced.
"Who was it predicted that the odors of our cooking would stir up the
old hermit, and awaken his appetite for the things of the civilized
world? Frank, it was you. And sure enough that's what came to pass. He's
got tired of feeding on roots and birds' eggs and fish," remarked Will,
feeling better after he had quieted the gnawings of his appetite.
"Provided that it was the so-called wild man," said Frank, quietly.
At which remark there was a chorus of cries.
"It certainly must have been a human being and not an animal. Even an
educated ape or chimpanzee could never have had that cord and hook and
managed it as this chap did. What do you mean by doubting it, Frank?"
demanded Bluff.
"Yes, tell us what you've been thinking?" asked Will.
"Say, that gives me an idea. I wager I can guess what he's got in mind,"
ventured Jerry, looking exceedingly wise.
"Well, go on then," from Frank.
"The two runaway tramps!"
"Jerry, that head of yours will get you into trouble some day. You are
too good a guesser," laughed Frank.
"Then that was it? You think the tramps have come over here to Wildcat
Island to hide while the sheriff is hunting the woods high and low for
them? I declare, if that's so it means warm times in store for us,"
exclaimed Will.
"Talk to me about your war scares, what could equal that? Why, we'll
capture the blooming hoboes, and let Mr. Dodd know there are others
besides himself who can do things."
"What makes you think that?" pursued Bluff, who always wanted to know
the why and wherefore of everything, he being the Doubting Thomas of the
quartet.
"I may be mistaken, remember; for I'm just speculating, you see. In the
first place, I doubt if our wild man would be provided with such a
convenient cord and hook. Then again I saw that arm, and it was covered
with a sleeve that looked wonderfully like that of the taller tramp's
coat, a dun-colored affair."
"Bravo! Frank's logic carries the day. I'm going to take it for granted
that we are entertaining angels unawares on this blessed old island,"
cried Will.
"Angels?" snorted Jerry. "Talk to me about that, will you? They must
have had their wings singed, then, or else they'd have flown down and
scooped our grub instead of using a measly old string. Angels! Wow!
Will's turning poet as well as artist."
"I know one thing, boys, and that is we'll have to keep watch and watch
every night from now on. If the tramps are here they'll steal everything
we own, given half a chance," from Bluff.
"That's a good idea, and we'll arrange that one must be on guard for two
hours at a stretch. Besides, it will make the camp seem more military,"
said Frank.
"I rather like the idea, and ask to be appointed the first keeper of the
watch," spoke up Will.
An arrangement was soon completed. By means of a system each of the boys
would be on duty as a guard two hours of the night. This would cover the
time from ten to six, which allowed the sleepers ample time to
recuperate.
They passed a pleasant evening despite the many suspicious glances cast
aloft from time to time. Finally Jerry began to yawn.
"Say, fellows, as I'm the last to go on duty, I guess I'll turn in.
To-morrow I mean to collect a lot of hemlock browse for a bed; but
to-night it's me on the cold, hard ground, with only my good blanket
under and above."
"Not a bit of it, old chap. Here's where my surprise comes in. Now, you
and our good friend Bluff here have been sighing for a chance to prove
which one possesses the biggest lungs. I'm going to give you a chance to
make good," announced Frank.
"Hurrah! count me in, whatever it is," exclaimed Bluff, jumping up, as
Frank began to undo the mysterious bundle that had excited their
curiosity earlier.
"Here you see a couple of the finest rubber air-cushion mattresses ever
made for the use of campers. Each can be extended so that two can sleep
on it. Now, I'm going to spread these out here ready. You two will lie
down on your chests, and wait till I give the signal, and then blow for
all you're worth. The first one whose mattress is filled with air will
be proclaimed the victor," said Frank.
Jerry and Bluff threw themselves prostrate instantly, eager for the
trial, and each filled with a determination to settle the matter for all
time. They did not see the sly wink Frank gave Will, nor hear the
chuckling sound of amusement that escaped from the lips of that camper
as he half turned his head away.
"Go!"
Frank stood there as referee and timed the contestants, who puffed and
blew with all the vigor of their young lungs, until both mattresses
stood out just as full as they could stand.
"How is it?" wheezed Bluff, looking up, red in the face.
"Do I win?" gasped Jerry, too exhausted to do more than roll over.
"Gentlemen, it has been a remarkable contest all around. I am forced to
call it a draw for to-night, as you both came under the wire at the same
time. It is simply wonderful!" announced the judge, gravely.
Will mutely held up his hands, but whether to express his admiration for
the capacity of the contestants' lungs or for the astonishing ingenuity
of Frank, could not be told. He knew that they would never have any
trouble about getting those two air mattresses filled each night, for
the eager rivals could hardly wait for turning-in time to come, so
anxious were they for a new trial of lung capacity.
Frank had not camped in Maine for nothing. He afterwards admitted in
secret to Will that he had witnessed a similar trick being played upon a
couple of guides, and had never forgotten it.
"Just you wait until to-morrow night, and I'll show you," grunted Jerry,
as he rolled over to woo the goddess of slumber.
"Then you'll have to go a notch better than you did just now, that's
what," was the pugnacious reply of his rival.
"How does it go, Jerry?" asked Will, whose watch came first, and who was
handling Frank's gun a bit nervously, for he was a poor shot.
"Fine. Frank, you deserve the united thanks of the club for thinking of
such things as these. Talk to me about your bed of hemlock browse, it's
all good enough to read about, but this is solid comfort!" said Jerry.
"That settles it. They must be great when such a simple-minded sportsman
as you would praise them. Here goes, fellows," and Frank lay down.
Ere long the camp was quiet, save for the strenuous breathing of Bluff,
who persisted in lying on his back, and gently snoring. Will sat out his
watch and then awoke Frank, whose turn came after him.
It was just about midnight when he took up his station where he could
see all that went on in the camp. He meant to keep a good watch,
because, if those rascally tramps were really on the island it was more
than possible that they would sooner or later try to make another raid
on the larder of the boys in order to satisfy their hunger.
The moon had risen long before, but was hidden behind a bank of heavy
clouds.
Frank was trying to figure out how he ought to act under such
conditions. He had said that he did not want to do the tramps bodily
injury if it could be prevented, but at the same time there might arise
conditions that would necessitate prompt and severe measures of
reprisal.
He would not like to shoot unless the object of his anger were at a good
distance so that the bird-shot would not severely injure the object of
his attentions.
Frank had his back against a tree, and could observe the entire camp as
he sat there with the minutes passing. Strange noises came from the
interior of the island, but this lad had spent so many nights under
canvas that most of them were familiar to him as the cries of owls or
nighthawks, perhaps quarreling raccoons or an opossum objecting to a
rival's attentions to his mate.
But when he had been sitting there fully an hour Frank's attention was
called to a slight movement in the bushes on one side of the camp.
Thrilled with expectancy he watched the leaves, and kept his fingers
upon the triggers of the gun that lay across his knees, ready for an
emergency.