BUG'S PROPOSITION
There was dead silence for a while. It was only too evident that Moxley
meant what he said, and though Jeffries and Hocker were brave men, they
were reluctant to engage in a struggle with all the odds against them.
Accompanied by Ned and Bug they moved down to the edge of the water--a
distance of less than thirty feet in the present condition of the
creek--and ensconced themselves in some thick bushes. There was no
slight risk that Moxley would shoot through the crevices if the
moonlight afforded him a tempting chance.
"If we can wait in patience the game will fall into our hands," said
Jeffries. "The rascal has been drinking, and the fiery stuff has given
him false courage. After a while he will either fall asleep or become
helpless from intoxication."
"I wonder if the boys know that help is outside," remarked Ned, "I wish
I could get a few words with them."
"Of course they know it," replied Hocker. "They heard every word that
was said, and they have too much sense to make any outcry. We'll get
them out of the scrape before long, never fear."
Just then the farmer's shrill voice rang out distinctly from the
hillside behind the mill:
"Keep back, you rascal. If you crawl out that window I'll drop you quick
as a wink."
"Moxley is trying to escape from the second floor," muttered Hocker.
"Wait a moment. I'll be back right away."
He crept down the shore of the creek, and crossed the slope to the
wasteway.
"Is it all right, Zinn?" he called out.
"Yes," came the reply. "The rascal stuck his ugly head out of the winder
a moment ago, but I scared him back. He can't escape on this side."
Hocker was about to rejoin his companions when a dark figure came down
the road and passed through a strip of moonlight which served to reveal
his identity. It was Abner Peck, the farm hand.
In response to a whispered command from Hocker the man jumped into the
boat and pulled hastily across the wasteway. Hocker briefly explained
the situation, and after a little further conversation Abner recrossed
to the main land, while Hocker hurried back to his companions and
related what had occurred.
"I sent him up to the house for provisions and a rope," he concluded,
"and when he returns we'll try to get the lads out of the closet."
This piece of news cheered Ned considerably, and helped him to endure
the suspense with fortitude. Nearly an hour passed by without a sound
from the mill or the alert watcher on the hillside.
The creek was still rising by slow degrees, but the sky was rapidly
clearing and gave every promise of continued fair weather.
Finally a low whistle was heard, and Hocker noiselessly disappeared. He
returned in less than five minutes, and announced that Abner was waiting
with the provisions and the rope.
"Now I have an idea for working this little scheme," he added.
"Jeffries, you go to the other end of the mill and open a conversation
with Moxley--let on you want to reason with him some more. Keep him
talking as long as you can, and meanwhile me and this lad will slip up
the wasteway in the boat and try to get the lads free. If anything goes
wrong, whistle."
Jeffries was quite satisfied to take the part assigned to him. He moved
off in one direction, while Hocker and Ned took the other. Bug was left
alone in the bushes.
Jeffries was already in conversation with Moxley when his companions
reached the wasteway. They could hear the voices of the two men
indistinctly.
Hocker motioned Ned to the rear seat beside Abner; then seizing the oars
he pulled the boat swiftly into the deep shadows under the mill. The
next step was a more difficult one.
Bidding Abner take the oars, and keep the boat in the same position if
possible, he tossed the rope over the very beam to which Ned had
descended, and catching the end, tied it to the main part of the rope in
such a way as to form a sort of swinging loop, which could not slip. By
standing on the seat he managed to get one foot in this loop; then
clutching both parts of the rope he drew himself quickly up, and after
swaying to and fro for an instant, threw one arm over the rafter. An
instant later he was straddling it, and pulling the rope after him he
untied the loop.
"Now, lad," he whispered, "call your companions. They won't know my
voice."
But this was rendered unnecessary by a sudden rasping noise above, as
the loose plank was carefully lifted from its place.
"Randy! Randy!" whispered Ned. "It's all right. We're going to rescue
you."
A glad murmur of voices was heard, and Randy incautiously replied:
"Hurry up then. Now's your time, for Moxley is at the other end of the
mill talking."
"Not so loud, lad," whispered Hocker. "Hold steady now and look out for
the rope end."
But before Hocker could throw it footsteps came hastily over the floor
above, and then a loud shrill whistle was heard--Jeffries's signal.
An instant of breathless suspense was followed by the sudden thrusting
of a shiny object through a hole in the floor a little to one side of
the closet.
"No you don't," cried Moxley in a savage voice. "You can't play that
game on me. Get out of that at once, or I'll riddle you with buckshot.
In ten seconds I shoot."
It was not a time to hesitate or parley. The plank dropped into place,
and by a reckless swing and drop Hocker landed fairly in the center of
the boat, very nearly capsizing it. Abner dropped the oars, and the
current whirled the craft swiftly down the wasteway.
It was a bitter disappointment, especially to Ned. Jeffries hastened to
the spot as the party landed.
"I'm awful sorry," he said, "but it couldn't be helped. The rascal must
have heard some noise you made."
"It's hard luck, that's a fact," muttered Hocker. "I'll square accounts
with that scoundrel afore I'm many hours older. The idea of his
threatenin' to shoot me with my own gun; that's what riles me most. It's
a pity we didn't get the food up. The boys'll have to starve a little
longer, I reckon."
"It will be only a little, too," replied Jeffries grimly. "I don't
intend to stand any more nonsense. We'll think over the matter and
decide on some kind of a move. Moxley has got to come out of that mill.
That settles it."
The party went slowly back to the bushes, and Ned satisfied his hunger
with the bread and cold meat Abner had brought, while Jeffries and
Hocker carried on a low, earnest discussion.
Presently the quiet was interrupted in an unexpected manner. Being
restless and unhappy Bug wandered up toward the mill, and unwittingly
strayed into a patch of silvery moonlight.
Moxley must have been on the watch, and the sight of his old chum put
him into a fury. He was ignorant of Ned's escape, and naturally
attributed his misfortunes to Bug.
"You black hearted dog," he cried savagely. "I'll get square with you.
If I go to jail you'll go with me. It was all your fault anyhow. You
persuaded me to go after these boys, and it was you who broke into the
cabin and stole the gun and boat. I tried to keep you from it, but you
wouldn't listen.
"Oh, you'll pay up for your treachery. I'll swear to all these
things--and a good many more--in court. That is if I get there--which
ain't at all likely. And if I _do_ get out of this hole I'll hunt you
down, if it takes a year."
Moxley's rage was so violent that Bug prudently retreated to the bushes.
The ruffian kept up his abuse and called Bug all manner of vile names
until he was compelled to stop for sheer want of breath.
Bug came down to Hocker and Jeffries and stood before them.
"Look here," he said hoarsely, "what that rascal says ain't true--at
least the most of it ain't. What part I had in stealin' the boat I've
made amends fur already, and now I'm willing to do a good deal more. A
little while ago I felt kinder sorry for Moxley because me an' him has
been together a good part of the summer. But when a man goes back on an
old friend, an' calls him bad names, an' tries to get him into trouble
by lyin', then I'm done with that man fur good.
"I'd sooner see him in jail now than runnin' loose, an' if you give me a
fair show an' take these irons off, I'll find a way to get into that
mill and capture the mean rascal. He's more'n half drunk now, and I'm a
good deal stronger than I look. When the chance comes I'll know how to
use it. I'm talkin' on my honor now, an' mean what I say. You needn't be
afraid to turn me loose. I can't escape if I'd want to. You know that."