PLEADING FOR LIBERTY.
This arrest, coming just when it did, was a complete surprise to George.
He had hoped a few hours before that it would come, in order that he
might have an opportunity of showing that he was innocent of that which
was charged against him, simply because his team had been the one the
officers had chased. But to be deprived of his liberty now, when every
moment was precious, seemed to be doubly disastrous.
To be prevented from chasing the thieves when he was at last on the
track of them, was to lose his horses beyond any probable chance of
recovery, while to have forty-eight hours of liberty just then, was, as
he thought, almost a guarantee that he could recover his stolen team.
Bob was even more excited by the arrest than George. He had the pleasing
thought that he was guilty of the offense charged, added to the
disappointment at not being able to aid his friend in recovering the
property which he was the remote cause of being lost.
He knew, as well as did George, that at the worst they would only be
fined for violating the town ordinance; but it was the loss of time
just then that made the matter a serious one, and he resolved to do his
best to secure their liberty for a short while longer, at all events.
"I won't say anything about myself," said Bob, with a laugh, "for I
don't suppose my reputation as a steady young man is first-class; but
you, Mr. Constable, as well as nearly every one in Sawyer, know Harnett,
and you know he will keep his word. While he was helping extinguish the
fire yesterday, his pair of horses and carriage were stolen. We have
just got on the track of the thieves, and if we are obliged to remain
here now, there will be no chance of recovering the property. Now, if
you will give us our liberty, Harnett will give you his word that we
will return here at any time you shall set."
"That is hardly a regular way of doing business, Mr. Hubbard," said the
man, with a smile, that showed he had no hard feelings against those
whom he was obliged to arrest; "and if it was your word alone that I was
asked to take, I am afraid I should be obliged to refuse. I'm doubtful
as to whether I ought to even consider the matter."
"Of course you ought," said Bob, quickly. "Now, if we should be
convicted, the penalty is only a fine, and we can leave you as much
money as would be required to pay those as security that we will
return."
"I suppose in that case, and if Mr. Harnett promises that both you and
he will come here a week from to-day, I might take the risk of any
accident that would prevent you from appearing."
"Now that's what I call acting squarely," said Bob, in a satisfied way;
and George asked:
"How much money will be necessary to satisfy you that we will appear for
trial?"
"Well, I don't suppose the fines will be over fifty dollars. So, if you
leave that amount with me, you can keep on in search of the thieves,
whom I hope you will catch."
Ralph's heart, which had been very light when he saw that there was a
chance they might continue their journey, sank again when the officer
mentioned the amount of security he demanded, for he knew that the
united funds of his and George's fell far short of the sum, and what
little they had would be actually necessary for their expenses on the
road.
"How much money have you got, Bob?" asked George, speaking in a low,
determined tone, that told plainly how anxious he was to be in pursuit
once more, and of the sacrifice he would be willing to make in order to
be released from the meshes of the law, even if it was only for a few
days.
"I can't say exactly, but I'll promise you it isn't very much," replied
Bob, carelessly, as if he did not think the amount of any great
importance.
And, after rummaging in all his pockets, he succeeded in producing one
very ragged-looking twenty-dollar bill.
"That's the size of my fortune," he said, as he handed the money to
George, as if the matter was already ended.
George had twenty-three dollars, all of which he would undoubtedly need
before he returned; but, willing to run any risk rather than be longer
delayed, he said to the officer:
"It happens very unfortunately, but we have not got fifty dollars
between us. If you will take my solemn promise that both Bob and myself
will meet you here a week from to-day, and also that I will report to
you on our return, together with this forty dollars, you will be doing
us a favor which shall not be forgotten."
The man hesitated for a moment, and Bob said, impatiently:
"Oh, take the money, and let us go. You have got really more than the
fine will amount to, for I promise you that Harnett can prove by us all
that he had nothing to do with violating the ordinance. I simply got
possession of his team to deceive you."
"I shall be here when the case is called," said George, quietly; "for I
am very anxious to show that I had nothing whatever to do with the
matter; so please let us get on."
