MR. DUDE MOXLEY
When the boys reached the corner of the dam Ned produced his waterproof
match box and lighted the candle. This enabled them to cross the
sluiceway in safety, and after noting with some alarm that the creek was
still coming up rapidly, they entered the saw mill at the upper end,
where the floor was level with the breast work of the dam--or rather a
few feet above it.
The lower end was twelve or fifteen feet higher than the wasteway, and
was supported by an open network of huge beams.
With the greatest caution the boys scrutinized their surroundings. The
first floor contained nothing but _débris_--heaps of sawdust, strips of
bark, and a few partially sawed logs. The machinery had all been
removed.
There was great danger of falling through into the swirling torrent
beneath, for in several places the flooring lacked entire planks, and
those that remained were loose and rotten.
The light of the candle revealed a rickety flight of steps in the upper
right hand corner, and without hesitation the boys mounted to the
second floor. This apartment was in remarkably good condition. Not a
drop of rain had penetrated through the roof or sides.
The floor was strewn with sawdust and shavings. A carpenter's bench
stood on each side, and in the center was a huge old-fashioned sheet
iron stove, with a pipe running straight to the roof. The room was
lighted by three windows--one at each end, and one on the side facing
the creek.
"This is what I call luck," exclaimed Ned. "A stove ready and waiting
for us, and fuel lying about in plenty! We won't have to endure our wet
clothes long."
"The owner may object to our taking possession, though," said Randy. "We
don't want to get in any more scrapes."
"No one but a crusty old brute would refuse to let us dry ourselves,"
replied Ned. "And besides, I don't believe the owner lives anywhere
within a mile. He probably uses this work room in winter--when there is
hardly any farm work to do--and doesn't come near it in summer. The
reason I think so is because the tools have all been taken away."
Ned's supposition was probably correct. At all events the boys did not
scruple to make a blazing fire in the stove, and very pleasant the
warmth felt after their long tussle with the storm.
Ned was soaked through and through in spite of his rubber coat, but
Randy was only wet to the middle. They stood as near as possible to the
stove, and so powerful was the heat of the wood fire, that in half an
hour their clothes were entirely dry.
It was rather a risky undertaking, but both lads were hardy and vigorous
and had no fear of taking cold.
As the fire burnt itself out the pale light of day shone through the
windows. Friday morning had dawned.
"Still raining a little," said Ned, "and the sky is cloudy. We must
start up the creek without delay now. My mind will feel a good deal
easier when I know that Clay and Nugget are safe. They must be feeling
pretty wretched if they stayed on the island all night in the rain."
"I don't think they would venture to leave after the directions you gave
them," returned Randy. "Unless the island became flooded. I never
thought of that before."
Ned walked quickly to the side window and looked out.
"The water is still on the rise," he said gloomily. "It is backing into
the wasteway and crawling up the slope toward the mill. You can hardly
see anything of the dam. To tell the truth, Randy, I believe the creek
is quite high enough to cover that island."
Randy turned pale.
"What has become of the boys then?" he asked. "Could they have passed
down the creek while we were drying ourselves?"
"Hardly," said Ned. "You forget the dam. But pull on your coat and
we'll be off. It's not raining enough to hurt us."
Randy hastily obeyed, and after satisfying themselves that the lingering
embers of the fire could do no damage, the boys went down the shaking
flight of steps to the lower floor. With great care they crossed the
rotten planks, and were half way to the door when a burly figure
darkened the threshold--a roughly dressed man with a gun on his shoulder
and a partially filled grain sack in his hand.
The boys stood still, half frightened, half astonished, but the stranger
came quickly forward, lowering his gun as he did so.
"Good morning, my lads," he said in a gruff, mocking voice, "so the
storm has driven you to my humble retreat. You are welcome--quite
welcome. Make yourselves at home. This is an unexpected honor. I am
sorry I was absent when you called."
The boys exchanged startled glances. There was an unpleasant ring to the
stranger's voice that boded no good intentions.