"Well, I guess there's no trouble about it, and I don't believe any one
will blame me for accommodating you, in view of all the circumstances,"
said the officer, as he stepped back from the wagon in order that they
might drive on. "I hope you will succeed in getting your team, Mr.
Harnett. Good-night, gentlemen!"
"Good-night!" cried Bob, as he started the horses with a jerk that
nearly threw his passengers from their seats.
And in another instant they were riding at full speed in the direction
of Babcock.
"I hardly know what we had better do," said George, thoughtfully. "Here
we are starting out on what may be a long journey, with only three
dollars in our pockets, and I am not sure but that we ought to go back
to town to try to get some more."
"That would never do," replied Bob, decidedly. "If we should do that we
could not get to Babcock to-night, and that we must do, if we expect to
catch the thieves. We have got food and grain enough to last a day and a
half or two days, and we can rough it in the woods, as the men we are
chasing are doing."
George would have preferred decidedly to be able to go to a hotel at
night, rather than to camp in the woods; but Bob and Ralph were only too
well pleased at the idea of living a gipsy life, therefore it was
decided to keep on, or, more properly speaking, since no one made any
objection to the plan, Bob continued to urge the horses on in the
direction the thieves were supposed to have gone.
The night was not so dark but that they could drive a good pace, but had
it been daylight there is no question but that Bob's horses would have
shown considerably better speed, for their driver was anxious to reach
Babcock early, in order that the animals might have as long a rest as
possible, before starting on their journey next day, which would likely
be a hard one.
Bob sang, laughed, and acted generally as if he was in the best of
spirits, while Ralph joined in with him, for he enjoyed this night-drive
immensely; but George remained silent, his great desire to get on faster
causing the speed at which they were traveling to seem very slow.
It was some time past midnight when they arrived at Babcock, and much as
they liked to camp out, both Ralph and Bob would have been better
satisfied, just then, if they could have remained all night at the
hotel, for they were so tired that sleeping in the open air had not as
many charms for them as usual.
"Here's where we would have stopped if we had not been obliged to give
up all our money," said Bob, as they drove past the hotel. "But now that
we are nothing more nor less than three-dollar paupers, we shall be
obliged to do as the thieves are probably doing--make up our bed under
the greenwood, or some other kind of a tree."
"It might be worse," said George, who was beginning to recover some of
his cheerfulness as his companions lost theirs, "and we will stop at the
next clump of trees."
"There will be no doubt about our finding accommodations," laughed Bob,
"unless our friends who are the cause of this excursion have engaged all
the promising-looking groves."
Above half a mile from the town the road ran through a piece of dense
woods, which shut out even the faint rays of the moon, and Bob stopped
the horses, while George and Ralph explored, as well as possible in the
darkness, for a chance to make a camp.
A small, open space, surrounded by bushes, about ten yards from the
road, was the best place they could find, and preparations for the night
began at once.
The horses were unharnessed and the carriage backed in among the trees,
where it would not be seen by any one who might pass during the night.
The horses were fastened to a couple of trees, where they could feed
without danger of getting their halters entangled among the bushes, and
each was given a generous supply of grain.
Among other things which Bob had placed into the carriage while waiting
at the Kenniston farm was a water-pail, and with this on his arm he
started out in search of water for the horses, while George and Ralph
attended to the making of what could only be an apology for a camp.
The blankets, cushions and rug were taken from the carriage, and were
spread on the ground over a small pile of brush, for the boys were too
tired to make any elaborate arrangements for the night.
The carriage cushions formed the pillow to this one bed which was to
serve for all three, and with the rug and one blanket under them, and
the other blanket over them, George thought they would get along very
comfortably.
Bob was not long in finding plenty of water for the horses, and when he
returned with it, after it was decided to go supperless to bed, in order
to save the provisions, all three lay down on the hastily-improvised
bed, little dreaming that they were within but a few rods of those whom
they were pursuing.