"If you own this mill we are much obliged to you for the use of it,"
said Ned. "We got wet in the storm and came here to dry ourselves. We
took the liberty of making a fire in the stove up stairs."
As he spoke he moved toward the door with Randy at his heels.
"Not so fast," muttered the man, pushing the boys forcibly back. "You
can stay a while and keep me company. I've taken a fancy to you chaps,
and want to get better acquainted with you. Over there is the portion
of this domicile that I occupy at present. It ain't very palatial, but I
reckon I can give you a log to sit on."
There was no choice but to obey, and the boys reluctantly crossed the
rickety floor to the lower corner of the mill. Here was a great heap of
sawdust, and two or three logs. The man sat down on the former--between
the boys and the door--and motioned his companions to one of the logs.
It was now fully daylight, and the stranger's position, facing one of
the broad windows on the creek side of the mill, gave the boys an
opportunity to examine him closely.
He wore a dirty, greasy suit of tweed, patched here and there with
different colored cloth. His shoes gaped at the toes, and his coat
collar was buttoned tightly about his throat--no doubt in default of a
shirt.
His face might have been handsome at one time, but it was now marred and
brutalized by a life of dissipation. His nose and cheeks were purple,
his eyes bloodshot, and a matted growth of brown hair strayed from
beneath a ragged slouch hat.
Little wonder that Ned and Randy cowered fearfully before the gaze of
this evil looking ruffian. They knew now that he was a tramp, and never
before had they seen a worse specimen.
It suddenly occurred to Ned that this was the same man who had passed
the camp in a boat on the previous night, and the knowledge by no means
added to his peace of mind.
Immediately on sitting down the stranger had taken a short black pipe
from his pocket, and filled and lighted it. But during the performance
of this operation he was not oblivious to the keen scrutiny of his
companions.
"I hope you chaps will know me again," he said in a sarcastic tone. "Or
were you just admiring my beauty? Dude Moxley is what my friends all
call me, because I dress with such taste, and take such good care of my
complexion."
Suddenly changing his voice he demanded gruffly, "Where are the other
two chaps?"
"Why--why--how did you know there were two more?" exclaimed Ned, thrown
off his guard by the question.
Mr. Moxley smiled complacently. "I seen the canoes and the tent up
yonder along the shore. As the canoes happened to be empty I judged the
rest of the party were on behind somewhere. I just guessed at their
bein' two more of you, but it seems I hit it."
This was a very lame explanation, but the boys were too greatly worried
to notice its defects.
"I may as well tell him all," thought Ned. "Perhaps he will relent and
let us go."
Acting on this impulse he related the occurrences of the previous night,
and described the perilous situation of Clay and Nugget on the island.
"Won't you let us go and look for our companions now?" he asked. "If
the island is flooded they are in great danger."
Ned had risen in his eagerness, and now he made a step toward the door.
"Sit down!" thundered Mr. Moxley. "If you lads try to escape I'll put a
hole through you."
He lifted the gun and patted it significantly, and that instant Ned
recognized the weapon. It was Mose Hocker's property--the identical
muzzleloader which Randy had brought up from the depths of Rudy's Hole.
Ned could see the silver plate set in the breech, and could partially
read the inscription: "John Armstrong, Maker."
Randy was equally quick to recognize the gun. He gave a little gasp of
astonishment and looked at Ned.
The agitation of the boys was not observed by the ruffian.
"Just sit still now," he growled. "If you don't you'll be the worse off.
You needn't be alarmed about your friends. I reckon they'll be along
this way purty soon."
While speaking Mr. Moxley happened to glance toward the upper end of the
mill, and through a gaping crevice between the boards he saw something
that caused a sudden wave of excitement to spread over his face.
Rising quickly to his feet, he seized both boys in an iron grasp and
dragged them several yards across the floor to a big closet that
occupied the corner of the mill. He unbolted the door and shoved his
captives roughly inside.
"Don't you dare to whimper," he hissed savagely. "Mind that, my lads.
Dude Moxley ain't to be trifled with."
The ruffian slammed the door and bolted it, and the next instant his
heavy retreating footsteps shook the rotten floor.